James Ramsey won the MagicFest Online Season 2, Week 1 Championship on Sunday with Obosh Rakdos Sacrifice.
Creatures (26)
- 2 Judith, the Scourge Diva
- 4 Gutterbones
- 4 Mayhem Devil
- 4 Cauldron Familiar
- 4 Woe Strider
- 4 Serrated Scorpion
- 4 Whisper Squad
Lands (22)
Spells (12)
Sideboard
Ramsey took down the event with a unique take on Obosh Rakdos Sacrifice popularized by Aaron Barich, going with four copies of Heraldic Banner over cards like Midnight Reaper or Act of Treason that often fill out the list. Ramsey defeated Seth Manfield on Temur Reclamation 2-1 in the finals to secure the title.
Rakdos Sacrifice decks have evolved quite a bit since the introduction of companions with the starting lists building around Lurrus of the Dream-Den. Rakdos Sacrifice decks combined for eight copies of the Top 32, though they were divided with five still going with Lurrus and only three focusing on Obosh, the Preypiercer.
Keruga Jeskai Fires took the most slots in the Top 32 with eight, leading Temur Reclamation by one. Yorion decks of different shapes and sizes totaled seven of the Top 32 with four Bant Ramp, one Sultai Ramp, one Four-Color Ramp, and one Azorius Control. The full Top 32 metagame breakdown can be seen below:
| Archetype | Copies |
|---|---|
| Keruga Jeskai Fires | 8 |
| Temur Reclamation | 7 |
| Lurrus Rakdos Sacrifice | 5 |
| Yorion Bant Ramp | 4 |
| Obosh Rakdos Sacrifice | 3 |
| Yorion Sultai Ramp | 1 |
| Yorion Four-Color Ramp | 1 |
| Lurrus Jeskai Cycling | 1 |
| Kaheera Gruul Fires | 1 |
| Yorion Azorius Control | 1 |
Notable standout decks making the Top 8 were Takumi Utsunomiya’s Lurrus Jeskai Cycling and Luca Jakobovits’ Kaheera Gruul Fires. Utsunomiya fell in the semifinals, but the constructed version of the popular Ikoria draft archetype put on quite the show.
Creatures (16)
Lands (20)
Spells (24)
The aggressive deck has twelve solid two-drop creatures or can put Improbable Alliance on the battlefield while taking advantage of the playable one-mana cyclers. Flourishing Fox can get out of control quickly and the deck gets an additional win condition in Zenith Flare.
Jakobovits didn’t make it past the quarterfinals, but the new Gruul take on Fires of Invention opts for Kaheera, the Orphanguard instead of Keruga, the Macrosage.
Creatures (21)
- 3 Thrashing Brontodon
- 4 Arboreal Grazer
- 4 Cavalier of Flame
- 3 Shifting Ceratops
- 3 Questing Beast
- 1 Gemrazer
- 3 Quartzwood Crasher
Planeswalkers (2)
Lands (28)
Spells (9)
This version of Fires plays much more aggressively, even ramping with Arboreal Grazer that can later be mutated with Gemrazer or start attacking thanks to the buff from Kaheera. Caviler of Flames doesn’t go anywhere because of the Elemental creature type and is joined by efficient beaters Questing Beast, Shifting Ceratops, and Quartzwood Crasher. Thrashing Brontodn is in the mix as a solid play on Turn 2 or 3 while also being able to blow up opposing copies of Fires of Invention or Wilderness Reclamation.
View the Top 8 decklists.