Magic Villains Worthy of Equipping Mjolnir

Mjölnir, Hammer of Thor is the headline equipment card in Marvel Super Heroes. It represents the phenomenal power of Thor’s signature weapon, and as such has a lot of utility packed into one card. However, only those that are worthy may equip it… or so it seems. Turns out a fair few of Magic’s iconic villains are worthy to hold Mjölnir.

MJÖLNIR, HAMMER OF THOR

Mjölnir enters for four mana, and immediately deals four damage to up to one target creature. When it’s equipped, it allows the equipped creature to deal double damage. This is already a really nice set of abilities, but if that wasn’t enough, it can also be “Channelled”: for {2}{R} and discarding it, you can deal 2 damage to each creature. An instant speed (mostly) uncounterable Pyroclasm is sweet. 

There’s one downside, though – you can only equip Mjölnir if you’re worthy (or, I guess, if you have Puresteel Paladin and metalcraft, yada yada etc etc). To be worthy, you need to be a legendary non-Villain that’s red and/or white. Turns out Villain here is the creature type, not the role in the story, so things get a little wild when you consider just who can equip Mjölnir!

So, here are a few of the wackiest red and white Legends of Magic’s story that can equip Thor’s Hammer. 

KONDA, LORD OF EIGANJO

Konda Takeshi resided in Eiganjo on Kamigawa, and was one the greatest leaders on the plane. That is until he performed a ritual breaking the barrier between the mortal and spiritual planes. He imprisoned part of O-Kagachi, the mightiest of the Kami, and achieved immortality. This series of events led to the  Kami War, a conflict that lasted two decades. 

It would be kind of crazy for Konda to be worthy of equipping Mjölnir, right?

HEARTLESS HIDETSUGU

Crazier still, perhaps, would be allowing the likes of Heartless Hidetsugu to wield it. An Oni from Kamigawa, he is pretty much the embodiment of chaos, and a master of blood and fire magic. He would go on to become one of the most feared and powerful demon lords after the events of the Kami War. But let’s be honest – what we’re interested in here is doubling his tap ability. Because with Mjölnir, you can do double damage. Anyone on an even life total will be obliterated, while anyone on an odd life total will survive at 1 life.

OB NIXILIS, CAPTIVE KINGPIN

Ob Nixlis has long been a villain in the story, from his beginnings on Zendikar right through to his latest incarnation in Streets of New Capenna. Desparked, he resides on New Capenna, with goals to ascend the hierarchy and emerge victorious. Is this a worthy pursuit? According to Mjölnir, it just might be. The mighty weapon can give you a Commander Damage kill with Ob twice as quickly. 

VALGAVOTH, HARROWER OF SOULS

Mjölnir can also be  wielded by… well, by a house. Yes, Valgavoth, demon house of Duskmourn can wield Mjölnir. This one stretches the realms of believability yet further – though can also help you get a quick Commander Damage kill. Nice. 

THE PHYREXIANS

If there’s anyone who probably is least worthy of holding Mjölnir it might just be the Phyrexians. Yet, Urabrask and Elesh Norn, Mondrak and Solphim are all worthy of holding Thor’s Hammer. That said, you’re unlikely to see any of them do so, as equipment aren’t often played alongside Praetors. The closest you’re likely to come is seeing it in a Solphim deck as a source of damage and as a Pyroclasm effect. 

HELIOD, SUN-CROWNED

Plenty of Boros decks love Heliod, but Heliod doesn’t love Elspeth. Elspeth definitely seems worthy of wielding Mjölnir, but Heliod not so much. He’s the epitome of a white Villain, yet can handily pick up Thor’s Hammer like it’s nothing. 

NEHEB

Oh, dang. I was all ready to wax lyrical about Amonkhet story, but it turns out Neheb is quite literally worthy. My bad. 

NICOL BOLAS, THE RAVAGER

Speaking of Amonkhet, it’s here where Nicol Bolas’ plans that would lead to the War of the Spark are cemented, and his defeat of the Gatewatch leaves them reeling. Mjölnir is apparently viable for Magic’s greatest Villain to wield, which is unintentionally pretty hilarious. I’m looking forward to seeing Mjölnir in all manner of flavor-fail decks. 

AND NOW FOR A FEW CUTE ONES

Not all “villains” in Magic are world-ending threats. Some are minor antagonists, or a mere annoyance. 

Personally, I find the idea of Krenko wielding Mjölnir to be hilarious. He’s something of a small-time crook, but one with a surprisingly erudite understanding about the dissemination of wealth. How else would he amass such a following? I bet those Goblins get dental. 

SKRELV, DEFECTOR MITE

Funnier still is the concept of Skrelv picking up Mjölnir in defense of his Hive. Despite being Phyrexian born, Skrelv and his siblings have managed to avoid being harvested for parts, and through luck and cunning, they’ve survived. Perhaps this is the ultimate act of defiance, and perhaps this is what makes him worthy. 

NAHIRI, FORGED IN FURY

Nahiri has never truly been a villain so much as an anti-hero and an antagonist. She has committed some serious acts of moral turpitude, but in the context of all she has endured as a pre-mending Planeswalker – including thousands of years of torturous survival in Sorin’s Helvault – it’s somewhat understandable that her sense of justice and revenge have been allowed to simmer. While her acts on Innistrad were heinous, she has since enjoyed something of an upwards trajectory to her arc. Arguably instrumental in the victory over New Phyrexia – where she sacrificed herself to save others – she has now retired to Zendikar, where she hopes to rebuild, both her plane and herself. 

It seems fitting that on her upward arc, she could be worth of wielding Mjölnir. 

END STEP

Those are just a handful of the more out-there wielders of Mjölnir. We could also consider everyone from Urza to Grand Arbiter Augustin IV. Who would you say is least worthy of holding Mjölnir? Let us know in the comments.