Lol drawback? Not really. Now this is insane. Which is Rakdos.
.Blaze.
★★☆☆☆ (2.1/5.0)(4 votes)
This is a few hundred times better than the first Rakdos. I can finally see why so many would want to follow him.
CammyWhite
★★★★☆ (4.3/5.0)(25 votes)
Doesn't require you to play Demon lands
5/5
Haliax
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(2 votes)
The casting cost seems like more of a downside than the damage requirement. With the return of the shocklands, I'm not convinced that even that is a factor. I'll be playing him in standard and as my commander.
SyntheticDreamer
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(1 vote)
With shocklands and Blood Artist in the picture, that casting drawback may not be much of a factor.
Cyberium
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(2 votes)
Needless to say, artifact creatures would benefit a lot from Rakdos, Myr Superion only require 2 life loss.
Superllama12
★★★★☆ (4.2/5.0)(8 votes)
He heard everyone wanted Malfegor for Rakdos guild leader, so he's back with a vengeance
Paincast! And far better than his previous iteration. Works nicely with Bloodthirst too!
endgame13
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.8/5.0)(3 votes)
Reads... Reads a second time... Reads a third time... Mind blows up from trying to comprehend the absurdity of this card. I don't see any possible downside, period. The only thing that could make this worse was if firebolt was still in standard. My mind is currently broken.
General_Naga
★★★☆☆ (3.8/5.0)(6 votes)
Still has a 5/5 after 31 votes, but only because nobody can figure out how to give him more than that. Excellent design.
RowanKeltizar
★★★★☆ (4.2/5.0)(4 votes)
It's teetering on the edge of being broken really. I mean, who needs ramp with this monstrosity as your Commander? Global burn cards like Pyrohemia would be auto-includes in multiplayer. Looking forward to some epic games with this guy.
LordofLiege
★★★★☆ (4.4/5.0)(5 votes)
Guess people won't be sacrificing my vexing devils. oh Rakdos yours is the guild for me
Lotsofpoopy
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(5 votes)
Pros like me are amazed at how good this card is. He can quite possibly be the best guild leader in the set.
No, seriously, he would be amazing! I run Heartless Summoning in there to lower the cost of my fatties in case Kaalia gets tucked away. Rakdos here would lower the cost of all the fatties after one swing without shrinking them. Plus, with Kaalia attacking, the drawback is no drawback at all. He is so ridiculously good!
LordRandomness
★★★★☆ (4.3/5.0)(3 votes)
Don't forget: In a 4-player game, 5 points of damage to each player allows you to cast this and then Emrakul for free! In general, I can actually see using Rakdos to drop out big Eldrazi in multiplayer off spells like Flame Rift being a highly amusing strategy. Even without Eldrazi, there are plenty of nice low-to-middling cost artifact creatures (Wurmcoil Engine comes to mind) that you can just spam out as you put down Rakdos. If you're going multiplayer, some way to get flash would be really nice (so you can throw your creatures down as players damage each other)
Totema
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(7 votes)
Are you tired of slow, bulky and ineffective creatures that cost too much to cast and do too little to win you the game? THOSE DAYS ARE OVER with the new Oxi-Rakdos! Now you can pay 4 mana for a 6/6 flying trampler and a mostly-irrelevant drawback! Watch, as I tap Racecourse Fury to give him haste and SMACK the ground-in dirt and stains RIGHT OFF my opponent's face! BUT WAIT THERE'S MORE! We've got a whole lineup of creatures you can cast for cheap due to this cost-reduction ability! He practically pays for himself, and he was cheap to begin with! Order now!
rollinsclone
★★★☆☆ (3.9/5.0)(4 votes)
"You can't cast Rakdos, Lord of Riots unless an opponent lost life this turn." Yes, because that is a problem in BR. Way to go on the 'drawback.'
Amazing card, will see lots and lots of play in a lot of decks, probably even in some of the eternal formats.
Magic2012DOOMcoreSET
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.8/5.0)(2 votes)
Obligatory Balrog comment here.
ravenclaw567
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(2 votes)
turn 3, play Lobber Crew turn 4, tap Lobber Crew and play this
wege
★★☆☆☆ (2.5/5.0)(3 votes)
With him and Mycosynth Lattice your edh deck becomes quite an unpleasant thing. >.>
BTW did anyone noticed that he is 6/6 flying and trample for 4 mana ? :/
Awesome card! Pure 5/5!
EternalPhi
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(1 vote)
Can you say Warstorm Surge? In EDH, playing this with Surge out gives you 6 damage to smack someone with, making your creatures cost 6 less, so you can play a 9 or 10 cost creature (or a few smaller ones) for that much more damage, then top it off with an Eldrazi titan for another 10+ dmg, and hey maybe some more big colorless dudes. Silly.
Ferlord
★★☆☆☆ (2.5/5.0)(5 votes)
He's probably the closest thing to Animar in terms of cheapening creature costs in EDH. Augustin doesn't really count, because he can't make Wurmcoil Engine free.
Anyway, just so you all know, Rakdos turns Curse of the Pierced Heart from "1 damage to opponent" to "1 damage, and your creatures cost less".
Will that see standard play? Probably not, but that's not going to stop me from trying.
This would already be a very powerful card without the last ability, but with that additional creature reduction, things will really get ugly.
This is a 6/6 flying trampler for four mana, you are almost sure to hit your opponent with him the next turn - and then you can just go ahead and cast another fattie with a ridiculously reduced cost.
sarroth
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
Who is giving this less than a 5/5? If this isn't a 5/5, I don't know what is. It exactly embodies what Red and Black want to do - smash face with creatures attacking and direct damage spells - and even rewards you tremendously for it. Even if you don't plan around him by adding in Pestilence and creatures like colorless eldrazi, colorless artifacts like Steel Hellkite, or X cost creatures like Maga, Traitor to Mortals, you are still able to cast creatures for up to half their cost with his final ability - just look at all those grey circles in the costs of cards like Mana-Charged Dragon, Rune-Scarred Demon, and Kaervek, the Merciless. And he's a 6/6 with flying a trample, barely a 4-turn clock in Commander. Just a perfect card. Also, I'd love to see a comparison betwen Green ramp decks and decks built with this guy in mind in who can get more spells off at a faster rate.
Lord_of_Tresserhorn
★★★☆☆ (3.9/5.0)(17 votes)
Yesterday at the table next to me: Rakdos vs. Rakdos.
Turn 4. Dude attacks with Dead Reveler. Girl has no blockers, suffers damage. Dude lays down... Rakdos.
All around the game: "WHOA!!!" Girl looks at Rakdos: "Well, he' pretty strong..." Dreadbores Rakdos.
Everyone: LULZ. Guy player looks like his heart was ripped out.
Man, that should be illegal. Killing Rakdos with his own guild's supreme removal spell.
RAV0004
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(4 votes)
RIOTS FOR THE RIOT GOD
MightySqueeth
★★☆☆☆ (2.5/5.0)(1 vote)
I guess Rakdos lives somewhere in London
Edit: Also if anyone like me is wondering what some of the easiest ways to get around his ever to minor drawback are then here are a few suggestions: Mogg Fanatic: sacrifice before you cast him Seal of Fire: Same story Keldon Marauders: This leaves play on turn 4 (assuming you cast it turn 2) doing 1 damage allowing you to cast Rakdos Staggershock: If cast on turn 3 it rebounds on turn 4 doing damage allowing you to cast Rakdos. You can also of course just attack and not worry about being fancy.
Just some ideas. Sorry about the lack of auto-card I'm a bit herp derp
MANABURNWASGOOD
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(2 votes)
must get one
RagingGoblinGrenade
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(1 vote)
Dear Wizards, I love you.
Radagast
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(1 vote)
It shouldn't be too hard to get this guy out, but I like the off-the-wall limitations on him. Gives people something to think about, at least a bit.
Lord_of_Gelectrodes
★★☆☆☆ (2.2/5.0)(3 votes)
This card is- *puts on taped together prescr iption glasses ALL-RIOT! YEEEAAAAAAAAAHHH!!!
design-wise, both art and functionality, I give him a 10 out of 5, but his name doesn't sound nearly as cool as Rakdos the Defiler
PrOgentius
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(1 vote)
how awesome would it be to have an entire guild named after you?
DarthParallax
★★☆☆☆ (2.2/5.0)(4 votes)
I think this would have been a more fun and interesting card if you couldn't cast it unless YOU'D lost life this turn. Feels masochistic, and thus more Rakdos-y :P Oh, well.
pedrodyl
★☆☆☆☆ (1.2/5.0)(2 votes)
Card of the Day: December 10th, 2012 When I first saw this card I thought "Holy crap, holy crap holy crap." Then afterwards, I realized the drawback kind of does balance this guy out, at least compared to other stuff like Geist of Saint Traft. The only qualms I have with this card now are its art. Where is Rakdos' head? What is going on in the art? Where are those flames coming from? Could be improved imo.
In this episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000...
steinburger1109
★★★★☆ (4.4/5.0)(6 votes)
Makes me wish Wurmcoil Engine was still standard... This guy hits, you get a free Engine! Sure, it's a bit of a win-more combo, but still pretty fun.
Coralus
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Seems like Rakdos and Eldrazi are great friends.
Bobth
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
Should have some kind of a drawback. Not being able to cast it until you lost life (as suggested by DarthParallax) would work... demons without drawbacks are just blah new age power creep great.
I also don't like this card because it doesn't work well with colored symbols, and those are often the coolest cards to me. Giving this a 2/5. Abyssal Persecutor is just infinitely better done, and I would say Phyrexian Obliterator was too, even though that card was bashed for power creep. I guess people don't care any more?
mpitcock
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This is the first mythic I opened in a pack. He will always hold a special place in my heart. Nice "drawback" in RB, you'll pretty much always deal damage and cast him turn 4. Turn 5 will hurt for your opponent and bring a good deal of creatures.
blackaggro
★★☆☆☆ (2.5/5.0)(2 votes)
Imagine him and Abyssal Persecutor having a dual. Would be a true clash of titans.
Turn one: swamp , tap-> Sol Ring, tap -> Rakdos signet. Turn two: Mountain, tap mountain, swamp, Sol Ring, signet, caste Desperate Ritual, cast Gut Shot for two life -> Rakdos, Lord of Riots + kicked Goblin Bushwhacker, swing for nine at empty opponent, drop Wurmcoil Engine for free.
Hellbent by turn 2 in true Rakdos style.
BobbertZhubert
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I want to make an artifact/burn deck with this thing...
Smoke_Stack
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(1 vote)
So freakin' good! Even if it was just a 6/6 for 4 with the drawback it would be OP.
Dakrum
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Forever my commander.
BobbySinclair
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This guy works really well in EDH as my general, and very much so if you have dealt damage and have a couple of Eldrazi in your hand - it's much easier to have other creatures deal the damage first instead of just attacking with Rakdos. Attack with a couple of critters, cast Rakdos, then you drop down your big cards.
A fun, swingy commander to build around. He's more challenging to build around than you might think (adding to the fun, IMO). Colored mana is still an issue, so you have to think carefully about the creatures you include. The bigger issue though is that an opponent can see him coming, neutralize him and leave you high and dry with big uncastable guys in your hand. Not only do you need to balance the big creatures in your deck with Rakdos-enablers to do damage or get the right mana, you need to have some ways to make sure the coast is clear to cast him. This is easier than lining up protection for him (although do that, too). My choice is cheap, targeted discard that allows me to see the opponent's hand (I do play mostly 1-on-1 Commander, so YMMV)—there are several cards like this in color. Great design in this card, in that his obvious power level is tempered in practice, but a good player can still make him work.
Favorite guild leader; an absolute house for it's CMC. yeah, and nice "drawback." dealing damage in B/R is difficult, right? 5/5
GhostCounselor
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
If you want to be cheap, whack people with Tormented Soul just to get Rakdos out. Then save your burn spells for later when you really want things to get crazy.
Xinsden
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(3 votes)
oh, god... Rakdos, is basically a big middle-finger to your opponent... A four drop 6/6 that comes in AFTER DAMAGE.
The reason I comment here is because that last one is from the future. It's in Dragon's Maze, and belongs to our dear friend Rakdos here. And it is Stupid with Kaalia of the Vast. Absolutely Retarded.
Goatllama
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Everybody's gonna be burnin' in the streets~ - Rakdos hums as he reaps
001010011100101110
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Whenever I hear of riots in the news I imagine this guy is towering among the crowds holding a flaming scythes... is that wrong?
TexasDice
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Hmm... Would it be too powerful, if the drawback was "You can't cast Rakdos, Lord of Riots unless a player lost life this turn."?
@RJDroid: You put the demon/dragon/angel down with Kaalia before she hits, meaning that you have to have a way to damage your opponents before your combat step to play this guy with her. Unless you already have a ton of cards which do that (which is unlikely, I doubt most Kaalia EDH decks carry many) its not really a great addition-especially because you can cheat out your fatties anyway.
RunedServitor
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I go to most of the Sealed prerelease tournaments, but I've had to sit the last few out after discovering that I'm Rakdos intolerant. Seriously - as soon as I see the guild symbol, I start to swell up.
Drawback? What Drawback? As far as I'm concerned, it reminds you there's a second main phase if you get unlucky with drawing burn cards.
Cynderias
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@ Firemindburn - Yes. Rakdos's ability to lower creature costs for each one life lost is activated as soon as he hits the field, so your Stormbreath Dragon could be cast following Rakdos for .
Speaking of Rakdos, I really like this guy. He is effectively a 6/6 beatstick for 4 with a minor drawback, and like many have said, the worst case scenario for casting him turn 4 is attacking with whatever creatures you have (course, Gut Shot is one of the best things to use getting him out turn 4). Once he does hit the field, however, THAT is when it gets really fun. This guy is one of the main reasons I love playing
I use Tormented Soul or Goblin Fireslinger to get the damage in, and with a Guttersnipe out, any red instant or sorcery (e.g. Sizzle) allow for massive colourless creatures to be cast. Casual multiplayer awesomeness.
Manite
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This time, he at least got close to supporting his guild's mechanic (Malfegor showed him up last time), but at the last minute they up and changed from Paincast to Unleash.
I find it weird that Desecration Demon is so popular in Standard while Rakdos is ignored. Rakdos's drawback is almost negligible and he has amazing upsides-- imagine trampling over for three and casting two Fanatics of Mogis and a Gray Merchant of Asphodel on turn five. After missing a land drop.
I think the biggest reason the other 6/6 flyer for 4 is more popular is versatility. Desecration Demon is happy in any deck with lots of swamps, but Rakdos needs every land in your deck to produce red or black mana. All the best decks from Return to Ravnica were three color, all the best decks from Theros are mono-colored. Rakdos also requires burn spells or aggressive creatures, while the Demon can be used in a slow controlling deck with lots of removal or a fast aggressive deck.
toolfan89
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@JimmyNoobPlayer- I'm striclty a casual player, but my R/B aggro makes very good use of both of these scary dudes, and the good ol' L-Bolt is the only thing in it non- standard and it tends to eat tourney decks for breakfast. As for the card himself, he might be my favorite card out of the RtR block for his art alone, not to mention its framed in a tremendously efficient 6/6 flample for 4cmc.
infernox10
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Rakdos, Lord of Riots Instead of the leader of the Guild of Terrible Puns getting punny flavor text, He gets it right into his name. Goddamn it Wizards, you're such a RIOT. ¬_¬
Phoenixreborn9
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
2 words- F***ING AWESOME! unless it gets murdered.
Awww, it isn't your turn yet? Awww, you have ONE life? Awww, you can't block my Emrakul...because he annihilated all yer stuff, ever since he went sideways...on my EXTRA turn? Man, somebody get this guy a Sharpened Pitchfork, he's about to scoop.
I've mentioned 2 demons and an angel so far in this comment, hmmmm...Kaalia of the Vast EDH, much?
Akakj7
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Best edh genral ever
MasterOfTheVault
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
My personal favorite guild leader, He comes in, And wreaks face. I have him as my EDH general, The deck is built around mana cost six and up creatures, Swing with rakdos, Get cheap fatties!
T-Thuggish
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Annihilator's best friend...
mrchuckmorris
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Gets utterly nuts with Warstorm Surge and a handful of eldrazi and artifact creatures. It's like a chain of B/R creature-omniscience. Very fun general in EDH.
EDIT: Standard can get nasty, too... with ONLY him, 5 lands, and Mogis, God of Slaughter on the field, you could drop a Mogis's Marauder, swing for 15 intimidate, and then drop a Gray Merchant of Asphodel for the final 5 damage... which may not even be necessary, since you had to damage your opponent before casting Rakdos in the first place. Ouch.
car2n
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
THIS GUY THROWS THE BEST PARTIES!!!
Continue
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
ヽ༼ຈل͜ຈ༽ﾉ RIOT ヽ༼ຈل͜ຈ༽ﾉ
Fightohydra
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Cast Nevermore and name this for some epic LOTR flavor.
Comments (107)
5/5
Reads a second time...
Reads a third time...
Mind blows up from trying to comprehend the absurdity of this card. I don't see any possible downside, period. The only thing that could make this worse was if firebolt was still in standard. My mind is currently broken.
No, seriously, he would be amazing! I run Heartless Summoning in there to lower the cost of my fatties in case Kaalia gets tucked away. Rakdos here would lower the cost of all the fatties after one swing without shrinking them. Plus, with Kaalia attacking, the drawback is no drawback at all. He is so ridiculously good!
Amazing card, will see lots and lots of play in a lot of decks, probably even in some of the eternal formats.
turn 4, tap Lobber Crew and play this
BTW did anyone noticed that he is 6/6 flying and trample for 4 mana ? :/
Awesome card!
Pure 5/5!
Anyway, just so you all know, Rakdos turns Curse of the Pierced Heart from "1 damage to opponent" to "1 damage, and your creatures cost
Will that see standard play? Probably not, but that's not going to stop me from trying.
Also also, if you played Inferno and you're playing 2 opponents, Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre and Kozilek, Butcher of Truth are free.
Just a heads up.
The Defiler was strong, but you had to build the deck with his effects in mind.
The Lord of Riots, any artifact creature and/or high casting cost creature gets better, the more damage you do.
It's positive reinforcement, with pain.
Perfect Rakdos mentality.
but with that additional creature reduction, things will really get ugly.
This is a 6/6 flying trampler for four mana, you are almost sure to hit your opponent with him the next turn -
and then you can just go ahead and cast another fattie with a ridiculously reduced cost.
Turn 4. Dude attacks with Dead Reveler. Girl has no blockers, suffers damage. Dude lays down... Rakdos.
All around the game: "WHOA!!!" Girl looks at Rakdos: "Well, he' pretty strong..." Dreadbores Rakdos.
Everyone: LULZ. Guy player looks like his heart was ripped out.
Man, that should be illegal. Killing Rakdos with his own guild's supreme removal spell.
Edit: Also if anyone like me is wondering what some of the easiest ways to get around his ever to minor drawback are then here are a few suggestions:
Mogg Fanatic: sacrifice before you cast him
Seal of Fire: Same story
Keldon Marauders: This leaves play on turn 4 (assuming you cast it turn 2) doing 1 damage allowing you to cast Rakdos
Staggershock: If cast on turn 3 it rebounds on turn 4 doing damage allowing you to cast Rakdos.
You can also of course just attack and not worry about being fancy.
Just some ideas. Sorry about the lack of auto-card I'm a bit herp derp
I love you.
*puts on taped together prescr iption glasses
ALL-RIOT!
YEEEAAAAAAAAAHHH!!!
Amazing.
turn 4, tap Lobber Crew and play this"
turn 4, arrestdreadboreazouriouscharmgolgoricharm
He almost makes Shivan Gorge considerable. Maybe in EDH.
When I first saw this card I thought "Holy crap, holy crap holy crap."
Then afterwards, I realized the drawback kind of does balance this guy out, at least compared to other stuff like Geist of Saint Traft.
The only qualms I have with this card now are its art. Where is Rakdos' head? What is going on in the art? Where are those flames coming from? Could be improved imo.
I also don't like this card because it doesn't work well with colored symbols, and those are often the coolest cards to me. Giving this a 2/5. Abyssal Persecutor is just infinitely better done, and I would say Phyrexian Obliterator was too, even though that card was bashed for power creep. I guess people don't care any more?
Commander is this guy.
Turn one: swamp , tap-> Sol Ring, tap -> Rakdos signet.
Turn two: Mountain, tap mountain, swamp, Sol Ring, signet, caste Desperate Ritual, cast Gut Shot for two life -> Rakdos, Lord of Riots + kicked Goblin Bushwhacker, swing for nine at empty opponent, drop Wurmcoil Engine for free.
Hellbent by turn 2 in true Rakdos style.
My favourite combo at the moment is Warstorm surge, then you've got Flayer of the hellbound and Cauldron of souls and of course Stalking vengeance with a kicker of Wound reflection. Imagine a perfect turn with Rakdos and dropping down something like Artisan of Kozilek and all these cards in play. Holy. Carp.
5/5
Yeah, Thats him in a nutshell... lolz
4/5 i guess
Bladewing the Risen
Worldgorger Dragon
Akroma, Angel of Wrath
Kokusho, the Evening Star
Angel of Despair
Rakdos the Defiler
Bogardan Hellkite
Malfegor
Baneslayer Angel
Avacyn, Angel of Hope
Gisela, Blade of Goldnight
Aurelia, the Warleader
Master of Cruelties
The reason I comment here is because that last one is from the future. It's in Dragon's Maze, and belongs to our dear friend Rakdos here. And it is Stupid with Kaalia of the Vast. Absolutely Retarded.
- Rakdos hums as he reaps
Hurting yourself would be totally flavorful.
I find more and more uses for that guy every day. He's even color light, allowing you to play this Rakdos even with Basics running the deck.
Turn 3: suspend rift bolt.
Turn 4: 3 damage delt, cast rakdos, cast all 3 mana artifact creatures in your hand for free.
Edit: I forgot it said creature for a moment.
He certainly got a nice facelift compared to the old days.
His effect that reduces mana costs is the big kicker here. Imagine this...
You have Rakdos out. It's a multiplayer game. You just dealt a "mere" 6 damage with just Rakdos. This shouldn't be hard, he's got flying.
Here's where it gets somewhat silly.
You can play:
Erebos, God of the Dead, Purphorous, God of the Forge, Herald of Leshrac, Priest of Urabrask or Priest of Gix for one mana.
But wait, there's more,
You can play Grave Titan, Nirkana Revenant, Avatar of Slaughter, Bogardan Hellkite, Scourge or Kher Ridges, or Kokusho, the Evening Star for two mana.
And finally,
You can play Pit Spawn, Dread, Spirit of the Night, Demon of Death's Gate, or Visara the Dreadful for three mana.
ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?
Speaking of Rakdos, I really like this guy. He is effectively a 6/6 beatstick for 4 with a minor drawback, and like many have said, the worst case scenario for casting him turn 4 is attacking with whatever creatures you have (course, Gut Shot is one of the best things to use getting him out turn 4). Once he does hit the field, however, THAT is when it gets really fun. This guy is one of the main reasons I love playing
Exava, Rakdos Blood Witch: You mad?
Rakdos: DAMMIT, EXAVA!
I think the biggest reason the other 6/6 flyer for 4 is more popular is versatility. Desecration Demon is happy in any deck with lots of swamps, but Rakdos needs every land in your deck to produce red or black mana. All the best decks from Return to Ravnica were three color, all the best decks from Theros are mono-colored. Rakdos also requires burn spells or aggressive creatures, while the Demon can be used in a slow controlling deck with lots of removal or a fast aggressive deck.
As for the card himself, he might be my favorite card out of the RtR block for his art alone, not to mention its framed in a tremendously efficient 6/6 flample for 4cmc.
Instead of the leader of the Guild of Terrible Puns getting punny flavor text,
He gets it right into his name.
Goddamn it Wizards, you're such a RIOT. ¬_¬
Awww, it isn't your turn yet? Awww, you have ONE life? Awww, you can't block my Emrakul...because he annihilated all yer stuff, ever since he went sideways...on my EXTRA turn? Man, somebody get this guy a Sharpened Pitchfork, he's about to scoop.
I've mentioned 2 demons and an angel so far in this comment, hmmmm...Kaalia of the Vast EDH, much?
I have him as my EDH general, The deck is built around mana cost six and up creatures, Swing with rakdos, Get cheap fatties!
EDIT: Standard can get nasty, too... with ONLY him, 5 lands, and Mogis, God of Slaughter on the field, you could drop a Mogis's Marauder, swing for 15 intimidate, and then drop a Gray Merchant of Asphodel for the final 5 damage... which may not even be necessary, since you had to damage your opponent before casting Rakdos in the first place. Ouch.