Rakdos Guildgate MTG Card
2012-10-05 - Number 244
2013-05-03 - Number 154
2013-11-01 - Number 314
2017-03-17 - Number 242
2017-08-25 - Number 271
2019-01-25 - Number 255
2019-01-25 - Number 256
2019-08-23 - Number 267
2024-01-12 - Number 284
2024-01-12 - Number 408
2024-02-23 - Number 244
| Card sets | Released in 11 setsSee all |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Land — Gate |
Text of card
Rakdos Guildgate enters the battlefield tapped. : Add or to your mana pool.
Enter and indulge your darkest fantasies, for you may never pass this way again.
Cards like Rakdos Guildgate
The Rakdos Guildgate joins the vast lineup of dual lands in Magic: The Gathering, serving as a fundamental piece in multicolored mana bases. It parallels the essence of gates like Azorius Guildgate and Golgari Guildgate, offering color fixing for two specific guilds. Yet, the Rakdos Guildgate distinguishes itself by catering to the aggressive and chaotic nature of Rakdos colors, blending black and red mana.
While Gateway Plaza presents another versatile land, it requires an additional mana for its activation, which may slow down the tempo for those pivotal early turns. Conversely, Blood Crypt stands out as a shock land that can enter the battlefield untapped at a life cost, thereby providing immediate access to Rakdos colors without a turn’s delay. However, Blood Crypt comes with a higher investment than the cost-effective Rakdos Guildgate.
In evaluating their roles within deck structures, lands like Rakdos Guildgate are vital for players seeking stable mana without the premium price of rare counterparts like Blood Crypt. It serves as a building block for those who are looking to balance a budget while still maintaining the capability to run a potent two-color deck.
Cards similar to Rakdos Guildgate by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Rakdos Guildgate. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Abzan Aggro | Pioneer | Maze's End | ReCQ - Pioneer - SCG CON Atlanta - Saturday - 1:00 pm (Bronze) |
| Five-color Control | Pioneer | Maze's End | Super Pioneer - 3 Torneio da Liga de Volta Redonda |
 | Five-color Combo | Legacy | Painter | Charlotte Legacy League Season 2 Week 1 |
 | Jund Control | Legacy | Charlotte Legacy League Season 1 Week 2 | |
| Five-color Ramp | Pioneer | Maze's End | DreamHack Atlanta 2023 - Sun. 11AM Pioneer 5k Open 8-Slot RCQ |
| Five-color Yorion | Pioneer | Maze's End | #23 Last Chance Qualifier: Pioneer |
 | Temur Midrange | Pioneer | Maze's End | Peasant Pioneer Showdown - A Josh and Pat's MTG Bazaar Sponsored Event |
| Jund Lands | Gladiator | Gladiator Team Unified League | |
| All Other Decklists | Pioneer | Maze's End | 4 / The 4th Pioneer at Home |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Rakdos Guildgate doesn’t explicitly provide a card draw, but it serves as a stable dual-land in any deck that might be starved for specific colors, effectively smoothing out your hand and plays without taking up an extra slot for color fixing.
Resource Acceleration: Entering the battlefield tapped might seem like a setback, but once it’s ready to go, this Guildgate offers acceleration by granting access to both black and red mana. This enhances your ability to cast spells from a diverse color pallet earlier in the game than you might otherwise be able to.
Instant Speed: While lands can’t be played at instant speed, Rakdos Guildgate ensures that you have the resources to cast instant speed spells in your deck without worrying about the mana base. This supports a flexible and responsive game plan, especially vital in formats where speed can determine the outcome of a match.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: While Rakdos Guildgate doesn’t specifically require a discard to play, it does feed into a broader Rakdos mechanic which often involves discarding cards. This can put you at a disadvantage if you’re not prepared or your deck isn’t built to leverage discards effectively.
Specific Mana Cost: Rakdos Guildgate taps for either black or red mana, which is perfect for a Rakdos-centric deck. However, this specificity can be restrictive for decks that require a more varied mana base or need to respond quickly with different colors of mana.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although the Guildgate itself doesn’t have a mana cost, it enters the battlefield tapped. This delayed availability means you essentially pay a high opportunity cost, particularly in the early game when tempo is critical, as you lose the chance to utilize that mana immediately.
Reasons to Include Rakdos Guildgate in Your Collection
Versatility: Rakdos Guildgate is a dual land card that can tap for either black or red mana, making it an essential inclusion in any deck that runs on a Rakdos color scheme.
Combo Potential: This nonbasic land is not only a stable mana source but also synergizes with mechanics that benefit from the presence of Gates, such as Gatebreaker Ram or Glaive of the Guildpact.
Meta-Relevance: As the metagame often shifts to accommodate multicolored decks, having access to reliable mana fixing like Rakdos Guildgate can keep your deck competitive and versatile in various match-ups.
How to beat
Rakdos Guildgate is a land card that serves as a gateway to a smooth mana base in Magic: The Gathering, particularly in decks embracing the Rakdos color combination of red and black. Unlike basic lands, Rakdos Guildgate enters the battlefield tapped, delaying immediate utilization, which can be exploited by agile opponents. It’s crucial to maintain a swift pace to pressure opponents who might rely on such taplands for their mana fixing.
A proactive strategy in early game stages can severely hamper the effectiveness of Rakdos Guildgate. By deploying low-cost threats or land destruction spells, one can disrupt the tempo of decks counting on Guildgates. Playing lands like Ghost Quarter or Field of Ruin allows tactical responses to land-based strategies, removing the opponent’s Guildgate and further impeding their mana development. This approach could pivot the game in your favor even before Rakdos Guildgate’s influence unfurls.
Ultimately, understanding and preempting the delayed gratification that Rakdos Guildgate affords is key. Effective countermeasures can considerably weaken the guildgate’s role, steering the game towards your victory. The path to outpacing and beating the strategic plays pinned to Rakdos Guildgate lies in consistent aggression and strategic land interaction.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Rakdos Guildgate MTG card by a specific set like Return to Ravnica and Dragon's Maze, 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 Guildgate and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
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Printings
The Rakdos Guildgate Magic the Gathering card was released in 9 different sets between 2012-10-05 and 2024-02-23. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2012-10-05 | Return to Ravnica | RTR | 244 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Eytan Zana | |
| 2 | 2013-05-03 | Dragon's Maze | DGM | 154 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Eytan Zana | |
| 3 | 2013-11-01 | Commander 2013 | C13 | 314 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Eytan Zana | |
| 4 | 2017-03-17 | Modern Masters 2017 | MM3 | 242 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Eytan Zana | |
| 5 | 2017-08-25 | Commander 2017 | C17 | 271 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Eytan Zana | |
| 6 | 2019-01-25 | Ravnica Allegiance | RNA | 255 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jonas De Ro | |
| 7 | 2019-01-25 | Ravnica Allegiance | RNA | 256 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jonas De Ro | |
| 8 | 2019-08-23 | Commander 2019 | C19 | 267 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Eytan Zana | |
| 9 | 2024-01-12 | Ravnica Remastered | RVR | 284 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jonas De Ro | |
| 10 | 2024-01-12 | Ravnica Remastered | RVR | 408 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Jonas De Ro | |
| 11 | 2024-02-23 | Ravnica: Clue Edition | CLU | 244 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Eytan Zana |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Rakdos Guildgate has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Rakdos Guildgate card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2013-04-15 | Gate is not a basic land type. |
| 2013-04-15 | The subtype Gate has no special rules significance, but other spells and abilities may refer to it. |