Hydradoodle MTG Card
Text of card
As Hydradoodle enters the battlefield, roll X six-sided dice. Hydradoodle enters the battlefield with a number of +1/+1 counters on it equal to the total of those results. Reach, trample
Less housebroken than housebreaking.
Cards like Hydradoodle
Hydradoodle wades into the battlefield of Magic: The Gathering as an engaging addition to the creature pool with an X cost, drawing favorable comparisons to other variable power creatures like Primordial Hydra. Hydradoodle’s uniqueness shines through its rolling-dice mechanism, determining its power and toughness, diversifying the game for those who crave elements of chance and surprise.
Comparable to it is the aforementioned Primordial Hydra, which grows each turn and becomes a persistent threat. Unlike Hydradoodle, its growth is predictable and can be managed more easily by opponents. However, Primordial Hydra is potentially more powerful over time. Another similar card is the Protean Hydra, which adopts the X cost strategy and gains +1/+1 counters when damaged. While Protean Hydra offers a degree of resilience, it lacks the immediate variable impact and the fun unpredictability of Hydradoodle.
Evaluating these cards side by side, Hydradoodle appeals with its instant impact and an element of surprise that can swing the game unexpectedly. It embodies an exciting approach for players who enjoy MTG not only as a strategy game but also as a source of wonder and anticipation with each dice roll.
Cards similar to Hydradoodle by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Prominent among the unique characteristics of the Hydradoodle card is its potential to generate significant card advantage. The creature’s varied power and toughness, which can swiftly become a daunting force on the battlefield, potentially overwhelm opponents and give you control over the game’s flow.
Resource Acceleration: Hydradoodle shines in strategies aiming for resource acceleration. The creature’s X cost mechanic allows players to tailor their mana investment, making it an adaptable option for ramping up the board’s power level efficiently. With the right setup, summoning Hydradoodle can accelerate your board state’s threat significantly.
Instant Speed: Despite being a creature, the flexible casting cost of Hydradoodle can leverage instant-speed spells in your arsenal. This means you can adapt to the state of the match, holding back resources until the optimal moment to unleash this formidable creature, catching opponents by surprise and shifting the momentum in your favor.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: The Hydradoodle card can set players back due to its steep discard requirement. To summon this formidable creature, players are often forced to give up other valuable cards from their hand, which can deplete their options for future turns and potentially impair overall strategy.
Specific Mana Cost: Summoning the powerful Hydradoodle demands a specialized mana setup. Players must tap not just any mana, but two green mana sources along with a variable amount of additional mana, which locks this card into decks that are heavily attuned to green mana, making it less flexible across the diverse spectrum of deck types.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Establishing board presence with Hydradoodle can be taxing on a player’s mana resources. The card’s cost, which is relative to its power and toughness, can spiral into a hefty investment. Players might find that other creatures or spells could offer similar benefits or greater board impact for a lower mana investment, forcing strategic considerations about the best use of their mana in a given game.
Reasons to Include Hydradoodle in Your Collection
Versatility: Hydradoodle offers flexibility in gameplay, capable of being a variable force on the board. It can adapt to various situations, thanks to its X cost allowing a scalable threat level based on available mana.
Combo Potential: With its enter-the-battlefield ability, Hydradoodle serves as an excellent creature for synergizing with strategies that benefit from counters, such as proliferate mechanics or doubling effects like those from “Doubling Season.”
Meta-Relevance: As creature-based strategies often fluctuate in popularity, Hydradoodle’s ability to be both a formidable blocker and an aggressor can be a game-changer in creature-dense metagames or as an unexpected element in various deck builds.
How to beat
The Hydradoodle is a unique creature in the MTG universe, wielding an array of abilities that can make it quite the formidable opponent on the battlefield. To efficiently counter it, a player should focus on removal spells that can bypass its potential for a large number of +1/+1 counters. Direct damage spells may not always be sufficient given Hydradoodle’s variable size, so consider using unconditional removal like “Path to Exile” or “Terminate” that can dispose of it regardless of its power and toughness.
Moreover, if the Hydradoodle has already accumulated counters and seems invincible, leveraging board wipe spells like “Wrath of God” or “Damnation” can be particularly effective. Such spells can clear the board of all creatures, ensuring that your opponent’s investment in building a massive Hydradoodle doesn’t pay off. Lastly, keeping up the pressure and using control elements to prevent your opponent from playing or pumping their Hydradoodle will give you a competitive edge, preserving your pathway to victory.
In essence, although Hydradoodle has the potential to grow into a significant threat, with the right strategy and a carefully constructed deck, ensuring its strengths are systematically neutralized allows a player to take control of the game and emerge triumphantly.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Hydradoodle MTG card by a specific set like Unstable and The List (Unfinity Foil Edition), 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 Hydradoodle and other MTG cards:
BUY NOW BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
- 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 Hydradoodle Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2017-12-08 and 2022-10-07. Illustrated by Mathias Kollros.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2017-12-08 | Unstable | UST | 112 | 2015 | Normal | Silver | Mathias Kollros | |
| 2 | 2022-10-07 | The List (Unfinity Foil Edition) | ULST | 36 | 2015 | Normal | Silver | Mathias Kollros |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Hydradoodle card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2018-01-19 | You can choose 0 as the value of X. However, you won’t roll any dice as it enters and it will be a 0/0. Unless something else is raising its toughness, it will be put into its owner’s graveyard. |