Rakdos Ragemutt MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	5
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Elemental Dog
Abilities	Haste,Lifelink
Released	2012-10-05
Set symbol
Set name	Return to Ravnica
Set code	RTR
Power	3
Toughness	3
Number	185
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Ryan Barger

Key Takeaways

Lifegain from attacks or blocks offers strategic card advantage, bolstering hand size by mitigating life loss.
The lifelink ability is a subtle form of resource acceleration, providing more time and sustaining player health.
Forcing opponents into instant speed reactions, Rakdos Ragemutt grants you the upper hand in combat scenarios.

Text of card

Lifelink, haste

Ragemutts pull the chariots of the Butcher Clowns, a trio of wingless, zombified faeries formerly of the Izzet.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While this fiery hound doesn’t let you draw cards directly, it aids in card advantage by providing recurring value. Each time Rakdos Ragemutt attacks or blocks, you gain life, essentially negating some of the damage from your opponent’s previous turns and maintaining your hand by not needing to draw into more life-gain.

Resource Acceleration: Rakdos Ragemutt may not produce additional mana or treasure, but its lifelink ability can be seen as a form of resource acceleration. The life gained with each combat can buy you more turns, effectively giving you the resources of time and health to pull ahead of your opponent.

Instant Speed: The Rakdos Ragemutt doesn’t have flash itself; however, its presence in a deck emphasizes the usefulness of instant speed spells. By applying pressure during combat and gaining life, opponents are forced to react quickly, potentially at instant speed, to deal with the threat it poses, thereby giving you the initiative.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Rakdos Ragemutt commands a discard action to fully utilize its abilities putting pressure on your hand-size and strategizing assets.

Specific Mana Cost: This card’s casting necessitates a blend of black and red mana, potentially restricting its utility to decks that are specifically compatible with a Rakdos color scheme.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost leaning on the higher side of the scale, it might stagger your tempo, especially compared to other creatures that offer similar or greater benefits for less investment.

Reasons to Include Rakdos Ragemutt in Your Collection

Versatility: Rakdos Ragemutt offers a unique blend of aggressive stats and life-gain, making it a diverse option for many deck builds. Its ability to deal damage while also cushioning your life total is a valuable asset in games that ebb and flow between offense and defense.

Combo Potential: As a creature with haste and lifelink, it pairs well with cards that benefit from either immediate combat or life total changes. For instance, synergizing with cards that trigger on lifegain or creature attacks can be particularly impactful on the battlefield.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where aggro decks and racing are prevalent, Rakdos Ragemutt can shift the tide in your favor. It’s part creature, part life buffer, making it a solid response to decks that aim to win by whittling down your life total quickly.

How to beat

Understanding the unique combination of lifelink and haste in the Rakdos Ragemutt card is essential for MTG players looking to maintain control over the battlefield. As a creature that can impact the game immediately with its damage and life-gaining abilities, it often requires a preemptive or immediate response.

Control decks might consider counterspells or instant-speed removals to handle the Rakdos Ragemutt. Cards like Essence Scatter or Murderous Rider provide a clean solution. For those playing more aggressive strategies, efficient creature trades or damage spells like Shock or Lightning Strike can eliminate the Ragemutt before its lifelink becomes relevant. In multiplayer games, coordinating efforts or strategic blocking are wise moves to mitigate the advantages provided by this fiery canine. Additionally, graveyard-based strategies are less effective given the Ragemutt’s ability to provide immediate board presence and lifegain.

Overall, the key is to deal with Rakdos Ragemutt swiftly before its controller can leverage the health swing or use it as a blocker, which can be particularly distressing in limited game formats where lifelink is a valuable resource.

Cards like Rakdos Ragemutt

The Rakdos Ragemutt holds a unique place in the multiverse of creatures within Magic: The Gathering. It shares characteristics with fellow creatures like Loxodon Hierarch. Both creatures provide life gain upon entering the battlefield, with the Hierarch granting a more significant boost as well as a damage prevention ability. However, the Ragemutt sets itself apart with its haste attribute, allowing for immediate impact on the game.

Lifelink is another trait that Rakdos Ragemutt shares with creatures such as Vampire Nighthawk. While the Nighthawk provides additional utility with deathtouch and flying, it doesn’t contribute the same immediate board presence or power level that the Ragemutt offers. Not to mention, the Ragemutt’s allegiance to the Rakdos guild introduces synergistic opportunities with cards that reward players for aggressive and swift plays.

In evaluating the Ragemutt against its counterparts, its blend of life gain, haste, and decent stats contribute to a potentially game-turning presence. Its synergy with Rakdos’s playstyle fortifies its position as a creature worth considering for decks that capitalize on speed and sustenance.

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

Obosh, the Preypiercer - MTG Card versions

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Kolaghan, the Storm's Fury - MTG Card versions

Grusilda, Monster Masher - MTG Card versions

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Rakdos Ragemutt MTG card by a specific set like 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 Ragemutt and other MTG cards: