Hidden Herd MTG Card
1998-10-12 - Number 262
2020-09-26 - Number USG-262
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 1 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Enchantment |
Text of card
When one of your opponents plays a nonbasic land, if Hidden Herd is an enchantment, Hidden Herd becomes a 3/3 creature that counts as a Beast.
Cards like Hidden Herd
When assessing the strategic value of new cards in Magic: The Gathering, Hidden Herd doesn’t escape comparison with its counterparts. It stands out in green creature decks, much like cards such as Pack Leader. While both cards enhance the impact of creature-heavy strategies, Hidden Herd does so by potentially reducing the cost of creature spells. This effect is similar to what we observe with Goblin Warchief in red decks, which also offers a cost reduction for a specific creature type.
Moreover, Hidden Herd’s functionality can be compared to that of the esteemed Elvish Piper. Each card has a distinctive way of bringing creatures into play more efficiently. Elvish Piper allows for directly putting creatures onto the battlefield, circumnavigating mana costs. Meanwhile, Hidden Herd subtly but efficiently trims mana costs, which can be crucial for deploying high-cost creatures early on.
In essence, while Hidden Herd may not possess the immediate ‘cheat into play’ ability of Elvish Piper or the tribal focus of Goblin Warchief or Pack Leader, its inclusion in green decks can alter the flow of the game by smoothing out mana curves and accelerating the deployment of powerful creatures into the fray.
Cards similar to Hidden Herd by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Hidden Herd has the capability to surprise an opponent by bringing creatures onto the battlefield unexpectedly, effectively bolstering your board presence and adding to your card advantage.
Resource Acceleration: By deploying creatures at a potentially lower cost or circumventing casting restrictions, Hidden Herd can function as resource acceleration, allowing you to use your mana more efficiently throughout the game.
Instant Speed: Playing at instant speed offers flexibility, allowing you to wait for the most opportune moment to act, such as at the end of your opponent’s turn or in response to an action, which can shift the game’s momentum in your favor.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Hidden Herd prompts players to discard a card to activate its ability. This cost could be substantial if your hand is running low, as it forces you to deplete valuable resources.
Specific Mana Cost: Furnishing the exact mana to cast Hidden Herd might be challenging in multicolored decks. It requires a precise combination of green mana, potentially creating a hurdle for decks that rely on a broader color palette.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Investing a considerable amount of mana to summon Hidden Herd could set you back, especially when other creatures or spells with lower casting costs can provide a similar or even greater advantage on the battlefield.
Reasons to Include Hidden Herd in Your Collection
Versatility: Hidden Herd boasts flexibility in gameplay, seamlessly integrating into a multitude of green-centered decks. Its ability to swiftly populate the board with creatures enhances both aggressive and defensive strategies.
Combo Potential: With Hidden Herd, players can unlock synergies with cards that capitalize on having multiple creatures. Its potential to rapidly escalate the creature count makes it a linchpin for combos in token-centric builds.
Meta-Relevance: Given its capacity to quickly amass a presence on the battlefield, Hidden Herd can be pivotal in metas where establishing early board control is crucial. It contends admirably in matches against control archetypes by overwhelming opponents with creature volume.
How to beat
Hidden Herd presents its unique challenge as a card in the MTG realm, fostering a combination of creature buffs and evasion tactics. The central strategy to overpowering this card involves disrupting the synergies it creates, primarily by targeting the creatures it’s designed to empower. Removal spells are key, as they can swiftly eliminate the creatures Hidden Herd aims to protect. Additionally, board wipes serve as an effective countermeasure, thoroughly resetting the state of play and obstructing any amassed creature-based momentum.
Another angle to consider when facing Hidden Herd is the use of enchantment removal. Many players overlook the necessity of having answers to enchantments in their deck, but having a few accessible can turn the tide of battle against cards like Hidden Herd. Also, countering it upon casting can prevent it from ever taking effect, hence why counter spells should be included in the deck-building strategy when anticipating such threats.
Understanding the typical decks that utilize Hidden Herd can further inform strategy, enabling preemptive planning and sideboarding tailored to combat those specific archetypes. Timely disruption and strategic deck construction can nullify the advantage Hidden Herd is designed to provide, making it manageable within the diverse and dynamic environment of MTG.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Hidden Herd MTG card by a specific set like Urza's Saga and The List, 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 Hidden Herd and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Hidden Herd Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 1998-10-12 and 1998-10-12. Illustrated by Andrew Robinson.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1998-10-12 | Urza's Saga | USG | 262 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Andrew Robinson | |
| 2 | The List | PLST | USG-262 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Andrew Robinson |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Hidden Herd has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Premodern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Hidden Herd card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2004-10-04 | Does not trigger on lands put onto the battlefield by a spell or ability. |
| 2004-10-04 | When it turns into a creature, it is no longer an enchantment. |
| 2008-08-01 | A noncreature permanent that turns into a creature can attack, and its abilities can be activated, only if its controller has continuously controlled that permanent since the beginning of their most recent turn. It doesn’t matter how long the permanent has been a creature. |