Art by Mintautas Šukys
Saved commander deck
Bob, Reluctant HYDRA Agent
Cast Bob repeatedly and attack alone with haste and evasion to trigger life drain, supported by cast triggers, exalted buffs, and drain-amplifying payoffs.
Prompt: Bob, Reluctant HYDRA Agent commander deck
Commander
1 cards
Bob, Reluctant HYDRA Agent
{1}{B}Legendary Creature — Human Coward Villain
Chosen commander for the requested strategy.
Ramp
10 cards
Bontu's Monument
{3}Legendary Artifact
Reduces creature costs and drains opponents every time Bob is cast
Thought Vessel
{2}Artifact
Reliable mana rock that provides an unlimited hand size
Crypt Ghast
{3}{B}Creature — Spirit
Doubles Swamp mana and provides an extort drain sink
Card Draw
10 cards
Necropotence
{B}{B}{B}Enchantment
Unrivaled card advantage fueled by Bob's life gain
Black Market Connections
{2}{B}Enchantment
Provides cards, treasure ramp, and bodies at the cost of life
Morbid Opportunist
{2}{B}Creature — Human Rogue
Draws cards steadily as creatures perish
Removal
11 cards
Feed the Swarm
{1}{B}Sorcery
Crucial black answer to problematic enchantments or creatures
Bitter Triumph
{1}{B}Instant
Flexible removal hitting creatures and planeswalkers
Deadly Rollick
{3}{B}Instant
Free exile removal while controlling your commander
Snuff Out
{3}{B}Instant
Free instant-speed creature removal powered by life payments
Hero's Downfall
{1}{B}{B}Instant
Versatile instant-speed creature or planeswalker kill spell
Dismember
{1}{B/P}{B/P}Instant
Flexible cheap removal that bypasses indestructible
Threats/Wincons
24 cards
Gray Merchant of Asphodel
{3}{B}{B}Creature — Zombie
Massive life drain finisher scaling with black devotion
Bloodchief Ascension
{B}Enchantment
Fast quest counter accumulation leading to lethal drain
Aetherflux Reservoir
{4}Artifact
Rewards recasting Bob with exponential life gain and a laser finish
Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose
{2}{B}Legendary Creature — Vampire Cleric
Turns Bob's life gain triggers into direct damage against opponents
Marauding Blight-Priest
{2}{B}Creature — Vampire Cleric
Drains each opponent whenever Bob gains life
Sanguine Bond
{3}{B}{B}Enchantment
Amplifies life gain from Bob into target opponent life loss
Exquisite Blood
{4}{B}Enchantment
Converts opponents' life loss into sustained life gain
Sheoldred, the Apocalypse
{2}{B}{B}Legendary Creature — Phyrexian Praetor
Punishes opponents' card draw while replenishing your life total
Nefarox, Overlord of Grixis
{4}{B}{B}Legendary Creature — Demon
Exalted threat that forces opponents to sacrifice when attacking alone
Duty-Bound Dead
{B}Creature — Skeleton
Cheap creature providing exalted buff to solo attacks
Servant of Nefarox
{2}{B}Creature — Human Cleric
Provides exalted to boost solitary attacks
Knight of Infamy
{1}{B}Creature — Human Knight
Exalted creature with protection from white
Gix, Yawgmoth Praetor
{1}{B}{B}Legendary Creature — Phyrexian Praetor
Draws cards from combat damage and provides a late-game spell steal
Bolas's Citadel
{3}{B}{B}{B}Legendary Artifact
Casts spells from the top of the library fueled by steady life gain
Ayara, First of Locthwain
{B}{B}{B}Legendary Creature — Elf Noble
Drains opponents each time Bob enters the battlefield
Blood Artist
{1}{B}Creature — Vampire
Drains opponents when creatures die on any side
Zulaport Cutthroat
{1}{B}Creature — Human Rogue Ally
Drains all opponents whenever friendly creatures die
Syr Konrad, the Grim
{3}{B}{B}Legendary Creature — Human Knight
Drains opponents whenever creatures move between zones
Pontiff of Blight
{4}{B}{B}Creature — Zombie Cleric
Grants extort to all creatures to turn recasts into team-wide drain
Twilight Prophet
{2}{B}{B}Creature — Vampire Cleric
Ascend-based card draw that burns opponents and heals you
Kokusho, the Evening Star
{4}{B}{B}Legendary Creature — Dragon Spirit
Massive death trigger that drains each opponent for five life
Massacre Wurm
{3}{B}{B}{B}Creature — Phyrexian Wurm
Wipes opposing small creatures and burns opponents heavily
Vraan, Executioner Thane
{1}{B}Legendary Creature — Phyrexian Vampire
Incidental life drain and gain whenever your creatures leave the field
Utility
7 cards
Lightning Greaves
{2}Artifact — Equipment
Grants haste and shroud so Bob can immediately attack alone safely
Swiftfoot Boots
{2}Artifact — Equipment
Grants haste and hexproof for repeated attacks
Whispersilk Cloak
{3}Artifact — Equipment
Ensures Bob cannot be blocked when attacking alone
Crashing Drawbridge
{2}Artifact Creature — Wall
Gives Bob haste each turn he is recast
Chariot of Victory
{3}Artifact — Equipment
Grants haste, first strike, and trample to push attacks through
Roaming Throne
{4}Artifact Creature — Golem
Doubles Bob's triggers whenever he attacks
