Hammer Helper MTG Card


Hammer Helper - Unstable
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityCommon
TypeSorcery
Released2017-12-08
Set symbol
Set nameUnstable
Set codeUST
Number85
Frame2015
Layoutnormal
Bordersilver
Illustred byDave Allsop
Un-set :-)This card is part of an Un-set

Key Takeaways

  1. Hammer Helper delivers card advantage by refilling your hand and maintaining board pressure.
  2. Its instant speed and resource acceleration can swiftly change game dynamics.
  3. However, its specific mana cost and discard requirement may limit its versatility.

Text of card

Gain control of target creature until end of turn. Untap that creature and roll a six-sided die. Until end of turn, it gains haste and gets +X/+0, where X is the result.

"Need a hammer? Gotta get your fix? I know a guy."


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Hammer Helper ensures that you keep your hand fueled, enabling you to maintain pressure on your opponent while developing your board presence.

Resource Acceleration: This card can serve as a catalyst for quick growth, potentially giving you the resources needed to swiftly deploy more threats and seize control of the game tempo.

Instant Speed: The ability to cast Hammer Helper at instant speed provides strategic flexibility, allowing you to make pivotal plays even during your opponent’s turn, effectively adapting to the ever-changing battlefield.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One aspect some players find challenging with Hammer Helper is its discard prerequisite. Activating its ability necessitates tossing another card from your hand into the graveyard, which can deplete your hand size and potentially discard valuable assets, making it a risky play at times.

Specific Mana Cost: Hammer Helper comes with a specific mana requirement that might not seamlessly fit into every deck. Its red mana cost could potentially restrict deck-building options, especially in a multi-colored deck where consistency is critical for mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that’s on the higher end for its type, Hammer Helper may not be the most mana-efficient option available. In a game where speed can be crucial, the need for four mana for its full effect can be a setback, particularly when there are other spells or creatures that might provide a similar impact for less investment.


Reasons to Include Hammer Helper in Your Collection

Versatility: Hammer Helper is a versatile card that can easily find a place in various deck types. It shines in decks focused on Equipment or Voltron strategies, easily fitting into the arsenal of any player fond of boosting their creatures.

Combo Potential: This card offers robust combo potential. Its ability to equip creatures at instant speed creates opportunities for unexpected plays and synergies, making it a threat opponents must constantly consider.

Meta-Relevance: With a metagame that often includes creature-centric and equipment-heavy decks, Hammer Helper maintains its relevance. It’s a card that can turn the tides of battle by strengthening your creatures against the prevailing threats.


How to beat

Hammer Helper is an innovative artifact in the world of Magic the Gathering that equips players with a powerful advantage. Its ability to attach equipment to a target creature without paying the equip cost makes it a game-changing asset on the battlefield. Yet, there are strategies you can employ to turn the tide against Hammer Helper.

Counterspells such as Negate or Disallow are effective tools to prevent Hammer Helper from entering play in the first place. Removal spells like Abrade or Shatter can dispose of Hammer Helper after it’s on the field. Also, don’t overlook the potential of instant-speed interaction; cards like Naturalize or Krosan Grip can disrupt your opponent’s plans at a critical moment. Players should also manage their battlefield presence, maintaining creatures with abilities like Hexproof or Shroud to remain untouchable by enemy equipment.

Lastly, the use of board wipes like Wrath of God or Damnation can reset the game, nullifying the advantage gained from Hammer Helper. By prioritizing these tactics, you can effectively navigate against the power of Hammer Helper and maintain control of the game.


Cards like Hammer Helper

Hammer Helper is an intriguing tool for those building artifact and equipment-heavy decks in Magic: The Gathering. When stacking it up against weaponry aides like Magnetic Theft, the functionality appears quite aligned initially, as both focus on attaching equipment swiftly. Magnetic Theft does so with a mere single red mana, bypassing any equip costs. Hammer Helper, however, takes an alternate route by not only automating the equip process but also buffing your creatures for that turn.

Turning our attention to Brass Squire, another card with a comparable theme, we see a creature-based approach. The Squire offers repeatable equip action but requires a tap, limiting its use to once per turn under normal circumstances. In contrast, Hammer Helper offers a one-time robust enhancement during your critical turns. However, what elevates Hammer Helper is its potential to be both proactive and reactive due to its instant speed nature, freeing players from the restrictions of a sorcery-speed limitation often found in similar card effects.

Considering the landscape of equipment facilitators in Magic: The Gathering, Hammer Helper positions itself as a vital addition for players looking to dominate with metal might. It’s the surprise factor and the instant boost that can turn the tides of a match, marking its place in the decks of strategic battlers.

Magnetic Theft - MTG Card versions
Brass Squire - MTG Card versions
Magnetic Theft - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Brass Squire - Mirrodin Besieged (MBS)

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

Flashfires - MTG Card versions
Shatterstorm - MTG Card versions
Anarchy - MTG Card versions
Phoenix Heart - MTG Card versions
Reign of Chaos - MTG Card versions
Deadshot - MTG Card versions
Aftershock - MTG Card versions
Ruination - MTG Card versions
Flowstone Flood - MTG Card versions
Relentless Assault - MTG Card versions
Flameshot - MTG Card versions
Bend or Break - MTG Card versions
Scorching Missile - MTG Card versions
Reckless Crew - MTG Card versions
Draconic Intervention - MTG Card versions
Illuminate History - MTG Card versions
Demolish - MTG Card versions
Granulate - MTG Card versions
Touch and Go - MTG Card versions
Sunder from Within - MTG Card versions
Flashfires - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Shatterstorm - Antiquities (ATQ)
Anarchy - Masters Edition II (ME2)
Phoenix Heart - Celebration Cards (PCEL)
Reign of Chaos - Mirage (MIR)
Deadshot - Tempest (TMP)
Aftershock - Jumpstart 2022 (J22)
Ruination - Commander 2011 (CMD)
Flowstone Flood - Exodus (EXO)
Relentless Assault - Commander Legends (CMR)
Flameshot - The List (PLST)
Bend or Break - Invasion (INV)
Scorching Missile - Odyssey (ODY)
Reckless Crew - Kaldheim Promos (PKHM)
Draconic Intervention - Strixhaven: School of Mages Promos (PSTX)
Illuminate History - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Demolish - Ravnica Remastered (RVR)
Granulate - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Touch and Go - Unhinged (UNH)
Sunder from Within - Saviors of Kamigawa (SOK)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Hammer Helper MTG card by a specific set like Unstable, 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 Helper and other MTG cards:

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