Infinite Mill vs Kozilek, Butcher of Truth
Asked by chosenone124 7 years ago
I came across this situation the other day. I assembled the infinite mill combo of Mikaeus, the Unhallowed, Altar of Dementia, and Tatterkite. However, my opponent had Kozilek, Butcher of Truth in his deck. I know that I can't try the "mill him until Kozilek is the only card left strategy" but how often can I do a "Kozilek check"?
Basically, everytime before he draws a card, can I mill his library to check if Kozilek is still there??
After he draws or tutors, can I mill his entire deck to check what card was drawn?
After a card is sent to the graveyard, can I mill his deck until I hit Kozilek to shuffle it in?
Every time he cascades, can I mill until Kozilek to make the cards he placed on the bottom get shuffled into the rest of his deck?
I don't plan to do this every single time of course, but it would be nice to know under what conditions I am allowed to force a shuffle without violating rules.
Possible solution:
Use Altar of Dementia to mill yourself until Coffin Purge is in your graveyard, then turn the Altar on your opponent until Kozilek, Butcher of Truth is in their graveyard. In response to it's triggered ability, cast Coffin Purge from your graveyard targeting it. Let the shuffle ability resolve, then restart the Altar to mill their library which will no longer have Kozilek to worry about.
June 10, 2017 10:12 p.m.
chosenone124 says... #3
I never knew that card existed. Coffin Purge is being purchased.
June 10, 2017 10:38 p.m.
Also exists in white as Purify the Grave, but Mikaeus, the Unhallowed told me one of the colors you were running.
June 11, 2017 2:13 a.m.
chessdude13 says... #5
There is also Leyline of the Void so that they can't use the grave at all. Also Extirpate and Surgical Extraction will also get the job done.
June 11, 2017 12:50 p.m.
chosenone124 says... #6
True, but infinite self mill comboes well with flashback.
Raging_Squiggle says... Accepted answer #1
You are allowed to activate the ability of Altar of Dementia any time you have priority, and as many times as you have a creature to sacrifice to its cost. This includes doing it:
before he would draw from a spell or ability. Or on the upkeep step before the draw step.
after he draws or tutors when you receive priority. (But not to check what was taken from the deck as that would require complete knowledge of every card in the deck, and would be considered slow playing to record them all, or to even determine what exactly was taken/drawn.)
after a card is put into his graveyard, when you receive priority.
in response to either the cascade trigger or the resulting spell.
This isn't a strategy, however. It's more like a player being salty that their win condition is being shut down. Rather than stalling the game out with redundant millings, try to find a way around the obstacle and win.
June 10, 2017 9:19 p.m.