Saruman, the White Hand + Phyrexian Altar + Chthonian Nightmare + Orcish Bowmasters

Powerful

Decks

How it works

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Cast Chthonian Nightmare by paying .
Saruman triggers. Holding priority, if you control an Army, activate Phyrexian Altar by sacrificing the Army, adding .
If needed, repeat step 2 until you do not control an Army.
Resolve the Saruman trigger, creating a 0/0 Orc Army creature token and putting two +1/+1 counters on it.
Activate Chthonian Nightmare by paying , sacrificing the Orc Army and returning Chthonian Nightmare from the battlefield to your hand, returning Orcish Bowmasters from your graveyard to the battlefield.
When Orcish Bowmasters enters the battlefield, it triggers, dealing 1 damage to any target and creating a 0/0 Orc Army creature token and putting a +1/+1 counter on it.
Activate Phyrexian Altar twice by sacrificing Orcish Bowmasters and the Orc Army, adding .
Cast Chthonian Nightmare by paying .
Saruman triggers, creating a 0/0 Orc Army creature token and putting two +1/+1 counters on it.
Repeat from step 5.

In which brackets is this combo allowed, per Spellbook's Powerful tier?

1–2 · Exhibition & Core

Spellbook classifies this as Powerful — not for these brackets.

3 · Upgraded

Allowed in this bracket.

4–5 · Optimized & cEDH

All combos are allowed.