How does Rakdos actually work?
Asked by Hiding 12 years ago
I'm a bit confused about its wording. Does Rakdos reduce mana cost of creatures only on the turn it is put down? Or does it take the damage that turn and reduce mana cost as long as it's on the field for that much? Or does it reduce mana cost each turn based on how much damage you deal to opponent on each of those turns?
Once Rakdos, Lord of Riots is in play his effect is constant. On each turn you are able to cast creatures for 1 colorless less for each life lost by your opponents have taken that turn. This includes your opponents turn if they have lost life on their own turn and you have creatures with flash.
March 21, 2013 1:30 p.m.
Rhadamanthus says... #3
A static ability that doesn't mention a specific period of time is always on and uses information about what's going on right now. When the text on Rakdos, Lord of Riots says "this turn", it's talking about the current turn of the game happening right now.
March 21, 2013 1:40 p.m.
so can some1 explain exactly how it would work? if i dealt 4 damage to some1, played rakdos, then on turn 2 i dealt 2 damage to the person. What is the total mana reduction for turn 2? is it 4 or is it 2 or is it 0?
March 21, 2013 2:22 p.m.
Rhadamanthus says... Accepted answer #6
Yes, on that first turn one of your opponents has to lose some life for you to be allowed to play Rakdos. If you're somehow able to cast another creature spell on that same turn it would cost 4 less, since that's how much life your opponent lost.
On the next turn you ask about, since your opponent lost 2 life, the cost reduction would be 2.
The reduction would be 0 on a turn where your opponent hasn't lost any life at all.
March 21, 2013 2:28 p.m.
ok, i asked this because i thought this was the case as well but my friend made the argument that the "this turn" indicated the turn the card is cast. And that means the value 4 would remain as long as rakdos was on the field. I couldnt find any rulings anywhere on this so
March 21, 2013 2:33 p.m.
Rhadamanthus says... #8
If his ability was dependent on only the turn he was cast, it would specifically say so. Since Rakdos, Lord of Riots just says "this turn" it means the current turn, not any past turn.
Remula says... #1
Rakdos, Lord of Riots uses the information from the turn you are currently on. If no opponent has lost life on any given turn, Rakdos cannot be cast that turn. If he's already in play, the cost reduction is based on opponents' life loss for that turn only.
March 21, 2013 1:26 p.m.