Brewing in a Top Hat: Histroric Nahiri Hammer Time

Welcome back to Brewing in a Top Hat. Boy, do I have a fun Historic list cooked up for you all today! This is an aggro deck with a combo finish that is simply… Smashing.

The list revolves around Colossus Hammer, and also utilizes newcomers to the Historic format Bonesplitter and Goblin Gaveleer. We rely on Warrior and Equipment synergies to make a big hit on your opponent and then finish them off with a follow up Fling or Kazuul’s Fury. You will win on turn three way more often than you should.

Without further ado, the list:

Brewing in a Top Hat: Histroric Nahiri Hammertime

by MTG Arena Zone

Buy on TCGplayer $161.52

Buy on Card Kingdom $260.59

Historic

Artifacts

best of 3

7 mythic

17 rare

20 uncommon

16 common

0

1

2

3

4

5

6+

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Planeswalkers (4)

4

Nahiri, Heir of the Ancients

$3.96

Creatures (19)

4

Fireblade Charger

$1.40

4

Goblin Gaveleer

$1.40

2

Kargan Intimidator

$0.98

4

Seasoned Hallowblade

$1.40

2

Kor Blademaster

$0.70

3

Halvar, God of Battle

$44.97

Instants (10)

4

Resolute Strike

$1.40

2

Fling

$0.70

4

Kazuul’s Fury

$2.36

Artifacts (9)

4

Bonesplitter

$1.40

4

Colossus Hammer

$13.96

1

Shadowspear

$27.99

Lands (18)

2

Mountain

$0.70

2

Plains

$0.70

2

Clifftop Retreat

$0.98

4

Inspiring Vantage

$9.96

4

Needleverge Pathway

$25.96

4

Sacred Foundry

$87.96

60 Cards
$228.88

Sideboard

1

Chandra, Torch of Defiance

$2.49

3

Apostle of Purifying Light

$1.05

2

Rampaging Ferocidon

$17.98

2

Gods Willing

$0.70

2

Declaration in Stone

$0.98

1

Revoke Existence

$0.35

2

Grafdigger’s Cage

$4.58

2

Showdown of the Skalds

$3.58

15 Cards
$31.71

Card Selection

Resolute Strike

There are a few ways you can use this card. The first and most obvious is to equip your Colossus Hammer, but don’t be afraid to use it to save a creature from a Stomp, or as a combat trick without the hammer. In a pinch you can move Sword of the Realms onto a creature to make sure it returns to hand.

Fireblade Charger

Put a Colossus Hammer onto this bad boy then Fling it. No attack needed.  You can also use it with Sword of the Realms to generate constant card advantage by targeting your opponent’s creatures.

Goblin Gaveleer

This new addition to the format has resulted in several turn 2 concedes from my opponents.  But he is no one trick pony.  Any of your other equipment will make him a legitimate damage threat.  Your lethal range from Fling and Kazuul’s Fury means just one early hit can be all you need.

Bonesplitter

Great stats and so cheap. This really helps us go wide if we can’t get a hammer equipped, and also can cheaply give Fireblade Charger haste.

Colossus Hammer

In conjunction with Nahiri, Heir of the Ancients and/or Resolute Strike are what this deck is all about. Seeing one in my opening hand is enough for me to consider keeping it.  To quote my favorite Runeterra Yordle, “Fool me once, shame on you.  Fool me twice… Um… HAMMER!”

Shadowspear

A decent way to get some life back against other aggressive decks, or to give trample to whatever you equip the Hammer to.  Bonus if you run into any of the Theros gods or Adanto Vanguard.

Kor Blademaster

If Embercleave has taught us anything it’s the devastating power of Double Strike and Trample. Follow up an equipped Goblin Gaveleer with one of these and if it doesn’t kill them it will at least take your opponent into fling range.

Seasoned Hallowblade

In a format dripping with removal you need a Warrior you can rely on.

Fling and Kazuul’s Fury // Kazuul’s Cliffs

These are a big part of how you get turn-three wins. You can also use them to take out an opponent’s creature/planeswalker in a pinch.

Kargan Intimidator

He gives us two things we sorely need: The ability to give a Warrior trample, and the ability to evade blockers to get damage in.

Halvar, God of Battle // Sword of the Realms

Unless it will win us the game, we don’t want to cast the creature side. Good against aggro because it gives Vigilance which lets us block, and good against control and other removal heavy decks because it let’s us recycle our creatures.

Nahiri, Heir of the Ancients

I have to say I am really impressed with this card. Aside from the obvious synergy with the Hammer, she just gives us everything we want.  Running out of steam is a real threat to us, so she gives us a way of maintaining board presence or digging for creatures or equipment.

Sideboard Guide

Aggro

Sacrifice

Angels

Azorius Control

* If they have enchantments that are worth it.

Control with Black

Tips and Tricks

What sort of opening hands should I aim for?

Because of the aggressive nature of the deck you want to aim for 2-3 lands and low cost units plus equipment. If you don’t have a unit I would highly consider a mulligan. Games with this deck are usually decided by turn four or five at the latest, one way or another, so the cards you start with are incredibly important. If a hand doesn’t look aggressive enough, toss it back and try again. I have won with 4-5 card opening hands and only two lands.

When do I go for it, and when do I hold?

Watch what your opponent is playing, and count their removal spells. If they have a lot of cheap removal, you might want to build up a bigger board, or wait for a Seasoned Hallowblade/Apostle of Purifying Light. If they are playing creatures then you want to try to match them card for card because yours will almost always be bigger once built up. My motto with this deck is “If I can get a hammer onto something, do it.”