I can see this deck having a great deal of difficulty with blue or u/w control (as someone who plays rakdos control myself). DEFINITELY put in Pithing Needle into the sideboard to deal with AEtherling .Slaughter Games helps, but i find it's far more useful to have 2 in sideboard rather than one. I also personally like Underworld Connections way more than Read the Bones , but i suppose that's a matter of personal preference. I would also take out the two Doom Blade , mainly because it becomes a dead drop whenever you play against mono-black (so almost always lol), not to mention a deck like this already has plenty of other answers for removal. I'd throw in another Thoughtseize if you have the cash to do so, just because it is SUCH a powerful card in this type of deck. I would throw in another Bile Blight rather than just running one, or maybe even Magma Jet for removal + scry, but i suppose double red is harder to cast than double black.Maybe another Anger of the Gods in sideboard for against White Weenie/hyper aggro decks? It depends on your playgroup, but I find that I often have difficulty against white weenie.I'm not sure if Whip of Erebos is mainboard material, just because against control it doesn't do much and against aggro it's too slow, but as a sideboard card it could be very powerful.Lastly, I would put a full playset of Lifebane Zombie in the sideboard, just because it is SUCH an important card when dealing with white weenie/selesnya aggro.Other than that, I like this deck +1

First off I just wanna mention that I really like this deck, I have been thinking about building something like this for myself, but I have just been a little hesitant for some reason. How has it been playing so far? What are some issues you have found in play testing? As far as recommendations go, I would try to include Mizzium Mortars in the main deck somewhere. They can handle Blood Baron of Vizkopa which this could have issues with. I would suggest maybe taking out the Doom Blade and keep a couple in the sideboard. There are lots of mono black decks in the format right now and you don't really want to have a dead removal spell with access to lots of great removal in R/B. Plus you could always replace them with Ultimate Price or Mizzium Mortars if you decide you want to change that. As for the sideboard you may could slip in a one of Rakdos Charm for the really fast heavy aggro decks, it's a huge suprise and I have seen it blow out mono blue a couple of times. Of course these are all just suggestions, the deck is pretty solid as it sits in my opinion. Keep up the good work!

+1

Thanks. I made some adjustments thanks to your suggestions. I'd like a better instant:sorcery ratio but we'll see how this works. I haven't played this exact deck yet - something similar went 3-1 at FNM last week for me and I want to exploit what the deck does right. Stormy, Dez, and Mogis are bosses.

+1 Underworld Connections | -1 Whip of Erebos

+1 Thoughtseize | -1 Dreadbore

+1 Bile Blight , +1 Devour Flesh | -2 Doom Blade

Added Pithing Needle , 2 Mizzium Mortars , and 1 Slaughter Games to the sideboard. - 2 Doom Blade , -1 Duress (...)

Look forward to playing this. Thanks again.

I like it. +1. Board two or so Whip of Erebos to combat life loss from thought seize and underworld connections? That way you can also surprise swing in with stormbreath or other creatures.

I wish I could get a Whip to fit in here. It seems good but I'm not sure what it replaces, plus I have so many 4-drops already. Thank you for the idea. What is Whip of Erebos better than?

I would mainboard two whip over the skullcracks and move those to the sideboard to replace the lightning strikes. That way you can play them in response to sphinx's revs but only if you're playing control. That's just me, though! And you do have a lot of four drops. Maybe Chandra's Phoenix ?

Pterozacktyl Skullcrack is a very important card in my meta. Helps not only vs Sphinx's Revelation but against Blood Baron of Vizkopa , Brave the Elements , Elixir of Immortality and a few others. And Chandra's Phoenix is tempting but it's just not the power I'm looking for. And if that phoenix is good, then Flame-Wreathed Phoenix is darn good too, right? For one more mana. And I'm thinking Lightning Strike is really really good - SO versatile for me.

Dfonse I once had Pack Rat in here and it was hard to cut. Everyone knows how crazy those rats can get - but it requires such an investment. In other words, although they are real good, it's not a good card AS IS. It's not good all by itself, you have to keep investing and risk overextending into them. I just play 2 Underworld Connections because I don't like them in my opening hand, I don't like drawing a second one, and I don't like tapping it and drawing another one! Lightning Strike handles planeswalkers, many creatures, and finishes opponents off. Plus it's an easy-cost instant

Thanks for your ideas guys. Sideboard opinions?

I think your sideboard is pretty solid. It depends on your local meta. I would maybe add one more slaughter games. It also depends on what decks your deck struggles with. Dark betrayal and the whip would also be good considerations.

I like this. Maybe main deck Lifesbane. It seems to be the right card right now.

You know what, I think you're right. I think Lifebane Zombie addresses some of this deck's potential weaknesses as well. I don't think I'll miss the Pheonix nor the Connections but I think that Flame-Wreathed will have its day. It's ahead of it's time :) Changes made.

Now what's the sideboard missing? Dark Betrayal ? Ultimate Price ?

Really wanna see Underworld Cerberus in this list puts them on a very fast clock Also great against control and mono black

Erebos over Skullcrack. I believe the constant inability to gain life matters.

+1 from me mono versions : RDW Wonton Soup Style and Undead Wonton Alpha Strike

Thinking -2 Skullcrack , -2 Rakdos's Return , +3 Herald of Torment , +1 Erebos, God of the Dead

IN the sideboard, - 1 Erebos, +1 Skullcrack, -1 Anger of the Gods, +1 Rakdos's Return

or something like that.

Hey. I like the deck. My version of rakdos is a bit more controlly. The Ninth Gate Take a look and let me know what you think. +1

I also like Rakdos Cackler in this deck. The mid rangie versions have been doing well.

I agree with a lot of other people, Rakdos Cackler would prove quite helpful in this deck! :)

I see you went a different direction than my similar deck, which is great because variety is key. One combo in mine is having Mogis, God of Slaughter and Purphoros, God of the Forge . I am not sure how you feel about this, but it has worked wonders where I play. I am wondering why you're not running any Spike Jester . Great two drop with haste that is annoying to your opponent and could force them to use something to get rid of it. The only problem I see with your deck is that it'll be slower than most. You have no Spike Jester , no Rakdos Cackler , no Chandra's Phoenix . I know everyone is in love with Thoughtseize , and I see it's appeal, but have you ever considered taking them out and replacing them with quicker creatures? Just a suggestion. If you wanted to look at my deck just for fun, feel free. Bloody Death. Again, I like how different our decks are, but I feel you need some one drops or at least two drops.

I'm one of those dudes who plays a Thoughtseize turn 1 and writes down your hand so I can deduce what 3/4 your hand is later and know what you're gonna do. Chandra's Phoenix is a little weaker than what I'm going for but I have considered it. I've always played aggro in the past but I decided to play some of the cards that were kicking my butt. Demon, Dragon, Thoughtseize, & Mutavault, mostly. I'm thinking that 16-18 creatures might be juuuust right for what I'm trying to do here. Maybe I'll find out I'm wrong. Time will tell. Seriously, thanks everyone for your thoughts and suggestions!!

Rakdos 4 Life Death

No Rakdos's Return ?

@MightyNinjanaut In the side

FNM 3-1

2-0 Simic. 2-0 BWR Midrange. 2-0 Mono-Red. 0-2 Mono-Black splash Red...

Game 2 against black was the first time I played first all night. I drew terrible and honestly think if we rematched I'd win. Had him at 1 life Game1 and he drew a Grey Merchant for 9... Game 2 was the first time I've ever had an issue finding a Red mana-source with the deck. So ya, that kind of match.

Anyways, 2nd place again. Nothing to complain about.

This deck is a beast and I doubt I'll change a single maindeck card at this point. Hahaha ya right I'm always tweaking this thing.

Id add Rakdos Keyrune . When you play esper control which is currently the best deck in the meta you will be glad you did. Puts you ahead in mana so you can turn 4:your dragon and is a 3/1 that is hard to deal with. Also consider magma jet over lightning strike. Most things you want dead are 2-1 toughnes or are 4 and up anyways. Scry is huge and i think it would help a ton in this deck

drewmighty You might really be onto something there. I ran over Esper last time I played it but the deck was slightly different with less creatures. I had Rakdos Returns main then too. I've been thinking about where a Rakdos Keyrune could fit and I'm not sure where, what do you think? +2 Keyrunes, -1 Herald, -1 Chandra? Chandra to the sideboard?? maybe?

I really should test Magma Jet out here, you're right. The scry would win so many games. Thanks for your good suggestions man