Rakdos Guildmage MTG Card
2006-05-05 - Number 145
2010-06-18 - Number 92
2019-02-15 - Number 69
2024-01-12 - Number 214
2002-06-24 - Number 32589
| Card sets | Released in 5 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Zombie Shaman |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 2 |
Text of card
({BR} can be paid with either or .) , Discard a card: Target creature gets -2/-2 until end of turn. : Put a 2/1 red Goblin creature token with haste into play. Remove it from the game at end of turn.
Cards like Rakdos Guildmage
The Rakdos Guildmage stands out in the multiverse of Magic: The Gathering due to its unique blend of abilities. This card is likened to Anarchist, as both are capable of retrieving crucial cards from the graveyard. However, Rakdos Guildmage offers more versatility with an additional ability to create a creature token, adding to its strategic advantage in gameplay.
Comparatively, Bloodrite Invoker also taps into the power of life point manipulation, much like Rakdos Guildmage. Nevertheless, the Invoker demands a significantly higher mana investment to utilize its ability, making Rakdos Guildmage a more adaptable choice for various stages of the game. Olivia’s Dragoon is another card that features a discard ability, enhancing card synergy in your deck. Despite this, the Dragoon lacks the direct control over the board that Rakdos Guildmage exercises with its token generation and disruption capabilities.
Ultimately, weighing these options, the Rakdos Guildmage provides players with a dynamic toolset, excelling not just in singular tasks but as a functional multilateral asset in any MTG deck that combines elements of control and creature strategies.
Cards similar to Rakdos Guildmage by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Rakdos Guildmage offers a swift route to deplete your opponent’s hand with its ability to repetitively create card disadvantage for them while you control the game’s tempo.
Resource Acceleration: Not traditionally known for acceleration, Rakdos Guildmage compensates by giving you the upper hand in battlefield presence, enabling aggressive strategies that offset the need for traditional ramping.
Instant Speed: The capacities of Rakdos Guildmage operate at instant speed, permitting you to maximize your mana usage strategically and respond dynamically to the evolving game state.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The Rakdos Guildmage has abilities that necessitate discarding a card, which can deplete your hand and leave you at a strategic disadvantage, especially if the game drags on and you need all the resources you can get.
Specific Mana Cost: To fully utilize this card, your deck must cater to its strict mana requirements, which can be challenging if you’re not running a dedicated Rakdos deck. It requires both black and red mana, which might not always be readily available when you need it.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: When comparing the mana cost to deploy Rakdos Guildmage’s abilities to other options within the same mana range, it may seem less appealing. The abilities, while potentially beneficial, come at a price that could be invested in other, potentially more impactful plays during the game.
Reasons to Include Rakdos Guildmage in Your Collection
Versatility: Rakdos Guildmage slots into a variety of decks thanks to its flexible mana cost and dual abilities. Whether it’s creating tokens or discarding cards, this card adapts to numerous strategies.
Combo Potential: With the capacity to both churn out creature tokens and disrupt opponents’ hands, Rakdos Guildmage can synergize with strategies that revolve around creature presence or opponents’ resource denial.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where tempo and board presence matter, Rakdos Guildmage helps maintain pressure on the opponent while providing utility that’s useful across multiple matchups.
How to defeat
The Rakdos Guildmage is a versatile adversary in the world of Magic: The Gathering, offering not just creature presence but also direct damage and discard abilities. When facing this dual-colored card, the key is to mitigate its impact quickly. Removal spells that can target creatures regardless of color, like Doom Blade or Path to Exile, prove to be reliable answers to remove the Guildmage from the battlefield efficiently.
Continuous pressure through board presence can also suppress the Guildmage’s influence on the game. By maintaining a wide array of creatures, you reduce the impact of its discard ability and force your opponent to make unfavorable trades. Furthermore, instant-speed interaction is essential. Having the ability to act on your opponent’s turn with spells like Lightning Bolt or Counterspell can catch them off-guard, disrupting their strategies and rendering the Rakdos Guildmage’s abilities null and void.
Lastly, it’s worth noting that the Guildmage’s abilities have a mana cost, which your opponent might not always be able to meet. Taking advantage of moments when they’re tapped out can be key. Stripping their resources, such as with land destruction or hand disruption techniques, can also prevent the Rakdos Guildmage from being utilized to its full potential, bringing you closer to victory.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Rakdos Guildmage MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and 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 Guildmage 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
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
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Printings
The Rakdos Guildmage Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2006-05-05 and 2024-01-12. Illustrated by Jeremy Jarvis.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 32589 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Jeremy Jarvis | ||
| 2 | 2006-05-05 | Dissension | DIS | 145 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Jeremy Jarvis | |
| 3 | 2010-06-18 | Archenemy | ARC | 92 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Jeremy Jarvis | |
| 4 | 2019-02-15 | RNA Guild Kit | GK2 | 69 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jeremy Jarvis | |
| 5 | 2024-01-12 | Ravnica Remastered | RVR | 214 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Jeremy Jarvis |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Rakdos Guildmage has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Rakdos Guildmage card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2006-05-01 | If the second ability is activated during the End step, the token won’t be exiled until the following turn’s End step. |