Toralf, God of Fury // Toralf's Hammer MTG Card

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Toralf, God of Fury comes equipped with a backend named Toralf’s Hammer that can return to your hand. This allows players to repeatedly use the hammer to deal damage and create card advantage on the board by effectively dealing with opponents’ creatures.

Resource Acceleration: While Toralf himself doesn’t directly accelerate resources, the flexibility of Toralf’s Hammer can help in dealing extra damage that translates to an indirect form of resource advantage, clearing the way for you to press the attack or defend more efficiently.

Instant Speed: Toralf’s strength isn’t linked to instant speed interactions. However, the threat of activating the Hammer’s ability can alter the pace of the game, forcing opponents to play around potential instant speed tricks that can emanate from having open mana with Toralf on the board.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Toralf, God of Fury necessitates a sizeable board presence to maximize its value, which can be a setback when facing removal-heavy decks or in games with slower starts.

Specific Mana Cost: Requiring a double red mana cost within its four total mana, this card commits heavily to red mana sources, which can challenge deck building by necessitating a firm red mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The necessary investment of four mana positions Toralf in a competitive slot on your mana curve, potentially conflicting with other impactful four-mana plays in red-centric decks.

Reasons to Include Toralf, God of Fury in Your Collection

Versatility: Toralf, God of Fury serves a dual role as both a formidable creature and an impactful enchantment thanks to its modal double-faced card nature. It easily integrates into decks that capitalize on damage amplification or require a robust finisher.

Combo Potential: This card shines when combined with spells and abilities that deal noncombat damage, exemplifying its potential by turning any excess damage into a tool for controlling the board or directly targeting opponents.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where dealing with creatures efficiently is key, Toralf’s ability to redistribute leftover damage gives it a unique position in red-based decks, serving as an advantage against decks packed with small to mid-sized creatures.

How to beat

Toralf, God of Fury is a card that demands respect on the battlefield in MTG. With the ability to slam down powerful hammer strikes when noncombat damage is dealt, Toralf can quickly escalate the damage output. To counteract this card, players must think strategically. Playing instant speed removal like Path to Exile or Fatal Push before Toralf’s damage trigger can resolve, effectively neutralizes this threat. Utilizing counter spells can also be a critical move for those running blue control decks. Another viable strategy involves preemptively controlling the board, limiting the number of creatures and sources of noncombat damage that could amplify Toralf’s impact.

Engaging Toralf in combat is another method to mitigate its influence. As a creature without inherent protection or evasion, creature-based strategies that can outsize Toralf or offer deathtouch present a favorable matchup. Moreover, preventing Toralf from entering play through discard effects or hand disruption can curb the threat before it begins. It’s also important to manage your own life total and board state, remaining above a critical threshold where Toralf’s damage becomes lethal. Careful planning and proactive control are key in turning the tides against a card with such a formidable presence in the game.