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PDH Combos: Banishing Knack/Retraction Helix

Pauper* Combo Infinite Combo Pauper Primer

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Wincon (39)

Trigger (19)

Untapper (7)

Helix (2)

Enabler (1)

This is a list of combos that can be used in Pauper EDH utilizing the cards Retraction Helix or Banishing Knack. The process usually goes something like this: you have a creature that can untap after a condition is met (Battered Golem, for instance). Casting either card on Battered Golem gives it the ability : Return target non-land permanent to its owner's hand. You can use this ability to return an artifact with no cost to your hand (such as Ornithopter) and play it again, which untaps Battered Golem and allows you to repeat the process ad nauseam. Great, now you can play Ornithopter as many times you want, but how does that help defeat your opponent? Well, combined with a card that cares about creatures (Furious Assault) or artifacts (Reckless Fireweaver) entering the battlefield you can deal lethal damage to your opponent!

To simplify this into a formula, you have H (Helix/Knack) + U (untapper) + T (trigger) = Unlimited enter the battlefield triggers. Along with this, you need W (your win condition, or more aptly, the card that exploits the unlimited triggers). To reiterate...

(H + U + T) + W = You Win!

The cards in the above list are sorted based on these variables. There is one more variable I will introduce on this page: E (enabler). This is for cards that are not necessary for the combo to work but enable the combo to work with more cards (such as Etherium Sculptor, who is not necessary for the combo to work but allows you to use artifacts with a converted mana cost of ). Below I have sorted each known combo by color for easy reference.

Side note: I have included infinite life combos in this list for science but they don't actually win you the game. Unless you're looking to make your opponent scoop from boredom don't use them.


There are about a dozen commanders that can utilize Retraction Helix/Banishing Knack as a combo piece, mostly using Prowess:

  • (H + Mirran Spy + any artifact + Sphinx's Disciple) = Unlimited card draw
  • (H + Mirran Spy + any artifact + Soldevi Steam Beast) = Your opponents gain unlimited life
  • (H + Battered Golem/Mirran Spy + any artifact) + Golem Foundry = Unlimited Golem tokens

  • (H + Battered Golem/Mirran Spy/Zephyr Scribe + any non-creature artifact) + Elusive Spellfist/Prowess = Creature with unlimited power

  • (H + Merrow Levitator + Cloud of Faeries/Peregrine Drake) + Sage's Row Denizen = Unlimited mill

  • Any Retraction Helix/Banishing Knack combo + Temporal Fissure = Return every permanent you don't control to its owner's hand

  • Any Retraction Helix/Banishing Knack combo with artifacts + Artificer's Assistant = Unlimited scry
    • This combo has some of the best support of any combo. Just in Blue you have access to Dizzy Spell and Merchant Scroll for Knack/Helix; Trinket Mage for any artifact; and Drift of Phantasms searches for every Untapper. Splashing Black gives you access to Perplex and Mystical Teachings for more tutoring. Along with this Blue has access to the only "Wheels" in the format (Flux, Tolarian Winds, and Whirlpool Rider) as well as the best draw spells in the game. It will still take some time to assemble but it can be done most games.

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    Updates Add

    Dominaria Update — April 29, 2018
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    Added 4 cards from the Dominaria expansion:

    • Artificer's Assistant: Can be used with any variant that uses artifacts, grants unlimited scrying
    • Cabal Paladin: Can be used with any variant that uses artifacts, grants unlimited life loss
    • D'Avenant Trapper: Can be used with any variant that uses artifacts, allows you to tap every opposing creature
    • Serra Disciple: Can be used with any variant that uses artifacts, grants a creature with unlimited power
    Hour of Devastation Update — July 1, 2017
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    Revision 8 See all

    (4 years ago)

    +1 Banishing Knack main
    +1 Retraction Helix main
    Date added 7 years
    Last updated 4 years
    Legality

    This deck is not Pauper legal.
    Cards 68
    Avg. CMC 2.12
    Tokens Goblin 1/1 R, Golem 3/3 C
    Folders Tier List, Other People's Deck Ideas, Pauper Guide, Pauper EDH, Pauper Resources and Combos, stuff i think is swell
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