Hydra's Growth MTG Card


Offers a unique and persistent way to strengthen creatures, applying pressure with a growing board presence. Enchantment’s exponential counter growth translates to accelerated creature power without additional card cost. Strategic use during upkeep can surprise opponents, acting as an instant speed effect for combat advantage.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityUncommon
TypeEnchantment — Aura
Abilities Enchant

Text of card

Enchant creature When Hydra's Growth enters the battlefield, put a +1/+1 counter on enchanted creature. At the beginning of your upkeep, double the number of +1/+1 counters on enchanted creature.


Cards like Hydra's Growth

Hydra’s Growth stands out in Magic: The Gathering as a unique enchantment that supercharges creatures with growing numbers of +1/+1 counters each turn. It’s often compared to cards like Hardened Scales, which also revolves around +1/+1 counters, yet Hydra’s Growth exponentially increases the quantity whereas Hardened Scales only adds one more. Unleash Fury is another contender, as it doubles a creature’s power until end of turn, but the effect is temporary compared to the sustained growth offered by Hydra’s Growth.

Further comparisons can be drawn with Invigorating Surge, which puts +1/+1 counters on a creature and doubles the number of counters on it, providing an instant but one-time spike in power. Similarly, Doubling Season is a card that doubles the counters placed on creatures. However, it impacts the board more broadly by affecting tokens as well, but with a higher mana cost and one that provides no immediate counters on its own.

Analyzing these alternatives, Hydra’s Growth is especially powerful for players seeking a strategy that builds momentum over several turns, making it a potent card for long-term creature enhancement in Magic: The Gathering.

Hydra's Growth - MTG Card versions
Hardened Scales - MTG Card versions
Unleash Fury - MTG Card versions
Invigorating Surge - MTG Card versions
Doubling Season - MTG Card versions
Hydra's Growth - MTG Card versions
Hardened Scales - MTG Card versions
Unleash Fury - MTG Card versions
Invigorating Surge - MTG Card versions
Doubling Season - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Hydra's Growth. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Selesnya AurasSelesnya Auras GladiatorSword and Sandals Showdown: EMEA Week 09 2024

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Hydra’s Growth offers a unique ongoing advantage by consistently boosting one of your creatures every turn. This not only pressures opponents but also helps you maintain a powerful board presence without investing additional cards.

Resource Acceleration: While not providing direct mana acceleration, the exponential growth of +1/+1 counters can rapidly increase the might of your creatures. This translates to resource acceleration as you effectively gain a stronger offensive and defensive asset without further card investments.

Instant Speed: Although Hydra’s Growth is not an instant, its continuous buffing effect during your upkeep mimics the advantage by regularly strengthening your creatures outside the combat phase. This allows for strategic surprises during combat, making your creature a more daunting threat each round.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Hydra’s Growth doesn’t require a discard to play, it does demand careful planning as it becomes a target for removal, potentially causing you to lose both the enchantment and the creature it’s attached to, effectively discarding the invested cards.

Specific Mana Cost: Hydra’s Growth requires both green mana and generic mana which may not always align with your mana base, especially in multicolored decks, making it less flexible in a diverse meta.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a cost of two generic and one green mana, this enchantment can be considered costly given it does not impact the board immediately. In faster-paced games, the return on investment may be too slow, and there are alternative lower-cost growth options that could be more efficient in those critical early turns.


Reasons to Include Hydra’s Growth in Your Collection

Versatility: Hydra’s Growth is a standout enchantment that can be slotted easily into any green deck. Its ability to scale up a creature each turn makes it particularly adaptable for both aggressive and defensive strategies, catering to a multitude of playstyles.

Combo Potential: With its exponential growth mechanic, this card synergizes well with strategies that capitalize on +1/+1 counters. It can turn any creature into a significant threat, working in tandem with proliferate mechanics or counter-doubling effects to create overwhelming board states.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where games tend to stretch into the mid to late turns, Hydra’s Growth can become a game-changer. Its persistent scaling makes it a valuable asset against control decks that might struggle to deal with an ever-growing threat each turn.


How to beat Hydra’s Growth

Hydra’s Growth can quickly escalate the power of creatures on the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering, often leading to intimidating threats if left unchecked. To gain the upper hand, players must counteract this enchantment effectively. Enchantment removal spells are your first line of defense; look to cards like Disenchant or Broken Bond to directly tackle Hydra’s Growth. If that’s not an option, consider using creature removal strategies to eliminate the buffed threat before it overwhelms you. Cards such as Murder or Path to Exile are excellent for swiftly taking down an enchanted creature.

Alternatively, you can shift to a control strategy, using counterspells like Cancel or Negate to prevent Hydra’s Growth from ever hitting the board. In a pinch, forced sacrifice mechanics or board wipes, such as Doom Blade or Wrath of God, can clear the way when dealing with multiple threats or a single oversized creature. Keep in mind that timing is crucial; react too late and the compounded growth from the enchantment may prove insurmountable.


BurnMana Recommendations

As you delve into the depths of MTG, Hydra’s Growth is a card that beckons with the promise of turning the tides in your favor. With its capacity to amplify your creatures’ prowess turn after turn, it becomes an indispensable ally for those who aspire to cultivate a formidable presence on the battlefield. Fully grasping the nuances of this enchantment can pivot your strategy from being ordinary to extraordinary. If you’re intrigued by the exponential potential and tactical advantage Hydra’s Growth offers, join us at BurnMana. Embrace the knowledge and finesse required to optimize its use in your deck and outgrow your competition on this journey to MTG mastery.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Hydra's Growth MTG card by a specific set like Theros Beyond Death and Jumpstart 2022, 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 Hydra's Growth and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Hydra's Growth Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2020-01-24 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12020-01-24Theros Beyond DeathTHB 1722015NormalBlackBayard Wu
22022-12-02Jumpstart 2022J22 892015NormalBlackInuchiyo Meimaru

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Hydra's Growth has restrictions

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

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2020-01-24 If Hydra’s Growth leaves the battlefield before its enters-the-battlefield triggered ability resolves, the creature it last enchanted before it left gets the +1/+1 counter.
2020-01-24 To double the number of +1/+1 counters on a creature, put a number of +1/+1 counters on it equal to the number it already has. Other cards that interact with putting counters on it will interact with this effect accordingly.