Spawn: every power spends part of the creature

Spawn, Al Simmons leads a Rakdos (black/red) Commander deck built around a finite reserve of necroplasm. He is printed 0/0, enters with seven necroplasm counters and gets +1/+1 for each one. The same counters that make him a threat also pay for his powers. Spending them therefore asks a concrete question: is the effect worth reducing the body that remains? The Spawn comic setting gives that resource decision the shape of an infernal contract.

• NECROPLASM: A creature with Necroplasm N enters with N necroplasm counters and gets +1/+1 for each. It cannot receive more necroplasm counters once it is on the battlefield.
• SPEND THE RESERVE: Spending necroplasm removes the stated number of counters as a cost. Spawn, Al Simmons can spend one to gain indestructible until end of turn.
• THE COMMANDER'S RETURN: Whenever you spend necroplasm, Spawn makes each opponent lose that much life and gains you that much life. Cogliostro, the Old Man of the Alley draws a card on your first spend each turn.
• DIFFERENT USES: Gunslinger Spawn spends one necroplasm to deal 1 damage to any target. She-Spawn, Jessica Priest spends one to give a target creature -1/-1 until end of turn.

Balance the remaining body against the next effect

The counters are a reserve that only shrinks during that creature's stay on the battlefield. Keeping some preserves its power and toughness; spending more produces immediate effects and, with the commander present, life swings. Indestructible does not save a creature with zero toughness, so Spawn's protective ability still demands attention to his remaining counters. Cogliostro is a printed 1/1, giving him a different starting body beneath his reserve.

Born Again in the Alley returns a target creature card from a graveyard to the battlefield under your control and costs you life equal to its mana value. A returning creature enters anew, allowing its Necroplasm entry ability to apply again. This Spawn Magic Proxy deck combines limited fuel, direct damage and graveyard recovery for players who enjoy measuring the value of every activation.

A 100-card Commander deck plus 4 tokens, with the existing Bracket 4 designation.