Rakdos Ickspitter MTG Card


Rakdos Ickspitter - Dissension
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Thrull
Released2006-05-05
Set symbol
Set nameDissension
Set codeDIS
Power 1
Toughness 1
Number128
Frame2003
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byChristopher Rush

Key Takeaways

  1. Rakdos Ickspitter excels in creatures’ control and incremental player damage, influencing the game’s tempo.
  2. The card requires careful hand management, with its ability hinging on the discard of other cards.
  3. It shines in dedicated Rakdos decks, leveraging its synergy with damage-based strategies.

Text of card

: Rakdos Ickspitter deals 1 damage to target creature and that creature's controller loses 1 life.

"Our thrulls dissolve from the inside out in a matter of days. Shoddy work, but they're a scream while they last." —Uzric, Rakdos guildmage


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Rakdos Ickspitter’s ability to deal damage to creature and player alike can lead to a card advantage by removing smaller creatures from the board, pressuring the opponent’s life total, and indirectly influencing the pace of the game.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly influencing mana, the ability to ping creatures can help maintain a lead or control the board, allowing you to use your resources more effectively elsewhere.

Instant Speed: Although the Rakdos Ickspitter itself is a creature card, the flexibility of its activated ability being used at instant speed provides significant advantages. You can disrupt your opponent’s strategies during their turn or in response to their plays which can be pivotal to maintaining control of the match.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Activating Rakdos Ickspitter’s ability necessitates discarding a card, which could be a strategic setback if you’re running low on hand size, especially since maintaining card advantage is crucial in MTG.

Specific Mana Cost: This card demands a dedicated mana combination of black and red to cast. This requirement may restrict its integration into decks that aren’t specifically tailored for a Rakdos mana base, potentially diminishing its versatility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that includes both color-specific and multiple generic mana, Rakdos Ickspitter’s cost is on the higher side when compared to other creatures with similar damage-dealing abilities. This can delay its play, especially in formats where speed is essential.


Reasons to Include Rakdos Ickspitter in Your Collection

Versatility: Rakdos Ickspitter offers a unique blend of damage-dealing ability and creature control, capable of integrating smoothly into decks built around pinging opponents and controlling the board. Its ability to directly target creatures or players makes it a flexible addition to any arsenal.

Combo Potential: This card synergizes well with effects that trigger on damage or life loss, opening doors for creative combos and interactions within your deck. Utilizing Rakdos Ickspitter can lead to chain reactions that can tip the game in your favor.

Meta-Relevance: With many games comprising creature-centric strategies, having a card that can systematically chip away at your opponents’ resources is immensely beneficial. Its relevance increases in metas where small utility creatures are prevalent and need to be dealt with efficiently.


How to beat

Rakdos Ickspitter stands out in MTG due to its unique ability to target creatures and players while causing damage and life loss. A smart strategy against this card involves deploying creatures with high toughness to endure its damage. Consider using creatures that can regenerate or have protection from red or black to negate the Ickspitter’s ability entirely. Spells that grant your team indestructibility for a turn are also effective in safeguarding your board.

Another approach is to employ instant-speed removal or counter spells to disrupt your opponent’s plans before they can establish a presence with Rakdos Ickspitter. Swift responses can neutralize the threat, keeping your life total and creatures secure. Prioritizing the removal of Rakdos Ickspitter upon its arrival on the battlefield prevents its continuous pinging and potential synergies with other cards that capitalize on regular damage output or life loss.

In essence, adaptability and proactive measures are your best defense against Rakdos Ickspitter. Through strategic creature selection and timely spell casting, the impact of this pesky card can be greatly minimized, allowing you to maintain control over the game’s pace.


Cards like Rakdos Ickspitter

Rakdos Ickspitter carves its niche in the Magic: The Gathering landscape through its unique damage-dealing ability. It’s not uncommon to find cards that chip away at an opponent’s life total, like Lobber Crew, which also pings each opponent. However, Rakdos Ickspitter brings an additional edge, allowing targeted damage to creatures, adept at picking off smaller threats.

Examining other cards, Cunning Sparkmage stands out with its tap-to-deal-damage feature, striking parallels with the Ickspitter. The Sparkmage, though, lacks the latter’s creature-focused ability, skewing more towards player damage. Then there’s the Thermo-Alchemist, sharing similarities with its damage prowess. Despite being defensive in nature, the Thermo-Alchemist requires a slew of spells to activate, diverging from Rakdos Ickspitter’s consistent, hassle-free damage output.

Comparatively, Rakdos Ickspitter holds its ground, especially in decks that capitalize on direct damage and creature control. Balancing the cost-efficiency with its directed ping ability, the Ickspitter offers a reliable, albeit niche, card option for aggressive and tactical players alike in the MTG arena.

Lobber Crew - MTG Card versions
Cunning Sparkmage - MTG Card versions
Thermo-Alchemist - MTG Card versions
Lobber Crew - Return to Ravnica (RTR)
Cunning Sparkmage - Worldwake (WWK)
Thermo-Alchemist - Eldritch Moon (EMN)

Cards similar to Rakdos Ickspitter by color, type and mana cost

Sedge Troll - MTG Card versions
Shauku's Minion - MTG Card versions
Army Ants - MTG Card versions
Pyre Zombie - MTG Card versions
Vicious Kavu - MTG Card versions
Lava Zombie - MTG Card versions
Sarcatog - MTG Card versions
Anathemancer - MTG Card versions
Avatar of Discord - MTG Card versions
Vial Smasher the Fierce - MTG Card versions
Cryptborn Horror - MTG Card versions
Lyzolda, the Blood Witch - MTG Card versions
Rakdos Augermage - MTG Card versions
Sedge Sliver - MTG Card versions
Ashenmoor Gouger - MTG Card versions
Pestilent Kathari - MTG Card versions
Shambling Remains - MTG Card versions
Hellhole Flailer - MTG Card versions
Ragemonger - MTG Card versions
Kathari Bomber - MTG Card versions
Sedge Troll - Summer Magic / Edgar (SUM)
Shauku's Minion - Mirage (MIR)
Army Ants - Visions (VIS)
Pyre Zombie - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
Vicious Kavu - Invasion (INV)
Lava Zombie - Planeshift (PLS)
Sarcatog - Odyssey (ODY)
Anathemancer - Friday Night Magic 2010 (F10)
Avatar of Discord - RNA Guild Kit (GK2)
Vial Smasher the Fierce - Commander Legends (CMR)
Cryptborn Horror - Return to Ravnica (RTR)
Lyzolda, the Blood Witch - RNA Guild Kit (GK2)
Rakdos Augermage - Dissension (DIS)
Sedge Sliver - Time Spiral Remastered (TSR)
Ashenmoor Gouger - Shadowmoor (SHM)
Pestilent Kathari - Conflux (CON)
Shambling Remains - The List (PLST)
Hellhole Flailer - Return to Ravnica (RTR)
Ragemonger - Born of the Gods (BNG)
Kathari Bomber - Duel Decks: Speed vs. Cunning (DDN)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Rakdos Ickspitter MTG card by a specific set like Dissension, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Rakdos Ickspitter and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Rakdos Ickspitter has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

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