Rakdos Guildmage MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 5 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Zombie Shaman
Power 2
Toughness 2

Key Takeaways

  1. Rakdos Guildmage offers card advantage and allows control over the game’s rhythm through strategic discards.
  2. The card’s instant speed abilities enable flexible responses and optimal mana usage during gameplay.
  3. While potent, the guildmage’s specific mana needs and hand depletion are key considerations for players.

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.


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.


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.

Anarchist - MTG Card versions
Bloodrite Invoker - MTG Card versions
Olivia's Dragoon - MTG Card versions
Anarchist - Exodus (EXO)
Bloodrite Invoker - Rise of the Eldrazi (ROE)
Olivia's Dragoon - Eldritch Moon (EMN)

Cards similar to Rakdos Guildmage by color, type and mana cost

Marsh Goblins - MTG Card versions
Acidic Sliver - MTG Card versions
Shivan Zombie - MTG Card versions
Valki, God of Lies // Tibalt, Cosmic Impostor - MTG Card versions
Kroxa, Titan of Death's Hunger - MTG Card versions
Juri, Master of the Revue - MTG Card versions
Gobhobbler Rats - MTG Card versions
Sootstoke Kindler - MTG Card versions
Spiteflame Witch - MTG Card versions
Goblin Deathraiders - MTG Card versions
Goblin Outlander - MTG Card versions
Crimson Muckwader - MTG Card versions
Rix Maadi Guildmage - MTG Card versions
Rakdos Shred-Freak - MTG Card versions
Spike Jester - MTG Card versions
Tymaret, the Murder King - MTG Card versions
Grenzo, Dungeon Warden - MTG Card versions
Olivia's Bloodsworn - MTG Card versions
Dire Fleet Captain - MTG Card versions
Rushblade Commander - MTG Card versions
Marsh Goblins - The Dark (DRK)
Acidic Sliver - Premium Deck Series: Slivers (H09)
Shivan Zombie - Invasion (INV)
Valki, God of Lies // Tibalt, Cosmic Impostor - From Cute to Brute (PCTB)
Kroxa, Titan of Death's Hunger - Multiverse Legends (MUL)
Juri, Master of the Revue - Multiverse Legends (MUL)
Gobhobbler Rats - Ravnica Remastered (RVR)
Sootstoke Kindler - Shadowmoor (SHM)
Spiteflame Witch - Shadowmoor (SHM)
Goblin Deathraiders - Mystery Booster (MB1)
Goblin Outlander - Conflux (CON)
Crimson Muckwader - The List (PLST)
Rix Maadi Guildmage - Return to Ravnica (RTR)
Rakdos Shred-Freak - Ravnica: Clue Edition (CLU)
Spike Jester - Modern Masters 2017 (MM3)
Tymaret, the Murder King - Theros (THS)
Grenzo, Dungeon Warden - The List (PLST)
Olivia's Bloodsworn - Shadows over Innistrad (SOI)
Dire Fleet Captain - Ixalan (XLN)
Rushblade Commander - Battlebond (BBD)

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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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.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 325892003normalblackJeremy Jarvis
22006-05-05DissensionDIS 1452003normalblackJeremy Jarvis
32010-06-18ArchenemyARC 922003normalblackJeremy Jarvis
42019-02-15RNA Guild KitGK2 692015normalblackJeremy Jarvis
52024-01-12Ravnica RemasteredRVR 2142015normalblackJeremy Jarvis

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Rakdos Guildmage has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

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.

DateText
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.

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