Quick Answer
Rakdos (black-red) Commander is fast, aggressive, and rewards punishing your opponents for doing what they'd normally do. Black provides removal and recursion; red provides speed, wheels, and direct damage. Combined, Rakdos decks often win through attrition and sacrifice synergies. See current prices at /cards/mtg.
Rakdos (black-red) Commander is fast, aggressive, and rewards punishing your opponents for doing what they'd normally do. Black provides removal and recursion; red provides speed, wheels, and direct damage. Combined, Rakdos decks often win through attrition and sacrifice synergies.
Top Rakdos Commanders
Prosper, Tome-Bound
Prosper creates a Treasure token whenever you cast a spell from exile. His ability also exiles the top card of your library and lets you cast it until end of turn. This generates consistent card access and Treasure mana simultaneously.
Why it works: self-generating card advantage, synergises with impulse draw, builds toward combo or beatdown. Current AU price: approximately AU$5 to AU$12.
Zurzoth, Chaos Rider
Each player draws an extra card during their draw step, but opponents have to discard a card at random. Zurzoth generates Devil tokens when opponents discard non-lands. In a wheel-heavy deck, this fills the board rapidly.
Current AU price: approximately AU$3 to AU$6.
Dargo, the Shipwrecker / Malcolm, Keen-Eyed Navigator (partner pair)
Pirate tribal that generates Treasure tokens and lets you cast opponents' cards. Dargo is an 7/5 trample that costs less for each artifact sacrificed. Together they're fast and aggressive.
Combined AU price: approximately AU$3 to AU$8 total.
Ob Nixilis of the Black Oath (as Planeswalker Commander)
Drains each opponent for 2 life each turn, creates 5/5 Demon tokens on +2, and acts as a recurring life drain engine in the Command Zone.
Current AU price: approximately AU$2 to AU$5.
Rakdos, Lord of Riots
Costs 2BR but is free if an opponent lost life this turn. A 6/6 flying trample that reduces the cost of creature spells by 1 for each point of damage dealt to opponents. In a damage-dealing deck, Rakdos enables enormous cost reductions.
Current AU price: approximately AU$4 to AU$10.
Budget Rakdos Under AU$10
- Prosper, Tome-Bound: exile draw value engine, AU$5 to AU$12
- Zurzoth, Chaos Rider: wheel and discard, AU$3 to AU$6
- Rakdos, Lord of Riots: cost reduction beatdown, AU$4 to AU$10
Essential Rakdos Cards
- Sarkhan's Unsealing (AU$1 to AU$3): damage trigger for large creatures
- Neheb, the Eternal (AU$3 to AU$8): post-combat mana generation
- Purphoros, God of the Forge (AU$15 to AU$30): damage from ETB triggers
- Grave Pact (AU$8 to AU$15): creature control through sacrifice
Use the C3 Random Commander Generator with B and R filters for Rakdos commanders. Check prices at C3 Card Vault.
More Rakdos Commanders Worth Considering
Judith, the Scourge Diva
All other Creatures you control get +1/+0. Whenever a non-token Creature you control dies, Judith deals 1 damage to any target. A sacrifice payoff that generates ongoing damage from your own creature deaths. Strong in aristocrats and sacrifice-heavy builds.
Current AU price: approximately AU$2 to AU$5.
Kroxa, Titan of Death's Hunger
A legendary Elder Giant that forces opponents to discard a card and lose 3 life when it enters or attacks. Kroxa starts in the Graveyard and must be escaped (exiled cards from your Graveyard to cast). Every time you escape it, opponents discard again. A relentless grinding commander.
Current AU price: approximately AU$10 to AU$20.
Dihada, Binder of Wills
A planeswalker commander that creates Legendary creatures-matter synergies. Her abilities generate Treasures when Legendary permanents die, put Legendary cards into play directly, and create an emblem that generates Treasure and loyalty from your Legendary permanents.
Current AU price: approximately AU$2 to AU$6.
Kresh the Bloodbraided
Gets +X/+X counters whenever any creature dies, where X is that creature's power. In a multiplayer game where creatures die constantly, Kresh can grow to 20+ power within a few turns. A clear voltron-style commander built around combat.
Current AU price: approximately AU$2 to AU$5.
Rakdos Upgrade Path
Priority 1. Sacrifice engine: Rakdos strategies need a reliable sacrifice outlet. Viscera Seer (AU$2 to AU$5), Altar of Dementia (AU$8 to AU$15), and Phyrexian Altar (AU$20 to AU$35) are the strongest options at different price points.
Priority 2. Ramp: Rakdos has no green ramp, so lean into artifact ramp. Sol Ring (AU$3 to AU$12), Arcane Signet (AU$3 to AU$8), and Talisman of Indulgence (AU$2 to AU$5) are essential.
Priority 3. Card draw: Black has the best card draw in Commander. Dark Confidant (AU$10 to AU$20), Sign in Blood (AU$1 to AU$3), and Night's Whisper (AU$1 to AU$3) refuel your hand. Graveyard-based draw like Necropotence (AU$10 to AU$25) is the ceiling for black card draw power.
Priority 4. The Rakdos (the demon): The Rakdos himself reduces the cost of creature spells by 1 for each damage dealt to opponents this turn. Combined with combat damage and token sacrifice, he enables casting enormous creatures for free.
What Rakdos Struggles With
No access to green ramp means Rakdos plays at a slower mana development pace than three-colour decks including green. White's wraths can blow out a sacrifice-based board. Enchantment-heavy opponents can be difficult to answer without dedicated enchantment hate in black and red (Chaos Warp, Feed the Swarm are the main options).
Checking Prices in Australia
Browse current AUD prices on Rakdos Commander staples at the C3 MTG card hub. Use the C3 Card Compare tool to check multiple cards before purchasing.
The C3 Take
The decisions you make with your TCG collection matter more than most guides suggest. Whether you are buying, selling, or holding, the difference between a good outcome and a poor one almost always comes down to checking current AUD prices before you act. Use the live data at /cards/mtg to make price-informed decisions every time.
What to Read Next
- Browse MTG singles and prices at /cards/mtg
- Find your MTG colour identity at /quizzes/mtg-colour
- Calculate booster box expected value at /tools
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best Commander deck for a new player in Australia?
Any Commander preconstructed deck from a recent set is a good starting point. Pick the theme or colour combination that appeals to you most. Current options from Tarkir: Dragonstorm and Lorwyn Eclipsed are available on Amazon AU.
Can I use a Commander precon in tournament play?
Commander preconstructed decks are legal for casual Commander play and official Commander events. The individual cards are legal in Commander, Legacy, and Vintage. The precon as a whole is not competitive at high-level play but works fine for regular Commander nights.
Where can I find Commander singles in Australia?
Singles for Commander deck upgrades are listed at the C3 eBay store. Use the C3 Card Compare tool to check prices across specific cards you want.