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Pioneer Rakdos Vampires - Deck and Sideboard Guide
The Big Sensation
At the last Pro Tour, Rakdos Vampires was the big sensation, even winning the tournament in the hands Seth Manfield. Being one of the best and most played decks of the format, it also caught my attention, since Rakdos Midrange had been my favorite choice for playing the format.
Today I will share everything I know about the deck, including new card choices, keeps and mulligans, tips and tricks for playing with the deck, and a side guide against the format's tiers.
The Deck
(3 - 1)
75% in MTGO Pioneer Preliminary #12622548 [26 Players] — 26-Mar-2024
$698/270.97 Tix
Maindeck (60)
| Creature [20] | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3 Archfiend of the Dross | $0.99 | |
| 4 Bloodtithe Harvester | $0.35 | |
| 3 Dusk Legion Zealot | $0.35 | |
| 4 Fable of the Mirror-Breaker | $21.99 | |
| 2 Preacher of the Schism | $6.99 | |
| 4 Vein Ripper | $29.99 | |
| Instant [6] | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2 Bitter Triumph | $2.29 | |
| 4 Fatal Push | $2.49 | |
| Sorcery [5] | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1 Duress | $0.35 | |
| 4 Thoughtseize | $10.99 | |
| Planeswalker [4] | ||
|---|---|---|
| 4 Sorin, Imperious Bloodlord | $34.99 | |
| Land [25] | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2 Blightstep Pathway | // | $6.49 |
| 4 Blood Crypt | $17.99 | |
| 3 Sulfurous Springs | $1.99 | |
| 2 Hive of the Eye Tyrant | $4.99 | |
| 4 Mutavault | $11.99 | |
| 3 Swamp | $0.01 | |
| 1 Takenuma, Abandoned Mire | $12.99 | |
| 4 Blackcleave Cliffs | $2.99 | |
| 2 Cavern of Souls | $42.99 | |
| Sideboard [15] | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2 Damping Sphere | $0.99 | |
| 2 Duress | $0.35 | |
| 1 Grafdigger's Cage | $2.49 | |
| 4 Leyline of the Void | $3.99 | |
| 2 Liliana of the Veil | $15.99 | |
| 2 Sheoldred's Edict | $4.49 | |
| 2 Path of Peril | $6.99 | |
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Similar Decks
Proxies
Archetype Analysis
Magic online format
Apprentice and MWS .dec
Regarding the Pro Tour list, the deck underwent some very interesting changes, courtesy of the player Graciasportanto, and I believe this is an evolution compared to the previous list. The list I will use as an example was also played by the grinder MJ_23, who achieved a top 8 finish in the Showcase Qualifier.
Card Choices
Archfiend of Dross
In my opinion, the great change and evolution in relation to the Pro Tour lists was the inclusion of Archfiend of Dross in the lists. Before, the deck was very dependent on the combo between Sorin + Vein Ripper, and now with Archfiend, the deck has become much more dangerous, in addition to having a card that is difficult to remove for some decks, such as UR Phoenix, and it still represents a very good clock and is synergistic with the deck, including Sorin himself (despite not being a vampire) and Fable of the Mirror Breaker.
Sheoldred’s Edict
A card that has become increasingly popular across multiple formats is now also appearing in sideboards and even the main decks of multiple Pioneer decks. It's a clean answer to our opponents' Vein Rippers, but hitting Preacher of the Schism and Archfiend of the Dross isn't bad either.
Its versatility also allows it to deal with planeswalkers such as The Wandering Emperor, Teferi, Hero of Dominaria, and Liliana of the Veil. Some decks have been using Blot Out as a more direct response to Vein Ripper, but the versatility catches my eye more (for example, being able to choose a token from Fable), in addition to the fact that it costs less mana.
Fable of the Mirror Breaker
One of the best cards released in recent times, in my opinion, should no longer be in the format. It stiffens deckbuilding (after all, many decks are built around it) and this deck is not just monoblack largely because of its existence.
Games where you resolve the Fable and the ones you don't are very different, it does everything the deck needs and heavily punishes those who don't have an immediate answer. The situation is a bit different from when it was banned in Standard because the format has reached the point where many games are a race to see who resolves it first. However, as long as it remains valid, I will keep playing it in my decks.
Playing the deck
The deck operates with a high number of lands, and ideally, you should start games with at least 3 or 2 and one of the drop2s to be able to cycle or draw a card.
Keeping removal in combination with discard enablers and Sorin and Vein Ripper, along with at least two lands, is also not a bad strategy at all, since this "combo" is strong enough to win many games on its own. Pay attention to land sequencing and the colors in your opening hand, as some hands may be too risky.
Example Hand #1
The kind of risky hand I mentioned, with only two lands, but that can interact with the opponent, possibly giving us time to resolve Sorin and getting us in a very good position in the match. An important detail: a discard by the opponent isn't so bad, precisely because of the Fable, even if it removes one of the combo pieces, it can still advance our game plan well.
Example Hand #2
It can also be quite risky in the event of mana flooding, but the deck requires these two pieces to perform optimally. Having many lands means that we will likely be able to cast all our spells. Perhaps I would mulligan when on the draw against a very aggressive deck, such as Boros Heroic, but overall, I believe I would keep this hand in almost all situations.
Example Hand #3
What I said about keeping the right lands can apply here. Not having the second black mana is very punitive with Liliana in hand. Even though Sorin and Mutavault can represent a clock, I don't really like the chances of this hand. Maybe a Fable could fix this hand, but with this setup, I would mulligan.
Matchups & Sideboard guide
UR Phoenix
Pretty balanced, but I believe there is a small advantage for the opponent. A turn 3 Vein Ripper can cause a lot of damage, but decks tend to play with 4 Lightning Axes and many cantrips to find it, and now with Picklock Prankster, they have many more ways to not be so penalized by the vampire's ward. This version with Archfiend of the Dross is worse for the opponent, since the Phyrexian is also a creature that is not easily removed and heavily punishes chump blocks. Post-sideboard, the plan changes to have more creatures, but Leyline of the Void continues to be very effective when played on turn 1. The problem is that when you don't start with it in your hand, you end up having 4 very bad draws during the game, although this is also somewhat mitigated by the presence of Fable of the Mirror Breaker and Bloodtithe Harvester.
Rakdos Vampires (mirror)
Mirror can be both a very choppy game, with discards, removals, and Fable, as well as a quick game, if one of the sides has the combo of Sorin with Vein Ripper and the other side does not have any kind of answer. Preacher ends up being important too, because he can attack over Vein Ripper and draw more cards or make tokens that can be sacrificed to take out the big vampire. The secret is to keep hands that interact in some way and that don't leave you too far behind in the game. Thoughtseize is very important, but Duress is not so necessary. Prefer more effective answers.
Niv to Light
The deck operates with a lot of card advantage and that can be problematic for a deck like Rakdos, but the Sorin + Vein Ripper play is not so easy for it to deal with, as it necessarily involves taking out a creature in the process and it doesn't have many available. Discard and a clock is the best way to win this match. Post-sideboard, we increase the number of discard spells, which is our best plan, especially with the help of Liliana, who also delays his game plan by potentially making him sacrifice a Sylvan Caryatid.
UW Control
Another balanced match, but this time I believe it to be more favorable. A simple Bloodtithe Harvester on turn two can already cause damage, with Vein Ripper Supreme Verdicts are much more punitive, and 4 Mutavaults make it so that we hardly ever fail to put pressure on the opponent. Post sideboard, the discard plan, just like against Niv, is very efficient, with Liliana once again being the star of the match.
Monoblack Midrange
Bad match, but Vein Ripper is a tough creature to deal with, despite him having very effective cards, like The Meathook Massacre and Extinction Event post side. I believe that for this match we need a better side, maybe Reckoner Bankbuster would be a good card against that deck. If by any chance Heartless Act comes up, it's better to take out Archfiend of the Dross as well.
Lotus Field
Discard with clock is very effective against this type of deck, so an early Vein Ripper can be very dangerous for the opponent and with the help of Sorin, we can close out the game more quickly. Post-side, we have specific cards for this matchup and with more discards, we should have an even more comfortable game.
Boros Heroic
Favorable matchup, discard with removal is very effective against this deck, and a quick Vein Ripper can do huge damage, since they will hardly be able to remove it from the board. Post sideboard, more edicts, Liliana, with Path of Peril should make the match even calmer, and you can also lower the deck's curve to avoid being overrun too quickly.
Abzan Amalia Combo
Complicated match, since discard can be good, but with Return to the Ranks and Chord of Calling, the deck has a lot of capability to come back into the game. Removal should generally target Amalia, but sometimes we will need to use it on random creatures that we need to address in order not to be too pressured. This creates the ideal moment for them to execute their combo.
The best way to win still is with discards and a quickly made Vein Ripper. Post-sideboard, Path of Peril helps with the swarm plan and Leyline of the Void disrupts recursive cards like Extraction Specialist and Return to the Ranks, but remember that it also ends up being a nonbo with Archfiend and Vein Ripper, because the opponent doesn't take damage when creatures are removed.
UR Ensoul
Creatures in general are not so problematic, the most dangerous would be Ensoul Artifact on a Darksteel Citadel which can bring a lot of problems, besides the fact that Shrapnel Blast can kill us unexpectedly, but Archfiend of the Dross is especially good against both of these cards. Still, a turn 3 Vein Ripper is very effective and with the help of Sorin we can probably win the race. Post sideboard, Duress helps us get rid of dangerous spells, in addition to Path of Peril, which is very efficient against the swarm plan with Gleeful Demolition.
Final words
Rakdos Vampires surprised everyone at the Pro Tour and it's definitely here to stay. Playing much like a traditional Rakdos, but with a powerful combo involving Sorin and Vein Ripper, it has already become one of the top decks in the format.
Until next time!