Rakdos Locket MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeArtifact

Key Takeaways

  1. Boosts mana pool and allows card draw, critical for maintaining a lead in-game.
  2. Works well in specific color decks but may be less efficient in multicolor setups.
  3. Despite the cost, its late-game benefits can be a game-changer for players.

Text of card

: Add or . {BR}{BR}{BR}{BR}, , Sacrifice Rakdos Locket: Draw two cards.

"This trinket will gain you admittance to some painfully exclusive gatherings." —Exava, blood witch


Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Rakdos Locket aids in generating card advantage by its draw ability, which is essential for outpacing your opponent over the course of a match.

Resource Acceleration: This artifact boosts your mana pool with additional resources, enabling quicker deployment of high-cost cards or multiple plays in a single turn.

Instant Speed: While the locket itself does not operate at instant speed, its mana can be leveraged to cast spells at crucial moments, effectively adapting to the dynamic flow of the game.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Rakdos Locket requires players to let go of a card to activate its draw ability. This can potentially set you back if your hand size is critical for strategy execution.

Specific Mana Cost: Tapping into the specific mana combination of black and red for activation, the Rakdos Locket might not seamlessly fit into multicolored decks that don’t heavily feature these colors.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cumulative four mana necessary to both play and use its draw ability, this particular locket comes across as a somewhat pricey investment, especially when pitted against other mana artifacts or draw engines offering more bang for the buck.


Reasons to Include Rakdos Locket in Your Collection

Versatility: The Rakdos Locket displays a level of adaptability that commands attention. It not only taps for mana of two colors but also provides a late-game card draw option. This ensures that it finds a place in multiple deck archetypes, particularly those looking to leverage both mana flexibility and the ability to refill the hand in the latter stages of the game.

Combo Potential: Given its dual nature as both a mana source and a card draw mechanism upon sacrificing, the locket synergizes well with decks focused on artifact-related strategies or those aiming to capitalize on graveyard mechanics.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta that values efficient mana usage and seamless transitions into powerful late-game plays, Rakdos Locket aligns well with the current trends. It’s especially potent in environments where the ability to stay on curve and maintain hand advantage can make all the difference between triumph and defeat.


How to beat

Rakdos Locket, an intricately designed mana artifact from MTG, serves dual functions much like its counterparts in the Guild Locket cycle. Positioned as both mana acceleration and a card draw device, this locket can incrementally advance your opponent’s board state by churning out both red and black mana. Notably, later in the game, it can be sacrificed to draw essential cards.

To outmaneuver the strategic advantage offered by Rakdos Locket, targeting the artifact early on is paramount. Artifact removal spells like Naturalize or Disenchant are straightforward solutions, ridding you of the potential threat by removing it directly from play. Without its utility, players who rely heavily on it for mana fixing or as a card draw engine will find themselves at a noticeable disadvantage. An alternative strategy involves leveraging counter-play tactics that invalidate the locket’s effect, such as Damping Sphere, which can stifle the extra value obtained from tapping multiple lands.

Effectively mitigating the strengths of Rakdos Locket can be pivotal in a match, bringing you closer to victory by limiting the opponent’s resources and card advantage. Thus, strategic removal or disruption plays a significant role within your arsenal when facing artifacts of this caliber.


BurnMana Recommendations

MTG players know the true value of versatility and resource management in a game that’s as strategic as it is thrilling. The Rakdos Locket stands out for its dual-purpose in mana acceleration and card advantage, making it a card worth considering. Its potential for synergy in artifact or graveyard-themed decks only heightens its appeal. Simultaneously, balancing your deck to counter such strategies can turn the tide in your favor. We encourage avid deck builders and strategists to explore further insights and tips on optimizing their game – delve deeper with us into the nuanced world of MTG and enhance every match with informed choices.


Cards like Rakdos Locket

The Rakdos Locket is an intriguing mana artifact in the world of Magic: The Gathering. It offers a resemblance to other mana-generating artifacts like Boros Locket. Both lockets share the common ability to tap for one of two possible mana colors, but the Rakdos Locket edges ahead with its secondary card-drawing ability. However, the need to sacrifice the artifact and pay an additional amount sets it apart from simpler mana rocks such as Signets, which continue to provide mana without the card draw option.

Analogous to the Rakdos Locket, we explore the Dimir Locket, which also allows for a burst of card draw later in the game. It comes with the same mana-investment for activation but serves the blue-black aligned players. Furthermore, lockets like these share functionality with Cluestones, which also provide mana and card draw, however, Cluestones cost an extra mana to draw a card and don’t tap for colored mana the same turn you play them, highlighting the efficiency of the Lockets.

When evaluating these comparable cards, Rakdos Locket maintains a competitive position in MTG for players looking to balance mana acceleration with eventual card advantage within decks that align with black and red mana.

Boros Locket - MTG Card versions
Dimir Locket - MTG Card versions
Boros Locket - Guilds of Ravnica (GRN)
Dimir Locket - Guilds of Ravnica (GRN)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Rakdos Locket MTG card by a specific set like Ravnica Allegiance and Commander 2019, 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 Locket and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Rakdos Locket Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2019-01-25 and 2019-08-23. Illustrated by Sung Choi.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12019-01-25Ravnica AllegianceRNA 2372015normalblackSung Choi
22019-08-23Commander 2019C19 2202015normalblackSung Choi

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Rakdos Locket has restrictions

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

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