Personally I'd drop your two Minotaur Skullcleaver for two more Mogis's Marauder . Skullcleaver might get a temporary boost when it hits the field, but it would most likely get chump blocked to where all it will do is kill a blocker and end up getting killed itself since it only has two toughness.

With Mogis's Marauder you are just about gonna get a free swing with every creature you have out when it hits the field. If you can afford them, you should look into investing a playset of Temple of Malice to replace the guildgates. I'd also recommend Madcap Skills . That card is awesome for this sort of deck. Forcing your opponent to gang block the creature it's attached to is a great way to get your other creatures through to deal damage.

Just some ideas for you to think about and I hope they help. If you would like to get another viewpoint of rakdos aggro, here is my deck Rakdos Unleashed.

The land count is too low for this mana curve, so I recommend either focusing on lower CMC or upping the land count.

I am not a fan of Exava, Rakdos Blood Witch and probably would take a hard look whether Mogis's Marauder works well for you. You don't have much in the way of dual lands for red/black, so I would probably emphasize one color and splash the other. Currently your permanents emphasize red so I would lean in that direction and reconsider or sideboard Whip of Erebos and maybe reduce the presence of Doom Blade and Hero's Downfall and go with more burn.

The Marauder has been money for me so far, but I agree that Exava doesn't really have a home here. I've been wanting to add more burn, so I'm removing her and the shred-freaks for 3x Shock . My mana base has actually worked very well for me so far, I'll probably try to grab some temples or blood crypts at some point, but until my mana starts biting me in the ass, my black vs red feels like it is in a good place.

+1 from me. I made a Rakdos aggro deck too called The Carnival is in Town. Maybe you could look at it or help even though it has a small human curve.

Hey, just took a look at your deck. If I were building it, I would probably remove hellhole flailer, sideboard the legion loyalist, increase the whip of erebos by 1, add 2 more chandra's phoenix. This is mostly for consistency. I think that is a good place to start in my opinion. Just some suggestions. Let me know if you want to take the deck in a different direction.

cheers

I like the idea of switching Hellhole flailer for the phoenix, I mostly have two of each because I only own two of each and I'm still torn on whether or not I think one is clearly the better candidate. I'll be keeping a close eye on that situation, and try and trade for 2 more phoenixes if I get the chance. As for the whip, it's a little high in CMC, and I just love Legion Loyalist. You're not the first to tell me that the Loyalist should go though, so unless he pulls his weight in my next couple playtests, I'll probably take him out. Thanks a lot!

also, I would probably add one more Purphoros, God of the Forge and remove Mogis simply because the devotion is easier to achieve and you have a creature heavy deck.

Just a thought.

Thanks, that's another smart choice! If I can get my hands on another Purphoros I may do that.

I think maybe even Mogis, God of Slaughter would work much better than Purphoros. Maybe sideboard Purphoros and switch him with Mogis when playing non creature decks. But then, you do use a lot of creatures, so Purphoros is good for that.. it's down to you really, both are good.

I agree, right now I subscribe to the theory that both are great, and I'll probably be running one of each for awhile, at least until one comes along and proves itself strictly better.

Here's my rakdos aggro deck. Been winning a lot of FNMs and 3rd in games day born of the gods with this exact deck. Hope it helps. Rakdos Aggro

I would drop the Purphoros, and the Hellhole Flailers in favor of at two more lands and an Exava, Rakdos Blood Witch . She's just too amazing not to have in the a deck like this, being a 4/4 First strike makes her really hard to kill. Also I would drop the Shocks for another Exava, along with 3 main board Dreadbores or Ultimate Price/Doom Blade.

Creatures:Love your deck, very similar to my own. But I do think that Mogis, God of Slaughter isn't what an aggro deck needs. Purphoros, God of the Forge seems much better for the easily attainable devotion requirement and because of his 2 damage ability. I've honestly won with that ability too many times. Also, his +1/+0 ability has a profound effect on creatures with aversion (Chandra's Phoenix , Mogis's Marauder , etc.).

Spells:I understand the burn spells, as an aggro player myself, but I think there's one aspect missing: Dreadbore . Even though Hero's Downfall is "strictly better" because it's an instant, its two mana cost is actually much more efficient than Hero's Downfall and you're probably going to be tapped out on their turn anyway.I suggest:-1 Shock -1 Lightning Strike +2 Dreadbore

Lands:Honestly with a two-color deck that's trying to be as fast as possible, guildgates are just too slow. Go for the 4x Blood Crypt or just make it 9x Swamps and 11x Mountain. I only run dual lands in three color decks, except for Blood Crypt in my Rakdos aggro.

Of course, these are just suggestions. It's your deck, play it how you want!

Unfortunately, I joined the MTG community just after Dragon's Maze came out, and seeing as I'm not too competitive (aka still in college and at this point I don't think this is going to be the deck that wins me a standard tournament, as much as I would like it to be), I pretty much only have cards I've opened in draft or traded for. I was lucky enough to open a pair Hero's Downfall , but I don't have any Dreadbore and Blood Crypt is definitely out of my budget. As for the gates, they were more important when I had Hero's Downfall and Doomblade in my main board, I could probably sub those out now that my only double black is the whip. As for Exava, Rakdos Blood Witch I had her in, then I took her out, now I'm thinking about putting her back. That being said, Not sure where to put her, may replace one Magma Jet since of all the cards in the deck, I'm actually short one of those lol

StanleyHartman Welcome to MTG financial problems!

I would say go for the Exava, Rakdos Blood Witch . I think she's totally worth it and dropping an unleashes Hellhole Flailer with haste is hugely powerful.

I'm sure you'd disagree, but I'd take out either the Whip of Erebos or Mogis, God of Slaughter (probably Mogis, just because the Whip's lifelink can get you out of or prevent sticky situations).

I honestly love Magma Jet . I run lots in my decks because of the HUGE card advantage gained from the Scry 2 ability. Being able to see the next TWO cards in your deck means you can plan out your attacks, removal spells, and even land drops! Totally keep as many Magma Jet as possible.

Honestly, I kind of like the idea of replacing Mogis with a Magma Jet , as I always say "One card a deck does not make." I am a little worried that I have so few bombs in the deck, so I think for now I'll leave Mogis, but I will be keeping a close eye on whether or not I would rather have a Magma Jet in that spot whenever I draw Mogis.

If you want to keep your bombs to catch up while behind, pull in front while in a stalemate, or outright win because you're so far ahead, I don't think Mogis, God of Slaughter is your guy. He can be a 7/5, but he won't have haste, so you'll still be a turn back. Having a Magma Jet in that spot would either allow you to remove a small creature or punch them in the face for 2, meanwhile being able to plan your next two turns. I love consistency in a deck, so I'd go with a fourth Magma Jet .

I havent read your above comments, but these are my thoughts:

Drop Exava, Rakdos Blood Witch , as she is a singleton, and is unreliable. Also, drop two Hellhole Flailer , as you have no way of pumping its power to effectively use its activated ability. Also, with a whip of erebos out, you would want to just do combat damage to gain life, instead of activating the ability to simply to damage.

Also, add two more Chandra's Phoenix , as you have an extreme amount of burn. I like the idea of adding Pain Seer as you mentioned in your update. I do suggest an Erebos, God of the Dead in the sideboard for life-gain decks. They arent super common, but they do exist.

Lastly, against bigger monster decks, like red/green, or green ramp, you are going to need better removal in the form of Ultimate Price , Doomblade and Hero's Downfall .

Lifebane Zombie . Unblockable, adds two devotion for Marauder, which I think you should MB, plus possible hand removal. Also I'd run a playset of Magma Jet for the scry 2 to keep the deck flowing smoothly.

Get rid of guild gate just put in normal land or the pay 2 life. playing the scry land or guild gate will slow you down up to turn 4-5.

I would also put more slaughter games in the sideboard or put it mainboard. Card is to good. Rakdos's Return is a burn/discard that will fit perfectly for this deck plus just to damn good.

Lands are too expansive for me, and ironically enough I've been considering taking slaughter games out entirely, it's just a bit slow in the deck, but Rakdos Return is a good idea, if I can get my hands on one, I'll probably replace slaughter games in the side board.

I run a pretty similar deck that's been doing really well. Ravish the Meek. Just ditch Chandra and the nonbasic lands and you have a pretty affordable deck.

Blood Crypt for faster dual land when speed is an issue. Lifebane Zombie , maybe in the sideboard if nothing else. 3 drop nearly unblockable with possible hand disruption/control? Pretty good card. Seismic Stomp if you want to continue with the unblockable stuff.

Looks very tough +1 thanks for the input on my Izzet aura aggro