Art by Mintautas Šukys
Commander deckB
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.
Asked for“Bob, Reluctant HYDRA Agent commander deck”
Deck anatomy
What this list actually runs on: how cheaply it casts things, and whether it has enough ramp, card draw and interaction to keep up at the table. Each block is one card — hover for its name.
Mana curve · 62 nonland cards
The working parts
Counted from Scryfall’s community card tags, not from the builder’s own labels. A card that does two jobs counts twice, so these add up to more than the deck. The hatched band is a common rule of thumb, not a law — combo decks run leaner, battlecruiser decks heavier.
Colored mana symbols
Commander
1Bob, Reluctant HYDRA Agent
1BLegendary Creature — Human Coward Villain
Chosen commander for the requested strategy.
Ramp
10
Bontu's Monument
3Legendary Artifact
Reduces creature costs and drains opponents every time Bob is cast
Crypt Ghast
3BCreature — Spirit
Doubles Swamp mana and provides an extort drain sink
Card Draw
10
Black Market Connections
2BEnchantment
Provides cards, treasure ramp, and bodies at the cost of life
Morbid Opportunist
2BCreature — Human Rogue
Draws cards steadily as creatures perish
Removal
11
Feed the Swarm
1BSorcery
Crucial black answer to problematic enchantments or creatures
Hero's Downfall
1BBInstant
Versatile instant-speed creature or planeswalker kill spell
Threats/Wincons
24
Gray Merchant of Asphodel
3BBCreature — Zombie
Massive life drain finisher scaling with black devotion
Bloodchief Ascension
BEnchantment
Fast quest counter accumulation leading to lethal drain
Aetherflux Reservoir
4Artifact
Rewards recasting Bob with exponential life gain and a laser finish
Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose
2BLegendary Creature — Vampire Cleric
Turns Bob's life gain triggers into direct damage against opponents
Marauding Blight-Priest
2BCreature — Vampire Cleric
Drains each opponent whenever Bob gains life
Sanguine Bond
3BBEnchantment
Amplifies life gain from Bob into target opponent life loss
Exquisite Blood
4BEnchantment
Converts opponents' life loss into sustained life gain
Sheoldred, the Apocalypse
2BBLegendary Creature — Phyrexian Praetor
Punishes opponents' card draw while replenishing your life total
Nefarox, Overlord of Grixis
4BBLegendary Creature — Demon
Exalted threat that forces opponents to sacrifice when attacking alone
Duty-Bound Dead
BCreature — Skeleton
Cheap creature providing exalted buff to solo attacks
Servant of Nefarox
2BCreature — Human Cleric
Provides exalted to boost solitary attacks
Knight of Infamy
1BCreature — Human Knight
Exalted creature with protection from white
Gix, Yawgmoth Praetor
1BBLegendary Creature — Phyrexian Praetor
Draws cards from combat damage and provides a late-game spell steal
Bolas's Citadel
3BBBLegendary Artifact
Casts spells from the top of the library fueled by steady life gain
Ayara, First of Locthwain
BBBLegendary Creature — Elf Noble
Drains opponents each time Bob enters the battlefield
Blood Artist
1BCreature — Vampire
Drains opponents when creatures die on any side
Zulaport Cutthroat
1BCreature — Human Rogue Ally
Drains all opponents whenever friendly creatures die
Syr Konrad, the Grim
3BBLegendary Creature — Human Knight
Drains opponents whenever creatures move between zones
Pontiff of Blight
4BBCreature — Zombie Cleric
Grants extort to all creatures to turn recasts into team-wide drain
Twilight Prophet
2BBCreature — Vampire Cleric
Ascend-based card draw that burns opponents and heals you
Kokusho, the Evening Star
4BBLegendary Creature — Dragon Spirit
Massive death trigger that drains each opponent for five life
Massacre Wurm
3BBBCreature — Phyrexian Wurm
Wipes opposing small creatures and burns opponents heavily
Vraan, Executioner Thane
1BLegendary Creature — Phyrexian Vampire
Incidental life drain and gain whenever your creatures leave the field
Utility
7
Lightning Greaves
2Artifact — Equipment
Grants haste and shroud so Bob can immediately attack alone safely
Swiftfoot Boots
2Artifact — Equipment
Grants haste and hexproof for repeated attacks
Whispersilk Cloak
3Artifact — Equipment
Ensures Bob cannot be blocked when attacking alone
Crashing Drawbridge
2Artifact Creature — Wall
Gives Bob haste each turn he is recast
Chariot of Victory
3Artifact — Equipment
Grants haste, first strike, and trample to push attacks through
Roaming Throne
4Artifact Creature — Golem
Doubles Bob's triggers whenever he attacks
