Fall of the HammerHow it works & interactions with other cards

How It Works

When you cast Fall of the Hammer, you choose two targets: a creature you control and another creature (which can be controlled by any player, including yourself, as long as it is not the first target). Upon resolution, the creature you control deals damage equal to its current power to the second creature. Because this is not a 'fight' keyword action, the second creature does not deal any damage back to your creature.

Resolution Step-by-Step

First, you cast the spell and choose both targets. If your creature's power changes before the spell resolves, the damage dealt will reflect its power at the moment of resolution. If one target becomes illegal before resolution—such as being moved to another zone—the spell resolves but does nothing. If the first creature is gone, it has no power to deal damage; if the second creature is gone, there is nothing to receive the damage.

Common Pitfalls

A common mistake is forgetting that Fall of the Hammer requires two legal targets to be cast. You cannot target the same creature twice. Additionally, players often worry about their creature taking damage back; remember that this is a one-sided effect. However, if your creature has Deathtouch or Lifelink, these abilities will apply to the damage dealt by the spell since the creature itself is the source of the damage.

When to Play It

The best time to use Fall of the Hammer is during your opponent's turn to disrupt their strategy or in response to a pump spell. Since it is an instant, you can wait for your opponent to commit to an attack before removing their key piece. It is also highly effective after you have resolved a buff on your own creature to maximize the damage output.

Interaction examples

Maintaining a Target

Chaos Warp

If you target your creature with Fall of the Hammer and an opponent responds with Chaos Warp to shuffle your creature away, Fall of the Hammer will fail to deal damage. Because the first target is no longer on the battlefield when the spell tries to resolve, it cannot check that creature's power to determine how much damage to deal.

Redirecting the Blow

Deflecting Swat

If you cast Fall of the Hammer, an opponent can use Deflecting Swat to change the targets. They could change the second target to one of your other creatures, or if they control a creature, they could change the first target to their own creature (provided they control it) to make it deal damage to your board instead.

Simple Elimination

You control a 4/4 creature and your opponent controls a 3/3 creature. You cast Fall of the Hammer targeting your 4/4 and their 3/3. Upon resolution, your creature deals 4 damage to their creature, destroying it. Your 4/4 remains completely unharmed and ready for combat.