The Hobbit spoilers have been going on for a while, but Pauper players are more interested in the cards that get revealed at the end of the spoiler season — commons. We finally got those and it seems that some might be good enough to see play in this popular format.
Below, you’ll find our six picks for best Pauper cards from The Hobbit set. Some of these look like a clear addition to specific decks, while others might need additional support. Still, they might give you an idea for a brand-new brew of yours.
The cards are ordered from more to less likely to see play. Anyhow, let’s get down the hobbit hole.
#1 Giant’s Boulder
This thing seems huge for Tron. (That makes a lot of sense, as it is a boulder after all.)
Barrels of Blasting Jelly does have a few upsides over it. For example, you can use it on your turn and then on the following opponent’s turn. Furthermore, the activation is cheaper.
However, Boulder scries 2 when it enters, which is relevant at all points of the game. Furthermore, the expensive activation does pay you off by allowing to blow up any permanent. Even lands! That’s very relevant, especially in the mirror.
Thus, a playset of these is an easy pickup for Tron players. If it doesn’t straight up take the place of Barrels, players will at least play a mix of both.
One fun comparison is that this is a Preordain that always draws you a Scour from Existence and plays Mana Cylix.
#2 Ragged Short Spear
Spear is fairly similar to Melded Moxite, which already sees play in multiple decks, such as Mono Red Madness, Snacker Gates, and Boros Moxite.
Both cards work with Sneaky Snacker, and can be sacrificed to cards like Evicerator’s Insight and Fanatical Offering.
The question becomes if you value equipping over a 2/2 artifact creature. Another reason to play it is if you simply want more than 4 cards with this effect.
Last but not least, it’s also another playable Equipment, that might eventually make Battlefield Improvisation playable. Certainly something to explore, if you enjoy brewing.
#3 Lake-town Lookout
If you’re unfamiliar with the recruit mechanic, it allows you to draw and discard a card. If you discard a nonland card this way, you create a 1/1 white Human Soldier token.
Obviously, the card would be better if it recruited with an enters effect. Still, it can still be a useful one drop for a deck that can use all of its effects.
While at first look the card might seem to slot into White Weenie, that’s likely not the best spot for it. Without sacrifice outlets, you’ll have a harder time triggering it on demand.
Instead, this might empower some sort of white-black sacrifice reanimator type of deck. The main reson being its synergies with Dread Return. You can discard the latter to the recruit effect, and get a creature that will help you flash it back.
Is this good enough? We’ll have to see, but there is something to explore here at least.
#4 Óin the Brave
Finally, here’s a red two drop that can become a 2/3 with haste and rummage ability. This could be useful in some aggressive aggro shell, particularly if you can consistently enable it on turn 2.
There are a few solid ways to do so. For example by playing Great Furnace and following it with Clockwork Percussionist or Voldaren Epicure on turn 1. Any black land and Blood Fountain is also an option.
It’s not like these cards are unplayable or anything like that, which bodes well for Óin’s chances to see play.
#5 Hobbit Hole
Okay, so the ceiling of this card is quite low. Four mana Halfling tutor isn’t efficient at all. On the other hand, the floor is fairly high, as tap land that fixes your mana is perfectly fine. (Compared to something like Step Through, the cost of including the card in your deck is negligible.)
So, what can you tutor with this effect? Halflings aren’t particularly good with best options probably being Brandywine Farmer or Bilbo Baggins, Burglar from the new set.
But you can also tutor for Changelings, such as Masked Vandal, Rooftop Percher and even Nameless Inversion. There might be a way to make this package playable, but probably not in the most competitive decks, though.
#6 Plunder the Trollshaws
Similar to Think Twice, but for a mana more to flashback, you’re drawing an extra card. (Perhaps it could be be called Think Trice?)
Would this become a major role-player? Almost certainly not, but a copy or two could see play in some more controlling draw-go decks. Sadly, we didn’t see a lot of those recently.
Perhaps it could slot into Terror decks, in the place of Deep Analysis, as it’s easier to cast on the front end.
Is There Something Else?
That’s all the Hobbit commons that seemed worth mentioning for Pauper. Of course, there might be something else that caught your eye. In that case, leave a comment with the card’s name below.
If you enjoy the set, and want to crack some packs, the Hobbit Play Boosters are already available for preorder on Amazon.
For more details about this set, you can checkthe following articles:
- The Hobbit Box Toppers (iconic reprints included with every box)
- Scene Boxes from The Hobbit (12 exclusive cards)
- Tolkien’s Flavor Text Basic Lands (and other basics from this set)
- The Hobbit Draft Guide (learn how to win in the new draft format)
Until next time, enjoy playing Pauper and may your favorite archetype get some additional support soon!