Rakdos, Lord of Riots MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 7 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityMythic
TypeLegendary Creature — Demon
Abilities Flying,Trample
Power 6
Toughness 6

Key Takeaways

  1. Rakdos excels in giving players a significant card advantage and the possibility of casting multiple creatures.
  2. Resource acceleration is Rakdos’ forte, reducing creature spells’ costs dramatically.
  3. Playing Rakdos requires smart gameplay, timing damage to enable his cost-reducing ability.

Text of card

You can't cast Rakdos, Lord of Riots unless an opponent lost life this turn. Flying, trample Creature spells you cast cost less to cast for each 1 life your opponents have lost this turn.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Fans of Magic the Gathering know the value of having options, and Rakdos, Lord of Riots excels in this aspect by potentially allowing the casting of numerous creature spells in a single turn. This card can turn the tide of a game by refilling the board with threats after a sweep or by simply overwhelming opponents with a formidable presence.

Resource Acceleration: Rakdos, Lord of Riots shines in enabling players to cheat the mana system. By reducing creature spells’ casting cost based on the amount of life your opponents have lost in a turn, he essentially generates virtual mana. This can lead to explosive turns where high-cost creatures become much more accessible, changing the game’s dynamic in your favor.

Instant Speed: While Rakdos himself may not operate at instant speed, playing in a deck with the Lord of Riots encourages smart and reactive gameplay. You’ll find yourself timing damage-dealing spells and abilities to pave the way for his arrival, which in turn sets up your next move. This anticipatory playstyle keeps opponents on their toes and allows you to maximize the impact of your card plays.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Not applicable to Rakdos Lord of Riots as it doesn’t have a discard requirement, but it does necessitate that you’ve dealt damage to an opponent this turn to be able to cast it.

Specific Mana Cost: Rakdos Lord of Riots demands an exacting mana cost with both black and red mana required, potentially constraining deck-building options and making it less flexible in multicolored decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that includes two colorless and two colored mana, Rakdos Lord of Riots can be a heavy draw on resources in the early game, particularly since it requires you to have already dealt damage to an opponent that turn.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Rakdos Lord of Riots offers a dynamic presence on the battlefield that can be the cornerstone of various deck types. Its ability to reduce creature spell costs can be exploited in aggressive decks seeking to quickly flood the board with large creatures.

Combo Potential: The card provides a powerful synergy with cards that deal damage to each opponent, unlocking the potential for explosive turns where multiple high-cost creatures are cast for significantly less mana, making it a lynchpin in combo-oriented decks.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state where aggressive and burn strategies are effective, Rakdos Lord of Riots shines. Its relevance grows as it can potentially outpace control decks and apply pressure that aligns perfectly with the current pace of many game environments.


How to beat

Rakdos Lord of Riots is a formidable adversary in Magic: The Gathering, with an aggressive nature that can turn the tide of a game. Having the ability to cast creature spells for less mana is a significant advantage. However, this demonic entity isn’t invincible. Dealing with Rakdos efficiently requires an understanding of its reliance on dealing combat damage to a player to unlock its potential.

Control strategies shine when it comes to keeping Rakdos at bay. Counterspells ensure Rakdos never hits the battlefield, while removal spells like Path to Exile or Terminate can deal with it after it lands. Board wipes like Wrath of God or Damnation are especially potent, as they can clear the way by removing Rakdos along with other creatures your opponent controls. Moreover, life gain strategies can offset the damage requirement to cast Rakdos, making it more challenging for your opponent to utilize its cost reduction ability effectively.

Ultimately, having a game plan to either prevent Rakdos Lord of Riots from entering the fray or swiftly removing it is essential. Tightly woven control elements and life stabilization are the keys to dismantling the chaos Rakdos brings to the table.


BurnMana Recommendations

As the dust settles on the in-depth analysis of Rakdos, Lord of Riots, it’s clear that this card is a game-changer for many MTG players. Its capability to orchestrate a reduction in creature spells’ costs can redefine the battlefield in seconds. Whether you’re looking to give your aggressive deck an edge or seeking to explore new combo avenues, Rakdos offers a versatile and potent choice for your collection. If you’re up to challenge control decks and establish a swift tempo, consider how Rakdos can fit into your strategy. Dive deeper with us to unlock the full potential of your deck and affirm your presence in the MTG arena. The path to commanding victory is just a click away.


Cards like Rakdos, Lord of Riots

Rakdos Lord of Riots occupies an intriguing niche in the world of creature cards in Magic: The Gathering. As a parallel, we can look at other formidable creatures like Kaervek the Merciless. While Kaervek also punishes opponents for casting spells by dealing damage equivalent to that spell’s mana cost, Rakdos Lord of Riots discounts your creature spells for each life your opponents lost during the turn. This aggressive cost-reduction ability allows for rapid deployment of high-cost creatures, an advantage Kaervek doesn’t provide.

Mentioning Master of Cruelties reveals another interesting comparison. Both cards emanate from the Rakdos guild and have a significant impact on gameplay. Master of Cruelties presents a possible instant defeat for opponents when attacking alone, but Rakdos Lord of Riots’ ability to potentially bring out multiple heavy-hitters each turn shifts the scale of threat dramatically, particularly in multiplayer settings.

Gauging these cards against one another highlights the unique position of Rakdos Lord of Riots. It has a blend of offensive power and strategic depth that can rapidly tip the scales of a game in favor of the player who wields this mighty creature’s potential to its fullest.

Kaervek the Merciless - MTG Card versions
Master of Cruelties - MTG Card versions
Kaervek the Merciless - Time Spiral (TSP)
Master of Cruelties - Dragon's Maze (DGM)

Cards similar to Rakdos, Lord of Riots by color, type and mana cost

Lim-Dûl's Paladin - MTG Card versions
Balduvian Dead - MTG Card versions
Discordant Spirit - MTG Card versions
Volcano Imp - MTG Card versions
Possessed Barbarian - MTG Card versions
Prosper, Tome-Bound - MTG Card versions
Orcus, Prince of Undeath - MTG Card versions
Blim, Comedic Genius - MTG Card versions
Rakdos Firewheeler - MTG Card versions
Immersturm Predator - MTG Card versions
Murderous Redcap - MTG Card versions
Hellhole Rats - MTG Card versions
Wort, Boggart Auntie - MTG Card versions
Sootwalkers - MTG Card versions
Viashino Skeleton - MTG Card versions
Singe-Mind Ogre - MTG Card versions
Olivia Voldaren - MTG Card versions
Exava, Rakdos Blood Witch - MTG Card versions
Blazing Specter - MTG Card versions
Blazing Hellhound - MTG Card versions
Lim-Dûl's Paladin - Alliances (ALL)
Balduvian Dead - Masters Edition II (ME2)
Discordant Spirit - Mirage (MIR)
Volcano Imp - Planeshift (PLS)
Possessed Barbarian - Torment (TOR)
Prosper, Tome-Bound - Forgotten Realms Commander Display Commanders (OAFC)
Orcus, Prince of Undeath - Adventures in the Forgotten Realms Promos (PAFR)
Blim, Comedic Genius - Commander Legends (CMR)
Rakdos Firewheeler - Ravnica Remastered (RVR)
Immersturm Predator - Kaldheim (KHM)
Murderous Redcap - The List (PLST)
Hellhole Rats - Dissension (DIS)
Wort, Boggart Auntie - Lorwyn (LRW)
Sootwalkers - Shadowmoor (SHM)
Viashino Skeleton - Shards of Alara (ALA)
Singe-Mind Ogre - Alara Reborn (ARB)
Olivia Voldaren - Secret Lair Drop (SLD)
Exava, Rakdos Blood Witch - Dragon's Maze (DGM)
Blazing Specter - Vintage Masters (VMA)
Blazing Hellhound - Double Masters 2022 (2X2)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Rakdos, Lord of Riots MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Return to Ravnica, 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, Lord of Riots and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Rakdos, Lord of Riots Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2012-10-05 and 2024-01-12. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 862082015normalblackYigit Koroglu
22012-10-05Return to RavnicaRTR 1872003normalblackVincent Proce
32019-02-15RNA Guild KitGK2 522015normalblackYigit Koroglu
42020-11-20Commander LegendsCMR 5322015normalblackYigit Koroglu
52024-01-12Ravnica RemasteredRVR 379z2015normalblackVincent Proce
62024-01-12Ravnica RemasteredRVR 2152015normalblackVincent Proce
72024-01-12Ravnica RemasteredRVR 3791997normalblackVincent Proce

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Rakdos, Lord of Riots has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2020-11-10 Damage dealt to a player causes that player to lose that much life.
2020-11-10 If an opponent lost life and subsequently lost the game, Rakdos's first ability is satisfied, and its last ability counts that loss of life.
2020-11-10 If there are additional costs to cast a creature spell, such as a kicker cost or the commander tax, apply those increases before applying cost reductions.
2020-11-10 Rakdos can be put onto the battlefield by another spell or ability even if no opponent has lost life that turn.
2020-11-10 Rakdos's last ability can't reduce the colored mana requirement of a creature spell you cast.
2020-11-10 Rakdos's last ability cares about the total life lost, not necessarily what an opponent's life total is compared to what it was at the beginning of the turn. For example, if an opponent loses 5 life and then gains 10 life in a turn, creature spells you cast will cost less to cast.
2020-11-10 Rakdos's last ability won't reduce the cost to cast Rakdos itself. It applies only to creature spells you cast once Rakdos is on the battlefield.

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