---
name: "Rakdos, the Muscle"
mana_cost: "{2}{B}{B}{R}"
cmc: 5
type_line: "Legendary Creature — Demon Mercenary"
colors: []
color_identity: ["B", "R"]
keywords: ["Flying", "Trample"]
set: "OTJ"
set_name: "Outlaws of Thunder Junction"
collector_number: "226"
rarity: "mythic"
artist: "Victor Maury"
oracle_id: "e2c141af-925e-42bd-8d83-e1a71f4c9794"
canonical_url: "https://avascry.com/printing/rakdos-the-muscle-otj"
legalities:
  commander: "legal"
  standard: "legal"
  modern: "legal"
  pioneer: "legal"
  legacy: "legal"
  vintage: "legal"
  pauper: "not_legal"
  penny: "legal"
---

# Rakdos, the Muscle
- **Mana Cost:** `{2}{B}{B}{R}` (CMC: 5)
- **Type:** Legendary Creature — Demon Mercenary
- **Keywords:** Flying, Trample

## Oracle Text
Flying, trample
Whenever you sacrifice another creature, exile cards equal to its mana value from the top of target player's library. Until your next end step, you may play those cards, and mana of any type can be spent to cast those spells.
Sacrifice another creature: Rakdos gains indestructible until end of turn. Tap it. Activate only once each turn.

## Top 4096-Dim Neural Synergies
1. [Rakdos the Defiler](/printing/rakdos-the-defiler-dis.md) — Legendary Creature — Demon
2. [Rakdos, Patron of Chaos](/printing/rakdos-patron-of-chaos-mkm.md) — Legendary Creature — Demon
3. [Rakdos, Lord of Riots](/printing/rakdos-lord-of-riots-dsc.md) — Legendary Creature — Demon
4. [Rakdos, the Showstopper](/printing/rakdos-the-showstopper-clu.md) — Legendary Creature — Demon
5. [Razaketh, the Foulblooded](/printing/razaketh-the-foulblooded-cmm.md) — Legendary Creature — Demon
6. [Lord of the Forsaken](/printing/lord-of-the-forsaken-tdc.md) — Creature — Demon

## Printing Details
- **Set:** Outlaws of Thunder Junction (OTJ) #226
- **Rarity:** Mythic
- **Artist:** Victor Maury

## Format Legalities
Commander: `legal` | Standard: `legal` | Modern: `legal` | Pioneer: `legal` | Legacy: `legal` | Vintage: `legal` | Pauper: `not_legal` | Penny: `legal`

## Official Rulings
- *(2024-04-12)* Use the mana value of the sacrificed creature as it last existed on the battlefield to determine how many cards to exile.
- *(2024-04-12)* If the sacrificed creature had {X} in its mana cost, X is 0 for the purpose of determining its mana value.
- *(2024-04-12)* You pay all costs and follow all normal timing rules for cards played from exile with Rakdos's triggered ability. For example, if the exiled card is a land card, you may play it only during your main phase while the stack is empty.