I think Sin Prodder might actually be a decent card for us and could replace Indulgent Tormentor. It's cheaper (before turn 4 even!) and has a similar effect plus a bit of the fun psychological factor of going around the table asking if each opponent in turn, wants to pay; I often find people will pass hoping someone else down the line will do it, with the last person not wanting to, just to be spiteful to the earlier players who passed. Menace is quite nice too.
We got a nice new enabler in Triskaidekaphobia. If only it cost one mana less it would be the perfect one. Hits everyone, repeatable, harder to remove being an enchantment. I still think I'll include it, the option to gain life could be nice perhaps, and the alt-kill condition is pretty funny nonetheless.
Not sure how I feel about Foreboding Ruins and their ilk. Dual lands are always nice, and Rakdos is colour-hungry so I do run a good amount of basics. But untapped lands hurt so much especially if you want to cast him turn 4. Thoughts?
I have a slightly less eldrazi-centric list, but I've found Dragon Tempest to be quite good alongside Fervor. Their low CMC is awesome if you get them down before Rakdos and a lot of the non-eldrazi fatties have flying, I find. Plus there are a few dragons, so the occasional ping. Urabrask the Hidden is a bit more but in the same vein with the bonus of slowing down your opponents. Not sure if I'd prefer him to be a Ogre Battledriver, or have both.
Yeah Blade of Selves is going to be an auto-include in most decks I think, but this deck is meant for it especially. It gives you something to do with all those weenie creatures that have such good effects but sit on the board afterwards not doing much. I look forward to equipping it to Stonehorn Dignitary and locking the whole table out of combat steps.
Sandstone Oracle just looks like a second, easier to cast, Knollspine Dragon. Plus goes well with Sanctum of Ugin and Conduit of Ruin which have been testing well. A 4/4 body isn't bad, but flying is pretty awesome for triggering Rakdos again.
I find it's always best not to go completely ham with Rakdos when you can. Someone is always holding up a boardwipe, and if you dont have a good source of draw out, then you kind of run out of gas. Just put out a fatty or two and start swinging with them next turn. Then when they boardwipe, you'll still have another couple creatures in hand that were just as bad.
I actually was looking at Baneful Omen before hand, but when crafting this deck, I wanted to limit the amount of high CMC cards outside of creatures.
This.
One of the fatal flaws that every new Rakdos player (including myself) experiences one way or another is the concept of life without Rakdos. We all try to sit there and fantasize about casting free Ulamogs, but the reality is that you're trying to execute a very fragile three step process: deal damage, then cast Rakdos, and finally cast cheaper fatties. So, there are a couple of things you need to keep in mind when building a list like this:
1. You won't always be able to assemble your combo unmolested. Therefore, you need to make sure you can reasonably cast your fatties when Rakdos isn't around to help. So, maybe you don't play every giant monster you can because a lot of times they will sit and rot in your hand because you can't keep Rakdos around long enough. Maybe it's good enough to just cast a Shriekmaw for B and leave it on the table. Think of Rakdos as turning all your creatures into Gurmag Anglers. Then think about what would happen if you had to spend 7 mana to cast said Anglers.
2. Rakdos doesn't help non-creature spells. Seems obvious, but it means that Baneful Omen is still just as unplayable here as it is in every other deck in this format.
3. Your "enablers" (things that enable you to cast Rakdos on demand) need to be almost free, or very close to it. If you spend 2 mana to cast Flame Rift, then 4 more to cast Rakdos, that's already six mana on that turn. You aren't green, so you don't ramp like crazy, so the odds of being able to cast much more on that turn are slim.
4. Your enablers need to be repeatable. Rakdos dies just as much as every other creature. Using the same example, Flame Rift might be cool one on turn, but not the next one. You're much better off with something more subtle and also more effective like Retreat to Hagra or (gasp) Lobber Crew. Notice how both of these can come down the turn before Rakdos and are also FREE to activate. Which leads to...
5. Rakdos is VERY color-intensive. His casting cost is the most awkward thing ever. Make sure you have a ton of dual-lands and rocks that fix colors. Chromatic Lantern might actually be more important to this deck than Sol Ring.
Whew. I apologize for the wall of text there, but these are all lessons I've learned the hard way from playing Rakdos for several months. Hopefully they help you as much as they've helped me.
Everything you said was bang on. I run a Rakdos deck that is pretty similar, I've found the best enablers are the ones that hit everyone, are ready to use on turn 4, don't cost anything to activate and are repeatable:
I'm really liking this decklist compared to a lot of other Roon decks. It seems very reminiscent of ISBPathfinder's ETB Bant Jenara list but modified to keep blinking a bit more in mind.
Any updates with Theros or Conspiracy. I think Council's Judgement is a quite versatile removal card, it even gets around hexproof.
Markov Blademaster seems great if you get in for damage early game, but I think Prophetic Flamespeaker would be more useful at all stages of the game. Early game it might not do as much damage but card draw in red is awesome. Slap an equipment on it late game and the trample with double strike means it's going to get through, and draw you some cards, unlike the Blademaster which is more of a dud later on.
Fiendslayer Paladin does quite well. His resistance to kill spells is great. The decision was between Fiendslayer Paladin and Paladin en-Vec. Pro-red/black is infinitely better than protection from red or black spells. The lifelink is minimal but it's nice when he gets equipped. I like his foil art as well so he's in my deck instead of Paladin en-Vec.
I think Paladin En-Vec is far superior to Fiendslayer Paladin, I've been running the Fiendslayer in my Jor Kadeen deck for a while and he's always been lacklustre with his worse form of pro black/red. The lifelink is sort of inconsequential but nice, I like En-Vec better for being more like Mirran Crusader, slap another sword of x and y on them and they're almost pro all colours, plus heavy hitters.
I decided to cut Godsend because it's a 3 CMC/ 3 equip cost for +3/+3 which is really not worth it in my opinion. This deck has great tempo and there are better equipment or creatures that I could potentially play instead. It doesn't affect commanders and with 1 of each card in the deck, it wouldn't make much of a difference because I have a decent amount of removal already.
Have you considered Paladin En-Vec instead of Fiendslayer Paladin? Sure you loose lifelink, but the actual protection from red and black seems better than protection from red and black spells.
EDIT: It's not even protection from red and black spells, just can't be targeted. So, even worse.
Prophetic Flamespeaker on the other hand seems perfect, I think I'd put him in in place of Fiendslayer Paladin. The Paladin just seemed like an inferior version of Mirran Crusader, at least the Flamespeaker gives us card advantage, I think the trample here is much better.
I want Godsend to be good, but it's basically an equipment that gives +3/+3. The second ability isn't very relevant in Commander and I find the first one doesn't really matter with Jor either, since he's usually unblockable or able to kill nything he comes into contact with first strike anyways.
I'm not sure about taking out Aetherling, its a hard to kill finisher that can trigger some card draw as well. It seems so perfect for this deck. I never liked City of Brass unless it was in a 3+ colour deck. It just doesn't seem necessary at 2 colours.
Talrand, Sky Summoner is another creature I enjoy playing in my list. He turns all of your instant spells into cantripping 2/2 flying creatures on everyone else's turn! What is not to like?
Yeah Talrand is amazing, get him out, cast some counterspells, suddenly you have some creatures.
One thing I like in my Ephara deck that I haven't seen in lists is Plumeveil. It is pretty entertaining when returned to your hand as well because the longer the game goes on, the more people forget it is back into your hand and they walk into another mistake.
Also, if you're going for devotion to turn on Ephara, it does a lot of work there.
I played a game recently with my Ephara deck. Archaeomancer and Mnemonic Wall are definitely a huge plus for helping with a control feel. I know they're not flash but Ghostly Flicker or any instant speed clones helps a lot. I think I casted Arcane Denial 5+ times during the game. Reveillark is just good too, even if it's not flash either for the same reasons. I ran Avacyn, Angel of Hope just for lack of big finishers, adding indestructible to weenies was quite good. Hoofprints of the Stag is awful, I didnt' see the clause that it was sorcery speed to make the tokens, so pretty bad. Luminarch Ascension, so good, one of the best finishers. I found vigilance in general was really nice, I still think Heliod, God of the Sun will be good for that, another indestructible beater, mass vigilance and if you have some spare mana at end of opponents turn, make a token or two. With the amount of counter magic we have available, I can't say I was ever worried about one of my gods becoming a creature.
I'd cut Devastation Tide, it sat in my hand all game and was pretty disappointing. The fact that it's all permanents instead of creatures made it more detrimental for me, getting rid of Ephara, useful enchantments, and Venser the Sojourner. I feel Evacuation and Cyclonic Rift are just so much better especially since they are instant speed. I feel we can counter any nasty permanents we can't get rid of otherwise.
I'd be quite interested to see XeroxedFool's and arguskos1's decklists too, if they'd post them?
Heliod, God of the Sun and Meloku the Clouded Mirror both seem good for instant creature creation and seem to go with more of your weenie attack mode. The vigilance on Heliod seems nice for that as well.
It actually asks for in-hand, which makes it worse, I think. Also counts Smoldering Marsh which is a slight bonus as well.
I think Sin Prodder might actually be a decent card for us and could replace Indulgent Tormentor. It's cheaper (before turn 4 even!) and has a similar effect plus a bit of the fun psychological factor of going around the table asking if each opponent in turn, wants to pay; I often find people will pass hoping someone else down the line will do it, with the last person not wanting to, just to be spiteful to the earlier players who passed. Menace is quite nice too.
We got a nice new enabler in Triskaidekaphobia. If only it cost one mana less it would be the perfect one. Hits everyone, repeatable, harder to remove being an enchantment. I still think I'll include it, the option to gain life could be nice perhaps, and the alt-kill condition is pretty funny nonetheless.
Not sure how I feel about Foreboding Ruins and their ilk. Dual lands are always nice, and Rakdos is colour-hungry so I do run a good amount of basics. But untapped lands hurt so much especially if you want to cast him turn 4. Thoughts?
How has testing with Dread Defiler turned out? Been thinking about him. Same with Endbringer. Do you think we have enough sources with Sanctum of Ugin, Eldrazi Temple, Graven Cairns, and Sulfurous Springs? I'm hesitant to add any more lands that don't tap for a colour or are eldrazi related. Maybe Talisman of Indulgence.
I have a slightly less eldrazi-centric list, but I've found Dragon Tempest to be quite good alongside Fervor. Their low CMC is awesome if you get them down before Rakdos and a lot of the non-eldrazi fatties have flying, I find. Plus there are a few dragons, so the occasional ping. Urabrask the Hidden is a bit more but in the same vein with the bonus of slowing down your opponents. Not sure if I'd prefer him to be a Ogre Battledriver, or have both.
Gigantoplasm is also looking very good. Now the Body Double/Reveillark/Mirror Entity combo is even stronger/more consistent as you can pay 0 to Gigantoplasm to sac itself.
Command Beacon isn't even too bad as Roon can get expensive.
Sandstone Oracle just looks like a second, easier to cast, Knollspine Dragon. Plus goes well with Sanctum of Ugin and Conduit of Ruin which have been testing well. A 4/4 body isn't bad, but flying is pretty awesome for triggering Rakdos again.
I find it's always best not to go completely ham with Rakdos when you can. Someone is always holding up a boardwipe, and if you dont have a good source of draw out, then you kind of run out of gas. Just put out a fatty or two and start swinging with them next turn. Then when they boardwipe, you'll still have another couple creatures in hand that were just as bad.
Everything you said was bang on. I run a Rakdos deck that is pretty similar, I've found the best enablers are the ones that hit everyone, are ready to use on turn 4, don't cost anything to activate and are repeatable:
Honourable mentions for Mardu Shadowspear and Pulse Tracker. They're not repeatable if they get blocked, sadly.
Any updates with Theros or Conspiracy. I think Council's Judgement is a quite versatile removal card, it even gets around hexproof.
Any thoughts on things like Diluvian Primordial or Chancellor of the Spires?
I'm also a fan of Archaeomancer and Mnemonic Wall.
I think Paladin En-Vec is far superior to Fiendslayer Paladin, I've been running the Fiendslayer in my Jor Kadeen deck for a while and he's always been lacklustre with his worse form of pro black/red. The lifelink is sort of inconsequential but nice, I like En-Vec better for being more like Mirran Crusader, slap another sword of x and y on them and they're almost pro all colours, plus heavy hitters.
Can't agree more with this.
EDIT: It's not even protection from red and black spells, just can't be targeted. So, even worse.
Prophetic Flamespeaker on the other hand seems perfect, I think I'd put him in in place of Fiendslayer Paladin. The Paladin just seemed like an inferior version of Mirran Crusader, at least the Flamespeaker gives us card advantage, I think the trample here is much better.
I want Godsend to be good, but it's basically an equipment that gives +3/+3. The second ability isn't very relevant in Commander and I find the first one doesn't really matter with Jor either, since he's usually unblockable or able to kill nything he comes into contact with first strike anyways.
Also Brimaz, King of Oresko seems like a good, cheaper Hero of Bladehold with the bonus of a good defensive ability.
Yeah Talrand is amazing, get him out, cast some counterspells, suddenly you have some creatures.
Also, if you're going for devotion to turn on Ephara, it does a lot of work there.
I played a game recently with my Ephara deck. Archaeomancer and Mnemonic Wall are definitely a huge plus for helping with a control feel. I know they're not flash but Ghostly Flicker or any instant speed clones helps a lot. I think I casted Arcane Denial 5+ times during the game. Reveillark is just good too, even if it's not flash either for the same reasons. I ran Avacyn, Angel of Hope just for lack of big finishers, adding indestructible to weenies was quite good. Hoofprints of the Stag is awful, I didnt' see the clause that it was sorcery speed to make the tokens, so pretty bad. Luminarch Ascension, so good, one of the best finishers. I found vigilance in general was really nice, I still think Heliod, God of the Sun will be good for that, another indestructible beater, mass vigilance and if you have some spare mana at end of opponents turn, make a token or two. With the amount of counter magic we have available, I can't say I was ever worried about one of my gods becoming a creature.
I'd cut Devastation Tide, it sat in my hand all game and was pretty disappointing. The fact that it's all permanents instead of creatures made it more detrimental for me, getting rid of Ephara, useful enchantments, and Venser the Sojourner. I feel Evacuation and Cyclonic Rift are just so much better especially since they are instant speed. I feel we can counter any nasty permanents we can't get rid of otherwise.
Heliod, God of the Sun and Meloku the Clouded Mirror both seem good for instant creature creation and seem to go with more of your weenie attack mode. The vigilance on Heliod seems nice for that as well.