EDH Optimizer
Villains Commander decks
Villains is a kindred archetype: the deck is built around one creature type and the cards that pay you for having many of them. It is mostly played in black and Dimir. Its most characteristic cards are Tombstone, Career Criminal, Baron Strucker, HYDRA Overlord, Villainous Hideout: not the most-played cards in the format, but the ones that appear in these decks far above what is normal for the same colors.
Cards that define the archetype
Ranked by how much MORE they are played inside the archetype than in the rest of Commander. Generic staples (Sol Ring, Arcane Signet…) fall out for exactly that reason: they are played everywhere equally.
| Card | Commanders | Avg. inclusion | Excess |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tombstone, Career Criminal | 11 | 75% | +77 pts |
| Baron Strucker, HYDRA Overlord | 11 | 77% | +77 pts |
| Villainous Hideout | 9 | 57% | +64 pts |
| M.O.D.O.K. | 9 | 57% | +64 pts |
| Iron Monger, Sadistic Tycoon | 9 | 62% | +63 pts |
| Doom Reigns Supreme | 8 | 58% | +56 pts |
| Madame Masque | 8 | 71% | +56 pts |
| The Masters of Evil | 7 | 69% | +50 pts |
| Doctor Doom | 7 | 51% | +49 pts |
| Construct a Cosmic Cube | 7 | 60% | +49 pts |
| Crossbones, Malicious Mercenary | 7 | 73% | +49 pts |
| Baron Helmut Zemo | 7 | 55% | +49 pts |
| Thunderbolts Conspiracy | 6 | 57% | +43 pts |
| Minotaur, Roxxon CEO | 6 | 50% | +43 pts |
| Yellowjacket, Heartless Marauder | 6 | 67% | +43 pts |
| Criminal Enterprise | 6 | 59% | +42 pts |
| Moonstone, Harsh Mistress | 6 | 61% | +42 pts |
| Agents of HYDRA | 6 | 57% | +42 pts |
| Swarm, Being of Bees | 6 | 63% | +42 pts |
| Visions of Villainy | 6 | 62% | +42 pts |
| Crimson Cowl, Master of Evil | 6 | 69% | +42 pts |
| Citizen V, Helmut Zemo | 6 | 56% | +42 pts |
| Endless Ranks of HYDRA | 6 | 50% | +42 pts |
| Grim Reaper, Lethal Legionnaire | 5 | 63% | +35 pts |
| Arnim Zola, Bio-Fanatic | 5 | 52% | +35 pts |
| Elektra, Daughter of the Hand | 5 | 55% | +35 pts |
| Leader, Super-Genius | 5 | 48% | +35 pts |
| Scorpion, Seething Striker | 5 | 67% | +35 pts |
| Common Crook | 5 | 55% | +34 pts |
| Venom, Eddie Brock | 4 | 60% | +28 pts |
Commanders for Villains
Ranked by how central this archetype is to their decks and by how played each commander is, according to EDHREC data.
By color identity
Black
Blue · Black
Blue
Blue · Black · Red
Paste your list and we tell you whether the deck actually does what it wants to do: curve, ramp, interaction and a 10,000-game simulation.
🛠️ Build a deck like this 📥 Analyze my deckFrequently asked questions
What is the best commander for a Villains deck?
The most-built commanders for this archetype are Doctor Octopus, Master Planner, Crossbones, Malicious Mercenary, Baron Strucker, HYDRA Overlord. EDH Optimizer has the full list of 27 commanders with their recommended cards, ranked by how central Villains is to their decks.
Which cards are must-haves in a Villains deck?
The three most characteristic are Tombstone, Career Criminal, Baron Strucker, HYDRA Overlord, Villainous Hideout. They are not the most-played cards in the format, but the ones that appear far more inside this archetype than in the rest of Commander — which is what actually makes them essential here.
What colors is Villains played in?
The most common color identities are Black, Blue · Black, Blue. The "By color identity" section groups the commanders and links to the best cards for each combination.
How much does a Villains deck cost?
It depends on the price cap PER CARD you set. Each commander page lists the best cards in three tiers (up to €2, up to €10 and no cap), and the optimizer only suggests swaps that fit the cap you pick.