Rakdos Headliner MTG Card
2021-06-18 - Number 374
2021-06-18 - Number 210
2021-08-26 - Number 709
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Devil |
| Abilities | Echo,Haste |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 3 |
Key Takeaways
- Rakdos Headliner excels in card filtering and refining in-game tactics for strategic advantage.
- Spectacle cost leads to swifter threat deployment, pressuring opponents effectively.
- Instant-speed abilities disrupt opposing plays, giving players tactical control.
Text of card
Haste Echo—Discard a card. (At the beginning of your upkeep, if this came under your control since the beginning of your last upkeep, sacrifice it unless you pay its echo cost.)
Mood: Unrestrained violence in a festival atmosphere.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Rakdos Headliner sets the stage not only as a powerful creature but also provides card filtering. This helps players ditch less useful cards in hand, thus refining their game strategy and keeping them ahead.
Resource Acceleration: When this card chimes in with its spectacle cost, it can surge you ahead by offering a cheaper casting alternative. This fuel injection of pace can lead to a rapid deployment of further threats, keeping opponents on their toes.
Instant Speed: With abilities that trigger during each player’s upkeep, Rakdos Headliner juggles the tempo to your favor. This can disrupt opponents at crucial moments, and being at instant speed gives you the leverage to alter plays as the game situations evolve.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Rakdos Headliner necessitates discarding a card upon activation, potentially depleting your hand and jeopardizing your game plan.
Specific Mana Cost: This card’s mana cost needs both black and red, which could restrict its integration into a variety of decks that aren’t tailored to these colors.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost of two, including one black and one red, there are alternative creatures at this cost that may offer more value or immediate board presence.
Reasons to Include Rakdos Headliner in Your Collection
Versatility: Rakdos Headliner offers an excellent choice for a variety of deck archetypes. As a low-cost creature with haste, it can provide an immediate impact on the game, fitting neatly into aggressive strategies that aim to deal damage swiftly.
Combo Potential: This card has the inherent ability to work well with discard mechanics or madness cards. Since it requires the player to discard a card at the end of the turn, it can be a key component in enabling combos or synergizing with cards that benefit from a filled graveyard.
Meta-Relevance: Within the constantly evolving MTG meta, Rakdos Headliner can be a valuable asset against slower, control-based decks. Its quick entrance onto the battlefield can challenge opponents and force early reactions, potentially disrupting their game plan and providing you with a strong early game advantage.
How to beat
Rakdos Headliner presents itself as an agile and aggressive card that can quickly pressure opponents in Magic: The Gathering. Still, like all cards, Rakdos Headliner is not without its vulnerabilities. To effectively counter this card, it’s essential to understand its echo cost, which requires discarding a card if you’re unable to pay its mana cost the next turn. This sets the stage for strategic plays that can mitigate its impact or even turn the tide to your favor.
Pacing your removal spells or leveraging sacrifice effects judiciously can neutralize Rakdos Headliner before its echo cost comes into play. Cards that force sacrificing a creature as the echo cost is due can ensure that Rakdos Headliner’s initial assault is its last. Additionally, having creatures with reach or flying can help block Rakdos Headliner, as it lacks these abilities itself. Instant-speed interaction is key, making sure you have the means to respond on your opponent’s turn.
In essence, carefully timing your answers and maximizing the downsides of Rakdos Headliner’s echo cost can transform it from a threatening force to a liability for your opponent. Understanding its mechanics and preparing your deck with effective counter-strategies will go a long way in keeping Rakdos Headliner from stealing the show.
Cards like Rakdos Headliner
Rakdos Headliner joins the ranks of efficient discard outlets in Magic: The Gathering, much like the renowned faithless looting. Both offer the ability to discard cards, though Rakdos Headliner requires a creature card to be discarded in exchange for a robust 3/3 body at a low cast cost. Unlike faithless looting, which allows draw before discarding, Rakdos Headliner demands the discard as part of its echo cost, providing a different strategic timing for deck builders.
Rotting Regisaur is another card that echoes Rakdos Headliner’s aggressive efficiency. Possessing a greater power and toughness, the Regisaur demands a discard at your upkeep, providing consistent pressure and a formidable presence. While the Regisaur is heftier in both cost and stats, Rakdos Headliner offers early game aggression with a sacrifice that can be advantageous in decks tailored to exploit the graveyard.
Overall, while Rakdos Headliner may not have the flexibility of faithless looting or the overwhelming force of Rotting Regisaur, it holds its own as a valuable card for an aggressive strategy that seeks to utilize the graveyard as a resource.
Cards similar to Rakdos Headliner by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Rakdos Headliner MTG card by a specific set like Modern Horizons 2 and Modern Horizons 2, 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 Headliner and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Rakdos Headliner Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2021-06-18 and 2021-08-26. Illustrated by Ekaterina Burmak.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2021-06-18 | Modern Horizons 2 | MH2 | 374 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Ekaterina Burmak | |
| 2 | 2021-06-18 | Modern Horizons 2 | MH2 | 210 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Ekaterina Burmak | |
| 3 | 2021-08-26 | Jumpstart: Historic Horizons | J21 | 709 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Ekaterina Burmak |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Rakdos Headliner has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Rakdos Headliner card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2021-06-18 | Paying for echo is always optional. When the echo triggered ability resolves, if you can't pay the echo cost or choose not to, you sacrifice that permanent. |
| 2021-06-18 | Your permanent's echo ability will trigger at the beginning of your upkeep if it entered the battlefield since the beginning of your last upkeep, or if you gained control of it since the beginning of your last upkeep. |
