Rakdos, Lord of Riots is the only legend I know that asks its player to keep a pain count for each turn. That is fun. The aim is to get an enabler for the paincount going in order to cast Rakdos, swing for big damage, then cast as many fatties as possible.

Enablers ideally are repeatable and have a secondary use. Cunning Sparkmage and Rakdos Ickspitter can kill creatures, especially with deathtouch from a Basilisk's Collar or Quietus Spike . Pilgrim's Eye is the best t3 play as it fixes mana for Rakdos' difficult casting cost of RRBB on turn 4 and flies over for damage. Triskaidekaphobia is sometimes a hilarious win condition. Sin Prodder draws cards or does damage, and can also swing with menace. Vampire Nighthawk is good on both offense and defense and loves to be targeted by Chandra's Ignition. Palace Siege can get pain going early, or recur my threats lategame. Endbringer and Staff of Nin draw cards, et cetera.

Fatties have ideally as little colored mana as possible, scale with the paincount, and are difficult to answer. Void Winnower, Soul of New Phyrexia and Sire Of Insanity can come down very early with Rakdos, and can blank the removal to deal with my threatening board state. Grenzo, Dungeon Warden grows along with the paincount and is a mana sink that gets more stuff on the board. Kaervek the Merciless either demands an immediate answer, prevents spells from being cast, or controls the board and then life totals. Heartless Hidetsugu sure loves having lifelink, such as from a Whip of Erebos. Steel Hellkite can get rid of many things, et cetera.

Miscallaneous synergies and effects: Deathtouch and/or Lifelink work well with the many creatures that do damage outside of combat. Basilisk Collar, Quietus Spike , Whip of Erebos work well with Cunning Sparkmage , Endbringer, Heartless Hidetsugu, Kaervek the Merciless , Sin Prodder and Chandra's Ignition. Sword of the Animist and Opal Palace give Rakdos 7 power, turning him into a 3 turn clock for commander damage. Deal Broker is basically a much better Rummaging Goblin . Depending on the situation, Dimir House Guard can get: Card Draw (Erebos, God of the Dead or Disciple of Bolas), spot removal ( Snuff Out ), Ramp (Solemn Simulacrum), Raveyard Recursion (Whip of Erebos), or a paincount enabler (Triskaidekaphobia). Singleton Wastes to fetch with basic land ramp cards to be able to cast and activate Endbringer.

Possible considerations for the future: Replace some pinger creatures that don't hit creatures with ones that do such as Prodigal Pyromancer , Vithian Stinger. Consider Stuffy Doll as both a Rakdos enabler and payoff that can block well and combo with lifelink, Chandra's Ignition, Blasphemous Act etc. Consider Hangarback Walker once it rotates out of standard for Rakdos payoff that scales with the paincount and leaves behind threats when it dies.

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Date added 8 years
Last updated 8 years
Exclude colors WUG
Legality

This deck is Commander / EDH legal.

Rarity (main - side)

8 - 0 Mythic Rares

34 - 0 Rares

24 - 0 Uncommons

18 - 0 Commons

Cards 100
Avg. CMC 3.95
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