Part 59

Explore Part 59 of the Magic: The Gathering Arena guide, detailing strategies for the Rakdos Riot and Simic Strangeness decks, including creature lists, enchantments, and Planeswalker difficulty adjustments.

This section of the guide covers two specific decks encountered in Magic: The Gathering Arena: the Rakdos Riot and the Simic Strangeness.

RAVNICA: RAKDOS RIOT

DIFFICULTY: 3 of 5

This is a Red/Black speed blitz deck, featuring creatures with regeneration, deathtouch, and haste. Many creatures have low base stats but can grow stronger with cards like Deviant Glee. The Hellbent ability grants stat boosts when the controller has no cards in hand, and Unleash can provide a +1/+1 counter upon entering the battlefield at the cost of the creature's ability to block. Auger Spree and Grisly Spectacle serve as spot removal, though Grisly Spectacle is ineffective against artifact creatures.

Creatures [23]:
[×4] Demon's Jester
[×4] Gore-House Chainwalker
[×4] Grim Roustabout
[×3] Rakdos Ringleader
[×4] Rakdos Shred-Freak
[×2] Rix Maadi Guildmage
[×2] Thrill-Kill Assassin

Enchantments [6]:
[×4] Deviant Glee
[×2] Havoc Festival

Instants [7]:
[×4] Auger Spree
[×3] Grisly Spectacle

Lands [24]:
[×4] Blood Crypt
[×8] Mountain
[×4] Rakdos Guildgate
[×8] Swamp

Deck Analysis:
CONTROL: good (Auger Spree, Grisly Spectacle)
DRAWPOWER: none
SPEED: fast
STAYPOWER: poor
STRENGTH: average
SYNERGY: good
RETRIEVAL: none

Planeswalker Changes:
[+3] Carnival Hellsteed
[-3] Rakdos Ringleader
[+4] Rakdos Pit Dragon
[-4] Demon's Jester

On Planeswalker difficulty, Rakdos Ringleader (3/1) is replaced by Carnival Hellsteed (5/4), which has the same converted mana cost (6) but includes first strike, haste, and Unleash. Demon's Jester (2/1 flyer) is replaced by Pit Dragon (3/3 flyer) with an ability that grants +1/+0 for each red mana spent.

The easiest way to win is through noncombat damage, as most creatures have low toughness (1-2). This bypasses regeneration abilities of Grim Roustabout and Rakdos Ringleader. If Havoc Festival is played, each player loses half their life during the upkeep, and life gain is prevented, which can be detrimental.

Rix Maadi Guildmage can be used against opponents casting cards with life-loss costs, by dealing extra damage after a player loses life from an effect. This can stack up quickly with early attacks or serve as late-game snipes.

RAVNICA: SIMIC STRANGENESS

DIFFICULTY: 2 of 5

This is ansimic (Blue/Green) deck focused on creatures with the Evolve keyword, which grants a +1/+1 counter when a creature with greater power or toughness enters the battlefield under its owner's control. It also features a combo with Species Gorger and Coiling Oracle that can bounce creatures. Opponents might use Bioshift to transfer earned counters to other targets.

Creatures [25]:
[×4] Adaptive Snapjaw
[×3] Assault Zeppelid
[×3] Battering Krasis
[×4] Coiling Oracle
[×4] Frilled Oculus
[×2] Nimbus Swimmer
[×3] Shambleshark
[×2] Species Gorger

Instants [4]:
[×4] Bioshift

Sorceries [7]:
[×2] Miming Slime
[×2] Slime Molding
[×3] Urban Evolution

Lands [24]:
[×4] Evolving Wilds
[×9] Forest
[×7] Island
[×4] Simic Guildgate

Deck Analysis:
CONTROL: none
DRAWPOWER: good (Coiling Oracle, Urban Evolution)
SPEED: average
STAYPOWER: average
STRENGTH: average
SYNERGY: average
RETRIEVAL: none

Planeswalker Changes:
[+4] Cloudfin Raptor
[-4] Bioshift
[+4] Experiment One
[-4] Frilled Oculus
[+3] Drakewing Krasis
[-3] Shambleshark
[+2] Fathom Mage
[-2] Species Gorger

On Planeswalker difficulty, the deck becomes faster with the inclusion of 1-CMC creatures like Cloudfin Raptor and Experiment One. Drakewing Krasis (3/1) is similar to Assault Zeppelid but with lower toughness. Fathom Mage provides additional draw power as it evolves.

While noncombat damage can be effective to some extent, creatures like Adaptive Snapjaw, Shambleshark, and Battering Krasis can grow too large if left unchecked. The opponent often plays an extra land each turn due to Coiling Oracle and Urban Evolution, and Species Gorger can contribute to this.