Rakdos the Defiler - Reckless Aggression
Rakdos the Defiler
Approximate Total Cost:
About the Deck
If you enjoy the idea that you are still in the game as long as you have at least 1 life, this might be your kind of deck. This deck embraces the power at any cost attitude. Games often go quickly with this deck with the massive amounts of damage done, although sometimes it is just a quick game for you. This deck runs pretty much zero classic interaction/reactive cards, this deck wants to be the one that others react to.
Rakdos the Defiler is a very aggressive creature that embodies the high-risk, high-reward lifestyle. If he doesn't have hexproof or shroud and you swing, there is a chance you will sacrifice half of your non-demon permanents and then you get hit with a Swords to Plowshares, but sometimes that gamble is worth risking. Often, he is just used as a threat and can go an entire game without even swinging. Sometimes, Rakdos is played and then used as a blocker or even sacrificed to . . . Sacrifice or Burnt Offering on the following turn to get a big mana turn, or sacrificed to Disciple of Bolas to get some more cards in hand. In the past I've had a number of cards that add double-strike in the deck and these work great with Rakdos, but I've removed most of them since Rakdos doesn't always swing (although they are great with the other demons in the deck). Deciding to swing with Rakdos can be a gamble, but if you can cripple a control/combo deck trying to establish itself that can be totally worth it, despite the drain on your own resources and it being a multiplayer game. You will be more likely to swing as players are eliminated.
Often this deck wins with some form of a lethal combo, or a not completely lethal combo followed up with swinging with some big creatures for clean-up. Sometimes, getting your lifetotal really low, using Repay in Kind and then swinging with some big creatures will be your path to victory. It is also possible to win with Liliana's Contract due to the variety of demons in the deck.
There are a number of higher mana cost cards in this deck but the ramp (permanent or temporary) often makes up for that.
Doomsday does not have any insant win on the same turn combos for the most part unless you have a massive amount of mana available. Often playing this is just a a statement that you plan to win the game in five or less turns or die trying. Sometimes that works out, sometimes an opponent plays a wheel effect. It is amusing seeing people react to "Doomsday, pass" for the first time when they are used to it winning on the spot.
Why Rakdos the Defiler?
This deck could probably have a different commander and still work fairly well. The other two versions of Rakdos could make fine replacements. Greven, Predator Captain would probably fit in fairly seemlessly with a few changes, but it isn't quite the same.
There is something about the original Rakdos that speaks to me and I will probably keep him at the helm unless something really crazy comes along.
Notable Combos
Pox or Fraying Omnipotence or Dire Fleet Ravager + Wound Reflection or Archfiend of Despair - These cards combined will take a huge chunk of life off of your opponents or possibly kill them (depending on which cards are used).
Wound Reflection or Archfiend of Despair + Repay in Kind - Assuming a significant difference in life totals prior to casting Repay in Kind, this can do some serious damage.
Pox or Fraying Omnipotence or Dire Fleet Ravager + Cryptborn Horror - Playing one of the former cards prior to Cryptborn Horror will make a massively threatening creature. If you can add haste into the equation, that will kill someone most likely. Adding Flameshadow Conjuring or Mirror March make things scarier for the whole table.
Repay in Kind + Leechridden Swamp - If you get your life total to 1, easiest to set up with Necropotence or Kuro, Pitlord if you play him, this will kill everyone that is not you.
Flameshadow Conjuring or Mirror March + Dire Fleet Ravager - This is potentially going to do a ton of damage.
Vilis, Broker of Blood + Infernal Contract or Cruel Bargain or Pain's Reward - This can draw an amount of cards equal to half of your life + 4 (with Pain's Reward it can be more or less). This can either be to get one of the other above combos going, or maybe just set up a big discard for a later turn Living Death.
Other Cards to Consider
Fervor - I've had some good luck with Fervor in the past. I dropped it not too long ago to add in either Lightning Greaves or Swiftfoot Boots (I can't recall which was missing), which is a trade off of mass haste for a little more protection on a creature. This will potentially be added back in at a later date.
Maralen of the Mornsong - I've had this in the deck previously, it combos with Stranglehold to potentially lock the whole table and with Ob Nixilis, Unshackled to do a ton of damage. The combos this card pulls off are great but telegraphed pretty heavily when people have seen them so they will know to get appropriate removal when they get to tutor. I've removed this to try out Kardur, Doomscourge for the time being.
Kuro, Pitlord - I've played it in the past. This dude is expensive but can let you kill off all targetable creatures on the board with no mana at instant speed. Definitely not a must have but it is worth trying, I'm sure it will be back in my deck some day since it has won me games before.
Magus of the Mirror - I've used it before and it works well with all of the self life drain effects. This very much telegraphs your plan but that's not a big deal and it can eat a removal spell in the worst case. I imagine Mirror Universe would work out much the same but I do not own a copy and it is doubtful that I'll acquire one at the current price.
