Hydroblast MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 9 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeInstant

Key Takeaways

  1. Instant speed and targeting capabilities make Hydroblast a staple in blue sideboards against red threats.
  2. Its effectiveness is slightly countered by its color-specific limitation and one blue mana cost.
  3. Hydroblast’s versatility and meta-relevance make it an essential card for competitive MTG players.

Text of card

Counter target spell if it is red or destroy target permanent if it is red.

"Heed the lessons of our time: the forms of water may move the land itself and hold captive the fires within." —Gustha Ebbasdotter, Kjeldoran Royal Mage


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Hydroblast offers players a practical edge in dealing with an opponent’s threats. By targeting a spell or permanent that’s red, you can effectively counter or eliminate a key component of an opponent’s strategy, thereby maintaining superiority on the board.

Resource Acceleration: While Hydroblast doesn’t directly accelerate resources in the way mana artifacts or ramp cards do, it serves as a low-cost solution to intercept red spells or permanents that could potentially disrupt your mana base or tempo, indirectly keeping your resources safe.

Instant Speed: The power of Hydroblast is amplified by its instant speed, allowing players complete flexibility in their response timing. You can navigate complex battlefields and strategically plan the dismissal of red threats, all while conserving mana for other critical plays until the moment it’s needed most.


Card Cons

Specific Mana Cost: Hydroblast requires blue mana for casting. This limitation confines its use to blue-inclusive decks and can be a hurdle in multicolored decks that struggle with mana consistency.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While relatively low, there are moments in a fast-paced game where paying one blue mana to counter or destroy a red permanent can be a costly move, as these mana could potentially be allocated to more pressing needs on the board.

Discard Requirement: Although Hydroblast does not require a discard itself, its inclusion in a deck may force players to discard other valuable cards due to hand size limits, especially in control decks that aim to maintain card advantage.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Hydroblast is a card that can be slotted into a wide array of blue-based control or sideboard plans. Its capability to counter or destroy red spells or permanents makes it a flexible sideboard choice in formats where red decks are prevalent.

Combo Potential: As a reactive card with a low mana cost, Hydroblast can protect your key pieces from red interaction, allowing you to safely assemble combos or maintain board presence without fear of red disruption.

Meta-Relevance: In environments dominated by red aggressive strategies or key red win conditions, Hydroblast serves as a concise and efficient answer, rendering it a compelling inclusion in collections designed to contend with ever-shifting competitive landscapes.


How to beat

Hydroblast is a classic card in the Magic: The Gathering arsenal, mostly used as a defense tool in decks against red spells or permanents. The strength of Hydroblast lies in its precision and instant speed, allowing you to counter or destroy targets for merely a single blue mana. But what strategies can players employ to outmaneuver this card?

One efficient approach is to bait out the Hydroblast with less vital spells, preserving your high-impact red cards for later when the opponent’s guard or blue mana might be down. Another tactic involves diversifying your threats, not relying solely on red spells, thereby diluting Hydroblast’s effectiveness. Players can also consider including cards that can’t be countered or that trigger upon casting, ensuring some benefit even if the spell itself is neutralized.

Decks equipped with spells like Pyroblast or Red Elemental Blast, which can counter blue spells, offer a direct countermeasure to Hydroblast. This not only protects your hand but also could turn the tables by countering the opponent’s blue spells, including Hydroblast itself. Understanding the sync between your deck’s strategy and anticipating Hydroblast can be pivotal in securing victory.


BurnMana Recommendations

Dive deeper into MTG strategy with Hydroblast, your defense against the passionate fire of red-based decks. Appreciating the nuances in timing and the flexibility offered by instant speed can turn the tides in your favor. Crafting a deck with Hydroblast in mind means preparing for the heat of battle, ensuring your blue magic quenches the most intense of flames. Recognize the ebbs and flows of your meta and Hydroblast’s place within, safeguarding your plays and disrupting the opponent’s rhythm. For insights on optimizing your deck and becoming a formidable strategist in the MTG realm, join us for more.


Cards like Hydroblast

Hydroblast is a staple in blue sideboards in MTG, offering a precise answer to red spells and permanents. Its closest relative is Blue Elemental Blast, which, at the same cost and effect, seems almost identical. The key difference lies in Hydroblast’s ability to be activated even if there’s no red spell on the stack or red permanent on the field, providing a slight advantage in terms of bluffing or triggering abilities that require casting a spell.

Red Elemental Blast and Pyroblast are counterparts to Hydroblast in the red corner. They mirror the functionality by targeting blue spells and permanents, maintaining the balance between these two color’s eternal rivalry. The choice between these cards usually depends on the player’s deck strategy and the likelihood of facing blue threats. Dispel also serves as a comparison point, a one-mana blue instant specifically targeting spells, but without the color restriction – giving it a broader scope but lacking the permanent handling aspect.

By comparing their applications and efficiency, Hydroblast is uniquely positioned in MTG as a targeted tool for blue mages against red-heavy matchups. Its versatility under different game circumstances cements its role in competitive play, especially within eternal formats where red strategies are prevalent.

Blue Elemental Blast - MTG Card versions
Red Elemental Blast - MTG Card versions
Pyroblast - MTG Card versions
Dispel - MTG Card versions
Blue Elemental Blast - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Red Elemental Blast - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Pyroblast - Ice Age (ICE)
Dispel - Worldwake (WWK)

Cards similar to Hydroblast by color, type and mana cost

Ancestral Recall - MTG Card versions
Jump - MTG Card versions
Sleight of Mind - MTG Card versions
Twiddle - MTG Card versions
Unsummon - MTG Card versions
Siren's Call - MTG Card versions
Power Sink - MTG Card versions
Blue Elemental Blast - MTG Card versions
Spell Blast - MTG Card versions
Magical Hack - MTG Card versions
Sea Kings' Blessing - MTG Card versions
Enchantment Alteration - MTG Card versions
Riptide - MTG Card versions
Winter's Chill - MTG Card versions
Mind Bend - MTG Card versions
Denied! - MTG Card versions
Whispers of the Muse - MTG Card versions
Curfew - MTG Card versions
Ertai's Trickery - MTG Card versions
Force Spike - MTG Card versions
Ancestral Recall - Vintage Championship (OVNT)
Jump - Magic 2010 (M10)
Sleight of Mind - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Twiddle - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Unsummon - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Siren's Call - Collectors' Edition (CED)
Power Sink - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Blue Elemental Blast - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Spell Blast - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Magical Hack - Intl. Collectors' Edition (CEI)
Sea Kings' Blessing - Legends (LEG)
Enchantment Alteration - Legends (LEG)
Riptide - The Dark (DRK)
Winter's Chill - Ice Age (ICE)
Mind Bend - Tenth Edition (10E)
Denied! - Unglued (UGL)
Whispers of the Muse - World Championship Decks 1998 (WC98)
Curfew - Urza's Saga (USG)
Ertai's Trickery - Planeshift (PLS)
Force Spike - Jumpstart: Historic Horizons (J21)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Hydroblast MTG card by a specific set like Ice Age and Pro Tour Collector Set, 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 Hydroblast and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Hydroblast Magic the Gathering card was released in 8 different sets between 1995-06-03 and 2016-06-10. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11995-06-03Ice AgeICE 721993normalblackKaja Foglio
21996-05-02Pro Tour Collector SetPTC ml72sb1993normalgoldKaja Foglio
31997-03-24Fifth Edition5ED 941997normalwhiteKaja Foglio
41997-08-13World Championship Decks 1997WC97 pm94sb1997normalgoldKaja Foglio
51997-08-13World Championship Decks 1997WC97 js94sb1997normalgoldKaja Foglio
61998-08-12World Championship Decks 1998WC98 rb72sb1997normalgoldKaja Foglio
72002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 699792015normalblackJoseph Meehan
82007-09-10Masters EditionME1 371997normalblackKaja Foglio
92016-06-10Eternal MastersEMA 552015normalblackLake Hurwitz

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Hydroblast has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2004-10-04 The decision to counter a spell or destroy a permanent is a decision made on announcement before the target is selected. If the spell is redirected, this mode can’t be changed, so only targets of the selected type are valid.
2016-06-08 Hydroblast can target any spell or permanent, not just a red one. It checks the color of the target only on resolution.

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