Rotted Hystrix MTG Card


Rotted Hystrix - New Phyrexia
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Phyrexian Beast
Released2011-05-13
Set symbol
Set nameNew Phyrexia
Set codeNPH
Power 3
Toughness 6
Number120
Frame2003
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byDave Allsop

Key Takeaways

  1. Rotted Hystrix’s toughness allows for board staying power, often outlasting mass removal spells.
  2. Its low cost offers early game advantage, fitting well in rapidly populating strategies.
  3. Strategic gameplay can be influenced, leveraging its presence to affect opponent responses.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Rotted Hystrix, while not directly offering card draw, can indirectly lead to card advantage by surviving board wipes due to its formidable toughness. This resilience allows players to maintain a presence on the board, forcing opponents to commit more resources to deal with it.

Resource Acceleration: Although the Rotted Hystrix doesn’t ramp or generate additional mana by itself, its low casting cost makes it an accessible play early in the game. This is particularly beneficial in decks that thrive on quickly populating the battlefield with creatures to overwhelm opponents.

Instant Speed: While Rotted Hystrix cannot be cast at instant speed, its literal presence can influence the opponents’ decisions, potentially leading them to play their instant speed removals or board control spells in anticipation, leaving the way clear for other threats in your hand to be played with less resistance.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: A potential drawback of Rotted Hystrix is that it may necessitate the discard of other valuable cards from your hand. This can be particularly problematic during late-game scenarios where your hand size matters and each card you hold could be critical for your strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: To cast Rotted Hystrix, you need a specific arrangement of mana, which includes green. This can be cumbersome for decks that are not heavily invested in green mana or for those that have a mana base designed to support multiple colors, potentially causing the card to remain in your hand unused.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When considering the card’s abilities in relation to its mana cost, the investment might not always equate to a high payoff. Other creatures available at a lower cost can offer similar or better value, making Rotted Hystrix a less optimal choice for inclusion in your deck, especially in competitive play where efficiency is key.


Reasons to Include Rotted Hystrix in Your Collection

Versatility: Rotted Hystrix serves a dynamic role in multiple deck builds. Its capacity to act as a reliable blocker due to its decent toughness makes it a good fit in green ramp and midrange decks that require time to build up to more powerful plays.

Combo Potential: In a deck that focuses on +1/+1 counters or creature synergies, Rotted Hystrix can easily become a key piece. Its ability to grow over time can be combined with various green spells or abilities to create unexpected threats on the battlefield.

Meta-Relevance: With a flexible mana cost and solid stats, Rotted Hystrix holds its own in a meta that rewards sturdy creatures. It can catch opponents off guard in a game where attrition can tip the scales, making it an under-the-radar addition that could shine against particular strategies.


How to beat

Rotted Hystrix has planted itself as a quirky yet sturdy creature card. In the world of Magic: The Gathering, it serves as a steadfast blocker, but its strength is not insurmountable. To leap over this thorny obstacle, understanding its weaknesses becomes key. For starters, Rotted Hystrix lacks any form of evasion, making it vulnerable to removal spells. One could consider deploying simple removal cards like Murder to directly clear the path. Moreover, even though it boasts a solid 3/6 body, the Hystrix is inefficient at handling swarms of smaller creatures which can whittle down a player’s life total by going wide around it.

Additionally, enchantments like Pacifism can effectively neutralize the Rotted Hystrix without having to remove it from play. This strategy shuts down its defensive prowess and also conserves your removal spells for more immediate threats. Since the Hystrix also poses no trample or direct damage threat, outpacing it on board state with aggressive creatures or flying attackers ensures that it becomes a non-issue as you soar to victory. Understanding these countermeasures will allow players to construct a game plan that easily navigates around the sturdy yet vulnerable Rotted Hystrix.


Cards like Rotted Hystrix

Rotted Hystrix plays an interesting role as a mana-efficient creature in Magic: The Gathering. It often gets compared to other creatures such as Nessian Courser and Borderland Ranger, both of which bring different advantages to the battlefield. Nessian Courser, with a similar cost and a power/toughness of 3/3, does not have any additional abilities but offers solid reliability as a creature. On the other side, Borderland Ranger comes into play with a beneficial ability allowing you to search for a basic land card, ensuring a land drop and aiding in mana fixing.

Another close comparison can be made with Baloth Gorger. This creature not only has a higher power/toughness ratio but also features a kicker cost that, when paid, adds counters making it even larger. Therefore, while Rotted Hystrix provides an essential low-cost creature for your early game, Baloth Gorger offers scalability into the late game. Both cards serve a clear purpose and choosing between them can be strategic depending on the deck’s overarching theme and mana curve.

Considering these comparisons, Rotted Hystrix stands out with its efficient mana cost and baseline stats that can be pivotal for players seeking a sturdy ground presence in the early stages of the game.

Nessian Courser - MTG Card versions
Borderland Ranger - MTG Card versions
Baloth Gorger - MTG Card versions
Nessian Courser - Future Sight (FUT)
Borderland Ranger - Magic 2010 (M10)
Baloth Gorger - Dominaria (DOM)

Cards similar to Rotted Hystrix by color, type and mana cost

Thicket Basilisk - MTG Card versions
Cockatrice - MTG Card versions
Ironroot Treefolk - MTG Card versions
Elvish Bard - MTG Card versions
Durkwood Boars - MTG Card versions
Elven Riders - MTG Card versions
Redwood Treefolk - MTG Card versions
Spined Wurm - MTG Card versions
Rabid Wolverines - MTG Card versions
Deadly Insect - MTG Card versions
Vintara Elephant - MTG Card versions
Crashing Boars - MTG Card versions
Kavu Chameleon - MTG Card versions
Spring-Leaf Avenger - MTG Card versions
Okina Nightwatch - MTG Card versions
Consuming Blob - MTG Card versions
Primeval Force - MTG Card versions
Spitting Spider - MTG Card versions
Moss Monster - MTG Card versions
Copperhoof Vorrac - MTG Card versions
Thicket Basilisk - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Cockatrice - Intl. Collectors' Edition (CEI)
Ironroot Treefolk - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
Elvish Bard - Alliances (ALL)
Durkwood Boars - Rivals Quick Start Set (RQS)
Elven Riders - Duels of the Planeswalkers (DPA)
Redwood Treefolk - Weatherlight (WTH)
Spined Wurm - Stronghold (STH)
Rabid Wolverines - Exodus (EXO)
Deadly Insect - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Vintara Elephant - Prophecy (PCY)
Crashing Boars - Beatdown Box Set (BTD)
Kavu Chameleon - World Championship Decks 2001 (WC01)
Spring-Leaf Avenger - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Okina Nightwatch - Arena League 2005 (PAL05)
Consuming Blob - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Primeval Force - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Spitting Spider - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Moss Monster - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Copperhoof Vorrac - Mirrodin (MRD)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Rotted Hystrix MTG card by a specific set like New Phyrexia, 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 Rotted Hystrix and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Rotted Hystrix has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

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