Rhys, the Evermore

Rhys is a 2cmc flash creature that grants temporary persist to a creature on ETB, enabling infinite-loop combos with sacrifice outlets (e.g., grant persist to a creature, sacrifice it, remove the -1/-1 counter with Rhys's activated ability to reset it). The counter-removal activated ability (sorcery speed) is also relevant for stripping -1/-1 counters from persist creatures or +1/+1 counter strategies. Signature in aristocrats (enables persist loops) and counters-matters shells; the activated ability synergizes with minus-one-counters and plus-one-counters archetypes alike.

• Rhys's activated ability can remove -1/-1 counters left by persist, allowing an infinite sacrifice loop when paired with a free sacrifice outlet: grant persist to a creature via Rhys ETB, sacrifice it, use Rhys's {W}{T} to strip the -1/-1 counter, repeat.

  tagging · claude-sonnet-4-6

• Granting persist only lasts until end of turn, so the creature must die in the same turn Rhys enters for the loop to function — this makes flash timing critical (play Rhys in response to a forced sacrifice effect or at end of opponent's turn into your turn).

  tagging · claude-sonnet-4-6

• The counter-removal ability activates at sorcery speed only, which limits Rhys's usefulness as a reactive tool but does allow stripping +1/+1 counters from opponents' creatures (e.g., those buffed by proliferate or Hardened Scales effects) as a niche hate role.

  tagging · claude-sonnet-4-6

• EDHREC rank: #12,028