Art by Toni Infante
Commander deckB
Citizen V, Helmut Zemo
Capitalize on Citizen V's ability by utilizing changelings alongside Maskwood Nexus and Conspiracy to turn your entire board into Villains, triggering frequent +1/+1 counters through persistent lifegain and aristocrat drain effects.
Asked for“Citizen V, Helmut Zemo 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
1Citizen V, Helmut Zemo
2BLegendary Creature — Human Noble Villain
Chosen commander for the requested strategy.
Ramp
10
Crypt Ghast
3BCreature — Spirit
Doubles black mana and triggers lifegain via extort
Card Draw
10
Black Market Connections
2BEnchantment
Versatile card advantage, ramp, and board presence
Deadly Dispute
1BInstant
Instant-speed sacrifice outlet that draws cards and ramps
Morbid Opportunist
2BCreature — Human Rogue
Draws cards off frequent creature deaths
Erebos, God of the Dead
3BLegendary Enchantment Creature — God
Greedy card draw engine that shuts down opponents' lifegain
Well of Lost Dreams
4Artifact
Turns every lifegain trigger into massive card draw
Removal
10
Nameless Inversion
1BKindred Instant — Shapeshifter
Changeling removal spell that counts as a Villain spell
Threats/Wincons
24
Changeling Outcast
BCreature — Shapeshifter
Unblockable Villain changeling that continuously connects for counters
Bloodline Pretender
3Artifact Creature — Shapeshifter
Villain changeling that grows rapidly alongside tribal synergy
Graveshifter
3BCreature — Shapeshifter
Villain changeling that recurs key creatures
Universal Automaton
1Artifact Creature — Shapeshifter
One-mana Villain changeling for early counter buildup
Venomous Changeling
2BCreature — Shapeshifter
Deathtouch Villain changeling for offense and defense
Metallic Mimic
2Artifact Creature — Shapeshifter
Enters as a Villain to distribute immediate counters
Adaptive Automaton
3Artifact Creature — Construct
Acts as an additional Villain that buffs the team
Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose
2BLegendary Creature — Vampire Cleric
Weaponizes lifegain into direct player burn
Blood Artist
1BCreature — Vampire
Provides frequent lifegain triggers on creature death
Zulaport Cutthroat
1BCreature — Human Rogue Ally
Drains opponents and gains life on friendly creature deaths
Ayara, First of Locthwain
BBBLegendary Creature — Elf Noble
Consistent lifegain triggers on creature entry plus card draw
Creeping Bloodsucker
1BCreature — Vampire
Guaranteed lifegain trigger on every one of your upkeeps
Sheoldred, the Apocalypse
2BBLegendary Creature — Phyrexian Praetor
Massive lifegain engine on every draw step
Gray Merchant of Asphodel
3BBCreature — Zombie
Huge lifegain burst to pump your Villain board
Syr Konrad, the Grim
3BBLegendary Creature — Human Knight
Continuous drain and damage off graveyard movement
Exquisite Blood
4BEnchantment
Triggers Helmut Zemo whenever opponents take any damage
Bastion of Remembrance
2BEnchantment
Resilient enchantment drain and lifegain source
Aetherflux Reservoir
4Artifact
Chain spells to gain life and laser down opponents
Pontiff of Blight
4BBCreature — Zombie Cleric
Grants all creatures extort to trigger lifegain on every cast
Marionette Apprentice
1BCreature — Human Artificer
Creates bodies and drains life on creature or artifact death
Falkenrath Noble
3BCreature — Vampire Noble
Redundant death-trigger lifegain source
Twilight Prophet
2BBCreature — Vampire Cleric
Draws cards and drains the table with city's blessing
Bloodthirsty Aerialist
1BBCreature — Vampire Rogue
Flying threat that grows alongside your lifegain triggers
Utility
8
Conspiracy
3BBEnchantment
Enchantment that designates all your creatures as Villains
Whip of Erebos
2BBLegendary Enchantment Artifact
Grants lifelink to your entire board to trigger Helmut Zemo
Shadowspear
1Legendary Artifact — Equipment
Grants lifelink and removes opposing hexproof/indestructible
Roaming Throne
4Artifact Creature — Golem
Doubles triggered abilities of your Villains
Swiftfoot Boots
2Artifact — Equipment
Haste and hexproof protection for your commander
