The idea is to use Rakdos, Lord of Riots to cheat in big, scary creatures early on, but also be able to hard cast them if Rakdos doesn't (or can't) stick around. The biggest focus is on creatures with spell effects as an ETB or cheap activated ability.
Notable absences: Kokusho, the Evening Star - I don't have sac engines or a consistent way to recur it Necropotence - I found the drawbacks to be too much of a disadvantage, and I have no reliable way to offset the life loss
I think you need more enablers and ones that cost less mana. Goblin Fireslinger is a good enabler, Leechridden swamp isnt so good because you need to have 2 black permanents in play.
Also, in the event that your commander gets tucked or blown up time and time again, you may want a backup plan to get things in play. Or in the least smooth out your mana curve. Too many high costing creatures.
Inferno Titan - Enables Rakdos and combos well with Basilisk Collar. Pilgrim's Eye - Curves into Rakdos. Holds a sword. Fixes Mana. Is colorless. Necropotence - Let's you draw a ton. Pestilence - So awesome. Enables Rakdos and wipes the board.
I think you need more enablers and ones that cost less mana. Goblin Fireslinger is a good enabler, Leechridden swamp isnt so good because you need to have 2 black permanents in play.
Also, in the event that your commander gets tucked or blown up time and time again, you may want a backup plan to get things in play. Or in the least smooth out your mana curve. Too many high costing creatures.
Quicksilver Amulet is what I currently have to cheat cards into play, but I'm working on obtaining a Sneak Attack. Other options would include
So far, I haven't had a whole lot of trouble hard casting creatures, unless I'm getting mana screwed which happens to everyone at some point. I have enough creatures at each CMC to enable Rakdos, and it not a bad idea to deal combat damage, cast Rakdos, then cast something bigger. Mana curve in EDH isn't THAT big of a deal, anyway, because you can't expect to reliably "curve out" in a singleton format.
Inferno Titan - Enables Rakdos and combos well with Basilisk Collar. Pilgrim's Eye - Curves into Rakdos. Holds a sword. Fixes Mana. Is colorless. Necropotence - Let's you draw a ton. Pestilence - So awesome. Enables Rakdos and wipes the board.
I'll have to try to squeeze these in, especially Necropotence because I have a tendency to empty my hand post-combat. There are already a few cards I've considered removing, and I'll update my original post with those cards.
Yep. Flame Rift is a huge enabler for this deck (in multiplayer, particularly) and its only 2 Mana!
Other things I'm currently testing in my own build:
Pyrohemia: more pestilence Whip of Erebos: helps recoup some life lost from a lot of the pain we deal to ourselves. Also, the reusable reanimation could be nice too. Sword of Fire and Ice: I haven't really settled on a Sword for this deck yet. This one gives more burn and card draw. F&F's land ability may be missed tho. L&S provides some of the best protections while recouping life and recurring. Just like F&F, it also protects the creature from your own Pestilence. I've also considered W&P for the life gain/drain. I will most likely settle for L&S though.
Horror and Returned enable Rakdos without having to actually deal combat damage while also having some use late game. Herald is an evasive enabler, and the life loss is negligible compared to having a 3/3 flyer. Burnished Hart and Pilgrim's Eye act as early enablers, late game mana fixing (Eye), or colorless ramp (Hart).
The most important aspect of all of them is that they are creatures that can carry equipment. Even Pilgrim's Eye can be a potential threat if it's equipped with Deathrender and my opponents don't know what I have in hand.
The Hart and Eye are both great additions. I run both and they both do work.
I don't like your other choices though.
I'd recommand: Lobber Crew over the Horror. You can enable Rakdos without ever attacking, and then activate it again. Also, can block weenies if need be. Reassembling Skeleton over the Returned. Its nice to be able to pull him out of your yard throughout the game as a potential Rakdos enabler.
I guess in the same slot you are running the Herald, I'm running Basilica Screecher. I run a lot of mass pain effects so any life gain is good for me but this slot is always open to be adjusted.
I can see Lobber Crew over Spiteful Returned because it hits all opponents, but I'm not so sure about Reassembling Skeleton in my meta. There won't be many times when the board will be clear enough for me to swing with it.
I'm fond of Mogg Fanatic because it can ping on demand. You won't have an awkward "It doesn't have Haste" moment. Another dork would be a Tortmented Soul as an easy way to get in some quick damage for Rakdos. He'd also be great for carrying all those Swords. And since you're using creatures to turn sideways to and you don't care if they die to win the game... Skullclamp?
Blood Speaker is a great way to gain a CA Engine as it searches for Demons, so it is anti-tuck tech. Dimir House Guard is another way to searh for clutch 4 cost spells and/or get Rakdos back from a Tuck.
Maga, Traitor to Mortals can burn someone down pretty quick. You activate a Lobber Crew, do 3 damage and then swing. Maybe you drop a one or two other multicoloured permanents, getting a lot more damage and then just burn someone out for 15 damage (or so).
Out of Conspiracy, I've been itching to throw in Grenzo, Dungeon Warden. He helps you no matter what stage of the game you're in as he scales and Rakdos can make him quite big. And there would probably be nothing more fun than EOT Grenzo a whole bunch of monsters into play.
I don't want to include too many "dorks" because they make horrible top decks later in the game, and that's the paradox when running a Rakdos, Lord of Riots deck. You need enough low-cost creatures to enable Rakdos on T4-5, but not so many that it dilutes your fatty count, but you rely on Rakdos to cast your fatties, but you rely on dorks to cast Rakdos. It's a delicate balancing act.
I had Maga, Traitor to Mortals in an earlier build, but I didn't like that he only drained one opponent. I also never seemed to have him in hand and Rakdos on the field, so maybe I just never saw how good he can be. Maybe I need to give him another shot.
As for Reanimation, I'm considering Phyrexian Reclamation. I had it in before, but I don't remember why I removed it.
Lately I've been rethinking Basilisk Collar. It's an awesome equipment, but it doesn't seem to fit the deck because I can't abuse either ability except for equipping it to Plague Spitter. I think Whip of Erebos might be a better option.
1 Rakdos, Lord of Riots
Creature (39)
1x Anger
1x Bane of the Living
1x Deal Broker
1x Deathbringer Regent
1x Disciple of Bolas
1x Duplicant
1x Erebos, God of the Dead
1x Goblin Fireslinger
1x Goblin Settler
1x Grave Titan
1x Inferno Titan
1x Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker
1x Knollspine Dragon
1x Kozilek, Butcher of Truth
1x Lightning Mauler
1x Maga, Traitor to Mortals
1x Manaforge Cinder
1x Mikaeus, the Unhallowed
1x Ogre Battledriver
1x Pilgrim's Eye
1x Priest of Urabrask
1x Rune-Scarred Demon
1x Ruthless Ripper
1x Scuttling Doom Engine
1x Sepulchral Primordial
1x Sheoldred, Whispering One
1x Sidisi, Undead Vizier
1x Sire Of Insanity
1x Solemn Simulacrum
1x Soul of Innistrad
1x Soul of New Phyrexia
1x Steel Hellkite
1x Treasonous Ogre
1x Triskelion
1x Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre
1x Urabrask the Hidden
1x Viashino Heretic
1x Wurmcoil Engine
1x Zealous Conscripts
1x Chaos Warp
1x Hero's Downfall
1x Rakdos Charm
Enchantment (5)
1x Bitterblossom
1x Greed
1x Phyrexian Arena
1x Phyrexian Reclamation
1x Sneak Attack
Sorcery (4)
1x Beseech the Queen
1x Blasphemous Act
1x Demonic Tutor
1x Wheel of Fortune
Artifact (11)
1x Chromatic Lantern
1x Cloudstone Curio
1x Darksteel Ingot
1x Lightning Greaves
1x Quicksilver Amulet
1x Rakdos Signet
1x Sensei's Divining Top
1x Sword of Feast and Famine
1x Sword of Fire and Ice
1x Sword of Light and Shadow
1x Talisman of Indulgence
Land (37)
1x Akoum Refuge
1x Ancient Tomb
1x Badlands
1x Blood Crypt
1x Bloodfell Caves
1x Bloodstained Mire
1x Bojuka Bog
1x Cavern of Souls
1x Command Tower
1x Dragonskull Summit
1x Graven Cairns
1x Leechridden Swamp
1x Mana Confluence
8x Mountain
1x Polluted Delta
1x Rakdos Guildgate
1x Reflecting Pool
1x Shadowblood Ridge
1x Shizo, Death's Storehouse
1x Sulfurous Springs
5x Swamp
1x Temple of Malice
1x Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
1x Volrath's Stronghold
1x Winding Canyons
1x Wooded Foothills
1x Rakdos, Lord of Riots
Land (37)
1x Akoum Refuge
1x Ancient Tomb
1x Badlands
1x Blood Crypt
1x Bloodfell Caves
1x Bloodstained Mire
1x Bojuka Bog
1x Cavern of Souls
1x Command Tower
1x Dragonskull Summit
1x Graven Cairns
1x Leechridden Swamp
1x Mana Confluence
8x Mountain
1x Polluted Delta
1x Rakdos Guildgate
1x Reflecting Pool
1x Shadowblood Ridge
1x Shizo, Death's Storehouse
1x Sulfurous Springs
5x Swamp
1x Temple of Malice
1x Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
1x Volrath's Stronghold
1x Winding Canyons
1x Wooded Foothills
Mana Fixing (7)
1x Chromatic Lantern
1x Darksteel Ingot
1x Manaforge Cinder
1x Pilgrim's Eye
1x Priest of Urabrask
1x Rakdos Signet
1x Talisman of Indulgence
1x Bane of the Living
1x Blasphemous Act
1x Deathbringer Regent
Removal (3)
1x Chaos Warp
1x Duplicant
1x Hero's Downfall
Value (15)
1x Grave Titan
1x Inferno Titan
1x Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker
1x Kozilek, Butcher of Truth
1x Maga, Traitor to Mortals
1x Mikaeus, the Unhallowed
1x Scuttling Doom Engine
1x Sepulchral Primordial
1x Sheoldred, Whispering One
1x Sire Of Insanity
1x Solemn Simulacrum
1x Steel Hellkite
1x Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre
1x Wurmcoil Engine
1x Zealous Conscripts
Card Draw (9)
1x Deal Broker
1x Disciple of Bolas
1x Sensei's Divining Top
1x Erebos, God of the Dead
1x Greed
1x Knollspine Dragon
1x Phyrexian Arena
1x Soul of Innistrad
1x Wheel of Fortune
Combo Pieces (7)
1x Cloudstone Curio
1x Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker
1x Mikaeus, the Unhallowed
1x Priest of Urabrask
1x Sneak Attack
1x Triskelion
1x Zealous Conscripts
1x Beseech the Queen
1x Demonic Tutor
1x Rune-Scarred Demon
1x Sidisi, Undead Vizier
Enablers (3)
1x Goblin Fireslinger
1x Bitterblossom
1x Ruthless Ripper
Utility (8)
1x Cloudstone Curio
1x Goblin Settler
1x Lightning Greaves
1x Phyrexian Reclamation
1x Rakdos Charm
1x Soul of New Phyrexia
1x Treasonous Ogre
1x Viashino Heretic
Haste Enablers (4)
1x Anger
1x Lightning Mauler
1x Ogre Battledriver
1x Urabrask the Hidden
Creature Cheaters (3)
1x Quicksilver Amulet
1x Sneak Attack
1x Treasonous Ogre
Swords (3)
1x Sword of Feast and Famine
1x Sword of Fire and Ice
1x Sword of Light and Shadow
Combos:
Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker + Zealous Conscripts - infinite Conscripts
Mikaeus, the Unhallowed + Triskelion - infinite damage
Cloudstone Curio + Priest of Urabrask + Sneak Attack - infinite bounce to abuse ETB effects
Notable absences:
Kokusho, the Evening Star - I don't have sac engines or a consistent way to recur it
Necropotence - I found the drawbacks to be too much of a disadvantage, and I have no reliable way to offset the life loss
5/22/14
- Skithiryx, the Blight Dragon - Doesn't enable Rakdos
- Maga, Traitor to Mortals - Rarely have him in hand with Rakdos on the field
+ Inferno Titan - Removes wimpy dudes and enables Rakdos
+ Sneak Attack - Cheat big dudes into play
5/29/14
- Swamp
+ Spawning Pool - Man land
6/11/14
Pretty large update. I can't remember every change.
5/15/15
Another large update. Trying to tighten up the deck.
6/19/15
- Dragon Mage - Hate setting it in my opening hand
- Pestilence - Really bad on an empty board
+ Sensei's Divining Top - Filter my draws
+ Bitterblossom - Pumps out tokens for blocking and to enable Rakdos
Also, in the event that your commander gets tucked or blown up time and time again, you may want a backup plan to get things in play. Or in the least smooth out your mana curve. Too many high costing creatures.
Pilgrim's Eye - Curves into Rakdos. Holds a sword. Fixes Mana. Is colorless.
Necropotence - Let's you draw a ton.
Pestilence - So awesome. Enables Rakdos and wipes the board.
MuzzioU XenagosGR NahiriW GitrogGB MarathGRW MarchesaUBR JenaraGUW KarlovBW TazriWUBRG
Retired: RakdosBR
Quicksilver Amulet is what I currently have to cheat cards into play, but I'm working on obtaining a Sneak Attack. Other options would include
1 Summoner's Egg
1 Through the Breach
1 Deathrender
1 Guild Feud
1 Mercadian Lift (seems really slow)
1 Clone Shell
1 Belbe's Portal (may not have enough of a single creature type for this)
1 Cauldron Dance
So far, I haven't had a whole lot of trouble hard casting creatures, unless I'm getting mana screwed which happens to everyone at some point. I have enough creatures at each CMC to enable Rakdos, and it not a bad idea to deal combat damage, cast Rakdos, then cast something bigger. Mana curve in EDH isn't THAT big of a deal, anyway, because you can't expect to reliably "curve out" in a singleton format.
I'll have to try to squeeze these in, especially Necropotence because I have a tendency to empty my hand post-combat. There are already a few cards I've considered removing, and I'll update my original post with those cards.
I didn't know that card existed, and it would be awesome. I must find room...
Other things I'm currently testing in my own build:
Pyrohemia: more pestilence
Whip of Erebos: helps recoup some life lost from a lot of the pain we deal to ourselves. Also, the reusable reanimation could be nice too.
Sword of Fire and Ice: I haven't really settled on a Sword for this deck yet. This one gives more burn and card draw. F&F's land ability may be missed tho. L&S provides some of the best protections while recouping life and recurring. Just like F&F, it also protects the creature from your own Pestilence. I've also considered W&P for the life gain/drain. I will most likely settle for L&S though.
MuzzioU XenagosGR NahiriW GitrogGB MarathGRW MarchesaUBR JenaraGUW KarlovBW TazriWUBRG
Retired: RakdosBR
Additions:
Infectious Horror
Spiteful Returned
Herald of Torment
Burnished Hart
Pilgrim's Eye
Horror and Returned enable Rakdos without having to actually deal combat damage while also having some use late game. Herald is an evasive enabler, and the life loss is negligible compared to having a 3/3 flyer. Burnished Hart and Pilgrim's Eye act as early enablers, late game mana fixing (Eye), or colorless ramp (Hart).
The most important aspect of all of them is that they are creatures that can carry equipment. Even Pilgrim's Eye can be a potential threat if it's equipped with Deathrender and my opponents don't know what I have in hand.
I don't like your other choices though.
I'd recommand:
Lobber Crew over the Horror. You can enable Rakdos without ever attacking, and then activate it again. Also, can block weenies if need be.
Reassembling Skeleton over the Returned. Its nice to be able to pull him out of your yard throughout the game as a potential Rakdos enabler.
I guess in the same slot you are running the Herald, I'm running Basilica Screecher. I run a lot of mass pain effects so any life gain is good for me but this slot is always open to be adjusted.
MuzzioU XenagosGR NahiriW GitrogGB MarathGRW MarchesaUBR JenaraGUW KarlovBW TazriWUBRG
Retired: RakdosBR
Bloodghast
Dauthi Horror
Nether Traitor
Reassembling Skeleton
Shepherd of Rot
Lobber Crew
Lim-Dûl's Hex
All great Rakdos enablers, especilly Dauthi Horror with shadow and Lim-Dul's Hex as an enchantment.
WBG Elves WBG
Cheeri0s
EDH:
RG Omnath, Locus of Rage RG || GWUB Atraxa, Praetors' Voice GWUB
R Zo-Zu the Punisher R || WU Brago, King Eternal WU
UB Gisa and Geralf UB || BGW Ghave, Guru of Spores BGW
Blood Speaker is a great way to gain a CA Engine as it searches for Demons, so it is anti-tuck tech. Dimir House Guard is another way to searh for clutch 4 cost spells and/or get Rakdos back from a Tuck.
Maga, Traitor to Mortals can burn someone down pretty quick. You activate a Lobber Crew, do 3 damage and then swing. Maybe you drop a one or two other multicoloured permanents, getting a lot more damage and then just burn someone out for 15 damage (or so).
Since you're running Sneak Attack, perhaps you should consider more reanimation? Strands of Night, Tortured Existence and Diabolic Servitude are what I run in my Rakdos deck. Sepulchral Primordial is another great reanimator, as well as Artisan of Kozilek. And even if you don't use Reanimation, Kokusho, the Evening Star is still great as a no-combo dragon.
Out of Conspiracy, I've been itching to throw in Grenzo, Dungeon Warden. He helps you no matter what stage of the game you're in as he scales and Rakdos can make him quite big. And there would probably be nothing more fun than EOT Grenzo a whole bunch of monsters into play.
Mid-Tier: Marchesa Aggro Rose Asmadi Get Dire Tymna Ikra Woke Women Tiana Aura Angel Ruric Thar SMASH Smasher Kraum Mana Positivity Zur Slides
Filthy Casual: WUBRG Jodah WUBRG WUBRG Fatties WUBRG Gahiji Vigilant Vengeance Ezuri Mysterious Morphs
I had Maga, Traitor to Mortals in an earlier build, but I didn't like that he only drained one opponent. I also never seemed to have him in hand and Rakdos on the field, so maybe I just never saw how good he can be. Maybe I need to give him another shot.
As for Reanimation, I'm considering Phyrexian Reclamation. I had it in before, but I don't remember why I removed it.
Lately I've been rethinking Basilisk Collar. It's an awesome equipment, but it doesn't seem to fit the deck because I can't abuse either ability except for equipping it to Plague Spitter. I think Whip of Erebos might be a better option.
1x Rakdos, Lord of Riots
Creature (38)
1x Anger
1x Bane of the Living
1x Burnished Hart
1x Deal Broker
1x Disciple of Bolas
1x Drana, Kalastria Bloodchief
1x Duplicant
1x Erebos, God of the Dead
1x Etched Champion
1x Goblin Fireslinger
1x Goblin Settler
1x Harvester of Souls
1x Inferno Titan
1x Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker
1x Knollspine Dragon
1x Kozilek, Butcher of Truth
1x Manaforge Cinder
1x Massacre Wurm
1x Mikaeus, the Unhallowed
1x Ogre Battledriver
1x Olivia Voldaren
1x Pestilence Demon
1x Pilgrim's Eye
1x Plague Spitter
1x Priest of Urabrask
1x Rune-Scarred Demon
1x Scuttling Doom Engine
1x Sheoldred, Whispering One
1x Solemn Simulacrum
1x Soul of Innistrad
1x Soul of New Phyrexia
1x Steel Hellkite
1x Treasonous Ogre
1x Triskelion
1x Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre
1x Viashino Heretic
1x Wurmcoil Engine
1x Zealous Conscripts
1x Akoum Refuge
1x Ancient Tomb
1x Blood Crypt
1x Bloodfell Caves
1x Bloodstained Mire
1x Bojuka Bog
1x Cabal Coffers
1x Cavern of Souls
1x Command Tower
1x Dragonskull Summit
1x Graven Cairns
1x Leechridden Swamp
9x Mountain
1x Mutavault
1x Piranha Marsh
1x Rakdos Carnarium
1x Rakdos Guildgate
1x Shizo, Death's Storehouse
1x Spinerock Knoll
1x Sulfurous Springs
6x Swamp
1x Temple of Malice
1x Temple of the False God
1x Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
1x Winding Canyons
Sorcery (4)
1x Blasphemous Act
1x Demonic Tutor
1x Diabolic Revelation
1x Yawgmoth's Will
1x Necropotence
1x Phyrexian Reclamation
1x Sneak Attack
Instant (1)
1x Rakdos Charm
Artifact (15)
1x Basilisk Collar
1x Cloudstone Curio
1x Coalition Relic
1x Darksteel Ingot
1x Deathrender
1x Expedition Map
1x Fellwar Stone
1x Hammer of Purphoros
1x Lightning Greaves
1x Quicksilver Amulet
1x Rakdos Signet
1x Sol Ring
1x Sword of Feast and Famine
1x Sword of Light and Shadow
1x Whip of Erebos
Slightly more combo potential now.
Combos:
Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker + Zealous Conscripts
Mikaeus, the Unhallowed + Triskelion
Rakdos + Cloudstone Curio + Priest of Urabrask + Goblin Settler = Destroy all lands
Rakdos + Curio + Priest + Goblin Fireslinger/Manaforge Cinder = infinite mana
- Throw in a haste enabler and Fireslinger deals infinite damage