Every workday while the set is new, Insight is taking a quick look at one deck featuring the latest additions from The Brothers' War. Rakdos Midrange has dominated Pioneer for long enough now. Just when it seemed like its presence might finally start declining, it received a new tool in Misery's Shadow.
Rakdos is a classic midrange shell, a collection of efficient interaction and strong threats. If one was to pinpoint a weakness, it is the oversaturation of three-drops compared to cheaper spells. This is where comes in. It is a two-drop with a relevant passive ability that clocks the opponent very effectively. If you have drawn too many interaction spells against a combo deck, you can easily sink all the mana you have into it and close the game in just a couple of combat steps.
The ideal curve includes into a two-drop, into a powerful three-drop such as or . Later on, you may deploy double two-drop or go for arguably the best turn four play in the format, namely . For the whole game, you are both disruptive and aggressive. It is not a deck to sit back and accrue card advantage. On the contrary, you are highly incentivized to turn the corner and put the pedal to the metal.
The big advantage of this deck is its adaptability. There will be games where you play more as an aggressive deck, curving out creatures every turn and heading into the red zone. On the other end of the spectrum, you will find games that need to be carefully navigated with discard, removal, and overall positional play. The role you assume will largely depend on the matchup and each player's draw. If you enjoy consistent and aggressive yet interactive decks, this is the shell for you!
| Rakdos Midrange by Eli Loveman, 12-2 at Dreamhack Atlanta 2022 , November 19 |
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| Main Deck | Sideboard |
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