So I'm working on a deck. The deck box is Discord and the creature type (or chosen creature type) of every card is Shapeshifter.
I want the deck to be so complicated that very few players could pilot it optimally, let alone get a pocket judge.
A cool aspect that also encouraged the land count is the Fibonacci Sequence, adding the previous two numbers to get the next one. (1,1,2,3,5,8,13,21,etc.)
~~Lands~~
1 Thespian's Stage
1 Mutavault
2 Tomb of the Spirit Dragon
3 Unclaimed Territory (Always choose Shapeshifter)
5 Snow-Covered Island
8 Island
Primary Strategy: Lords and clones of lords. Make Cryptoplasm a Metallic Mimic and then clones of Cryptoplasm of Metallic Mimic until Adaptive Automaton comes online the jump shift to it on next upkeep. Mothdust Changeling flies over for the chunk swings. Tomb of the Spirit Dragon gives life equal to the number of lords you have plus any Universal Automatons.
Secondary Strategy: Lords to support 0/0 non-copied clones with Shapesharer and Amoeboid Changeling making creatures (without +1/+1 counters) into 0/0's, killing them as a state-based action. You could also just turn enemy units into 1/1 Mothdust Changelings when they declare blockers to your lorded versions, or just remove all creature types when fighting creature features.
Third Strategy: When fighting another creature feature deck, choose their creature type and make multiples of their most synergistic creature.
Fourth Strategy: Use Progenitor Mimic and have all previously made clones (using Cryptoplasm) become nontoken copies of Progenitor Mimic, furthering the tokens generated per upkeep.
Fifth Strategy: Make Progenitor Mimic without a copy effect and support it with Metallic Mimic, Adaptive Automaton, or whatever the enemy's running. Copies created with it start stacking "At the beginning of your upkeep, if this creature isn't a token, put a token onto the battlefield that's a copy of this creature" effects by copying the most recently made Progenitor Mimic.
Fibonacci Sequence can be attained with the Fifth Strategy by having a Cryptoplasm become a copy of the most recently made token on upkeep.
1. Progenitor Mimic, Cryptoplasm. (1 Progenitor Mimic Total, Yuck.)
2. Crypto1, Token 2 (1 Token) (3 Prog Total)
3. Crypto2, Token 3 and 4 (2 Tokens) (5 Total)
4. Crypto4, Token 5, 6, 7 (3 Tokens) (8 Total)
5. Crypto7, Token 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 (5 Tokens) (13 Total)
6. Crypto12, Token 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 (8 Tokens) (21 Total)
This is baseline multiplicative token output. Generation rates can be increased with multiple Cryptoplasm creatures (A Mirror Image copying Cryptoplasm prior to Progenitor Mimic coming out, for example.)
Additional upkeeps (Paradox Haze) would increase rate of growth. Shapesharer making something a Crypto creature before second upkeep would give the shared creature a chance to use its Crypto ability and break any "Until your next turn" effect. Clever Impersonator could enter as Paradox Haze or a 0/0, and any further clones could enter as additional copies of Clever Impersonator, then Paradox Haze.
Paradox Haze and Shapesharer could make CryptoProggies even more dangerous, with the second upkeep (and further) keeping inline with the Proggy count, doubling the number of tokens or Paradox Hazes each upkeep. Optimal Clever Haze usage is to keep the number of upkeeps close to the Proggy count. (If Proggy10 is up, work towards 10 Hazes.)
Vesuvan Shapeshifter could replace Cryptoplasm in a Progenitor Mimic chain, doubling the number of 0/0 creatures each upkeep.
("Token 2" Means that token has "At the beginning of your upkeep, if this creature isn't a token, create a token that's a copy of this creature" twice.)
1. Progenitor Mimic, Vesuvan Shapeshifter flips upside down. (1 Proggy Total)
2. Progenitor Mimic makes Token2, Vesuvan Shapeshifter flips as VesuProggy2. (3 Proggy Total)
3. Tokens 3, 4, 5. VesuProggy2 flips twice and becomes VesuProggy5. (6 Proggy Total)
4. Tokens 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11. VesuProggy5 = VesuProggy11. (12 Proggy Total)
5. Tokens 12 - 23. VesuProggy11 = VP23 (24 Proggy Total)
6. T24-47. VP21=VP43. (48 Proggy Total)
Cryptoplasm can ride Vesuvan Shapeshifter for more Progenitor Mimic Multipliers by manipulating the stack.
1. Progenitor Mimic makes Proggy 2. Cryptoplasm wants to become a copy of Vesuvan Shapeshifter, which flips face down at upkeep then turns face up as VesuProggy2 and Cryptoplasm becomes Crypto(Vesu)Proggy2.
2. Progenitor Mimic makes Proggy 3, the token (And all thereafter) gaining Crypto (And Vesu, but it's useless unless you really want a 2/2 with no creature types that can't flip back) from Crypto(Vesu)Proggy2. Crypto(Vesu)Proggy2 and VesuProggy2 both make CryptoToken(Vesu)Proggies 4, 5, 6, and 7. Crypto(Vesu)Proggy2 wants to become a copy of VesuProggy2, which flips at upkeep and flips back to being CryptoVesuProggy7. Crypto(Vesu)Proggy becomes Crypto(Vesu)Proggy7.
CVP67 is CryptoVesuProggy67. That means it's a 0/0 Progenitor Mimic with "At the beginning of your upkeep, you may have [this creature] become a copy of another target creature. If you do, [this creature] gains this ability.", and it has "At the beginning of your upkeep, you may turn this creature face down." and it has "You may have [this creature] enter the battlefield as a copy of any creature on the battlefield except it gains "At the beginning of your upkeep, if this creature isn't a token, put a token onto the battlefield that's a copy of this creature." and lastly it has "At the beginning of your upkeep, if this creature isn't a token, put a token onto the battlefield that's a copy of this creature."... 67 times.
If CVP67 is a token, it simply turns into the coolest creature at the next upkeep using Cryptoplasm's ability. If it's a nontoken creature... It makes tokens.
Thespian's Stage could become a copy of Mutavault. Then make a clone of MutaStage as a creature for more lands that could become more lands. Proggy = Multiple lands that could become creatures, further fueling Tomb of the Spirit Dragon for more life gain. This also enables non-blue activated abilities to be cast.
Mercurial Pretender (Clone Self, but gains "Pay 2UU, return to owner's hand.") could be useful in tandem with Shapesharer to allow you to recycle static clones if you needed to lay down Mirror Images before they could become Cryptoplasms.
Basic formula with Cryptoplasm and Progenitor Mimic alone, with a Coat of Arms to keep Progenitor Mimic alive.
Note that the number of created tokens actually follows the Fibonacci sequence and the P/T of every creature follows another Fibonacci sequence, pushed forward by 2 steps, minus 1.
Crypto = Cryptoplasm's ability "At the beginning of your upkeep, you may have Cryptoplasm become a copy of another target creature. If you do, Cryptoplasm gains this ability."
Proggy = Progenitor Mimic's ability "You may have Progenitor Mimic enter the battlefield as a copy of any creature on the battlefield except it gains "At the beginning of your upkeep, if this creature isn't a token, put a token onto the battlefield that's a copy of this creature."
Proggy2 = Has Progenitor Mimic's ability twice. This is done by having a Progenitor Mimic enter the battlefield as another Progenitor Mimic, preferably as a Cryptoplasm as a Progenitor Mimic so the token is still useful beyond its Proggy stack during later turns.
At turn 2 and onward, every creature will be named "Progenitor Mimic", but will have different amounts of Progenitor Mimic's ability and Cryptoplasm's ability to change. Progenitor Mimic itself will not be able to change using Cryptoplasm's ability, because it was never a Cryptoplasm to begin with. This is later rectified using a more complex card combination.
Having the original Progenitor Mimic enter the battlefield as anything but itself will limit the Proggy stack to 1, but Crypto creatures may still copy it for its Proggy1 stat, for that one named creature.
It is advisable for a nontoken Progenitor Mimic copying a Cryptoplasm copying anything else to not use Cryptoplasm's ability, as the resultant creature would completely lose its Proggy ability.
Generated tokens can become copies of other creatures as they enter the battlefield as normal. They won't gain Cryptoplasm's ability, and will be stuck with Proggy1 but be unable to utilize it due to being a token. Waiting a turn is ideal, as it gives the tokens the opportunity to change into a more powerful creature if one comes into play after they Crypto into something prior. Using Cryptoplasm's ability to become a non-proggy creature deletes the Proggy stack but keeps the Crypto ablility.
Now, let's redo this but add in one Vesuvan Shapeshifter. After three upkeeps, I'll add in a Paradox Haze, Amoeboid Changeling, and Shapesharer. All mana is to be unaccounted for, assuming we have 50 Axebane Guardians. Vesuvan Shapeshifter takes 2 mana a turn to use its flip ability. Shapesharer takes 3 mana per target (9 total). Shapesharer, Amoeboid Changeling, and Paradox Haze all cost a total of 7 mana, figuring 9 in one turn to play them and use Vesuvan Shapeshifter, then 11 to make them copies of VesuvanDown (its flipped state) and unflip Vesuvan Shapeshifter as the most recent CryptoProggy###.
Vesu = Has (and will use) Vesuvan Shapeshifter's ability "As Vesuvan Shapeshifter enters the battlefield or is turned face up, you may choose another creature on the battlefield. If you do, until Vesuvan Shapeshifter is turned face down, it becomes a copy of that creature and gains "At the beginning of your upkeep, you may turn this creature face down."
At one point, every creature except the original Progenitor Mimic will have Vesu. They will not use it, however, because they do not have a face down side and would simply become stuck as a 2/2 creature with no abilities or creature types. Only the original Vesuvan Shapeshifter will be called Vesu.
Progenitor Mimic makes 1 CryptoProggy3 Token.
CryptoProggy2 targets VesuProggy2.
VesuProggy2 makes 2 CryptoProggy 4 and 5 Tokens.
VesuProggy2 flips and becomes VesuvanDown.
CryptoProggy2 makes 2 CryptoProggy 6 and 7 Tokens.
VesuvanDown flips and becomes CryptoVesuProggy7.
CryptoProggy2 becomes CryptoProggy7.
5 tokens made.
P/T = 8
Progenitor Mimic makes 1 CryptoProggy8 Token.
CryptoProggy7 targets CryptoVesuProggy7.
CryptoVesuProggy7 makes 7 CryptoProggy 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 Tokens.
CryptoVesuProggy7 flips and becomes VesuvanDown.
CryptoProggy7 makes 7 CryptoProggy 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 Tokens.
VesuvanDown flips and becomes CryptoVesuProggy22.
CryptoProggy7 becomes CryptoProggy22.
15 tokens made.
P/T = 23
Adding in Paradox Haze, Amoeboid Changeling, and Shapesharer during main phase.
Every past CryptoProggy## Token can become copies of Amoeboid Changeling and/or Shapesharer. Using Amoeboid Changeling and Shapesharer on an enemy creature with no counters on it will make it a 0/0 creature, killing it if it has no way of boosting its P/T, assuming Coat of Arms is replaced by Master Biomancer or Adaptive Automaton, depending on how well you micromanage your 0/0 P/T's.
CryptoProggies that change from being a Progenitor Mimic lose their stack of Progenitor Abilities, but retain Cryptoplasm's ability to change during upkeeps. It is advised to only do this with older CryptoProggy tokens and to retain the most recent CryptoProggy token to retain its stack count for nontoken copies.
--1st Upkeep--
Progenitor Mimic makes 1 CryptoProggy23 Token.
CryptoProggy22 targets CryptoVesuProggy22.
CryptoVesuProggy22 makes 22 CryptoProggy 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45 Tokens.
CryptoVesuProggy22 flips and becomes VesuvanDown.
CryptoProggy22 makes 22 CryptoProggy 46 through 67 Tokens.
VesuvanDown flips and becomes CryptoVesuProggy67.
CryptoProggy22 becomes CryptoProggy67.
Shapesharer makes Progenitor Mimic become a copy of CryptoProggy67 (CryptoProggyGen67)until beginning of next turn.
Shapesharer makes Amoeboid Changeling become a copy of CryptoProggy67 (CryptoProggyAmo67)until beginning of next turn.
Shapesharer makes Shapesharer become a copy of CryptoProggy67 (CryptoProggyShape67)until beginning of next turn.
45 tokens made.
P/T = 68
--2nd Upkeep--
CryptoProggyGen67, CryptoProggyAmo67, CryptoProggyShape67, and CryptoProggy67 all target CryptoVesuProggy67.
CryptoVesuProggy67 makes 67 CryptoProggy 68 through 134 Tokens.
CryptoProggyGen67, CryptoProggyAmo67, CryptoProggyShape67, and CryptoProggy67 all make 67 (each) CryptoProggy 135 through 402 Tokens.
CryptoVesuProggy67 flips and becomes VesuvanDown.
VesuvanDown flips and becomes CryptoVesuProggy402.
CryptoProggyGen67, CryptoProggyAmo67, CryptoProggyShape67, and CryptoProggy67 all become CryptoProggy402 permanently.
268 tokens made.
P/T = 336
The only thing that matters at this point is whether or not your creature is a token.
Allied creatures can utilize CryptoProggy abilities if turned into such using Shapesharer. If playing 2 Headed Giant, your ally needs a copy of Paradox Haze to actually use CryptoProggies. If playing Emperor (or you just really like someone in a free-for-all), they can make their CryptoProggy### target itself on their upkeep and make tokens, because Shapesharer's ability lasts until the beginning of your turn, therefore the resultant creature gets at least one upkeep to do its thing. This is assuming the 'ally' has a way of making a 0/0 creature and its resultant spawn survive, of course.
Simple copy creatures like Clone and Mirror Image can add more insanity to this mix simply by being a nontoken creature. Clone, Mirror Image, and the like only skip the step of needing Shapesharer, Paradox Haze, and possibly Amoeboid Changeling (if the base creature isn't a Shapeshifter).
If you want additional Paradox Hazes but don't enjoy the limitation of four per deck, create a Clever Impersonator and choose for it to not become a copy of anything. Thereafter, you can reduce your Proggy### growth rate by having new CryptoProggy tokens enter the battlefield as Clever Impersonator, then as Paradox Haze. This cannot be used as an infinite loop because Paradox Haze only procs on your first upkeep. Thereafter, you can keep a token as Clever Impersonator and have the nontoken Clever Impersonator Shapesharer'd into the Proggy sequence.
Instants and Sorceries that create tokens are woefully underpowered, unless you have a Precursor Golem and Arcane Adaptation (Golem). Then, simply pop off with clone spells like Cackling Counterpart, Quasiduplicate, and Rite of Replication. This Rite of Replication hilarity could get more insane by having all your trash CryptoProggies become copies of Silverfur Partisan with Arcane Adaptation (Wolf). Including wolves and werewolves adds zest because creating a token that's a copy of a flipped werewolf (preferably eldrazi) prohibits it from flipping back, because the token doesn't have a backside. Arcane Adaptation (Horror) and your Awoken Horror copies won't bounce your own creatures, but will bounce your opponents, especially when they lose all creature types due to Amoeboid Changeling.
Joraga Warcaller with Master Biomancer is hilarious. Elves in general are fun in a clone deck, but there's little room with all the prior mentioned cards playsetted. As well, elves generally only produce green mana. You need a lot of blue mana to power this engine.
Dormant Sliver allows Amoeboid Changeling and Shapesharer to give you card draw on playing them. Those three also power Axebane Guardian.
Master Biomancer's ability "Each other creature you control enters the battlefield with a number of additional +1/+1 counters on it equal to Master Biomancer's power and as a Mutant in addition to its other types." also follows a sequence.
1 Biomancer = +2
2 Biomancers = +6
3 Biomancers = +14
4 Biomancers = +30
5 Biomancers = +62
6 Biomancers = +124
7 Biomancers = +250 +1/+1 counters on each new creature.
This function works as "Newest Master Biomancer's +1/+1 counters = double previous highest bonus score. Add 2 for new creatures because Master Biomancer has base P/T 2/4."
Master Biomancer gets multiplicatively more powerful when Joraga Warcallers are introduced. At 7 Master Biomancers, 1 Joraga Warcaller, if not kicked, adds an additional 1750 total power for the Biomancers, and totaling 2000 additional +1/+1 counters for new creatures. Plus, all new creatures become mutants, which says a lot about how this operates thematically.
My main goal is to create a deck so utterly complex that nobody can utilize it to its full effectiveness. Not even me.
I want the deck to be so complicated that very few players could pilot it optimally, let alone get a pocket judge.
A cool aspect that also encouraged the land count is the Fibonacci Sequence, adding the previous two numbers to get the next one. (1,1,2,3,5,8,13,21,etc.)
~~Lands~~
1 Thespian's Stage
1 Mutavault
2 Tomb of the Spirit Dragon
3 Unclaimed Territory (Always choose Shapeshifter)
5 Snow-Covered Island
8 Island
~~Creatures~~
4 Mothdust Changeling
4 Universal Automaton
4 Metallic Mimic (Usually choose Shapeshifter)
4 Amoeboid Changeling
4 Shapesharer
4 Cryptoplasm (Play ASAP)
4 Mirror Image
4 Adaptive Automaton (Usually choose Shapeshifter)
2 Clever Impersonator
4 Vesuvan Shapeshifter (2 Paradox Haze) (2 Mercurial Pretender)
2 Progenitor Mimic
Primary Strategy: Lords and clones of lords. Make Cryptoplasm a Metallic Mimic and then clones of Cryptoplasm of Metallic Mimic until Adaptive Automaton comes online the jump shift to it on next upkeep. Mothdust Changeling flies over for the chunk swings. Tomb of the Spirit Dragon gives life equal to the number of lords you have plus any Universal Automatons.
Secondary Strategy: Lords to support 0/0 non-copied clones with Shapesharer and Amoeboid Changeling making creatures (without +1/+1 counters) into 0/0's, killing them as a state-based action. You could also just turn enemy units into 1/1 Mothdust Changelings when they declare blockers to your lorded versions, or just remove all creature types when fighting creature features.
Third Strategy: When fighting another creature feature deck, choose their creature type and make multiples of their most synergistic creature.
Fourth Strategy: Use Progenitor Mimic and have all previously made clones (using Cryptoplasm) become nontoken copies of Progenitor Mimic, furthering the tokens generated per upkeep.
Fifth Strategy: Make Progenitor Mimic without a copy effect and support it with Metallic Mimic, Adaptive Automaton, or whatever the enemy's running. Copies created with it start stacking "At the beginning of your upkeep, if this creature isn't a token, put a token onto the battlefield that's a copy of this creature" effects by copying the most recently made Progenitor Mimic.
Fibonacci Sequence can be attained with the Fifth Strategy by having a Cryptoplasm become a copy of the most recently made token on upkeep.
1. Progenitor Mimic, Cryptoplasm. (1 Progenitor Mimic Total, Yuck.)
2. Crypto1, Token 2 (1 Token) (3 Prog Total)
3. Crypto2, Token 3 and 4 (2 Tokens) (5 Total)
4. Crypto4, Token 5, 6, 7 (3 Tokens) (8 Total)
5. Crypto7, Token 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 (5 Tokens) (13 Total)
6. Crypto12, Token 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 (8 Tokens) (21 Total)
This is baseline multiplicative token output. Generation rates can be increased with multiple Cryptoplasm creatures (A Mirror Image copying Cryptoplasm prior to Progenitor Mimic coming out, for example.)
Additional upkeeps (Paradox Haze) would increase rate of growth. Shapesharer making something a Crypto creature before second upkeep would give the shared creature a chance to use its Crypto ability and break any "Until your next turn" effect. Clever Impersonator could enter as Paradox Haze or a 0/0, and any further clones could enter as additional copies of Clever Impersonator, then Paradox Haze.
Paradox Haze and Shapesharer could make CryptoProggies even more dangerous, with the second upkeep (and further) keeping inline with the Proggy count, doubling the number of tokens or Paradox Hazes each upkeep. Optimal Clever Haze usage is to keep the number of upkeeps close to the Proggy count. (If Proggy10 is up, work towards 10 Hazes.)
Vesuvan Shapeshifter could replace Cryptoplasm in a Progenitor Mimic chain, doubling the number of 0/0 creatures each upkeep.
("Token 2" Means that token has "At the beginning of your upkeep, if this creature isn't a token, create a token that's a copy of this creature" twice.)
1. Progenitor Mimic, Vesuvan Shapeshifter flips upside down. (1 Proggy Total)
2. Progenitor Mimic makes Token2, Vesuvan Shapeshifter flips as VesuProggy2. (3 Proggy Total)
3. Tokens 3, 4, 5. VesuProggy2 flips twice and becomes VesuProggy5. (6 Proggy Total)
4. Tokens 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11. VesuProggy5 = VesuProggy11. (12 Proggy Total)
5. Tokens 12 - 23. VesuProggy11 = VP23 (24 Proggy Total)
6. T24-47. VP21=VP43. (48 Proggy Total)
Cryptoplasm can ride Vesuvan Shapeshifter for more Progenitor Mimic Multipliers by manipulating the stack.
1. Progenitor Mimic makes Proggy 2. Cryptoplasm wants to become a copy of Vesuvan Shapeshifter, which flips face down at upkeep then turns face up as VesuProggy2 and Cryptoplasm becomes Crypto(Vesu)Proggy2.
2. Progenitor Mimic makes Proggy 3, the token (And all thereafter) gaining Crypto (And Vesu, but it's useless unless you really want a 2/2 with no creature types that can't flip back) from Crypto(Vesu)Proggy2. Crypto(Vesu)Proggy2 and VesuProggy2 both make CryptoToken(Vesu)Proggies 4, 5, 6, and 7. Crypto(Vesu)Proggy2 wants to become a copy of VesuProggy2, which flips at upkeep and flips back to being CryptoVesuProggy7. Crypto(Vesu)Proggy becomes Crypto(Vesu)Proggy7.
3. Progenitor Mimic makes CVP8. CP7 & VP7 >> CVP9-22. CP7 = VP7 = CVP22.
4. P > 23. CP22 > 24-45. VP22 > 46-67. CP22 = VP22 = CVP67.
CVP67 is CryptoVesuProggy67. That means it's a 0/0 Progenitor Mimic with "At the beginning of your upkeep, you may have [this creature] become a copy of another target creature. If you do, [this creature] gains this ability.", and it has "At the beginning of your upkeep, you may turn this creature face down." and it has "You may have [this creature] enter the battlefield as a copy of any creature on the battlefield except it gains "At the beginning of your upkeep, if this creature isn't a token, put a token onto the battlefield that's a copy of this creature." and lastly it has "At the beginning of your upkeep, if this creature isn't a token, put a token onto the battlefield that's a copy of this creature."... 67 times.
If CVP67 is a token, it simply turns into the coolest creature at the next upkeep using Cryptoplasm's ability. If it's a nontoken creature... It makes tokens.
Thespian's Stage could become a copy of Mutavault. Then make a clone of MutaStage as a creature for more lands that could become more lands. Proggy = Multiple lands that could become creatures, further fueling Tomb of the Spirit Dragon for more life gain. This also enables non-blue activated abilities to be cast.
Mercurial Pretender (Clone Self, but gains "Pay 2UU, return to owner's hand.") could be useful in tandem with Shapesharer to allow you to recycle static clones if you needed to lay down Mirror Images before they could become Cryptoplasms.
Note that the number of created tokens actually follows the Fibonacci sequence and the P/T of every creature follows another Fibonacci sequence, pushed forward by 2 steps, minus 1.
Crypto = Cryptoplasm's ability "At the beginning of your upkeep, you may have Cryptoplasm become a copy of another target creature. If you do, Cryptoplasm gains this ability."
Proggy = Progenitor Mimic's ability "You may have Progenitor Mimic enter the battlefield as a copy of any creature on the battlefield except it gains "At the beginning of your upkeep, if this creature isn't a token, put a token onto the battlefield that's a copy of this creature."
Proggy2 = Has Progenitor Mimic's ability twice. This is done by having a Progenitor Mimic enter the battlefield as another Progenitor Mimic, preferably as a Cryptoplasm as a Progenitor Mimic so the token is still useful beyond its Proggy stack during later turns.
At turn 2 and onward, every creature will be named "Progenitor Mimic", but will have different amounts of Progenitor Mimic's ability and Cryptoplasm's ability to change. Progenitor Mimic itself will not be able to change using Cryptoplasm's ability, because it was never a Cryptoplasm to begin with. This is later rectified using a more complex card combination.
Having the original Progenitor Mimic enter the battlefield as anything but itself will limit the Proggy stack to 1, but Crypto creatures may still copy it for its Proggy1 stat, for that one named creature.
It is advisable for a nontoken Progenitor Mimic copying a Cryptoplasm copying anything else to not use Cryptoplasm's ability, as the resultant creature would completely lose its Proggy ability.
Cryptoplasm.
Progenitor Mimic as itself.
(1 Progenitor Mimic made).
P/T = 1.
Cryptoplasm becomes CryptoProggy1.
Progenitor Mimic makes 1 CryptoProggy2 Token.
1 token made. (1+0)
P/T = 2
CryptoProggy1 becomes CryptoProggy2.
Progenitor Mimic makes 1 CryptoProggy3 Token.
CryptoProggy2 makes 1 Cryptoproggy4 Token.
2 tokens made. (1+1)
P/T = 4
CryptoProggy2 becomes CryptoProggy4.
Progenitor Mimic makes 1 CryptoProggy5 Token.
CryptoProggy4 makes 2 CryptoProggy 6 and 7 Tokens.
3 tokens made. (2+1)
P/T = 7
CryptoProggy4 becomes CryptoProggy7.
Progenitor Mimic makes 1 CryptoProggy8 Token.
CryptoProggy8 makes 4 CryptoProggy 9, 10, 11, 12 Tokens.
5 tokens made. (3+2)
P/T = 12
CryptoProggy7 becomes CryptoProggy12.
Progenitor Mimic makes 1 CryptoProggy13 Token.
CryptoProggy12 makes 7 CryptoProggy 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 Tokens.
8 tokens made. (5+3)
P/T = 20
CryptoProggy12 becomes CryptoProggy20.
Progenitor Mimic makes 1 CryptoProggy21 Token.
CryptoProggy20 makes 12 CryptoProggy 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, and 33 Tokens.
13 tokens made. (8+5)
P/T = 33
CryptoProggy20 becomes CryptoProggy33.
Progenitor Mimic makes 1 CryptoProggy34 Token.
CryptoProggy33 makes 20 CryptoProggy 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, and 54 Tokens.
21 tokens made. (13+8)
P/T = 54
CryptoProggy33 becomes CryptoProggy54.
Progenitor Mimic makes 1 CryptoProggy55 Token.
CryptoProggy54 makes 33 CryptoProggy 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88 Tokens.
34 tokens made. (21+13)
P/T = 88
Generated tokens can become copies of other creatures as they enter the battlefield as normal. They won't gain Cryptoplasm's ability, and will be stuck with Proggy1 but be unable to utilize it due to being a token. Waiting a turn is ideal, as it gives the tokens the opportunity to change into a more powerful creature if one comes into play after they Crypto into something prior. Using Cryptoplasm's ability to become a non-proggy creature deletes the Proggy stack but keeps the Crypto ablility.
Now, let's redo this but add in one Vesuvan Shapeshifter. After three upkeeps, I'll add in a Paradox Haze, Amoeboid Changeling, and Shapesharer. All mana is to be unaccounted for, assuming we have 50 Axebane Guardians. Vesuvan Shapeshifter takes 2 mana a turn to use its flip ability. Shapesharer takes 3 mana per target (9 total). Shapesharer, Amoeboid Changeling, and Paradox Haze all cost a total of 7 mana, figuring 9 in one turn to play them and use Vesuvan Shapeshifter, then 11 to make them copies of VesuvanDown (its flipped state) and unflip Vesuvan Shapeshifter as the most recent CryptoProggy###.
Vesu = Has (and will use) Vesuvan Shapeshifter's ability "As Vesuvan Shapeshifter enters the battlefield or is turned face up, you may choose another creature on the battlefield. If you do, until Vesuvan Shapeshifter is turned face down, it becomes a copy of that creature and gains "At the beginning of your upkeep, you may turn this creature face down."
At one point, every creature except the original Progenitor Mimic will have Vesu. They will not use it, however, because they do not have a face down side and would simply become stuck as a 2/2 creature with no abilities or creature types. Only the original Vesuvan Shapeshifter will be called Vesu.
Cryptoplasm.
Vesuvan Shapeshifter as Cryptoplasm (Vesuplasm).
Progenitor Mimic.
(1 Progenitor Mimic made).
P/T = 2
Progenitor Mimic makes 1 Proggy2 Token.
Cryptoplasm targets Vesuplasm.
Vesuplasm flips twice and becomes VesuProggy2.
Cryptoplasm becomes CryptoProggy2.
1 token made.
P/T = 3
Progenitor Mimic makes 1 CryptoProggy3 Token.
CryptoProggy2 targets VesuProggy2.
VesuProggy2 makes 2 CryptoProggy 4 and 5 Tokens.
VesuProggy2 flips and becomes VesuvanDown.
CryptoProggy2 makes 2 CryptoProggy 6 and 7 Tokens.
VesuvanDown flips and becomes CryptoVesuProggy7.
CryptoProggy2 becomes CryptoProggy7.
5 tokens made.
P/T = 8
Progenitor Mimic makes 1 CryptoProggy8 Token.
CryptoProggy7 targets CryptoVesuProggy7.
CryptoVesuProggy7 makes 7 CryptoProggy 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 Tokens.
CryptoVesuProggy7 flips and becomes VesuvanDown.
CryptoProggy7 makes 7 CryptoProggy 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 Tokens.
VesuvanDown flips and becomes CryptoVesuProggy22.
CryptoProggy7 becomes CryptoProggy22.
15 tokens made.
P/T = 23
Adding in Paradox Haze, Amoeboid Changeling, and Shapesharer during main phase.
Every past CryptoProggy## Token can become copies of Amoeboid Changeling and/or Shapesharer. Using Amoeboid Changeling and Shapesharer on an enemy creature with no counters on it will make it a 0/0 creature, killing it if it has no way of boosting its P/T, assuming Coat of Arms is replaced by Master Biomancer or Adaptive Automaton, depending on how well you micromanage your 0/0 P/T's.
CryptoProggies that change from being a Progenitor Mimic lose their stack of Progenitor Abilities, but retain Cryptoplasm's ability to change during upkeeps. It is advised to only do this with older CryptoProggy tokens and to retain the most recent CryptoProggy token to retain its stack count for nontoken copies.
--1st Upkeep--
Progenitor Mimic makes 1 CryptoProggy23 Token.
CryptoProggy22 targets CryptoVesuProggy22.
CryptoVesuProggy22 makes 22 CryptoProggy 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45 Tokens.
CryptoVesuProggy22 flips and becomes VesuvanDown.
CryptoProggy22 makes 22 CryptoProggy 46 through 67 Tokens.
VesuvanDown flips and becomes CryptoVesuProggy67.
CryptoProggy22 becomes CryptoProggy67.
Shapesharer makes Progenitor Mimic become a copy of CryptoProggy67 (CryptoProggyGen67)until beginning of next turn.
Shapesharer makes Amoeboid Changeling become a copy of CryptoProggy67 (CryptoProggyAmo67)until beginning of next turn.
Shapesharer makes Shapesharer become a copy of CryptoProggy67 (CryptoProggyShape67)until beginning of next turn.
45 tokens made.
P/T = 68
--2nd Upkeep--
CryptoProggyGen67, CryptoProggyAmo67, CryptoProggyShape67, and CryptoProggy67 all target CryptoVesuProggy67.
CryptoVesuProggy67 makes 67 CryptoProggy 68 through 134 Tokens.
CryptoProggyGen67, CryptoProggyAmo67, CryptoProggyShape67, and CryptoProggy67 all make 67 (each) CryptoProggy 135 through 402 Tokens.
CryptoVesuProggy67 flips and becomes VesuvanDown.
VesuvanDown flips and becomes CryptoVesuProggy402.
CryptoProggyGen67, CryptoProggyAmo67, CryptoProggyShape67, and CryptoProggy67 all become CryptoProggy402 permanently.
268 tokens made.
P/T = 336
The only thing that matters at this point is whether or not your creature is a token.
Allied creatures can utilize CryptoProggy abilities if turned into such using Shapesharer. If playing 2 Headed Giant, your ally needs a copy of Paradox Haze to actually use CryptoProggies. If playing Emperor (or you just really like someone in a free-for-all), they can make their CryptoProggy### target itself on their upkeep and make tokens, because Shapesharer's ability lasts until the beginning of your turn, therefore the resultant creature gets at least one upkeep to do its thing. This is assuming the 'ally' has a way of making a 0/0 creature and its resultant spawn survive, of course.
Simple copy creatures like Clone and Mirror Image can add more insanity to this mix simply by being a nontoken creature. Clone, Mirror Image, and the like only skip the step of needing Shapesharer, Paradox Haze, and possibly Amoeboid Changeling (if the base creature isn't a Shapeshifter).
If you want additional Paradox Hazes but don't enjoy the limitation of four per deck, create a Clever Impersonator and choose for it to not become a copy of anything. Thereafter, you can reduce your Proggy### growth rate by having new CryptoProggy tokens enter the battlefield as Clever Impersonator, then as Paradox Haze. This cannot be used as an infinite loop because Paradox Haze only procs on your first upkeep. Thereafter, you can keep a token as Clever Impersonator and have the nontoken Clever Impersonator Shapesharer'd into the Proggy sequence.
Instants and Sorceries that create tokens are woefully underpowered, unless you have a Precursor Golem and Arcane Adaptation (Golem). Then, simply pop off with clone spells like Cackling Counterpart, Quasiduplicate, and Rite of Replication. This Rite of Replication hilarity could get more insane by having all your trash CryptoProggies become copies of Silverfur Partisan with Arcane Adaptation (Wolf). Including wolves and werewolves adds zest because creating a token that's a copy of a flipped werewolf (preferably eldrazi) prohibits it from flipping back, because the token doesn't have a backside. Arcane Adaptation (Horror) and your Awoken Horror copies won't bounce your own creatures, but will bounce your opponents, especially when they lose all creature types due to Amoeboid Changeling.
Joraga Warcaller with Master Biomancer is hilarious. Elves in general are fun in a clone deck, but there's little room with all the prior mentioned cards playsetted. As well, elves generally only produce green mana. You need a lot of blue mana to power this engine.
Dormant Sliver allows Amoeboid Changeling and Shapesharer to give you card draw on playing them. Those three also power Axebane Guardian.
Master Biomancer's ability "Each other creature you control enters the battlefield with a number of additional +1/+1 counters on it equal to Master Biomancer's power and as a Mutant in addition to its other types." also follows a sequence.
1 Biomancer = +2
2 Biomancers = +6
3 Biomancers = +14
4 Biomancers = +30
5 Biomancers = +62
6 Biomancers = +124
7 Biomancers = +250 +1/+1 counters on each new creature.
This function works as "Newest Master Biomancer's +1/+1 counters = double previous highest bonus score. Add 2 for new creatures because Master Biomancer has base P/T 2/4."
Master Biomancer gets multiplicatively more powerful when Joraga Warcallers are introduced. At 7 Master Biomancers, 1 Joraga Warcaller, if not kicked, adds an additional 1750 total power for the Biomancers, and totaling 2000 additional +1/+1 counters for new creatures. Plus, all new creatures become mutants, which says a lot about how this operates thematically.
My main goal is to create a deck so utterly complex that nobody can utilize it to its full effectiveness. Not even me.