Rakdos Shred-Freak MTG Card
2012-10-05 - Number 221
2018-12-07 - Number 219
2019-02-15 - Number 70
2024-02-23 - Number 204
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Human Berserker |
| Abilities | Haste |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 1 |
Key Takeaways
- Rakdos Shred-Freak pressures opponents early, possibly leading to resource advantages.
- With haste, it serves as an aggressive tempo play against slow decks.
- Instant-speed interaction can cause opponents to falter under early aggression.
Text of card
Haste
"If there were such a thing as a soul, I think it would be behind the gallbladder but above the kidneys."
Card Pros
Card Advantage: While the Rakdos Shred-Freak itself may not directly provide card advantage, its aggressive early game presence can pressure opponents into inefficient trades or force them to use their removal spells prematurely, indirectly leading to a form of card advantage through resource depletion.
Resource Acceleration: As a two-cost creature with haste, Rakdos Shred-Freak offers immediate board presence and damage output. This acceleration in resource deployment can lead to a significant early-game tempo advantage, enabling you to outpace slower, more controlling decks.
Instant Speed: Although not an instant itself, the Rakdos Shred-Freak belongs to a family of cards that thrive in decks where instant-speed interactions are crucial. By applying pressure early, you oblige your opponent to act quickly, often at instant speed, which could disrupt their strategy and give you the upper hand in pacing the game.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The Rakdos Shred-Freak card can be challenging for some players who do not want to discard other potential plays from their hand, leading to strategic drawbacks and a depletion of options.
Specific Mana Cost: This card requires a hybrid mana that combines black and red, which may not always be readily available depending on the player’s lands in play, potentially causing a delay or inability to cast the card efficiently within a diverse deck.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: For its effects, the mana cost of Rakdos Shred-Freak may seem steep when you compare it with other creatures in the same mana range, making it a less optimal choice when efficiency and impact are top priorities in gameplay.
Reasons to Include Rakdos Shred-Freak in Your Collection
Versatility: Rakdos Shred-Freak offers an aggressive two-drop creature option for a variety of red and black decks. Its capacity to deliver immediate impact with haste allows it to fit seamlessly into fast-paced strategies seeking to reduce the opponent’s life total swiftly.
Combo Potential: This card can be a key component in synergistic plays, especially in decks that revolve around sacrificing creatures for greater benefits. Its swift entry into the battlefield makes it an ideal candidate for such combos.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where speed is crucial, Rakdos Shred-Freak shines by providing an early pressure point for your opponent. Its quick offensive capabilities ensure it remains a relevant choice, particularly in decks designed to outpace control archetypes.
How to Beat Rakdos Shred-Freak
The Rakdos Shred-Freak can be a significant threat early in the game with its haste ability, allowing immediate impact on the battlefield. Understanding your deck’s removal options is crucial when facing this aggressive creature. Spells like Shock or Frost Bite can remove it efficiently due to its low toughness. In a game where every life point matters, it often pays to manage threats quickly.
Utilizing creatures with higher toughness can also create a beneficial defensive barrier, deterring the Rakdos Shred-Freak from attacking without suffering losses. For example, if you’re playing in colors that support sturdy defenders, a Courser of Kruphix can outmatch the Shred-Freak while also providing card advantage.
Moreover, a timely Essence Scatter or similar counter spell prevents the Rakdos Shred-Freak from ever hitting the field, showcasing the power of control strategies against fast-paced aggro opponents. Keeping such spells at hand could determine the tide of the match. As always, aligning your plays with the pace of your opponent and maintaining card advantage will be key to dominating the game.
Cards like Rakdos Shred-Freak
Exploring the diverse landscape of creatures in Magic: The Gathering, Rakdos Shred-Freak occupies a unique niche. Its hasty entrance and 2/1 body for two mana make it a parallel to cards like Gore-House Chainwalker, which can also attack immediately with its unleash ability, though lacking the built-in haste of the Shred-Freak.
Furrowing down the same path, we stumble upon Rakdos Cackler, another formidable creature bearing the unleash ability, capable of becoming a 2/2. What makes Rakdos Shred-Freak distinct, however, is its ability to swing right out of the gate, providing immediate board presence and pressuring the opponent early in the game.
Comparatively, Spireside Infiltrator also promises an aggressive start as a 3/2 creature that can be equally relentless in dealing damage but lacks the haste of Rakdos Shred-Freak, making it potentially slower to impact the game state. All these cards exemplify Rakdos’ aggressive style, yet the immediate impact of Rakdos Shred-Freak’s haste can be crucial for winning the race against time and opponents in fast-paced matches.
Cards similar to Rakdos Shred-Freak by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Rakdos Shred-Freak MTG card by a specific set like Return to Ravnica and Ultimate Masters, 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 Shred-Freak and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See Magic products
Printings
The Rakdos Shred-Freak Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2012-10-05 and 2024-02-23. Illustrated by Wayne Reynolds.
| # | Release | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2012-10-05 | Return to Ravnica | RTR | 221 | 2003 | normal | black | Wayne Reynolds | |
| 2 | 2018-12-07 | Ultimate Masters | UMA | 219 | 2015 | normal | black | Wayne Reynolds | |
| 3 | 2019-02-15 | RNA Guild Kit | GK2 | 70 | 2015 | normal | black | Wayne Reynolds | |
| 4 | 2024-02-23 | Ravnica: Clue Edition | CLU | 204 | 2015 | normal | black | Wayne Reynolds |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Rakdos Shred-Freak has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
