Also, a card that just came up to me that could be an all star in your deck, is Soul of New Phyrexia. The worst thing about having your stax pieces be creatures is that they die really easily, and because they're so fat and expensive it's a hassle to rebuild your board. SONP can be payed for entirely by Rakdos's ability, and protects your board both when he's on the board and when he's in the yard. You can even discard him to Tortured Existence in order to user his ability in a pinch.
Cuts for him are tough, though. Ulamog's Crusher is probably still great but feels clunky because of the "must attack" clause. Etali, Primal Storm seems like it could either be amazing or useless, so maybe it could go.
EDIT: Several more suggestions:
The new Risk Factor seems strong in your deck. Much better than Browbeat since the choice is narrowed down to a single player, and since it can convert a dead card to be a copy of it. Giving your opponent the choice between giving you cards or enabling Rakdos seems like "a rock and a hard spot" choice for them.
With this new discard tech Garna, the Bloodflame becomes considerable - and I haven't seen your opinion of this card. Not only it represents wrath recovery similar to SONP, which is your biggest weakness, but it also recovers all creatures you discarded and such. Both cards require you leave 5 mana open, both have additional advantages.
It's not draw per se, just card filtering. But it's still quite powerful.
Have you thought of Archfiend of Despair? Wound Reflection + Tainted Remedy is great to have on a giant body.
My top two recommendations would be Demon of Wailing Agonies, which is pretty meh without Rakdos, and Combustible Gearhulk, which seems more burn-y than stax-y.
Other options include Corpse Augur which seems underwhelming without a sac outlet, and Stoneshaker Shaman which is a 3 drop that doesn't enable Rakdos.
I might be able to suggest more, but I can't see the noncteature part of your deck since I'm on mobile.
I wouldn't replace Oracle, since it's still a good draw spell and also potentially free. However, it's also important to keep in mind that Demonlord Belzenlok will never help you find land drops.
Garna, the Bloodflame
3BR
Legendary Creature — Human Warrior
3/3
Flash
When Garna, the Bloodflame enters the battlefield, return to your hand all creature cards in your graveyard that were put there from anywhere this turn.
Other creatures you control have haste.
I feel like this could be a really interesting card here. Your opponents will never expect BR to have a flasher when they wrath you, especially not one that does this.
Torgaar, Famine Incarnate
6BB
Legendary Creature — Avatar
7/6
As an additional cost to cast this spell, you may sacrifice any number of creatures. This spell costs 2 less to cast for each creature sacrificed this way.
When Torgaar, Famine Incarnate enters the battlefield, up to one target player's life total becomes half their starting life total, rounded down.
Can easily be used to heal you, and may not be useless in a pinch since you can sac creatures instead of paying mana.
I think you could try swapping Demon of Wailing Agonies for Steel Hellkite. Hellkite might cost 1 more but it's easier colorwise, bigger, and not reliant on you having Rakdos in play - plus you choose what you want to kill.
EDIT: Also, I feel like thinking in the direction of Manabarbs or Ankh of Mishra could be interesting. When you're behind you don't play a lot of stuff, so you take less damage. When you're ahead you tap less lands for more stuff. If there are any battlecruisers in your meta they might really hurt from this card, however if they're more reliant on artifacts it might not work out. But then you could just play Vandalblast.
Twilight Prophet seems very unreliable IMO, not just in your deck but in general. Yes, you can find several decks that will easily ascend, but most other decks will have a hard time getting this state to happen, even in EDH. It reminds me of the Delirium mechanic.
I think I would take out Ulamog's Crusher for the Hellkite. The difference is 2 less for a 6/6 instead of an 8/8, but with evasion and firebreathing. The Annihilator, which triggers when attacking but lets the player choose what to sac, is replaced with a post-combat-damage effect, with a possibly different number of targets - and you choosing what to kill, even if you do pay mana for it. Also, not being forced to attack each turn might be nice.
I think I'd remove the Herald of Anguish for Underworld Cerberus anyway. It's bigger, its evasion is actually still respectable, it has a much more taxing effect that's static and doesn't have to wait for your EOT. When it dies, it gives everyone all their creatures back - that could be either good or bad, but I think it's definitely better than the Herald.
Speaking of slow cards, what's Graveborn Muse doing for you? Seems woefully underwhelming in my opinion, and a perfect candidate for slotting in Pox. Instead of trying to catch up with grindy blue decks, just take away everything they've got!
Don't worry mate. I've been following your thread here and there, and your deck and your thread has come a long way. I believe that primer status is right around the corner for you, even if it seems like you still need to correct a few things - and besides, if it makes your thread be better and get better feedback, who cares? You still come out ahead. Don't let it get to you
Several recommendations:
Is it enough for Herald of Anguish to make your opponents discard at your end step? After all that's the most you'll get out of him, and now that you're getting rid of the discard theme it loses significance. I feel like if you're already spending all the time and resources to reduce the cost of stuff - you might as well get bang for your buck.
For example, Steel Hellkite is definitely not amazing, but it's removal for anything in colors that lack ways to deal with enchantments, and also very good against token swarms - which can easily become a weak spot for you. Pox is an old card, yet seems possibly very strong in your deck. It's an enabler for Rakdos to enter the battlefield, chunks your opponents for a ton of life, and forces them to get rid of a bunch of cards on the field and in their hand. It's like the Dire Fleet Ravager you just tested, but is always cheap and gets rid of much more cards for your opponents. Keep in mind your round up each time, so everyone has to get rid of something.
I have an Ur-Dragon deck in my meta, and it's reminded me how useful Bogardan Hellkite is. I think it would be awesome in your deck.
Don't cut Disciple of Bolas, that card is MVP. On the other hand, I almost never got any good from Corpse Augur, and I was almost running 40 creatures.
I also don't get replacing a 3/2 menace that draws you cards or burns your opponent with a 1/2 menace specter... Not good enough.
Keep in mind that this set includes two grave hate cards that can go into all decks.
As a Karador player, I can advise you to never rely on overextending into the graveyard. If your play your hand so that you absolutely have to get Phyrexian Delver into play next turn, and an opponent Bojuka Bogs you, you're in for a bad time.
But yes, utilizing the graveyard as a Plan B is almost always a good idea.
I really like this idea. Kudos on the originality and on the iron will to keep it going this long.
My two cents:
If I were to play this Rakdos deck in my EDH meta, it would get obliterated because Rakdos would die so quickly, followed by the damage or lifeloss outlet. I do, however, think it can be changed to fit more dire circumstances.
Let's go with the discarding theme, which is something our guild does very well. It also works well with our Commander because he likes to dump our hand, no matter how steeply costed.
Contrary to what you argue, I think that cards like Necrogen Mists and Bottomless Pit have a critical role in the deck. They are something simple and stable that gives you the same value even if you don't find land drops and your Commander keeps dying, and they work wonders when paired with a card like Corpse Augur. Cunning Lethemancer is even a creature. Bloodchief Ascension can easily hurt opponents without Rakdos, and win you the game with him. All of these work for sure better than cards like Archfiend of Depravity or Kothoped, Soul Hoarder which are clunky and conditional at best, and don't really advance your game plan aside from being fatties.
So I'd say the wise gameplay with Rakdos would be to play it only if you can gurantee a play with it in the same turn, especially in early turns, i.e. Cryptolith Fragment for 3 damage (-1 mana) + Rakdos (4 mana) + Solemn (1 mana).
Along with that, Hellbent works stupidly well. The infamous Infernal Tutor becomes viable as another Demonic Tutor, which you should have. Gathan Raiders is a cool discard fattie, easily cast for 0 with Rakdos but still viable without him, enabling madness and can be 5/5. Blood Scrivener draws more stuff. Hollowborn Barghest is godly. Keldon Megaliths can be an OK Rakdos enabler, especially at your upkeep. Gibbering Descent is meh, but shows us how easily Madness and Hellbent work together.
Of course, we won't be restricting ourselves to them - there's a ton more that can be abused with Rakdos. Browbeat is the worst of a 3 mana Concentrate or Lava Axe, and with Rakdos neither is ever a bad option. Chandra, Torch of Defiance is a must-have if you can afford it.
So that's my idea. I hope you read through it some time and give it some thought.
If you're short and to the point, here's suggestions relevant for everything:
Hazoret the Fervent. She's a creature so her cost is reduced, indestructible so lives after a board wipe (our vulnerable spot), starts swinging for tons when you're short on cards, AND she's a discard outlet that ALSO causes damage. I'd say she's nearly perfect for Rakdos - even if you don't listen to the rest of my advice, PLEASE TEST HER.
Also, a card that just came up to me that could be an all star in your deck, is Soul of New Phyrexia. The worst thing about having your stax pieces be creatures is that they die really easily, and because they're so fat and expensive it's a hassle to rebuild your board. SONP can be payed for entirely by Rakdos's ability, and protects your board both when he's on the board and when he's in the yard. You can even discard him to Tortured Existence in order to user his ability in a pinch.
Cuts for him are tough, though. Ulamog's Crusher is probably still great but feels clunky because of the "must attack" clause. Etali, Primal Storm seems like it could either be amazing or useless, so maybe it could go.
EDIT: Several more suggestions:
The new Risk Factor seems strong in your deck. Much better than Browbeat since the choice is narrowed down to a single player, and since it can convert a dead card to be a copy of it. Giving your opponent the choice between giving you cards or enabling Rakdos seems like "a rock and a hard spot" choice for them.
With this new discard tech Garna, the Bloodflame becomes considerable - and I haven't seen your opinion of this card. Not only it represents wrath recovery similar to SONP, which is your biggest weakness, but it also recovers all creatures you discarded and such. Both cards require you leave 5 mana open, both have additional advantages.
With more colorless creatures Neheb, the Eternal becomes more viable to return, perhaps along with Steel Hellkite and Sandstone Oracle, and maybe even Kozilek, the Great Distortion.
I'll take the opportunity to remind you of my pet cards Underworld Cerberus and Pain Magnification.
Additional possible cuts: Graveyard Muse, Gray Merchant of Asphodel and Erebos, God of the Dead (more colorless means less devotion), Tunelling Geopede (your only enabler that's reliant on lands).
Have you thought of Archfiend of Despair? Wound Reflection + Tainted Remedy is great to have on a giant body.
Other options include Corpse Augur which seems underwhelming without a sac outlet, and Stoneshaker Shaman which is a 3 drop that doesn't enable Rakdos.
I might be able to suggest more, but I can't see the noncteature part of your deck since I'm on mobile.
From the Dominaria spoilers:
Garna, the Bloodflame
3BR
Legendary Creature — Human Warrior
3/3
Flash
When Garna, the Bloodflame enters the battlefield, return to your hand all creature cards in your graveyard that were put there from anywhere this turn.
Other creatures you control have haste.
I feel like this could be a really interesting card here. Your opponents will never expect BR to have a flasher when they wrath you, especially not one that does this.
Torgaar, Famine Incarnate
6BB
Legendary Creature — Avatar
7/6
As an additional cost to cast this spell, you may sacrifice any number of creatures. This spell costs 2 less to cast for each creature sacrificed this way.
When Torgaar, Famine Incarnate enters the battlefield, up to one target player's life total becomes half their starting life total, rounded down.
Can easily be used to heal you, and may not be useless in a pinch since you can sac creatures instead of paying mana.
EDIT: Also, I feel like thinking in the direction of Manabarbs or Ankh of Mishra could be interesting. When you're behind you don't play a lot of stuff, so you take less damage. When you're ahead you tap less lands for more stuff. If there are any battlecruisers in your meta they might really hurt from this card, however if they're more reliant on artifacts it might not work out. But then you could just play Vandalblast.
Have you ever considered running Heartless Summoning in order to get your creatures into play more easily? Not only it makes your creatures easier to cast without Rakdos, but it also reduces his commander tax. However, the -1/-1 kills Shepherd of Rot, Nettle Drone, Stronghold Rats, Disciple of Bolas, Pilgrim's Eye and Fleshbag Marauder which feels bad. Maybe some adjustments could be made?
If you mentioned a discard theme earlier, you might be interested in the new Angrath, the Flame-Chained. Both asymmetrical discard and enabling Rakdos for a ton.
Liliana, Death's Majesty is also underrated in my opinion, strictly better than the classic Rise from the Grave.
I think I would take out Ulamog's Crusher for the Hellkite. The difference is 2 less for a 6/6 instead of an 8/8, but with evasion and firebreathing. The Annihilator, which triggers when attacking but lets the player choose what to sac, is replaced with a post-combat-damage effect, with a possibly different number of targets - and you choosing what to kill, even if you do pay mana for it. Also, not being forced to attack each turn might be nice.
I think I'd remove the Herald of Anguish for Underworld Cerberus anyway. It's bigger, its evasion is actually still respectable, it has a much more taxing effect that's static and doesn't have to wait for your EOT. When it dies, it gives everyone all their creatures back - that could be either good or bad, but I think it's definitely better than the Herald.
Speaking of slow cards, what's Graveborn Muse doing for you? Seems woefully underwhelming in my opinion, and a perfect candidate for slotting in Pox. Instead of trying to catch up with grindy blue decks, just take away everything they've got!
Are you still playing this deck? It would be a shame if you took it apart.
Several recommendations:
Is it enough for Herald of Anguish to make your opponents discard at your end step? After all that's the most you'll get out of him, and now that you're getting rid of the discard theme it loses significance. I feel like if you're already spending all the time and resources to reduce the cost of stuff - you might as well get bang for your buck.
For example, Steel Hellkite is definitely not amazing, but it's removal for anything in colors that lack ways to deal with enchantments, and also very good against token swarms - which can easily become a weak spot for you.
Pox is an old card, yet seems possibly very strong in your deck. It's an enabler for Rakdos to enter the battlefield, chunks your opponents for a ton of life, and forces them to get rid of a bunch of cards on the field and in their hand. It's like the Dire Fleet Ravager you just tested, but is always cheap and gets rid of much more cards for your opponents. Keep in mind your round up each time, so everyone has to get rid of something.
I have an Ur-Dragon deck in my meta, and it's reminded me how useful Bogardan Hellkite is. I think it would be awesome in your deck.
I also don't get replacing a 3/2 menace that draws you cards or burns your opponent with a 1/2 menace specter... Not good enough.
In my opinion your best cuts are Ulamog's Crusher and Graveborn Muse. Otherwise I'd recommend Archfiend of Depravity, Tree of Perdition, Myojin of Night's Reach (Triple colored), Tectonic Instability.
As a Karador player, I can advise you to never rely on overextending into the graveyard. If your play your hand so that you absolutely have to get Phyrexian Delver into play next turn, and an opponent Bojuka Bogs you, you're in for a bad time.
But yes, utilizing the graveyard as a Plan B is almost always a good idea.
My two cents:
If I were to play this Rakdos deck in my EDH meta, it would get obliterated because Rakdos would die so quickly, followed by the damage or lifeloss outlet. I do, however, think it can be changed to fit more dire circumstances.
If you're short and to the point, here's suggestions relevant for everything:
I hope this giant wall of text helps you somehow! I'm curious to see how it goes