Pauper: Rakdos Wizard Burn - Deck Tech and Sideboard Guide

Black Mage's Rod is, without a question, the most interesting card from Final Fantasy for Pauper right now. Several lists and builds have tried to make it work in one way or another.

This is a low-cost equipment card that puts a body in play and makes the creature equipped with it ping damage to the opponent whenever you cast a noncreature spell. It is certainly worth exploring.

With this in mind, I decided to put this new card in Rakdos Burn, and ended up with a very promising list.

This list centers around Black Mage's Rod's ping ability and Kessig Flamebreather, the best pinger in the format. In total, it includes 7 pingers. We had to give up Kitchen Imp, which is excellent in the Rakdos Burn version that centers around madness. In this version, it simply lost space.

Why Play This Deck?

Rakdos Madness is one of the best decks in the format nowadays, as well as one of the most popular. It gets results week after week. So, why should we stray away from the madness game plan, and from staples as critical as Faithless Looting?

Nowadays, Pauper is full of Burn decks, as well as blue lists like Faeries and Mono U Terror. Kessig and Rod both do something whenever you cast a noncreature spell, burning your opponent bit by bit. As such, I believe this version might be even more aggressive than other versions, as it can deal burn damage to the opponent throughout the entire game with these cards.

As we gave up Imp and Looting, we can control what we play in the graveyard much better, and get more value out of drawing cards by pinging damage. Furthermore, we can also equip Rod to a creature in the late game, like Sneaky Snacker, for instance, and put even more pressure on the opponent.

Another great thing about this version is that Rod is an artifact, which means we can use the artifact mana base with Galvanic Blast to get metalcraft more easily. In this build, I decided not to use metalcraft because I'd like to avoid the many Affinity hates seeing play in Magic Online right now.

Mulligan and Game Style

This hand is quite solid and will give you a great early game. Ideally, you should start with the tapped land and play Mountain + Epicure on turn 2. If you can't find a third land on the next turn, discard Fiery Temper with the blood token to draw another card. Play Rod only if it's safe and you can already get some value out of it.

This is a classic Mulligan case. This hand is quite terrible, as the only thing it does is discard cards and not get any value from them.

This hand could be interesting, depending on the matchup. You'll be able to put Snacker in play already on turn 2 with one of the discards and draw more than a few cards. However, if you can't find anything useful from the top to trade with your opponent, you might fall behind.

This sideboard can deal with the popular blue decks right now, as well as any deck that uses Weather the Storm. Furthermore, it also has decent hates for graveyards and artifacts.

Vs. Rakdos Madness

This is almost a mirror. In this matchup, you need to be careful with your opponent's flying creatures and create value with your pingers. In the late game, Kessigs and Rods will work for you, while your opponent will lose their creatures and have to deal with Sneaky Snacker alone.

Don't be afraid to trade your creatures, but use your burns wisely. Black Mages Rod is more than enough to give you an edge in the late game.

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Vs. Jund Wildfire

In this matchup, you'll have the upper hand in game 1, as long as your opponent doesn't have Weather the Storm. Be careful with their creatures. Attack with your threats as best as you can and try to deal as much damage possible.

In game 2, you'll need your sideboard. Contaminated Ground will prevent your opponent from playing green, and Cast Into the Fire interacts with their essential artifacts.

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Vs. Mono Blue Faeries

This matchup is quite favorable. You'll miss your Kitchen Imps, but Faeries can't really deal with the number of spells you can play, particularly with madness. Kessig is an excellent block against their Ninjas, and Rod does a great job as well.

Post-side, you'll be even more ready, as you'll add seven cards that fit this matchup like a glove. Your best strategy is killing your opponent's Faeries and disabling their ninjutsu as you play your burns to deal damage.

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Vs. Golgari Gardens

Gardens is one of the few decks that returned to the meta with new cards, Black Mage's Rod included. It plays many removals and sticks its creatures to the board really well. Finally, it also plays lots of lifegain.

Your strategy for this matchup is the same as the one you'll use against Jund. Prevent your opponent from playing green, and try to win with burn.

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Vs. High Tide

This matchup is quite simple. In game 1, you'll have to beat your opponent as fast as possible, but you'll be at a complete disadvantage. As for game 2, then you'll have your Pyroblasts, so make sure you have them to counter their first High Tide.

Gigadrowse is a terrible card for you, and you'll probably lose on the spot if you take it.

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Black Mage's Rod, without a question, is here to stay, and should keep popping up in any deck that can use it. It is an incredible card that can go in many builds, but I believe it has a special place in this deck, and that this Rakdos version could conquer a lot of space in the meta.

What do you think of this list? Tell us your thoughts in our comment section below.

Thank you for reading, and see you next time!