Combo Watch: Infinite Tokens with Krenko and Thornbite Staff

Welcome to a new episode of Combo Watch, the column where we break down the most interesting combos in the format piece by piece. Today we're covering one of the most classic mono-red synergies around: Krenko, Mob Boss + Thornbite Staff, a pair that costs a combined €7.92 and that at certain tables can close out a game before anyone has had a chance to say "interaction?"

How the Combo Works

The mechanism is elegant in its simplicity, and it revolves around two elements:

1. Krenko, Mob Boss — his tap ability creates X 1/1 Goblin tokens, where X is the number of Goblins you control.
2. Thornbite Staff — an Equipment that, once attached to a creature, untaps that creature whenever another creature dies.

The loop, step by step:

• Equip Thornbite Staff to Krenko, Mob Boss.
• Activate Krenko's ability (tapping him): generate at least one Goblin token.
• Sacrifice one of the Goblins you just created (you can do this with any sacrifice outlet, such as Goblin Bombardment or Skirk Prospector).
• The Goblin's death triggers the Staff, which untaps Krenko.
• Repeat: you now have more Goblins than before, activate the ability again, and the cycle continues.

Each iteration doubles (or more) the number of Goblins on the battlefield. The result? An arbitrarily large army of tokens. With Goblin Bombardment as your sacrifice outlet, the tokens also become infinite direct damage, closing out the game on the spot.

⚠️ Minimum requirement: you need at least 1 Goblin on the battlefield when Krenko taps. If he is the only Goblin and generates no additional ones, the loop never starts. In practice, with Krenko already on the field this condition is almost always met automatically.

Where to Include It

The combined color identity is mono-red (both cards are red or colorless). The most suitable commanders:

• Krenko, Mob Boss — The most obvious commander choice. The combo is literally his primary win condition, and building around him means always having one piece in the command zone.
• Ib Halfheart, Goblin Tactician — A more aggressive and chaotic approach, but he supports the Goblin tribe well through natural sacrifice effects.
• Rundvelt Hordemaster — A more recent commander, excellent for resilience and Goblin recursion. The combo here acts as a plan A/B depending on the build.
• Zirda, the Dawnwaker — Technically a companion in certain decks, she reduces the cost of activated abilities and synergizes with Krenko if brought along as a companion commander.
• Squee, Dubious Monarch — Produces Goblin tokens on attack, and in an aggro/combo build can support the combo as an alternate plan.

Lines of Play and Protection

The combo is extremely linear, but there are a few critical points to keep in mind.

Primary vulnerability: Krenko is a massive target. Expect removal. For this reason, having protection in place before committing is essential.

Classic protection tools:

• Lightning Greaves and Swiftfoot Boots to give Krenko shroud or hexproof.
• Goblin Matron or Goblin Recruiter to tutor up the pieces.
• Dualcaster Mage or flash spells to respond to opposing threats during the loop.

Recommended sacrifice outlets:

• Goblin Bombardment — direct damage, closes the game.
• Skirk Prospector — generates infinite red mana as a byproduct.
• Ashnod's Altar — infinite colorless mana, more versatile.

With Skirk Prospector active you also generate infinite mana, which lets you use it as a resource for other activated abilities or to cast spells with that mana before the end of your turn.

Budget vs. Premium Versions

The budget version here is genuinely accessible: the two core pieces cost a combined €7.92, and many of the sacrifice outlets are already present in any decent Goblin deck.

Verdict

Recommended Bracket: 3+

Krenko + Thornbite Staff is a solid, linear, and surprisingly affordable combo. It isn't the hardest combo to disrupt — a single instant-speed removal spell on Krenko or a board wipe is all it takes — but at a table where opponents haven't held up interaction, it ends the game in brutal fashion. Its extremely low barrier to entry makes it perfect for anyone who wants to take a Goblin deck to a competitive level without emptying their wallet.

If you're already running Krenko, Mob Boss as your commander, there's no excuse not to have Thornbite Staff in the deck. It's practically an auto-include that deserves serious consideration.