Hammer of Ruin MTG Card

Hammer of Ruin offers combat-induced equipment destruction, granting measured card advantage to the player. The artifact demands specific mana and discarding, testing strategic foresight and resource balance. Despite alternatives like Bonesplitter, its unique destruction ability can significantly influence matches.

Worldwake (WWK)
2010-02-05 - Number 124

Jumpstart 2022 (J22)
2022-12-02 - Number 771

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Artifact — Equipment
Abilities	Equip

Text of card

Equipped creature gets +2/+0. Whenever equipped creature deals combat damage to a player, you may destroy target Equipment that player controls. Equip

By hammer forged, and by hammer undone.

Cards like Hammer of Ruin

The Hammer of Ruin stands out in the realm of equipment artifacts within Magic: The Gathering. When delving into comparisons with other cards, Bonesplitter quickly comes to mind due to its straightforward power boost to creatures. Hammer of Ruin grants a power improvement, though it comes with the additional effect of potentially destroying an opponent’s equipment, tipping the scales during gameplay.

Trusty Machete is another comparable piece of the arsenal, offering both a power and toughness boost to a creature. While it doesn’t offer the equipment destruction ability, it compensates with a cost-effective bonus to the creature’s overall resilience. Ensorcelled Armor, albeit not as commonly used, shares the equipment theme but tailors its buff according to the amount of enchantments present, a very different dynamic compared to the consistent benefits provided by Hammer of Ruin.

Examining the utility and impact of these artifacts in your deck, Hammer of Ruin presents a strategic advantage in the right circumstances. While other equipment options might improve creature statistics more efficiently, the added value of dismantling an opponent’s gear can provide a crucial edge in battle.

Cards similar to Hammer of Ruin by color, type and mana cost

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Card Pros

Card Advantage: Hammer of Ruin equips your creatures to make them more formidable in battle, thereby potentially garnering an advantage in combat scenarios. Each time the equipped creature deals combat damage to a player, you may destroy target equipment that player controls, indirectly providing card advantage by removing your opponent’s resources.

Resource Acceleration: Although not a direct source of resource acceleration, utilizing Hammer of Ruin efficiently can speed up your victory. By crippling your opponent’s equipment setup, it can shift the tide of the game in your favor, making their path to recovering resources much more difficult.

Instant Speed: Although Hammer of Ruin itself does not operate at instant speed, it permits strategies that involve instant-speed actions. For instance, with Hammer of Ruin attached to a creature, you can utilize cards that allow you to engage in combat or deal damage on your opponent’s turn, activating Hammer’s equipment destruction ability when your opponent least expects it.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: A key drawback of the Hammer of Ruin card is if strategy hinges on maintaining a full hand, as a discard is required to keep this artifact weapon swinging in your favor. This can be problematic when you’re in a tight spot and need all available cards to respond to an opponent’s threats.

Specific Mana Cost: The Hammer of Ruin comes with an equipment cost that demands a specific mana setup, which can sometimes cut against the grain of more flexible mana bases. Ensuring that you have the right color mana available at the right time can be a challenge, especially in multi-colored decks where consistency is key.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When considering the total mana investment for the Hammer of Ruin, from casting to equipping, players may find it steep compared to other options. This can slow down your game plan, as you potentially forego deploying other spells or abilities in the same turn. Always weigh it against other available cards in your collection that might fulfill a similar role at a lower cost or with additional benefits.

Reasons to Include Hammer of Ruin in Your Collection

Versatility: Hammer of Ruin is a card that can seamlessly integrate into various artifact or equipment-focused decks. Its ability to equip to any creature means it can be utilized in numerous board scenarios to destroy your opponent’s key permanents.

Combo Potential: The equipment can serve as a crucial component in a deck built around voltron strategies or any setup aiming to capitalize on repeated destruction of your opponents’ equipments or enchantments. Its synergistic interactions can be game-changing when combined with creatures that have triggered abilities upon dealing combat damage.

Meta-Relevance: With the prevalence of decks that rely on enchantments or equipments for their win conditions, Hammer of Ruin holds a significant place in disrupting those strategies. It can be particularly effective in a meta where keeping your opponents off-balance and their resources scarce is vital to securing victory.

How to beat

The Hammer of Ruin can be a formidable equipment in Magic: The Gathering, posing challenges for opponents relying heavily on artifact and equipment strategies. To circumvent its potential destructive abilities, it’s crucial to disrupt the synergy before it snowballs. Counterplay can involve preemptive measures such as artifact removal spells, which are indispensable when facing decks that harness the power of equipment like the Hammer of Ruin.

Alternatives such as Naturalize or Disenchant are excellent choices, enabling players to target and destroy key pieces like the Hammer of Ruin directly. Keeping such cards in hand for crucial moments can significantly mitigate the Hammer’s impact. Moreover, cards that prevent opponents from equipping their creatures or nullify equipment bonuses can also be a viable strategy. These cards can take the form of removal spells, bounce spells, or even better, countermagic that prevents the Hammer of Ruin from entering the battlefield in the first place.

In essence, cutting off the advantage provided by the Hammer of Ruin and similar equipment-centric strategies can ensure a leveled playing field. Employing a combination of removal, control, and strategic countermeasures will help maintain control over the game and emerge victorious against artifact-heavy decks.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Hammer of Ruin MTG card by a specific set like Worldwake and Jumpstart 2022, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Hammer of Ruin and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Hammer of Ruin Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2010-02-05 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by Vincent Proce.

#	Released	Name	Code	Symbol	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2010-02-05	Worldwake	WWK		124	2003	Normal	Black	Vincent Proce
2	2022-12-02	Jumpstart 2022	J22		771	2015	Normal	Black	Vincent Proce

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Hammer of Ruin has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal