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Iron Hills Blacksmith

uncommon Creature — Dwarf Artificer

Double strike

When this creature enters, create a colorless named Axe with "Equipped creature gets +1/+0" and equip .

B Grade from the win rate

Win rate when drawn 58.0% +1.8 vs average 22,521 games

Win rates and picks

56.8% 43,684 games
Average pick ()
4.1

By deck

  • Dwarves & Equipment 58.1% 12,402 games
  • Draw Two 58.6% 7,990 games
  • Removal Midrange 59.4% 922 games

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

Reviews

A 1/1 with for just 2 mana is already a very reasonable creature to run out, so getting an equipment alongside it is just free value. This set has a lot of support for both dwarves and equipment, so the fact that Iron Hills Blacksmith is both of those in a single card sounds pretty good to me.

If that is going to pay off, expect Iron Hills Blacksmith at two mana to be a big part of it. This card is both pay-off and setup rolled into one. The Axe isn't exactly amazing, but it does turn the Blacksmith into a two-power Double Strike Creature. Double Strike gets out of hand very quickly. This card can take over games with just a little bit of help and protection.

How to draft it

Roles in each deck

  • Dwarves & Equipment Sets up the plan

    A Dwarf and an in one 2-mana card, Iron Hills Blacksmith triggers Kíli and Fíli, and its Axe is an for . The 1/1 double striker deals 2 twice once it wears the Axe.

    How to play it

    The Axe arrives unattached, so the equip waits for a turn with spare mana. Every +1 counts twice on a double striker, which makes the Blacksmith the best carrier for Goblin Plate Mail or Ragged Short Spear. Its 1 toughness to any 1-damage effect, such as Easy Pickings.

    Learn the Dwarves & Equipment deck

  • Draw Two Early play

    You get on a 2-mana 1/1 Dwarf, plus an Axe when it enters (an with +1/+0 and equip 2). Wearing the Axe, it deals 2 damage twice. Fíli the Pathfinder counts it as a Dwarf and its Axe as an for .

    How to play it

    Equip the Axe whenever you have 2 spare mana. Double strike counts every point of power twice, so Bard the Bowman's counters and Eagle's Rescue belong on it. As a blocker it deals first-strike damage before normal creatures, so it kills 1-toughness attackers and takes no damage.

    Learn the Draw Two deck

  • Removal Midrange Early play

    Double strike makes every count twice, and this 1/1 for 2 brings its own, an Axe that gives +1/+0 (equip ). With the Axe it hits for 2 twice, so it kills a blocker with 2 toughness or less before that blocker deals damage back.

    How to play it

    Pay to equip the Axe before it attacks on turn 3 or 4. With 1 toughness it to almost anything, so stack nothing more on it while the opponent has mana open for . The Axe stays when the Blacksmith dies, ready for your next creature.

    Learn the Removal Midrange deck

  • Patchwork Midrange Early play

    Double strike counts the Axe twice. The 1/1 Blacksmith comes with an Axe (+1/+0, equip ), and with the Axe on, the Blacksmith deals 2 damage in each combat damage step. The Axe is also an toward Fíli's .

    How to play it

    Equip works only at speed, so move the Axe in your main phase and keep it on the Blacksmith.

    Learn the Patchwork Midrange deck