Art by Immanuela Crovius
Saved commander deck
Arnim Zola, Bio-Fanatic
Fill the graveyard with creatures to unlock Arnim Zola's token creation, then swarm the board with menace tokens and convert them into value with aristocrat sacrifice engines.
Prompt: Arnim Zola, Bio-Fanatic commander deck
Commander
1 cards
Arnim Zola, Bio-Fanatic
{2}{B}Legendary Artifact Creature — Scientist Villain
Chosen commander for the requested strategy.
Ramp
11 cards
Thought Vessel
{2}Artifact
Provides colorless acceleration with no hand size limit
Cabal Ritual
{1}{B}Instant
Fast mana that easily hits threshold with our graveyard strategy
Bontu's Monument
{3}Legendary Artifact
Reduces creature costs and drains opponents as creatures enter
Ashnod's Altar
{3}Artifact
Converts menace tokens and recurrable creatures into mana
Phyrexian Altar
{3}Artifact
Sacrifice outlet that converts tokens into colored mana
Card Draw
11 cards
Morbid Curiosity
{1}{B}{B}Sorcery
Sacrifices high-cost tokens or artifacts to restock the hand
Deadly Dispute
{1}{B}Instant
Draws two cards and produces a Treasure off a token or artifact
Grim Haruspex
{2}{B}Creature — Human Wizard
Draws cards whenever nontoken creatures die
Midnight Reaper
{2}{B}Creature — Zombie Knight
Draws cards when our creatures die
Species Specialist
{2}{B}{B}Creature — Human Warrior
Draws cards when chosen creature types die
Morbid Opportunist
{2}{B}Creature — Human Rogue
Draws cards whenever a creature dies each turn
Removal
10 cards
Feed the Swarm
{1}{B}Sorcery
Vital black removal that answers both creatures and enchantments
Bitter Triumph
{1}{B}Instant
Discards a creature to the graveyard while destroying a threat
Damnation
{2}{B}{B}Sorcery
Efficient board wipe to clear opposing boards and restock graveyard
Threats/Wincons
22 cards
Blood Artist
{1}{B}Creature — Vampire
Classic aristocrat drain whenever any creature dies
Zulaport Cutthroat
{1}{B}Creature — Human Rogue Ally
Drains the table whenever our creatures die
Bastion of Remembrance
{2}{B}Enchantment
Enchantment drain effect resilient to creature board wipes
Nadier's Nightblade
{2}{B}Creature — Elf Warrior
Drains opponents whenever our tokens leave the battlefield
Mirkwood Bats
{3}{B}Creature — Bat
Drains each opponent when tokens enter or are sacrificed
Ayara, First of Locthwain
{B}{B}{B}Legendary Creature — Elf Noble
Drains opponents when black tokens enter and provides card draw
Syr Konrad, the Grim
{3}{B}{B}Legendary Creature — Human Knight
Deals massive damage as creatures enter or leave the graveyard
Stitcher's Supplier
{B}Creature — Zombie
Mills cards to immediately meet Arnim Zola's graveyard threshold
Carrion Feeder
{B}Creature — Zombie
Sacrifice outlet creature that grows into a massive threat
Viscera Seer
{B}Creature — Vampire Wizard
Free sacrifice outlet creature that fixes draws
Woe Strider
{2}{B}Creature — Horror
Free sacrifice outlet that recurs itself from the graveyard
Grave Titan
{4}{B}{B}Creature — Giant
Produces multiple creature tokens to flood the battlefield
Ophiomancer
{2}{B}Creature — Human Shaman
Generates a deathtouch creature every turn for defense and sacrifice
Jadar, Ghoulcaller of Nephalia
{1}{B}Legendary Creature — Human Wizard
Provides a disposable decayed token every end step
Dreadhorde Invasion
{1}{B}Enchantment
Continual token generation to sacrifice or attack with
Reassembling Skeleton
{1}{B}Creature — Skeleton Warrior
Recursive creature to keep graveyard requirements met or sacrifice repeatedly
Bloodsoaked Champion
{B}Creature — Human Warrior
Easily recurred creature that attacks alongside menace tokens
Nether Traitor
{B}{B}Creature — Spirit
Recursive creature that synergizes with creature deaths
Gravecrawler
{B}Creature — Zombie
Easily loopable creature to trigger death effects
Braids, Arisen Nightmare
{1}{B}{B}Legendary Creature — Nightmare
Forces opponents to sacrifice permanents or take damage and draw us cards
Gray Merchant of Asphodel
{3}{B}{B}Creature — Zombie
Devastating life drain finisher in mono-black
Gix, Yawgmoth Praetor
{1}{B}{B}Legendary Creature — Phyrexian Praetor
Draws cards when our menace tokens successfully connect
Utility
7 cards
Thousand-Year Elixir
{3}Artifact
Allows Arnim Zola to activate immediately and untap to produce multiple tokens
Illusionist's Bracers
{2}Artifact — Equipment
Doubles Arnim Zola's token creation ability upon activation
Rings of Brighthearth
{3}Artifact
Copies Arnim Zola's activated ability for extra menace tokens
Lightning Greaves
{2}Artifact — Equipment
Protects Arnim Zola and grants haste to activate immediately
Swiftfoot Boots
{2}Artifact — Equipment
Provides hexproof and haste to keep the commander safe
Buried Alive
{2}{B}Sorcery
Instantly puts creatures into the graveyard to fulfill commander requirements
Entomb
{B}Instant
Tutors any creature straight into the graveyard for immediate setup
