Zenophobia by zeatop

Format: Commander

Commander: Zenos yae Galvus // Shinryu, Transcendent Rival

Bracket: 3

DeckCheck Threat Index: 35

Deck overview

This deck is a mono-black assassination and attrition strategy commanded by Zenos yae Galvus // Shinryu, Transcendent Rival. The game plan exploits the commander's unique Burning Chains ability: when Zenos transforms into Shinryu, Transcendent Rival, it tethers a chosen opponent so that their elimination immediately wins you the entire game. Instead of dividing resources to deal 120 life or 30 poison across three players, the deck hyper-focuses on eliminating a single chosen opponent. The list deploys efficient ramp and early toxic threats, casts Zenos on turn 4 or 5, and immediately removes the chosen opposing creature using hyper-efficient removal spells like Deadly Rollick, Snuff Out, or Fatal Push to trigger transformation. Once Shinryu is online, the deck combines 8 flying power with combat pump spells like Hatred, infect auras, and goad enchantments to eliminate the target player across two combat steps, ending the game on turn 7.

Decklist (100 cards)

  • 1 Arcane Signet
  • 1 Archfiend of Depravity
  • 1 Assassin Initiate
  • 1 Bilious Skulldweller
  • 1 Black Market Connections
  • 1 Blightbelly Rat
  • 1 Blightsteel Colossus
  • 1 Bloodthirsty Blade
  • 1 Cabal Coffers
  • 1 Coercive Impetus
  • 1 Contagion Engine
  • 1 Core Prowler
  • 1 Crypt Ghast
  • 1 Dark Ritual
  • 1 Darkness
  • 1 Dauthi Voidwalker
  • 1 Deadly Rollick
  • 1 Diabolic Intent
  • 1 Dismember
  • 1 Drown in Ichor
  • 1 Eye of Nidhogg
  • 1 Fatal Push
  • 1 Feed the Swarm
  • 1 Geth's Summons
  • 1 Ghoulish Impetus
  • 1 Gix, Yawgmoth Praetor
  • 1 Grafted Exoskeleton
  • 1 Gray Merchant of Asphodel
  • 1 Grim Affliction
  • 1 Hatred
  • 1 Henrika Domnathi // Henrika, Infernal Seer
  • 1 High Market
  • 1 Imp's Mischief
  • 1 Inkmoth Nexus
  • 1 Jet Medallion
  • 1 K'rrik, Son of Yawgmoth
  • 1 Karn's Bastion
  • 1 Massacre Wurm
  • 1 Mikaeus, the Unhallowed
  • 1 Necrogen Communion
  • 1 Nettling Nuisance
  • 1 Night's Whisper
  • 1 Nighthawk Scavenger
  • 1 No Mercy
  • 1 Ophiomancer
  • 1 Orcish Bowmasters
  • 1 Parasitic Impetus
  • 1 Pestilent Syphoner
  • 1 Phyresis
  • 1 Phyrexian Arena
  • 1 Phyrexian Crusader
  • 1 Phyrexian Obliterator
  • 1 Phyrexian Tower
  • 1 Plague Stinger
  • 1 Qarsi Revenant
  • 1 Sheoldred's Edict
  • 1 Sheoldred's Headcleaver
  • 1 Skullclamp
  • 1 Snuff Out
  • 1 Sol Ring
  • 1 Soul Shatter
  • 1 Super Shredder
  • 1 Supernatural Stamina
  • 27 Swamp
  • 1 Swiftfoot Boots
  • 1 Sword of Truth and Justice
  • 1 Tainted Strike
  • 1 Topaz Dragon // Entropic Cloud
  • 1 Toxic Deluge
  • 1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
  • 1 Virulent Swipe
  • 1 Vraska, Betrayal's Sting
  • 1 Yawgmoth, Thran Physician
  • 1 Zenos yae Galvus // Shinryu, Transcendent Rival