EDH Optimizer
Citizen V, Helmut Zemo
Legendary Creature — Human Noble Villain · 2B
Color identity: Black
Citizen V, Helmut Zemo is black: its deck can only run cards of that color plus colorless ones.
Rules text:
Lifelink
Whenever you gain life, put a +1/+1 counter on each Villain you control.
Reference price of the card: €0.61
Average lands in decks for Citizen V, Helmut Zemo: 36
LifegainVillains+1/+1 CountersHatebearsReanimatorSelf-Damage
Build your Citizen V, Helmut Zemo deck step by step, with in-depth analysis and AI optimization of your list.
🛠️ Build a deck for Citizen V, Helmut Zemo 📥 Analyze my deck🎲 How the average Citizen V, Helmut Zemo deck starts over 4,000 games
The list people actually play (the 99 most-included cards, with its average land count), simulated with the EDH Optimizer engine: hands, mulligans, lands, curve and commander. It does not model opponents; it measures whether the plan gets going.
Deck health of the average list: C+ (60/100)
- Consistency59
- Speed67
- Interaction22
- Resilience67
- Closing62
See the cards of the average deck · 99 cards, 36 lands (8 nonbasic, 28 Swamp)
Baron Strucker, HYDRA Overlord · Crimson Cowl, Master of Evil · Tombstone, Career Criminal · Boomerang, Blade Flinger · Yellowjacket, Heartless Marauder · Doom Reigns Supreme · Sol Ring · Morlun, Devourer of Spiders · Thanos, Death's Consort · Songbird, Sonic Screamer · M.O.D.O.K. · Criminal Enterprise · Crossbones, Malicious Mercenary · MACH-1, Swooping Scoundrel · Black Market Connections · Baron Helmut Zemo · Bob, Reluctant HYDRA Agent · Madame Masque · Doctor Doom · The Masters of Evil · Visions of Villainy · Agents of HYDRA · Arcane Signet · Kingpin's Enforcers · Pristine Talisman · Thunderbolts Conspiracy · Arnim Zola, Bio-Fanatic · Doom's Servo-Guards · Merciless Enforcers · Super-Adaptoid · Jet Medallion · Night's Whisper · Whip of Erebos · Bontu's Monument · Construct a Cosmic Cube · Endless Ranks of HYDRA · Iron Monger, Sadistic Tycoon · Minotaur, Roxxon CEO · Dark Ritual · Feed the Swarm · Demon's Horn · Doctor Doom, Unrivaled · Elektra, Daughter of the Hand · The Darkness Crystal · The Frightful Four · Withering Torment · Exsanguinate · Grim Reaper, Lethal Legionnaire · Prism Ring · Symbiote Spawn · Toxic Deluge · Viper, Cruel Conspirator · Kindred Dominance · Sign in Blood · Ayara, First of Locthwain · Common Crook · Phyrexian Arena · Venom, Eddie Brock · Gray Merchant of Asphodel · Cruel Alliance · Crypt Ghast · Hammerhead, Maggia Boss · Swarm, Being of Bees · Radiant Fountain · Adventurer's Inn · Cabal Coffers · Villainous Hideout · Bojuka Bog · Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth · Cabal Stronghold · Reliquary Tower
🃏 Recommended cards for Citizen V, Helmut Zemo
The highest-synergy cards in decks for Citizen V, Helmut Zemo, with their inclusion rate.
| Card | Inclusion | Synergy |
|---|---|---|
| Baron Strucker, HYDRA Overlord | 96% | +95% |
| Tombstone, Career Criminal | 94% | +94% |
| Crimson Cowl, Master of Evil | 94% | +94% |
| Boomerang, Blade Flinger | 90% | +90% |
| Yellowjacket, Heartless Marauder | 80% | +80% |
| Doom Reigns Supreme | 73% | +72% |
| Thanos, Death's Consort | 71% | +70% |
| Morlun, Devourer of Spiders | 71% | +69% |
| Songbird, Sonic Screamer | 65% | +64% |
| Criminal Enterprise | 61% | +60% |
| Crossbones, Malicious Mercenary | 61% | +60% |
| M.O.D.O.K. | 63% | +60% |
| MACH-1, Swooping Scoundrel | 59% | +59% |
| Bob, Reluctant HYDRA Agent | 55% | +55% |
| Madame Masque | 55% | +54% |
| Baron Helmut Zemo | 55% | +54% |
| The Masters of Evil | 53% | +52% |
| Doctor Doom | 53% | +52% |
| Visions of Villainy | 53% | +51% |
| Thunderbolts Conspiracy | 51% | +51% |
| Kingpin's Enforcers | 51% | +51% |
| Agents of HYDRA | 51% | +50% |
| Pristine Talisman | 51% | +49% |
| Merciless Enforcers | 49% | +49% |
💰 The best cards for your Citizen V, Helmut Zemo deck, by budget
Three tiers based on the maximum price PER CARD you are willing to pay. Paste your list and hit Optimize: you pick that cap and the AI only suggests swaps that fit under it.
Tier 1 · Budget up to €2/card
The most value for almost nothing. Coming from a precon? Start here.
- Baron Strucker, HYDRA Overlord
- Tombstone, Career Criminal
- Crimson Cowl, Master of Evil
- Boomerang, Blade Flinger
- Yellowjacket, Heartless Marauder
- Doom Reigns Supreme
Tier 2 · Balanced up to €10/card
The real step up: pieces that are no longer cheap but still sensible.
- Thanos, Death's Consort
- M.O.D.O.K.
- Doctor Doom
- Minotaur, Roxxon CEO
- Whip of Erebos
- Venom, Eddie Brock
Tier 3 · No cap no cap
The cards your price cap was hiding from you.
- Doctor Doom, Unrivaled
- Black Market Connections
- Roaming Throne
- Bloodthirsty Conqueror
- Aetherflux Reservoir
- Ultron the Annihilator
Reference prices (cheapest English printing). They change daily.
♾️ Known combos with Citizen V, Helmut Zemo
- Sanguine Bond + Exquisite Blood → Infinite lifegain triggers, Infinite lifeloss, Infinite lifegain
- Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose + Exquisite Blood → Infinite lifegain triggers, Infinite lifeloss, Infinite lifegain
- Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose + Bloodthirsty Conqueror → Infinite lifegain triggers, Infinite lifeloss, Infinite lifegain
- Sanguine Bond + Bloodthirsty Conqueror → Infinite lifegain triggers, Infinite lifeloss, Infinite lifegain
- Exquisite Blood + Enduring Tenacity → Infinite lifegain triggers, Infinite lifeloss, Infinite lifegain
- Enduring Tenacity + Bloodthirsty Conqueror → Infinite lifegain triggers, Infinite lifeloss, Infinite lifegain
Other commanders
Frequently asked questions
What is Citizen V, Helmut Zemo's color identity?
Citizen V, Helmut Zemo is black: its deck can only run cards of that color plus colorless ones. Color identity comes from every mana symbol on the card, including those in the rules text, not just the casting cost.
What turn does Citizen V, Helmut Zemo come down, and how often does the deck get stuck?
In the average Citizen V, Helmut Zemo deck (the 99 cards most played with it, with 36 lands), simulated 4,000 times, the commander comes down on turn 2.9 on average and is on the battlefield before turn 7 in 100 % of games. It misses at least one land drop in the first six turns 35 % of the time and floods 15 %. Deck health: C+ (60/100).
How many lands should a Citizen V, Helmut Zemo deck run?
Real Citizen V, Helmut Zemo decks run 36 lands on average. That is a starting point, not a rule: a lower curve can shave one or two, big-mana builds want more. The EDH Optimizer simulator tells you, over 10,000 games, how often you get mana screwed or flooded with your exact count.
What are the best cards for Citizen V, Helmut Zemo?
The three highest-synergy cards are Baron Strucker, HYDRA Overlord, Tombstone, Career Criminal, Crimson Cowl, Master of Evil. This page lists the top 24 with their real inclusion rate in Citizen V, Helmut Zemo decks.
What combos does Citizen V, Helmut Zemo have?
Citizen V, Helmut Zemo has 6 known combos. The most popular one is Sanguine Bond + Exquisite Blood. Note that two-card combos raise your deck's bracket, so it is worth knowing which ones you are running before you sit down.
How much does a Citizen V, Helmut Zemo deck cost?
You can start cheap: Baron Strucker, HYDRA Overlord, Tombstone, Career Criminal, Crimson Cowl, Master of Evil are under €2 each. The "Level up" section on this page splits the best cards into three price caps PER CARD (up to €2, up to €10 and no cap), and the optimizer only suggests swaps that fit the cap you pick.