Volcanic Hammer MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 15 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityCommon
TypeSorcery

Key Takeaways

  1. Efficient resource usage with a low casting cost, enabling flexibility in your turn’s mana allotment.
  2. Guaranteed two damage impact aids in creature and threat control during your gameplay.
  3. Red spell synergy elevates deck dynamics, especially with prowess creatures or spellcasting benefits.

Text of card

Volcanic Hammer deals 3 damage to any one creature or player.

Cast the weight as though it were a die, to see a rival's fate.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Volcanic Hammer doesn’t directly allow you to draw cards, its direct damage capability can eliminate threats or clear the way for your creatures, effectively keeping more of your cards in play while depleting your opponent’s resources.

Resource Acceleration: Volcanic Hammer requires a modest two mana to cast, one of which is generic, making it a highly efficient use of your resources. This allows you to allocate mana elsewhere, maintaining the pace of your game plan without significant investment.

Instant Speed: Although Volcanic Hammer is a sorcery and can’t be cast at instant speed, its simple and guaranteed two damage deliver immediate impact during your turn, freeing up subsequent turns for other strategic plays.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Volcanic Hammer doesn’t require you to discard a card, it’s worth noting that cards needing a discard can set you back in terms of card advantage, something to consider when deck building.

Specific Mana Cost: Volcanic Hammer requires a specific mana combination, one red and one generic mana, which can be restrictive for non-red or multicolored decks aiming for a smooth mana curve.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Despite its straightforward damage dealing, the card’s cost is somewhat steep for the effect delivered. In many cases, players may find other cards offering similar effects with lower mana requirements or additional benefits.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Volcanic Hammer is a utility player in red decks. Its simple requirement of one red mana plus one colorless makes it easy to include in almost any deck featuring red. It serves as a quick solution to early threats or a direct route to your opponent’s life total.

Combo Potential: This spell isn’t just about dealing damage; it plays well with cards that benefit from casting spells or using instants and sorceries. Think of synergy with prowess creatures or cards that trigger upon casting a red spell.

Meta-Relevance: Volcanic Hammer stays relevant in formats where quick removal can make or break a game. In a meta with critical low-toughness creatures, it can be a game-changer, removing key pieces from the opponent’s strategy and paving the way for victory.


How to beat

Volcanic Hammer is a straightforward yet potent spell in the red mage’s arsenal within Magic: The Gathering. Its simple nature – dealing 3 damage to any target at the cost of two mana (one of which must be red) – makes it a versatile tool capable of removing early threats or even closing out a game. However, players have several strategies to mitigate the impact of this card.

Counterspells are the most direct way to prevent the damage from Volcanic Hammer, with low-cost options like Spell Pierce being ideal in this situation. Protective spells, such as those that grant hexproof or indestructible to your creatures or you, can also effectively nullify the Hammer’s blow. Additionally, instant-speed healing spells can offset the damage and keep your life total stable.

Understanding the opponents’ deck and playing style is also key. By anticipating when they might cast Volcanic Hammer, you can arrange your plays to avoid being caught off guard — keeping creatures with toughness greater than 3 or, for advanced plays, baiting the Hammer out and responding with your own instants.


Cards like Volcanic Hammer

Volcanic Hammer is a staple spell in Magic: The Gathering for players seeking straightforward damage dealers. It’s often compared to other burn spells like Lightning Bolt, famous for its efficiency at one mana for three damage. Despite Volcanic Hammer’s higher mana cost, it shares Lightning Bolt’s damage output, but as a sorcery, it lacks the instant speed versatility.

There’s also Incinerate, another comparable card that prevents regeneration on the damaged creature, giving it an edge over Volcanic Hammer in specific scenarios. While Incinerate shares the same mana cost, this added ability can be a game-changer against decks that utilize regeneration. Another similar card is Searing Spear, which, like Volcanic Hammer, inflicts three damage at sorcery speed. However, Searing Spear doesn’t offer additional effects, placing it on equal footing with Volcanic Hammer in terms of raw damage delivery.

Comparing these cards helps players understand the trade-offs between mana efficiency, speed, and added abilities. While Volcanic Hammer may not be the quickest tool in the burn spell arsenal, its direct three damage for two mana makes it an enduring choice for MTG players building classic red decks.

Lightning Bolt - MTG Card versions
Incinerate - MTG Card versions
Searing Spear - MTG Card versions
Lightning Bolt - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Incinerate - Ice Age (ICE)
Searing Spear - Magic 2013 (M13)

Cards similar to Volcanic Hammer by color, type and mana cost

Scent of Cinder - MTG Card versions
Spitting Earth - MTG Card versions
Fanning the Flames - MTG Card versions
Strategy, Schmategy - MTG Card versions
Disorder - MTG Card versions
Warrior's Oath - MTG Card versions
Tribal Flames - MTG Card versions
Breath of Darigaaz - MTG Card versions
Incendiary Flow - MTG Card versions
Embereth Shieldbreaker // Battle Display - MTG Card versions
Nahiri's Lithoforming - MTG Card versions
Mizzium Mortars - MTG Card versions
Burning Wish - MTG Card versions
Mana Seism - MTG Card versions
Yamabushi's Storm - MTG Card versions
Face to Face - MTG Card versions
Pyroclasm - MTG Card versions
Goblin Sleigh Ride - MTG Card versions
Molten Disaster - MTG Card versions
Hurly-Burly - MTG Card versions
Scent of Cinder - Media Inserts (PMEI)
Spitting Earth - Duel Decks: Knights vs. Dragons (DDG)
Fanning the Flames - Stronghold (STH)
Strategy, Schmategy - Unglued (UGL)
Disorder - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Warrior's Oath - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Tribal Flames - Modern Masters (MMA)
Breath of Darigaaz - Commander 2015 (C15)
Incendiary Flow - Friday Night Magic 2017 (F17)
Embereth Shieldbreaker // Battle Display - Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate (CLB)
Nahiri's Lithoforming - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Mizzium Mortars - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Burning Wish - Vintage Masters (VMA)
Mana Seism - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
Yamabushi's Storm - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
Face to Face - Unhinged (UNH)
Pyroclasm - Duel Decks: Sorin vs. Tibalt (DDK)
Goblin Sleigh Ride - Happy Holidays (HHO)
Molten Disaster - Future Sight (FUT)
Hurly-Burly - Lorwyn (LRW)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Volcanic Hammer MTG card by a specific set like Portal and Portal Second Age, 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 Volcanic Hammer and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Volcanic Hammer Magic the Gathering card was released in 10 different sets between 1997-05-01 and 2005-08-22. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11997-05-01PortalPOR 1541997normalblackChristopher Rush
21998-06-24Portal Second AgeP02 1191997normalblackEdward P. Beard, Jr.
31999-07-01Starter 1999S99 1231997normalwhiteEdward P. Beard, Jr.
41999-12-01Junior Super SeriesPSUS 71997normalblackChristopher Rush
52001-04-11Seventh Edition7ED 226★1997normalblackBen Thompson
62001-04-11Seventh Edition7ED 2261997normalwhiteBen Thompson
72002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 361021997normalblackChristopher Rush
82003-01-01Japan Junior TournamentPJJT 1N031997normalblackChristopher Rush
92003-07-28Eighth Edition8ED 2312003normalwhiteBen Thompson
102003-07-28Eighth Edition8ED 231★2003normalblackBen Thompson
112005-07-29Ninth Edition9ED 2262003normalwhiteBen Thompson
122005-07-29Ninth Edition9ED 226★2003normalblackBen Thompson
132005-08-22Salvat 2005PSAL K172003normalwhiteBen Thompson
142005-08-22Salvat 2005PSAL C432003normalwhiteBen Thompson
152005-08-22Salvat 2005PSAL K312003normalwhiteBen Thompson

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Volcanic Hammer has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

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