Rakdos Roustabout MTG Card

Rakdos Roustabout can turn the pressure up on opponents, potentially offering card advantage through attrition. Its specific mana cost may restrict its use, but it excels in black and red mana decks. When included in the right deck, Rakdos Roustabout’s ability to consistently deal damage makes it a formidable threat.
Rakdos Roustabout - Ravnica Allegiance
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Ogre Warrior
Released2019-01-25
Set symbol
Set nameRavnica Allegiance
Set codeRNA
Power 3
Toughness 2
Number198
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byLucas Graciano

Text of card

Whenever Rakdos Roustabout becomes blocked, it deals 1 damage to the player or planeswalker it's attacking.

"That one has a bright future—perfect instincts for the rhythm of mayhem." —Judith

Cards like Rakdos Roustabout

Rakdos Roustabout is an intriguing piece in the puzzle of creature cards available to Magic: The Gathering players, bringing a unique blend of aggression and resilience. When peering at cards that share its essence, Gravel-Hide Goblin stands out. Both creatures demand a spectacle for optimal utility, yet the Roustabout edges out with its forced damage ability upon being blocked. This mirrors the goblin’s toughness enhancement but with an immediate impact on life totals.

Another comparable combatant is the ever-persistent Raging Kronch. While lacking the Roustabout’s built-in damage ability, the Kronch compensates with a higher power level, able to exert more pressure if it goes unchecked. What differentiates the Roustabout here is its ability to deal damage to the opponent regardless of being blocked or not, ensuring a consistent threat on the board.

Analysing these alternatives exhibits the subtle but decisive advantages that Rakdos Roustabout brings to a deck. It’s not merely about the damage potential but also how consistently that damage can be applied, marking the Roustabout as a card that opponents cannot afford to ignore in the arena of MTG.

Gravel-Hide Goblin - MTG Card versions
Raging Kronch - MTG Card versions
Gravel-Hide Goblin - MTG Card versions
Raging Kronch - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Rakdos Roustabout demands immediate attention upon entering the battlefield due to its detrimental effects, potentially causing your opponents to expend resources to handle it. This attrition can gradually lead to you gaining card advantage as the game progresses.

Resource Acceleration: While Rakdos Roustabout itself does not directly provide resource acceleration, its aggressive nature forces your opponent to make difficult decisions. This could indirectly result in a resource lead as you continue to apply pressure and maintain board presence, leaving them scrambling for answers.

Instant Speed: Rakdos Roustabout’s abilities are not activated at instant speed, but its potential to deal damage to the player as soon as it attacks can disrupt your opponent’s plans. Smart play and deck synergy allow you to capitalize on this by strategizing around the timing of your attacks and the spells you choose to play alongside it.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Rakdos Roustabout demands a payment beyond its mana cost, necessitating the discard of another card. This could significantly hamper your game plan, especially when you’re holding critical cards you can’t afford to lose.

Specific Mana Cost: The mana needed to play Rakdos Roustabout includes colored mana, which constrains its utility to decks that can produce both black and red mana. This can limit the flexibility and universality of the card in various MTG strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Despite the allure of bringing a decently sized creature to the battlefield, Rakdos Roustabout might not be your most cost-effective option. With a mana cost set a tad high, players could find other creature cards that offer more impact or come with additional abilities for a similar or lower investment.

Reasons to Include Rakdos Roustabout in Your Collection

Versatility: Rakdos Roustabout serves as a reliable creature in multicolored decks, particularly fitting well within the aggressive Rakdos archetype. Its ability to automatically deal damage when it becomes blocked ensures it contributes to your offensive strategy, regardless of the defender’s tactics.

Combo Potential: This card synergizes with strategies that capitalize on dealing noncombat damage. It pairs well with cards triggering off spectacle costs or abilities that activate whenever a player is dealt damage, enhancing those intricate deck mechanisms.

Meta-Relevance: In a game environment where aggressive decks are thriving, Rakdos Roustabout can be an important addition. Its durability coupled with consistent damage output can challenge controlling decks and tip the scales in your favor against an unsettle field.

How to beat

Rakdos Roustabout presents a unique challenge in the battlefield with its ability to force a creature block and deal damage to an opponent when it becomes blocked. To navigate past this formidable adversary, considering removal spells such as Fatal Push or Path to Exile can be efficient methods to dispatch the Roustabout without triggering its ability. Utilizing these spells allows players to remove the threat before it can lock in its combat advantage.

Another strategy includes leveraging larger creatures that can withstand the Roustabout’s attack, nullifying its forced blocking requirement. With the higher toughness, your creatures can block Rakdos Roustabout without substantial risk, minimizing the damage to your life total. Similarly, effects that prevent or redirect damage can be invaluable to preserve your creatures’ integrity and sustain your board presence. Cards with damage prevention or redirection help maintain control and endurance throughout the duel.

Ultimately, understanding the intricacies of your opponent’s strategy and carefully planning your responses will guide you to victory. Appropriating the right spells and abilities to combat Rakdos Roustabout is a testament to a player’s acumen and adaptability in the ever-evolving game of Magic: The Gathering.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Rakdos Roustabout MTG card by a specific set like Ravnica Allegiance, 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 Roustabout and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Rakdos Roustabout has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2019-01-25 An ability that triggers when a creature becomes blocked triggers only once if two or more creatures block it.