Nahiri's lithomancy gives her the power to shape stone. She can hew a palace from a cliff, if she had a mind for such extravagance. Upset her, and she will pull a molten Stoneforged Blade from the ground. Wrong her, and she may take her vengeance in the form of an Eldrazi titan. We discussed Nahiri, the Harbinger in a previous Oathbreaker article. This week she's putting her workwoman gloves on and going all in on forging equipment.

Not only is it fun arming tiny creatures with huge swords, but also doing so comes with strategic advantages. Equipment doesn't die to Wrath of God, and it is easy to rebuild after a board wipe, especially since Nahiri helps you equip. This is a mono-White deck where we don't have to worry about our lack of card advantage. In Oathbreaker, we don't need so many resources to win. Each player starts at 20 life with a 58-card deck and two cards in their command zone: a planeswalker and a signature spell. As long as your 'Walker is in play you can cast their sorcery or instant spell, taxed two more each time.

You may have a handful of mythic equipment already, like the Sword of Fire and Ice. Or you may be looking to build your first multiplayer deck cheaply. Either way, Nahiri is ready to throw you the glowing-hot weapon you need to battle. We'll start with a budget list, talk about upgrades, and close with a bonus deck featuring Nahiri, Storm of Stone.

Faith in Steel | Oathbreaker | AE Marling

• Commander (2)
• 1 Nahiri, the Lithomancer
• 1 Faith's Shield

• Creatures (14)
• 1 Armory Automaton
• 1 Cliffside Rescuer
• 1 Danitha Capashen, Paragon
• 1 Drannith Magistrate
• 1 Giver of Runes
• 1 Gold Myr
• 1 Kitesail Apprentice
• 1 Knight of the White Orchid
• 1 Kor Duelist
• 1 Manakin
• 1 Mirran Crusader
• 1 Mother of Runes
• 1 Relic Seeker
• 1 Stoneforge Acolyte

• Instants (3)
• 1 Dispatch
• 1 Oblation
• 1 Swords to Plowshares

• Sorceries (1)
• 1 Steelshaper's Gift

• Enchantments (2)
• 1 Oblivion Ring
• 1 Sigarda's Aid

• Artifacts (14)
• 1 Argentum Armor
• 1 Assault Suit
• 1 Colossus Hammer
• 1 Dowsing Dagger
• 1 Loxodon Warhammer
• 1 Masterwork of Ingenuity
• 1 Mind Stone
• 1 Moonsilver Spear
• 1 Sigiled Sword of Valeron
• 1 Skullclamp
• 1 Sword of Sinew and Steel
• 1 Sword of the Animist
• 1 Sword of Vengeance
• 1 Shadowspear

• Lands (24)
• 18 Plains
• 1 Blasted Landscape
• 1 Blinkmoth Nexus
• 1 Mishra's Factory
• 1 Myriad Landscape
• 1 Rogue's Passage
• 1 Secluded Steppe

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This deck is full of big sticks, Colossus Hammer being the biggest. Nahiri lets you equip it for free, creating an 11/11 Kor with her plus ability, and if they kill it, you can do the same thing next turn. Mother of Runes and Giver of Runes can protect your equipped creature as well as give it evasion. That's part of why we're playing a signature spell of Faith's Shield, but the card can also protect our equipment itself from being destroyed, as well as preventing damage done to Nahiri.

For high mana-cost planeswalkers, I prefer defensive signature spells, and I wrote multiple articles talking about the advantages of Faith's Shield. One plus is political. If your opponents see Faith's Shield available, they may look to less defended targets. It's no fun seeing your attacks or spells bounce harmlessly off barriers. Whereas a proactive signature spell, such as Steelshaper's Gift may encourage attackers, Faith's Shield discourages them, even if you never cast it. I guess you could say I don't believe in big-stick-ism as much as covering myself with warm and fluffy pillows.

For equipment search options I'm playing Steelshaper's Gift and Relic Seeker. You could add Open the Armory, but I'm not certain it's so critical getting specific kinds of equipment. Most will serve you well enough, and with 12 in the deck you're likely to find them. Now, in competitive constructive I definitely would want to maximize my chances of getting Colossus Hammer or a specific color combination of sword. The Sword of Sinew and Steel is the best in Oathbreaker and, fortunately for us, also close to the cheapest. The other Swords are less strong than they are in other formats, as you will want to attack planeswalkers about half the time, and in doing so you won't get their damage triggers. Don't feel bad if you don't own them.

Umezawa's Jitte is better than any other Sword in this format, and it's the first equipment I would buy beyond the inexpensive ones featured in this budget list. It gains counters based off dealing combat damage, even to planeswalkers. Sword of the Animist and Sigiled Sword of Valeron also aren't picky. Dowsing Dagger does require you prick a player, but I figure you can bear to give the plant tokens to an ally and get in a cheek few points for the upside of a triple-ramp. Best part? Dowsing Dagger only will set you back a dollar.

Keep in mind that lifegain is stronger in Oathbreaker than in other formats, due to the perilous nature of starting with 20 life and three opponents. For the same reason, vigilance is a strong ability, making White better here than anywhere else. We want creatures and equipment with those keywords.

I love imagining light gleaming through stained-glass windows, shining on noble Danitha as she takes up a holy blade. She will both smite our foes and defend our stronghold. Equally, I love the image of idea of a token Kor teetering under the weight of a Colossus Hammer, stumbling forward to fall on your foes and crush them.

If you want to bury your opponents beneath expensive cards, I would purchase Stoneforge Mystic and Batterskull. The classic combo is even stronger in Oathbreaker, as the rare equipment has the two best keywords in the format. It's worth mentioning that Nahiri's character was based on the Kor in Stoneforge Mystic, but as far as in-game lore it's more correct to think of the creature as the ancient planeswalker's disciple.

Want to rip off the budget Band-Aid? The next cards I would consider would be Hammer of Nazahn and Sword of Truth and Justice. This cat's Hammer not only protects your creature but improves any subsequent equipment you cast. Follow it up with Colossus Hammer and your little Kor will resemble a fighter on Super Smash Bros. "POW!" Another good weapon is the Sword of Truth and Justice; it not only grants important protection but also can proliferate your counters on Nahiri, the Lithomancer. As far as creature upgrades, I would also eye Puresteel Paladin and Sram, Senior Edificer.

I should also mention our creature lands. They have additional upside with all our equipment. After a board wipe you can activate Blinkmoth Nexus and arm up to finish off an opponent. You could also include Inkmoth Nexus, but it only really shines if given a Colossus Hammer, say at instant speed, for 1 mana.

Nahiri's Instant Armory | Oathbreaker | AE Marling

• Commander (2)
• 1 Nahiri, Storm of Stone
• 1 Magnetic Theft

• Creatures (14)
• 1 Balan, Wandering Knight
• 1 Champion of the Flame
• 1 Danitha Capashen, Paragon
• 1 Drannith Magistrate
• 1 Fervent Champion
• 1 Giver of Runes
• 1 Gold Myr
• 1 Kitesail Apprentice
• 1 Kor Duelist
• 1 Manakin
• 1 Mother of Runes
• 1 Puresteel Paladin
• 1 Relic Seeker
• 1 Stoneforge Mystic

• Planeswalkers (1)
• 1 Nahiri, the Lithomancer

• Instants (5)
• 1 Dispatch
• 1 Faith's Shield
• 1 Lightning Bolt
• 1 Lightning Helix
• 1 Oblation

• Sorceries (2)
• 1 Open the Armory
• 1 Steelshaper's Gift

• Enchantments (1)
• 1 Sigarda's Aid

• Artifacts (11)
• 1 Argentum Armor
• 1 Basilisk Collar
• 1 Batterskull
• 1 Colossus Hammer
• 1 Embercleave
• 1 Hammer of Nazahn
• 1 Skullclamp
• 1 Sunforger
• 1 Sword of Sinew and Steel
• 1 Shadowspear
• 1 Umezawa's Jitte

• Lands (24)
• 10 Plains
• 5 Mountain
• 1 Blinkmoth Nexus
• 1 Boros Garrison
• 1 Boros Guildgate
• 1 Clifftop Retreat
• 1 Command Tower
• 1 Inkmoth Nexus
• 1 Mishra's Factory
• 1 Rogue's Passage
• 1 Sacred Foundry

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This version of the deck plays fewer total equipment and more ways to search for Colossus Hammer.

If you scanned both lists for the Kaldra set of equipment, no need to be disappointed. Include the set of three legendary artifacts and go on your own Quest for the Holy Relic. You don't need to reach so high to win in Oathbreaker, but also never feel bad about including cards you love in casual decks. As for myself, I am but a simple man who would be more than satisfied equipping Kor Duelist with a big stick and beating my opponents senseless.