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