2.85 Logan - Stop! Hammer Time

[Preybird]

Okay, since the unbanning of Lythian Sledgehammer everyone has been clamouring to Amber to (try and) abuse it. Me, I decided to go the other way and see what it could do for the less fortunate.

Turns out it can do a lot.

(Many thanks to ETC Veles for helping me test the everloving tinykitty out of the idea)

MC Logan

4 x Yari Bladedancer
3 x Morbid Acolyte
3 x Death Mage Thaddeus
4 x Rampant Krygon
2 x Brimstone Devourer
4 x Falseblood Cultist

3 x Blood Frenzy
4 x Crippling Blow
2 x Smashing Blow/War Flail
1 x Rampage
1 x Enrage
3 x Reserve Weapon

2 x King’s Pride
4 x Lythian Sledgehammer

40 cards + hero

It’s Tricky

Now this plays a little about face with the early game. Most Warrior decks aim to get Blood Frenzy out as soon as possible, this doesn't. This is a control deck and the BF pings add up. No, your early game strategy is to do something like this:

T2&3 Allies and/or control
T4 Cultist, discarding Sledgehammer
T5 Reserve Weapon

Blood Frenzy is usually a turn 6-7 play.

You now have a charged ability, three allies (presuming they didn't die) and a 3 attack nigh indestructible weapon. This means that not only do you get to kill something off the bat, but your weapon is strong enough to deal significant damage without your ability. If you get another Reserve Weapon you can buff it to 4 and then you're really cooking. Devourer is an alternative discard outlet if you need draw and want some control.

Logan traditionally struggled the turn after his ability was spent. This deck has a much easier time of it.

Ally Mix

The ally mix is designed to really support the first 4-5 turns and allow you to get ready to Hammer down. So lots of cheap allies and Brimstone as a discard option if you need it (gold vs those Tala Eleanor decks). Bladedancer and Krygon is amazing in the first 3 turns and if you can do it with a King’s Pride it’ll deal so much damage it’ll make even Zaladar blush.

Heal Engines

Even with all the early game this deck can be outpaced. So I’ve included both Rampage and Enrage, and they both serve their purpose. Rampage with Sledgehammer boosts your relative life gain to 3 (2 heal + 1 damage to enemy hero), and Enrage gives you breathing room vs solo decks. With both you’re really hard to kill.

Weapons or Item Destruction?

Me, I play the Smashing Blow. You can play War Flail to deal with Viska but you need to remember that if you have a Sledgehammer out you can’t replace it due to its passive. And as you almost always have a Sledge out the Flail will rarely if ever see play. So I decided to cut my weapons back (which isn’t too bad given Sledge costs 6) and give that space to a couple of Smashing Blow.

Conclusion

Sledgehammer has really made Logan a lot more resilient and given him a fighting chance. The deck is fast and fun, and is quite powerful when played properly.

[Pat Jay]

Thanks PB and Veles!

Well thought out!

Love the turn 4+5 play... it's brilliant

Will have to give it a go

[seedog]

Viska with A Legend Rise pretty much owns it.

[Preybird]

Viska with A Legend Rise pretty much owns it.

I can shut her down, but yeah it's tricky.

The thing is she comes late, so you can have a Kings Pride out by the time she hits then do double Krygon or Krygon /Devourer discard or fancy tricks like that.

I have taken down a number of decks running Viska (basically every human deck) so it's doable.

[Veles]

Viska with A Legend Rise pretty much owns it.

You can replace Gargs with Acolyte to help with Viska.

Regarding item d I opted not to use any. I would like to have shrieks as it deals with some other annoyances and standard stuff I regret not having item d for like WotF but that one destroyed resource is too much considering Hammer costs 6.

[Lahiri]

A good counter for Viska can be Enslave the Beast (aka Striked Bolas Strike).
Obviously you should kill Viska with your allies as soon as possible to prevent ALR, but dealing with a 0/3 is much easier than dealing with a 3/6 and you don't even wast much damage because ETB will deal 2 damage to the hero.

[Preybird]

You can replace Gargs with Acolyte to help with Viska.

Regarding item d I opted not to use any. I would like to have shrieks as it deals with some other annoyances and standard stuff I regret not having item d for like WotF but that one destroyed resource is too much considering Hammer costs 6.

Indeed. I was toying with the idea just before posting but it really is a better option, helps with Tala and Moon too so I've updated the OP.

Use Smashing Blow or Acid Jet I can outdraw almost anyone and the only things that bother me are weapons and armors.

[Shadows R Us]

Cool deck. Logan and have a chance in the same sentence, weird.

Thanks for posting it.

[Gondorian]

This is great to hear. I hope people who wrote Logan off have found this thread. Oh, wait ...

p.s. Is there hope for the other seemingly weaker heroes too?

[Kylt]

But then Rothem can do better with the exact same deck list...