Rakdos Ickspitter MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Thrull |
| Released | 2006-05-05 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Dissension |
| Set code | DIS |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 1 |
| Number | 128 |
| Frame | 2003 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Christopher Rush |
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
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.
Cards similar to Rakdos Ickspitter by color, type and mana cost
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.
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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- 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
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Rakdos Ickspitter has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |