Like yesterday's card, there's not much more to
this than just dropping it as early as you can
and attacking with it. But the unleash mechanic
makes it worth much more of a think-over.
Really, when you cast Rakdos Cackler, you have
to choose whether you want a 1/1 or a 2/2 that
can't block. For the Cackler itself, not much of
a choice. We're long, LONG past the days when a
Mons' Goblin Raiders or a Merfolk of the Pearl
Trident could pretend it was playable. Every
color expects to get something more that a 1/1
for its one mana. But it's rare that a color
gets a one-mana 2/2 without some sort of
debilitating drawback. Red occasionally gets
something like a Goblin Cohort or a Cinder Wall,
but those don't see play because Red is the
color that wants to attack. The Cackler has
nothing holding it back from attacking-- a 2/2
that can't block is most definitely a good
bargain for a single mana.
There will of course be occasions where you
really need a blocker, and if you topdeck a
Cackler, it's nice that you can choose to get a
1/1 blocker instead of a 2/2 that can't block.
That extra flexibility makes it very nice.
Just remember, the "can't block" restriction is
tied to the presence or absence of a +1/+1
counter. If an effect adds a counter or removes
it, the creature's ability to block will be
removed or re-added along with it.
I know what some people have already said about
this card, so I won't repeat it here. I will
say, however, that if those aforementioned
things were being said genuinely, it poses
worrying questions for the future of Magic
design. All I can do is look at the card and
what it does, and what sorts of decks it
enables: Rakdos Cackler's power is often greater
than its mana cost, and it hits as hard as
Isamaru minus his versatility, and it enables
aggressive decks that have as few as one of the
colors in that hybrid mana symbol. If that isn't
good enough, then I say nothing is.
Today's card of the day is Rakdos Cackler which
is a one Black or Red mana 1/1 with Unleash.
A hybrid that can be a 2/2 non-blocking or a 1/1
if a cheap block is needed is flexible and will
definitely be seeing play in Red decks, possibly
Black as well, and almost any Black/Red deck.
The devil type is no real benefit, but overall
this is a solid card for the cost.
In Limited this should always be used in a
Rakdos build in Sealed and as a possible one
mana 2/2 is useful for early game damage for
Izzet or Golgari as well. As a hybrid it
works with whatever land draws a Red/Black deck
might have in the opening hand and it is well
worth an on color pick in Booster after major
threats and removal.
Welcome back to
the Pojo.com card of the day section. This time
we are looking at the Rakdos Cackler from Return
to Ravnica. Rakdos Cackler is an uncommon
creature devil that costs one hybrid black/red
mana and is a 1/1. Rakdos Cackler has Unleash,
meaning when it comes into play you may choose
to put a +1/+1 counter on it, but then it cannot
block.
I love, love, love the Rakdos Cackler! A 2/2 that
cannot block for one mana is insane! Especially
when thrown into a mono-black deck. The ways to
then begin breaking it are through the roof. A
simple Dark Favor, and now you’ve got a 5/3 that
cannot block on turn 2! Hard to just sit back
when that is staring you in the face!
Even if you don’t turn to Dark Favor, a 2/2 first turn
can be a handful that may need fast handling.
Now perhaps you decide to trade creatures, or
spend a kill spell, then point is that this
little devil causes all kinds of problems, and
no matter what the solution is, he has done his
work before you know it! Even if it is just
emptying your hand of a spell.
