Rakdos the Defiler MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost6
RarityRare
TypeLegendary Creature — Demon
Abilities Flying,Trample
Power 7
Toughness 6

Key Takeaways

  1. Rakdos forces opponents to sacrifice half non-Demon permanents, creating overwhelming card advantage during attacks.
  2. Demanding a precise mana base, Rakdos’ specific cost can limit deck versatility and requires careful mana management.
  3. Though potent, Rakdos’ high mana cost necessitates strategic play to maximize its impact and justify the expense.

Text of card

Flying, trample Whenever Rakdos the Defiler attacks, sacrifice half the non-Demon permanents you control, rounded up. Whenever Rakdos deals combat damage to a player, that player sacrifices half the non-Demon permanents he or she controls, rounded up.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Rakdos the Defiler provides a unique form of card advantage. By forcing the opponent to sacrifice half of their non-Demon permanents when it attacks, you effectively deplete their resources while maintaining your board presence. This can tip the scales heavily in your favor, as you mitigate the impact on your own field by carefully planning your plays and attacking strategically.

Resource Acceleration: Although not directly serving as a resource accelerator, Rakdos the Defiler’s ability to decimate your opponent’s board can indirectly accelerate your resources. With fewer enemy permanents to contend with, the mana and cards you invest in your turns become more potent, giving you a de facto resource advantage by reducing the opponent’s ability to respond or mount a defense.

Instant Speed: While Rakdos the Defiler itself does not operate at instant speed, playing in a deck that includes instants can be crucial. Responsiveness is key; by keeping mana open for removal spells or counters, you ensure that Rakdos has a clear path to wreak havoc. Additionally, instants that generate Demons can synergize with Rakdos’s attack trigger, reducing your own sacrifices while setting up a devastating offense.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Rakdos the Defiler demands a significant tribute each time it attacks. Pilots of this card are tasked with sacrificing half of their non-Demon permanents, making the decision to swing a risky play that can backfire if not carefully calculated. This discard requirement can potentially strip you of crucial resources at vital moments in the game, turning its forceful presence into a double-edged sword.

Specific Mana Cost: The mana to unleash this demon onto the battlefield is quite demanding—requiring not only four generic mana but also one black and one red. This specific mana cost confines Rakdos the Defiler to decks that can reliably produce both colors, narrowing its versatility and demanding a dedicated mana base to avoid being a dead card in hand.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of six mana, Rakdos the Defiler sits at a higher echelon in terms of resources required. In the fast-paced environment of modern MTG gameplay, where efficiency is key, this can be a substantial drawback. When weighed against other potential plays at this mana range, one must consider if the investment in Rakdos the Defiler will yield the desired power level in exchange for the heavy toll it exacts.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Rakdos the Defiler boasts a duality of force that can be a game-changer in a variety of deck builds. Its power to command the battlefield and disrupt opponents’ strategies fits into any collection that thrives on aggressive plays.

Combo Potential: This formidable demon’s ability to sacrifice half of non-demon permanents can be ingeniously paired with various sacrifice-benefit cards, orchestrating potentially devastating plays that can swiftly turn the tides of a match.

Meta-Relevance: Given that the game’s meta is frequently evolving, including Rakdos the Defiler can be a strategic choice, especially if you’re engaging in a play environment rife with players who invest heavily in board development, making its annihilating entrance effect all the more impactful.


How to beat

Rakdos the Defiler is a formidable demon in MTG that demands a savvy strategy to defeat. When unleashed, Rakdos can decimate your own non-Demon permanents, which makes it a double-edged sword. To counter this devastating ability, consider employing cards that give you control over sacrifices like Sigarda, Host of Herons or utilizing spells that can remove or neutralize it before the attack phase, such as Swords to Plowshares or Path to Exile.

Additionally, employing creatures with deathtouch or cards that can force the opponent to sacrifice Rakdos before it does damage, like Liliana of the Veil, can be effective. Also, engage the stack to your advantage by utilizing instant-speed removal or bounce spells when Rakdos is declared as an attacker, but before it causes you to sacrifice. Doing so mitigates the loss of your permanents while dealing with the threat.

Plan a strategic game around Rakdos the Defiler by prioritizing card advantage and controlling the board. In the right circumstances, with these tactics, you can turn the tide of battle against this powerful adversary.


BurnMana Recommendations

Diving deeper into the strategy and complexities of MTG, Rakdos the Defiler emerges as a card that redefines board dynamics with its daunting ability. Understanding its potential requires not just a good strategy but a masterful approach to deck building and resource management. Balancing the sacrifices it demands with the advantage it grants can be your path to triumph. Want to refine your gameplay and incorporate such power plays into your matches? Need tips on maneuvering through its cons and leveraging its pros? Step into a broader strategic realm with us and unlock the secrets of mastering this demon in your own game.


Cards like Rakdos the Defiler

Rakdos the Defiler stands as a towering behemoth among demonic creatures in MTG. Its closest kin in terms of chaotic power might be Lord of the Void, who like Rakdos, deals with exile mechanics but instead of demanding sacrifices from its owner, it targets the opponent’s deck. Both creatures share a propensity for fundamentally altering the game’s landscape with each swing.

Another peer with a penchant for disruption is Master of Cruelties. Much like Rakdos the Defiler, it exhibits a striking board presence and has a unique attack restriction. Master of Cruelties, however, potentially reduces an opponent’s life to a mere 1 when it attacks alone, without forcing its owner to sacrifice half of their non-demon permanents, making its approach subtler in comparison.

Analyzing these formidable demons, Rakdos the Defiler remains a bold choice for players who enjoy high-risk, high-reward strategies. Its ability to devastate both sides of the board sets a high bar for impact when successfully navigating its perilous drawback.

Lord of the Void - MTG Card versions
Master of Cruelties - MTG Card versions
Lord of the Void - Gatecrash (GTC)
Master of Cruelties - Dragon's Maze (DGM)

Cards similar to Rakdos the Defiler by color, type and mana cost

Pavel Maliki - MTG Card versions
Rohgahh of Kher Keep - MTG Card versions
Razing Snidd - MTG Card versions
Carnival Hellsteed - MTG Card versions
Zagras, Thief of Heartbeats - MTG Card versions
Malfegor - MTG Card versions
Deepfire Elemental - MTG Card versions
Grief Tyrant - MTG Card versions
Undead Leotau - MTG Card versions
Vein Drinker - MTG Card versions
Deathbringer Thoctar - MTG Card versions
Defiler of Souls - MTG Card versions
Igneous Pouncer - MTG Card versions
Rakdos Ringleader - MTG Card versions
Sire of Insanity - MTG Card versions
Dragonlord Kolaghan - MTG Card versions
Swift Warkite - MTG Card versions
The Big Idea - MTG Card versions
Mary O'Kill - MTG Card versions
Rakdos, the Showstopper - MTG Card versions
Pavel Maliki - Masters Edition III (ME3)
Rohgahh of Kher Keep - Masters Edition III (ME3)
Razing Snidd - Planeshift (PLS)
Carnival Hellsteed - RNA Guild Kit (GK2)
Zagras, Thief of Heartbeats - Zendikar Rising Promos (PZNR)
Malfegor - Iconic Masters (IMA)
Deepfire Elemental - Commander 2013 (C13)
Grief Tyrant - Shadowmoor (SHM)
Undead Leotau - Shards of Alara (ALA)
Vein Drinker - Commander 2017 (C17)
Deathbringer Thoctar - Commander 2013 (C13)
Defiler of Souls - Alara Reborn (ARB)
Igneous Pouncer - Duel Decks: Ajani vs. Nicol Bolas (DDH)
Rakdos Ringleader - Return to Ravnica (RTR)
Sire of Insanity - Secret Lair Drop (SLD)
Dragonlord Kolaghan - Secret Lair Drop (SLD)
Swift Warkite - Dragons of Tarkir (DTK)
The Big Idea - The List (Unfinity Foil Edition) (ULST)
Mary O'Kill - The List (Unfinity Foil Edition) (ULST)
Rakdos, the Showstopper - Ravnica: Clue Edition (CLU)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Rakdos the Defiler MTG card by a specific set like Dissension and RNA Guild Kit, 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 the Defiler and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Rakdos the Defiler Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2006-05-05 and 2019-02-15. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12006-05-05DissensionDIS 1292003normalblackZoltan Boros & Gabor Szikszai
22019-02-15RNA Guild KitGK2 712015normalblackZoltan Boros & Gabor Szikszai

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Rakdos the Defiler has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Rakdos the Defiler card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

DateText
2006-05-01 A permanent with the subtype Demon, including Rakdos the Defiler itself, can’t be sacrificed this way.
2006-05-01 To calculate the number of permanents that must be sacrificed, count the number of permanents the affected player controls that don’t have the subtype Demon, then divide that number in half and round up. For example, a player who controls eleven non-Demon permanents will need to sacrifice six of them.

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