Speed. I am speed.

Format: Commander

Commander: The Speed Demon

Bracket: 3

DeckCheck Threat Index: 45

Deck overview

The Speed Demon commands a mono-black lifegain, card draw, and drain deck that leverages speed counters to fuel explosive hand replenishment. The deck's primary plan establishes early mana acceleration through low-cost artifacts and rituals, casts the commander on turn 4, and rapidly scales card velocity up to four extra cards per turn cycle. This massive card flow digs toward its primary win condition: an infinite life-drain loop pairing Exquisite Blood with Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose, Sanguine Bond, or Marauding Blight-Priest. Secondary win paths include sweeping drain through Gray Merchant of Asphodel, explosive combo churn via Bolas's Citadel, and combat damage supported by large flying threats. The deck maintains strong board control with efficient creature removal like Defile and asymmetric board trimming from Archfiend of Depravity. While vulnerable to aggressive pressure due to self-inflicted life loss and lacking artifact answers, its immense card volume and compact combo finish make it a potent midrange threat.

Decklist (100 cards)

  • 1 Abyssal Harvester
  • 1 Amonkhet Raceway
  • 1 Ancient Cellarspawn
  • 1 Arcane Signet
  • 1 Archfiend of Depravity
  • 1 Avishkar Raceway
  • 1 Blood Artist
  • 1 Bolas's Citadel
  • 1 Braids, Arisen Nightmare
  • 1 Changeling Outcast
  • 1 Crypt Ghast
  • 1 Cryptcaller Chariot
  • 1 Dark Ritual
  • 1 Defile
  • 1 Demolition Field
  • 1 Demon's Horn
  • 1 Demonic Counsel
  • 1 Doom Blade
  • 1 Dread Presence
  • 1 Eternal Thirst
  • 1 Exquisite Blood
  • 1 Exsanguinate
  • 1 Feed the Swarm
  • 1 Flare of Malice
  • 1 Gastal Raider
  • 1 Gix, Yawgmoth Praetor
  • 1 Gixian Puppeteer
  • 1 Gray Merchant of Asphodel
  • 1 Hour of Victory
  • 1 Imp's Mischief
  • 1 Infernal Grasp
  • 1 Jet Medallion
  • 1 K'rrik, Son of Yawgmoth
  • 1 Lightning Greaves
  • 1 Liliana of the Dark Realms
  • 1 Liliana's Contract
  • 1 Loxodon Warhammer
  • 1 Marauding Blight-Priest
  • 1 Maximum Overdrive
  • 1 Momentum Breaker
  • 1 Morlun, Devourer of Spiders
  • 1 Moseo, Vein's New Dean
  • 1 Muraganda Raceway
  • 1 Night's Whisper
  • 1 No Mercy
  • 1 Parker Luck
  • 1 Phyrexian Arena
  • 1 Psychosis Crawler
  • 1 Racers' Scoreboard
  • 1 Raven Eagle
  • 1 Reanimate
  • 1 Reliquary Tower
  • 1 Risen Necroregent
  • 1 Rune-Scarred Demon
  • 1 Sanguine Bond
  • 1 Saw in Half
  • 1 Scheming Silvertongue // Sign in Blood
  • 1 Sign in Blood
  • 1 Sol Ring
  • 30 Swamp
  • 1 Temple of the False God
  • 1 The Darkness Crystal
  • 1 The Speed Demon
  • 1 Thought Vessel
  • 1 Twilight Prophet
  • 1 Urza's Cave
  • 1 Venser's Journal
  • 1 Vilis, Broker of Blood
  • 1 Villainous Wrath
  • 1 Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose
  • 1 Withering Torment