Voracious Hydra MTG Card


Voracious Hydra - Core Set 2020
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Hydra
Abilities Fight,Trample
Released2019-07-12
Set symbol
Set nameCore Set 2020
Set codeM20
Power 0
Toughness 1
Number200
Frame2015
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byWayne Reynolds

Key Takeaways

  1. Voracious Hydra offers board control through power boosts or targeted creature removal.
  2. The card excels in ramp decks, transforming excess mana into a dominant board presence.
  3. Instant-speed deck compatibility allows for adaptable and responsive play strategies.

Text of card

Trample Voracious Hydra enters the battlefield with X +1/+1 counters on it. When Voracious Hydra enters the battlefield, choose one — • Double the number of +1/+1 counters on Voracious Hydra. • Voracious Hydra fights target creature you don't control.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Voracious Hydra offers a potentially substantial increase to your board presence, especially when doubled by its reactive ability, which can either enhance its own power or remove a threat from the opposing side. This flexibility can lead to a significant shift in the game’s dynamics and give you an edge over your opponent.

Resource Acceleration: As a creature that benefits greatly from an abundance of mana, Voracious Hydra plays well in decks designed around ramping or resource acceleration. It allows you to convert excess mana resources into a formidable creature presence quickly, which can decisively impact the game’s state.

Instant Speed: While Voracious Hydra itself doesn’t operate at instant speed, its versatility allows you to adapt seamlessly on your turn. It aligns well with decks featuring instant-speed interactions, ensuring that you preserve the tempo and can respond effectively to the changing battlefield.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Voracious Hydra does not mandate players to discard, but its requirement to double the number of +1/+1 counters or fight another creature might compel you to make tough decisions, especially in early game situations where board presence is critical.

Specific Mana Cost: This creature card demands a specific mana combination of green and generic mana, potentially restricting its inclusion in multicolor decks that can’t reliably produce the necessary green mana sources.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While the X cost can be an advantage, it also means the Hydra’s effectiveness is dependent on a substantial mana investment. For less mana, players could deploy other creatures or execute alternative strategies that may offer more immediate impact on the game state.


Reasons to Include Voracious Hydra Mtg Card in Your Collection

Versatility: Voracious Hydra serves as a flexible choice for multiple deck strategies, adept at adapting to the board state whether you need a large creature to contend with a stubborn battlefield or a removal tool for problematic creatures.

Combo Potential: This card synergizes well with decks that capitalize on +1/+1 counters, instantly becoming a cornerstone in counter-centric builds that can readily double its impact or exploit its growth for even greater effects.

Meta-Relevance: Given its scalability and utility, Voracious Hydra remains a timely inclusion, particularly in an environment rife with creature-heavy decks, allowing you to control the pace of the game by removing key threats or swinging in with a colossal trampler.


How to beat

Voracious Hydra is a formidable creature in MTG due to its flexibility and the threat it poses once on the battlefield. Facing this multi-headed beast often means dealing with a massive creature that can grow out of control or a tool that can remove your important creatures. Overcoming this challenge requires smart play and strategic deck building.

One effective strategy against Voracious Hydra is using removal spells that bypass its ‘fight’ mechanic. Cards with ‘exile’ effects, such as Path to Exile or Dire Tactics, can eliminate the Hydra before it becomes too large or begins picking off your creatures. Counterspells also provide a clean answer to prevent it from entering the battlefield in the first place. Disdainful Stroke or Negate are excellent choices, especially since they’re often castable with the mana you’d have open when your opponent is likely to play their Hydra.

Speed can also be your ally; deploying an aggressive strategy can pressure your opponent before they accumulate enough mana to cast Voracious Hydra with a significant number of +1/+1 counters. In conclusion, prompt removal, strategic counterspells, and a quick offensive can ensure that Voracious Hydra doesn’t take over the game and solidify your path to victory.


BurnMana Recommendations

Exploring the strategic depth of Magic the Gathering is fundamental to mastering the game, and Voracious Hydra is a prime example of a card that amplifies your tactical play. Understanding its advantages and counteracting its weaknesses can turn the tide of any match. Take your deck construction to the next level by considering how Voracious Hydra can synergize with your existing cards and strategies, whether it’s ramping up your mana or adding raw power to your board. Dive deeper with us, learn the ins and outs of playing with or against this fearsome creature, and ensure your MTG arsenal is well-equipped to handle the varied landscapes of play. Enhance your game with Voracious Hydra and make each match a calculated step towards victory.


Cards like Voracious Hydra

The Voracious Hydra is a dynamic creature card that takes its place among the versatile beaters in Magic: The Gathering. Its closest counterpart may be Hydroid Krasis, both being X cost hydras that can grow in power and toughness. However, Voracious Hydra offers a choice upon entering the battlefield – either double the number of +1/+1 counters or fight another target creature, providing immediate board impact. In contrast, Hydroid Krasis’s casting provides a card draw and life gain but doesn’t offer the same immediate board control.

Another parallel can be drawn with Polukranos, Unchained. This monstrosity comes in with an innate ability to fight creatures through its monstrosity ability, similar to Voracious Hydra fighting upon entry. However, Polukranos leans towards being more resilient, returning to the battlefield with +1/+1 counters after death, unlike Voracious Hydra which doesn’t return after being defeated.

Examining the adaptability and strategic benefits, Voracious Hydra holds a privileged position in the green creature lineup for its capability to be an adaptable threat or a form of creature removal, making it an invaluable addition to many MTG decks looking for flexibility and power.

Hydroid Krasis - MTG Card versions
Polukranos, Unchained - MTG Card versions
Hydroid Krasis - Ravnica Allegiance Promos (PRNA)
Polukranos, Unchained - Theros Beyond Death (THB)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Voracious Hydra MTG card by a specific set like Core Set 2020, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Voracious Hydra and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Voracious Hydra has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Voracious Hydra card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

DateText
2019-07-12 Because fighting isn’t combat damage, trample has no effect during the fight.
2019-07-12 If the target of Voracious Hydra’s second mode isn’t a legal target as the ability resolves, or if Voracious Hydra has left the battlefield, neither creature will deal or be dealt damage. The ability won’t change to the first mode if the target is illegal.

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