Neverwinter Hydra MTG Card


Hydra’s +1/+1 counters synergize with cards for extra draws and increased hand advantage. Flexibility in casting offers early game presence or late game dominance. Presence can impact opponent’s instant spell timing, cultivating a mental edge.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Hydra
Abilities Trample,Ward
Power 0
Toughness 0

Text of card

As Neverwinter Hydra enters the battlefield, roll X d6. It enters with a number of +1/+1 counters on it equal to the total of those results. Trample Ward


Cards like Neverwinter Hydra

Neverwinter Hydra emerges as an intriguing monstrous force within the creature fleet of MTG. It shares its kin with cards like Managorger Hydra, both steadily growing threats that can balloon under the right conditions. Neverwinter Hydra accrues power and toughness as you roll dice, a mechanic not present in Managorger Hydra but one that highlights the unpredictable magic of Dungeons & Dragons crossover sets.

Another relative in this vain is Primordial Hydra, renowned for its doubling counters each turn, offering a reliable growth unlike Neverwinter Hydra’s chance-based mechanic. The element of strategy here shifts with Primordial Hydra, giving players a calculable outcome as the game progresses. On a different spectrum, we find Heroes’ Bane, which allows direct manipulation of its size, albeit at a cost of mana investment, contrasting with Neverwinter Hydra’s passive and cost-free power-ups triggered by dice rolls.

Pondering the unique ebbs and flows these green behemoths present, the Neverwinter Hydra carves out its niche. It captivates those keen on harnessing luck and those who appreciate the nuance of its D&D-inspired roots. It encapsulates a blend of challenge and chance, transforming each roll into a pivotal moment of growth and table presence.

Managorger Hydra - MTG Card versions
Primordial Hydra - MTG Card versions
Heroes' Bane - MTG Card versions
Managorger Hydra - MTG Card versions
Primordial Hydra - MTG Card versions
Heroes' Bane - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Neverwinter Hydra by color, type and mana cost

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Whirling Dervish - MTG Card versions
River Boa - MTG Card versions
Albino Troll - MTG Card versions
Silverglade Pathfinder - MTG Card versions
Quirion Elves - MTG Card versions
Blurred Mongoose - MTG Card versions
Llanowar Loamspeaker - MTG Card versions
Genesis Hydra - MTG Card versions
Jolrael, Mwonvuli Recluse - MTG Card versions
Scavenging Ooze - MTG Card versions
Heir of the Wilds - MTG Card versions
Mayor of Avabruck // Howlpack Alpha - MTG Card versions
Wren's Run Vanquisher - MTG Card versions
Muscle Sliver - MTG Card versions
Utopia Tree - MTG Card versions
Bloodline Shaman - MTG Card versions
Sakura-Tribe Elder - MTG Card versions
Stonewood Invoker - MTG Card versions
Oran-Rief Survivalist - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Adept at ensuring you maintain a strong hand, the Neverwinter Hydra enables you to ramp up your resources significantly. When it enters the battlefield with a handful of +1/+1 counters, it’s not just a formidable creature; those counters synergize with numerous other cards. This synergy often results in drawing extra cards, keeping your options open and pressure on your opponent.

Resource Acceleration: The Hydra’s scalability in terms of mana cost is its hidden strength. It offers flexibility, allowing you to cast it early or late in the game, effectively adjusting to your available mana resources. In the late game, it can become a colossal threat that demands an answer. Early on, it can still present a challenge for your opponent to deal with promptly, representing a valuable tactical advantage.

Instant Speed: Although the Neverwinter Hydra doesn’t have instant speed itself, its sheer presence could alter how your opponent plays their instants. In particular, they might hesitate to spend removal until absolutely necessary, out of fear of this creature growing even more potent. This mental game can induce misplays or cause your opponent to expend valuable resources at inopportune times.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Neverwinter Hydra comes with a hefty discard requirement, which can significantly deplete your hand. This leaves you vulnerable to running out of options and can be particularly damaging in a game where maintaining card advantage is crucial.

Specific Mana Cost: Casting Neverwinter Hydra requires a specific combination of green mana, which can be difficult to generate in multicolored decks. This restricts the card’s flexibility and requires a dedicated mana base, potentially making it a dead card in hand under suboptimal conditions.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that’s on the higher end, Neverwinter Hydra might not be the most mana-efficient creature you could play. In fast-paced games, its casting cost could hinder your board development, especially when faced with aggro decks that capitalize on speed and efficiency.


Reasons to Include Neverwinter Hydra Mtg Card in Your Collection

Versatility: The Neverwinter Hydra presents itself as a flexible card suitable for a variety of decks. Its scalable power and toughness can adapt to different stages of the game, fitting seamlessly into both aggressive and more strategic builds.

Combo Potential: With its variable +1/+1 counters, this Hydra synergizes well with mechanics that interact with counters, such as proliferate or support, giving it potential ties to a host of powerful combinations.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where creature-based strategies are prevalent, the Neverwinter Hydra can become a formidable threat. It adapts to the board state, ensuring it remains relevant against an array of deck archetypes.


How to Beat Neverwinter Hydra

Confronted with the ever-growing might of the Neverwinter Hydra, players must strategize effectively to triumph over this towering creature. The Hydra stands out in MTG for its multiplicative power, scaling its strength with each card in your opponent’s hand. And while it may seem daunting at first, overcoming this behemoth is possible with proper planning. First and foremost, keep the Hydra’s fuel—your adversary’s hand size—in check. Spells like Thoughtseize or Duress can surgically remove critical cards, thereby not only disrupting your opponent’s game plans but also diminishing the Hydra’s strength.

In a match, time is of the essence. Therefore, removal spells that can neutralize the Hydra before it gets out of control are invaluable. Instant-speed removal like Path to Exile or Fatal Push can serve as an efficient answer, ideally leaving your opponent with less board presence. Additionally, board wipes such as Wrath of God or Damnation can reset the playing field, giving you a fresh start if the Hydra’s presence becomes overwhelming. It’s essential to anticipate the creature’s arrival and hold these answers at the ready.

Ultimately, success against the Neverwinter Hydra is about controlling the battlefield and staying one step ahead. A balanced deck with hand disruption and targeted removal stands a solid chance of taming Magic’s savage Hydra.


BurnMana Recommendations

Exploring the versatility of the Neverwinter Hydra can dramatically shift the tides of your MTG matches. Its synergy with +1/+1 counters and adaptability in terms of casting make it a formidable addition to your green deck strategies. However, remember to balance your deck to manage the Hydra’s limitations, ensuring you’re not caught off guard by its high mana demand and specific requirements. Keep your collection well-rounded with instant-speed removals and board wipes to handle opposing Hydras. Curious about incorporating Neverwinter Hydra into your deck or seeking strategic ways to overcome it? Dive deeper with us and enhance your gameplay with finesse and strategic prowess.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Neverwinter Hydra MTG card by a specific set like Forgotten Realms Commander and Forgotten Realms Commander, 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 Neverwinter Hydra and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Neverwinter Hydra Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2021-07-23 and 2021-07-23. Illustrated by Lucas Graciano.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12021-07-23Forgotten Realms CommanderAFC 3102015NormalBlackLucas Graciano
22021-07-23Forgotten Realms CommanderAFC 412015NormalBlackLucas Graciano

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Neverwinter Hydra has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2021-07-23 An ability that tells you to roll a die will also specify what to do with the result of that roll. Most often, this is in the form of a “results table” in the card text.
2021-07-23 An effect that says “choose a target, then roll a d20” or similar still uses the normal process of putting an ability on the stack and resolving it. Choosing targets is part of putting the ability on the stack and rolling the d20 happens later, as the ability resolves.
2021-07-23 Dice are identified by the number of faces each one has. For example, a d20 is a twenty-sided die.
2021-07-23 Dice used must have equally likely outcomes and the roll must be fair. Although physical dice are recommended, digital substitutes are allowed, provided they have the same number of equally likely outcomes as specified in the original roll instruction.
2021-07-23 If a player casts a spell that targets multiple permanents their opponent controls with ward, each of those ward abilities will trigger. If that player doesn't pay for all of them, the spell will be countered.
2021-07-23 Some abilities, like that of Pixie Guide and Barbarian Class, replace rolling a die with rolling extra dice and ignoring the lowest roll. The ignored rolls are not considered for the effect that instructed you to roll a die, and do not cause abilities to trigger. For all intents and purposes, once you determine which dice count, any extra dice were never rolled.
2021-07-23 Some effects instruct you to roll again. This uses the same number and type of dice as the original roll, and that roll will use the same set of possible outcomes.
2021-07-23 Some effects may modify the result of a die roll. This may be part of the instruction to roll a die or it may come from other cards. Anything that references the “result” of a die roll is looking for the result after these modifications. Anything that is looking for the “natural result” is looking for the number shown on the face of the die before these modifications.
2021-07-23 The instruction to roll a die and the effect that occurs because of the result are all part of the same ability. Players do not get the chance to respond to the ability after knowing the result of the roll.
2021-07-23 Tournament events have more specific rules regarding dice and die-rolling. For more information, please see the most recent version of the Magic Tournament Rules at https://wpn.wizards.com/en/document/magic-gathering-tournament-rules.
2021-07-23 While playing Planechase, rolling the planar die will cause any ability that triggers whenever a player rolls one or more dice to trigger. However, any effect that refers to a numerical result will ignore the rolling of the planar die.