I've been thinking more and more about Hammer of Purphoros in Mainly-Green devotion. I know I can't be the only one here thinking about it.
The double-red mana cost doesn't seem too difficult with 10 red sources (in my list) and I think it might make the deck a lot more promising, both in early game and late game. In early game, we can put out more threats faster if our mana dorks can tap when they come in, and in late game swinging with Sylvan Primordial, Ruric Thar, Arbor Colossus, and Polukranos as they drop seems nice.
I don't know that the Hammer's second ability will be incredibly useful, but there may be times where it can be utilized, such as against control.
I've been trying Hammer since the beginning in various Gruul/Jund builds as I love the idea of the card and think it's supposed to remind us of Fires of Yavimaya - at least those of us who've been around a while. As a 2-of, you're more likely to have one when you want it, but multiple copies in hand are dead unlike Fires. The activated ability is perfect when a game is getting grindy and can spare lands because of help fromNykthos, Shrine to Nyx. Cards that I think are easy to shave a copy to make room for a singleton Hammer in typical builds are:
Domri Rade or Boon Satyr - same converted mana cost, can be bad in multiples, passive ability giving haste is comparable to flash or Domri emblem, each represents harder to remove threats (or threat replacement at least)
I stopped trying to fit Hammer of Purphoros into GR deck is because of the RR. Casting it not a problem, but when you cast it. It will always reminded us of the Fires of Yavimaya, but dropping Fires on turn 2 is possible, and even not on turn 2, as long it is dropped before Saproling Burst, is a killer.
Hammer on the other hand, is a killer if dropped on turn 2, which is possible but hardly from Stomping Ground-Elvish Mystic-Mountain or Forest-Elvish Mystic-Burning-Tree Emissary-Mountain. If on turn 3, it will compete with Polukranos or if you decided to drop Hammer on turn 3 followed by Polukranos later, it will not be as aggressive as Blastoderm as it can be targeted. So you will end up 4 turns of not being able to hit.
However, I still think the idea is great. It may not be a no.1 key card, but if you're able to pull off the tactic in certain MU, especially mirror, you will be smiling while the opponent having headache. In your case, I'd shave out Domri Rade. It seems turn 3 Hammer would be much lethal.
I'd try it as a 1-of first, probably cut a Polukranos and see how it goes. I really like this card as a 1-of for long, grindy games.
Wrong!!!
Any thought of removing 1 or more Polukranos from this deck is simply wrong. Polukranos does so much work in this deck that dropping below 4 is wrong. There are other creatures that can be removed from this deck to accommodate Hammer of Purphoros.
I tried a couple of FNMs with Hammer of Purphoros in the main and it was sub-optimal against most of the field. If you want to fit Hammer of Purphoros into the 75 list then put 2 in the sideboard for the Esper match up or maybe even the UW control match up.
Against the aggro decks you are going to side them out to put either removal or life gain in. Against other mid-range decks Xenagos is better in my opinion in combination of your deck having bigger and better creatures.
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I've been thinking more and more about Hammer of Purphoros in Mainly-Green devotion. I know I can't be the only one here thinking about it.
The double-red mana cost doesn't seem too difficult with 10 red sources (in my list) and I think it might make the deck a lot more promising, both in early game and late game. In early game, we can put out more threats faster if our mana dorks can tap when they come in, and in late game swinging with Sylvan Primordial, Ruric Thar, Arbor Colossus, and Polukranos as they drop seems nice.
I don't know that the Hammer's second ability will be incredibly useful, but there may be times where it can be utilized, such as against control.
Here is my current list:
4 Elvish Mystic
3 Sylvan Caryatid
3 Voyaging Satyr
4 Burning-Tree Emissary
2 Nylea, God of the Hunt
4 Polukranos, World Eater
3 Arbor Colossus
1 Ruric Thar, the Unbowed
2 Sylvan Primordial
1 Clan Defiance
Planeswalkers:
2 Domri Rade
2 Xenagos, the Reveler
4 Garruk, Caller of Beasts
4 Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
4 Stomping Ground
4 Temple of Abandon
9 Forest
2 Mountain
4 Mistcutter Hydra
3 Scavenging Ooze
3 Nylea's Disciple
1 Ruric Thar, the Unbowed
2 Mizzium Mortars
2 Burning Earth
If I added 2 Hammer, I was thinking of cutting 1 Polukranos and 1 Xenagos (or maybe moving Xenagos to the SB and cutting a scavenging ooze)
What do you all think?
Domri Rade or Boon Satyr - same converted mana cost, can be bad in multiples, passive ability giving haste is comparable to flash or Domri emblem, each represents harder to remove threats (or threat replacement at least)
Polukranos, World Eater - is legendary
However, you do have a lot of 5/6/7/x. drops in your version - so you might want to trim and lower your curve a little instead
Hammer on the other hand, is a killer if dropped on turn 2, which is possible but hardly from Stomping Ground-Elvish Mystic-Mountain or Forest-Elvish Mystic-Burning-Tree Emissary-Mountain. If on turn 3, it will compete with Polukranos or if you decided to drop Hammer on turn 3 followed by Polukranos later, it will not be as aggressive as Blastoderm as it can be targeted. So you will end up 4 turns of not being able to hit.
However, I still think the idea is great. It may not be a no.1 key card, but if you're able to pull off the tactic in certain MU, especially mirror, you will be smiling while the opponent having headache. In your case, I'd shave out Domri Rade. It seems turn 3 Hammer would be much lethal.
Modern : RG Titan Shift RG | RG Revolt Zoo RG | RG Ponza RG | RGW Naya Burn RGW
Legacy : RG Belcher RG
Wrong!!!
Any thought of removing 1 or more Polukranos from this deck is simply wrong. Polukranos does so much work in this deck that dropping below 4 is wrong. There are other creatures that can be removed from this deck to accommodate Hammer of Purphoros.
I tried a couple of FNMs with Hammer of Purphoros in the main and it was sub-optimal against most of the field. If you want to fit Hammer of Purphoros into the 75 list then put 2 in the sideboard for the Esper match up or maybe even the UW control match up.
Against the aggro decks you are going to side them out to put either removal or life gain in. Against other mid-range decks Xenagos is better in my opinion in combination of your deck having bigger and better creatures.