When I first saw Yargle and Multani previewed, my mind immediately went to Rite of Consumption. While eighteen damage is not a clean kill, it's definitely enough to build around. I've toyed with this idea for a bit now, and while I'm comfortable enough showing a list that has some cool interactions, I'd consider it a proof of concept more than anything else. I'm certain that a better version of this casual combo exists out there, and you can be sure that as time goes by I'll be looking for it. Additionally, I'm always open to suggestions! Until then, though, enjoy my most recent version of Yargle and Multani Combo!

Yargle and Multani Combo | Casual | James Heslip

• Creatures (18)
• 1 Dread Linnorm
• 1 Krosan Tusker
• 4 Elvish Mystic
• 4 Fierce Empath
• 4 Tangle Asp
• 4 Yargle and Multani

• Instants (4)
• 4 Blossoming Defense

• Sorceries (7)
• 3 Roar of Challenge
• 4 Rite of Consumption

• Enchantments (4)
• 4 Wild Growth

• Artifacts (4)
• 4 Wedding Invitation

• Lands (23)
• 7 Swamp
• 8 Forest
• 4 Haunted Mire
• 4 Necroblossom Snarl

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Cost: $22 at the time of publication

The Core

One flaw of the strategy is Y&M's high mana value. It makes the list a little slower than I'd like it to be. However, this being made for casual environments, it also gives our opponents a chance to interact with us. Casual games are no fun when one person doesn't get to play, so the fact that the deck is a little slower than I'd prefer might just be a blessing in disguise.

The Backup

Aside from Y&M and Rite of Consumption, we've got a few alternatives to the combo, as well as ways to speed it up and protect it.

If you're sure that your legendary frog can stick around long enough to lose summoning sickness, then Wedding Invitation is a fine secondary win condition when paired with him. An unblockable eighteen damage is almost as good as a loss of life, and Invitation allows for a preemptive set up, since we can activate it without having to pay any mana. The additional benefit of it drawing us cards is perfect for a combo deck looking for specific cards as early as possible.

Elvish Mystic and Wild Growth serve as turn one plays that get us to our combo turn faster. In an ideal scenario, they allow for a turn two Empath.

Tangle Asp is our removal of choice. At worst, it's a pseudo deathtouch blocker that keeps large threats at bay. At best, it combines with Roar of Challenge to completely wipe our opponent's entire board! Y&M also pairs well with Roar of Challenge, since he'll become indestructible off of the ferocious trigger, it's often the case that casting the sorcery on him will have the same result as if we had cast it on our Asp.

Tips and Tricks

• In situations where you've played out the combo and simply need to close out the game, Wedding Invitation is your best friend. Make an elf or snake unblockable and sneak in for that last bit of damage. A Linnorm or Blossoming Defense that was drawn late can make this a more certain win condition.
• Roar of Challenge is a secret alternative to Rite of Consumption and Wedding Invitation! If you have Y&M in play with another creature, you can cast it targeting your small fry and then attack with both! Your opponent will be forced to block the non-threat with everything they have, and Y&M will walk right past the carnage to smack the enemy for eighteen damage!
• If you're ever able to sneak in a point or two of damage with your smaller creatures in the early game, do so. This will make your final combo that much more reliable in terms of ending the game on the spot.

Additional Options | James Heslip

• Creatures (18)
• 1 Archers' Parapet
• 1 Bushmeat Poacher
• 1 Daemogoth Titan
• 1 Daemogoth Woe-Eater
• 1 Deathcap Cultivator
• 1 Dina, Soul Steeper
• 1 Doomgape
• 1 Ilysian Caryatid
• 1 Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord
• 1 Owlbear Shepherd
• 1 Reclusive Taxidermist
• 1 Sproutback Trudge
• 1 Surrak, the Hunt Caller
• 1 Tattered Mummy
• 1 Vampire Spawn
• 1 Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose
• 1 Vraan, Executioner Thane
• 1 Whisperer of the Wilds

• Instants (6)
• 1 Corpse Lunge
• 1 Momentous Fall
• 1 Predator's Rapport
• 1 Ram Through
• 1 Ritual of the Returned
• 1 Witherbloom Command

• Sorceries (9)
• 1 Charge of the Forever-Beast
• 1 Dead Reckoning
• 1 Demogorgon's Clutches
• 1 Essence Harvest
• 1 Jarad's Orders
• 1 Life's Legacy
• 1 Severed Strands
• 1 Time of Need
• 1 Tormented Thoughts

• Enchantments (1)
• 1 Greater Good

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Daemogoth Titan was initially included as an alternative to our froggy friend. However, it soon became clear that it was not needed if we were playing Fierce Empath. I can see arguments for Titan, though, in lists that lean more heavily into cards that care about power or toughness, like Life's Legacy or Ritual of the Returned. Speaking of Empath, Time of Need is a more monetarily expensive alternative. It costs less to cast, but isn't a body to protect us, either. If played, Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord would be a perfect addition as a silver bullet target. In the end, this would allow both parts of the combo to be tutorable, instead of just one.

Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose is interesting in that we could run him alongside cards like Predator's Rapport, Essence Harvest, or Momentous Fall. Rapport specifically would make this an instant kill and not an almost kill. However, at that point we're working with a three-card combo instead of two.

I also thought about a scenario where Doomgape could be played as an alternative win condition. If paired with Sproutback Trudge, you get a neat little interaction where you gain massive amounts of life every turn, while also swinging in with a 10/10 trample repeatedly. Rite of Consumption's life gain clause would be right at home in such a list, since you could conceivably sacrifice Trudge to Rite and then just play him again. Alternatively, our normal Y&M + Rite combo would make a Trudge in the graveyard live for us to cast. It's a set of interactions that I intend to investigate further, at the very least.