Fall of the Hammer - better fight mechanic?
Spoilers, Rumors, and Speculation forum
Posted on Jan. 22, 2014, 8:11 p.m. by acbooster
Fall of the Hammer
1R
Instant - Common
Target creature you control deals damage equal to its power to another target creature.
Seems to me that red just got a no drawback fight mechanic. Seems pretty useful in limited, might just MIGHT see constructed play, not sure. Thoughts?
Hm, you're right. Looks like red has a way to make their opponent seriously think about paying tribute costs!
January 22, 2014 8:19 p.m.
"no drawback" expect the 2-for-1 removal in response to the cast. It's better, but it just means you get blown out by 1/2 as few cards since fight gets upset by pump and removal.
It will be fine enough for limited, but seeing as it doesn't hit players and combined with the other inherent drawbacks of needing a sufficiently sized creature I can't see it getting much play in constructed over Magma Jet , Lightning Strike and Mizzium Mortars all at the same casting cost.
January 22, 2014 8:31 p.m.
Ohthenoises says... #6
Slycne it would be a good tool for Big Red if it ever surfaced.
January 22, 2014 8:33 p.m.
Ohthenoises Maybe, but Big Reds current payout is Stormbreath Dragon , which doesn't start any bigger than Mizzium Mortars . If they are in need of a bigger removal spell they would probably jump to Fated Conflagration .
The one area I could see it being useful is if you find a way to abuse the wording. Since it's the creature itself that's dealing the damage, abilities like lifelink and deathtouch are still being applied.
January 22, 2014 8:46 p.m.
Ohthenoises says... #8
Fair enough. I was considering building a Big Red when I saw Flame-Wreathed Phoenix but I don't think there's enough tools.
January 22, 2014 8:48 p.m.
It also is a good tool for Gruul decks. Lots of big fatties that you can fight with. Monstrous Polukranos, kill one guy, fight their other creature, and clear the board. It may not have the hybrid symbol that Pit Fight has but it does have the advantage of your creature taking no damage.
January 22, 2014 9:46 p.m.
To be honest I'd prefer to have my mana flexibility slightly restricted over having my creature potentially die.
January 22, 2014 9:54 p.m.
Ohthenoises says... #11
I can't point out how many people have gone "monstrous to yours dealing his power in damage to it" and I have to correct them that he only deals X then they have to follow that up with Domri Rade 's -2 to kill what they wanted to. So sad.
January 22, 2014 9:54 p.m.
Rasta_Viking29 says... #12
This is a worse Blood for Gruul decks in constructed. Good for limited though.
January 22, 2014 10:19 p.m.
Keep in mind that this is an instant, and can squeeze out some more use from your creature before that Doom Blade resolves.
Avernar says... #2
Interesting, because now Red has Pit Fight AND this. Yay.
January 22, 2014 8:13 p.m.