Dwarven Mattock
AI draftAI-generated draft analysis — not yet human-reviewed. Treat with healthy skepticism.Limited summary
A strong Equipment in Dwarf-heavy decks, where it enters already attached and provides a substantial +2/+2 boost plus ward {1}. It is much less efficient without enough Dwarves because paying three mana to equip makes it slow and mana-intensive.
Roles
Archetypes
Gameplay notes
Whenever possible, cast this only after developing a Dwarf so the enters ability avoids the three-mana equip cost. Ward {1} is most effective when the opponent is constrained on mana, but it does not protect against sweepers or untargeted sacrifice effects.
Key synergies
Thorin bypasses the Mattock's equip {3}, and its +2/+2 immediately raises the equipped creature's power for Thorin's damage trigger while ward {1} helps protect the resulting threat.
Mattock supplies a large power boost to an equipped attacker, and Dáin gives that attacker double strike, effectively applying the +2 power twice in combat while ward helps protect the investment.
Dwarven Mattock triggers Kíli's card-draw ability when it enters, helps reach Storied as an artifact, and Kíli can later waive its otherwise expensive equip cost once the enduring story is active.
Mattock attaches to Iron Hills Blacksmith for free when it enters, immediately making it a 3/3 double striker with ward {1}; its +2 power translates into four additional combat damage.
Dáin's Company can find the Mattock, which can attach to the Company immediately because it is a Dwarf. A 4/4 lifelinker with ward is much harder to race or remove.
Because Dori is a Dwarf, Mattock attaches to it immediately on entry; the resulting 5/4 with trample and ward is a substantial threat that uses the power boost especially well.
Mattock can attach immediately to Nori because Nori is a Dwarf, producing a durable 4/4 attacker while Nori's trigger grants first strike to itself or another equipped attacker.
Mattock attaches to Óin immediately because he is a Dwarf, turning his defensive body into a substantial ward-protected threat. As an artifact, Mattock also advances Óin's Storied condition.
Mattock counts as an artifact for Storied and attaches to Ori for free because Ori is a Dwarf, producing a large ward-protected attacker without paying the normal equip cost.
Vow can attach the Mattock to a Dwarf during combat without paying its expensive equip {3}, adding another +2/+2 and ward {1} on top of the trick's pump.
Because Bofur is a Dwarf, Dwarven Mattock can attach to him immediately when it enters, upgrading the otherwise modest 1/1 into a 3/3 lifelink creature with ward. Concerted Care can also protect the Mattock or its equipped creature from removal.
The Mattock enters attached to Bombur because he is a Dwarf, making him a protected 7/5 while also adding an artifact toward the enduring-story threshold.
Mattock attaches to the Mauler for free when it enters, and if it is moved away or falls off, the Mauler reduces the equip cost from three mana to one.
Dwalin puts hone counters on Mattock whenever he enters or attacks, permanently increasing the power bonus it grants; his first strike also makes the enlarged equipped body difficult to block profitably.
Because Glóin is a Dwarf, Dwarven Mattock can attach to him immediately when it enters, turning him into a durable 6/5 with ward without paying the equip cost.
Dwarven Mattock makes The Chief Warg a 5/5, permanently turning on its own Ferocious trigger, while ward 1 makes the resulting card-draw engine harder to remove.
The Mattock makes The Lonely Mountain enter untapped and reduces its activation cost; every Dwarf token the land creates is also an immediate legal recipient for the Mattock's Dwarf-specific attachment ability.
The Mattock is an artifact toward Bifur's Storied threshold and can attach to Bifur immediately when it enters, making the key six-mana payoff larger and giving it ward to make removal more difficult.