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Dwalin, Weaponmaster

rare Legendary Creature — Dwarf Warrior

First strike

Whenever Dwalin enters or attacks, put a on each you control. (Each hone on an Equipment grants +1/+0 to equipped creature.)

B+ Grade from the win rate

Win rate when drawn 59.3% +3.1 vs average 8,259 games

Win rates and picks

57.5% 19,047 games
Average pick ()
2.5

By deck

  • Dwarves & Equipment 60.4% 4,253 games
  • Goblin Army 59.2% 2,402 games
  • Draw Two 57.7% 835 games

Win rates from , 323,114 games. This card is compared with the set average (56.2%).

Reviews

First strike on a can be a very dangerous ability. It makes it so hard to deal with it in combat until you get much deeper into the game. Dwalin, Weaponmaster is also one of only two cards in The Hobbit to use , which is frankly an embarrassing number for something touted as a brand new mechanic. Still, if you have several equipment on the board in the late game, those counters really begin to add up.

Dwalin, Weaponmaster has some completely unbeatable nut draws though, where you play it early alongside Well-Worn Spatula and Goblin Plate Mail and repeatedly buff several equipment.

How to draft it

Roles in each deck

  • Goblin Army Threat

    This 2/1 first striker costs you only red mana. Whenever it enters or attacks, each you control gets a , and each hone counter gives the equipped creature +1/+0 for good. Goblin Plate Mail, Crude Bent Blade and Dáin's Axe are the Equipment it grows here.

    How to play it

    First strike stops most from blocking it profitably, so attack from turn 3. A Plate Mail grows from each Dwalin attack even while the Army stays home. With 1 toughness it to almost anything, so attack while you can.

    Learn the Goblin Army deck

  • Dwarves & Equipment Rewards the plan

    Dwalin, Weaponmaster puts a on each you control when it enters and every time it attacks. With two or three Equipment out, each Dwalin attack adds a point of power to every equipped creature for good. Its is a hybrid symbol, paid with red or white mana.

    How to play it

    Cast it after your is out so the enters trigger already adds counters, then attack with it whenever it is safe. First strike lets the 2/1 kill a blocker with 2 toughness or less before it hits back, and bigger ones once it wears Equipment.

    Learn the Dwarves & Equipment deck

  • Draw Two Early play

    White pays the in this 2-mana 2/1 first striker's cost. Its other ability puts a on each you control as it enters or attacks, and each hone counter gives the equipped creature +1/+0. Draw Two has almost no Equipment beyond Iron Hills Blacksmith's Axe, so Dwarves & Equipment gets far more from it (60.4%).

    How to play it

    First strike lets this attack into or block creatures with 2 toughness or less and kill them before they strike back.

    Learn the Draw Two deck

  • Removal Midrange Early play

    A 2/1 first striker for 2 is hard to block or attack into early. Whenever Dwalin enters or attacks, each you control gets a , and each hone counter gives the creature wearing that Equipment +1/+0 for good. Crude Bent Blade, the Axe and Goblin Plate Mail all feed it, and as a Dwalin counts toward .

    How to play it

    Attack with it from turn 3. The counters stay on the when you move it, so each attack makes your Blade or Axe stronger for the rest of the game.

    Learn the Removal Midrange deck

  • Beasts and Burn Early play

    First strike lets this 2/1 beat most in combat. Its (each gives +1/+0 to the creature wearing that ) matter only with Equipment like Goblin Plate Mail or Ragged Short Spear.

    How to play it

    Attack with it from turn 3 on. A blocker with 2 toughness or less to the first-strike damage before it can hit back, so opponents rarely block it.

    Learn the Beasts and Burn deck

  • Patchwork Midrange Early play

    First strike lets the 2/1 kill a 2/2 blocker before it deals damage. Each time Dwalin enters or attacks, every you control gets a , and each hone counter gives the equipped creature +1/+0, so Iron Hills Blacksmith's Axe keeps growing. With no Equipment out, Dwalin is a plain first-strike .

    How to play it

    Play it after Iron Hills Blacksmith when you can, so its enters trigger finds the Axe. Every attack after that adds another +1/+0.

    Learn the Patchwork Midrange deck