March of the Machine Combos – Less Crazy, More Jazzy

The level of variety and card choices for March of the Machine might not have provided a lot of quirky effects for new cards this time. Understandable, because this is also the first set to experiment with battle cards. But, there should still be many innovative-ish combos that might inspire one’s inner Johnny.

So, here are some of the less crazy, but just as jazzy combos for March of the Machine in MTG so far:

Zephyr Singer + Invasion of New Phyrexia

Being two separate pieces of a theoretically functioning March of the Machine-based Azorius convoke deck, the combo is perhaps just an obligatory one, maybe even boring. There are no complex plays involved anyway. Just be sure to cast Invasion of New Phyrexia // Teferi Akosa of Zhalfir with six mana, and you get the Zephyr Singer for free. If you are still alive before this or your next turn, your vigilant knights should be able to fly over your opponent, planeswalker, or battles along with the lead convoke flyer.

Of course, it doesn’t always have to be a “win more” move, as you can definitely make do with fewer knight tokens + other creatures already on the battlefield. Though, you need to secure at least two of them to ensure that Zephyr Singer’s blue cost is covered.

Zurgo and Ojutai + Invasion of Tarkir

As far as potency goes, this isn’t as explosive (pun intended) as others in this list. The combo is recommended simply because of its multi-use efficiency. Zurgo and Ojutai is almost always an exposed card on your hand, and so the supposed strategic disadvantage of Invasion of Tarkir // Defiant Thundermaw is effectively naught. Letting it continually return to your hand also ensures that the battle card can deal more than its basic two damage.

Reversely, Zurgo and Ojutai can freely and hastily punch the Invasion of Tarkir with nigh impunity while still triggering its deck-filtering effect. The battle card does fall out of the sweet spot of three-four defense counters. But a dedicated burn build can help flip out a Defiant Thundermaw instantly, which is absolutely worth cracking as its two-damage ping can immediately snowball out of control more than just dealing the damage directly to your opponent.

Chrome Host Seedshark + Tezzeret, Betrayer of Flesh

An excellent move for mana curve efficiency, and immediately brings out a reward for free if the controller wishes to do so (or if not disrupted, of course). The idea is simple. Cast a Seedshark on turn three, Tezzeret on turn four, and get a free 4/4 beatstick along the way via Seedshark’s trigger and Tezzeret’s passive. If you have immediate plans for the creature, feel free to transform it as soon as Tezzeret resolves. But if things can wait, you can just activate the ability in response to something during your opponent’s turn.

It's simple, natural, and both cards will continue to benefit each other past this initial interaction, so long as you have noncreature spells to cast consistently.

Yargle and Multani + Voldaren Thrillseeker

This is basically flinging the biggest basic creature with the nearest effect equivalent using a more versatile ability. Of course, in older and wider MTG formats, there are far better ways to take advantage of Yargle and Multani (or more like, there are better cards than these two!). But if you want a two-punch combo restricted to one set that does the job fairly well, then this is your best shot.

 Voldaren Thrillseeker by itself can be used with various other cards that can build around this core combo. But, of course, the jank may be a little too much when paired directly against its "purer-colored” counterparts in Standard.

Djeru and Hazoret + Etali, Primal Conqueror

Yes indeed, these two high-mana-value creatures do mesh well with each other. Because, with a good amount of filtering luck, you don’t need to pay for the other one. Etali, Primal Conqueror // Etali, Primal Sickness is somewhat the better card here, as it only needs to successfully land down for the trigger, whereas Djeru and Hazoret need to attack. Etali is also quite better since it works on any card, and in fact is technically just a better an “upgraded” version of Atraxa, Grand Unifier (albeit two of the cards are from your opponent’s).

Although the efficiency of the combo heavily depends on being able to draw the combo piece for each effect, at least the combo is reversible. So, in theory, Etali can equally put Djeru and Hazoret on the battlefield as much as the two putting Etali down.

Jinnie Fay, Jetmir’s Second + Glistening Dawn

Glistening Dawn may be impressive in delivering giant Phyrexian tokens, but the added cost of cracking them to the field considerably lessens its potency. Jinnie Fay, Jetmir's Second instantly solves this problem by removing the added mana cost, and even allowing the generated tokens to swing immediately. So, you cast her on turn three, and if she manages to survive until turn four, your Glistening Dawn will instead produce two giant 6/6 cats with haste (they get even bigger with more land drops).

Not as fast or as effective as Greasefang, Okiba Boss (its target is in the graveyard), but it is quite good enough. Even better is that Jinnie Fay can integrate herself directly into a dedicated Incubator token deck, so you have the secondary option to produce dog tokens with vigilance instead if strategically appropriate.

Hidetsugu and Kairi + Explosive Singularity

Looking at the two, it does seem like the pairing was a complete and deliberate match in heaven: ten mana value for exactly ten damage when the card resolves, an exact total of 20. Forget the convoke-ish effect, because once you manage to filter your deck properly with other cards plus Hidestugu and Kairi, all you need to do is eliminate the card. This can be as easy as recasting a spare one on your hand (effectively killing one of them), or setting up your resources to kill it regardless of your opponent’s moves.

Admittedly, this combo is quite jankier than Djeru and Hazoret + Etali, and you should build the deck so that the two cards can function separately. But seeing that sudden twenty damage out of nowhere is still quite fun.

Ghalta and Mavren + Sorin, Imperious Bloodlord

This one unfortunately is not legal in Standard. But if you are playing older MTG formats like Explorer or Historic, it should work. Yes, we are talking about younger Sorin’s third ability. Hilariously, even though Mavren is just clinging on top of Ghalta in the same manner as Fblthp to Borborygmos, they still collectively count as a “vampire” in a single card. Thus this giant 12/12 mega token generator can be summoned quickly by Sorin, Imperious Bloodlord as early as turn three, plus (potentially) gaining deathtouch and lifelink on turn four!

Interestingly, Ghalta and Mavren could also work wonderfully with Djeru and Hazoret. But unlike with Etali, the combo does not go both ways.