Rock Hydra MTG Card

Rock Hydra excels in card advantage by growing with +1/+1 counters when damaged. Its mana flexibility upon casting suits different strategies, enhancing board control capability. Instant speed interaction facilitates formidable combos, turning defense into offense.

Rock Hydra - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)

Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
1993-08-05 - Number 171

Limited Edition Beta (LEB)
1993-10-04 - Number 172

Unlimited Edition (2ED)
1993-12-01 - Number 172

Collectors' Edition (CED)
1993-12-10 - Number 172

Rock Hydra - Intl. Collectors' Edition (CEI)

Intl. Collectors' Edition (CEI)
1993-12-10 - Number 172

Foreign Black Border (FBB)
1994-04-01 - Number 173

Revised Edition (3ED)
1994-04-01 - Number 173

Summer Magic / Edgar (SUM)
1994-06-21 - Number 173

Masters Edition IV (ME4)
2011-01-10 - Number 133

Rock Hydra - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)

30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
2022-11-28 - Number 464

30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
2022-11-28 - Number 167

Card sets	Released in 11 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Rare
Type	Creature — Hydra
Power	0
Toughness	0

Text of card

Put X +1/+1 counters (heads) on Hydra. Each point of damage Hydra suffers destroys one head unless R is spent. During upkeep, new heads may be grown for o Ro Ro R apiece.

Cards like Rock Hydra

In the realm of Magic: The Gathering, the Rock Hydra stands tall with its formidable presence. But there are other creatures that fans of the multi-headed creature might enjoy. One such card is Protean Hydra, which, like Rock Hydra, utilizes +1/+1 counters to showcase its regenerative abilities. Nevertheless, the Protean Hydra automatically receives counters when it takes damage, contrasting with Rock Hydra’s manual counter investment.

Moving to a mechanical cousin, Polukranos, World Eater also plays in the counter space. It carries an activated ability that allows it to become monstrous, dishing out damage while gaining counters. Unlike Rock Hydra, which can split off into new heads with each counter, Polukranos offers a more aggressive one-shot area effect. Then there’s the Savageborn Hydra, which doubles down on its growth capacity with double strike and the flexibility to spend mana for counters at any time, unlike Rock Hydra’s restriction to only during upkeep.

In essence, each card offers a unique twist on using counters, providing MTG players the joy of adapting this theme to their strategic liking. Rock Hydra carved its niche for those who take pleasure in careful resource allocation and watching their creature expand over the course of a game.

Polukranos, World Eater - MTG Card versions

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

Goblin Elite Infantry - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Known for its replicating heads, Rock Hydra offers an ongoing source of card advantage by placing +1/+1 counters each time it is targeted with damage, potentially growing its presence substantially without needing to draw additional creature cards.

Resource Acceleration: Rock Hydra’s ability to invest any amount of mana into X during casting allows for remarkable flexibility in resource acceleration, adapting to the available mana and possibly dominating the board early on.

Instant Speed: While not an instant itself, the adaptability of Rock Hydra interacts well with instant-speed spells and abilities that can redirect, prevent, or multiply damage, turning reactive plays into opportunities for strengthening this formidable creature even during an opponent’s turn.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Rock Hydra demands additional resources to reach its full potential. Each head requires extra mana to maintain, which can present a challenge, especially if other cards in your hand are also competing for those resources.

Specific Mana Cost: The Hydra requires a heavy commitment to red mana, limiting its flexibility. Decks not heavily invested in red might find it difficult to accommodate such a stringent mana requirement, impacting overall strategy.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: This creature comes with a significant initial investment, asking for a substantial amount of mana to summon. In faster-paced games, this can be a considerable setback, as summoning the Rock Hydra could delay other pivotal plays. Other creatures or spells might provide more immediate impact or versatility for a similar – or lower – mana cost.

Reasons to Include Rock Hydra in Your Collection

Versatility: Rock Hydra seamlessly integrates with decks that thrive on +1/+1 counters, enhancing strategies that revolve around creature growth and durability in battle.

Combo Potential: The numerous heads of Rock Hydra provide fuel for synergies with cards that react to creature tokens or multiplying effects, allowing for intriguing interactions within your deck.

Meta-Relevance: With strategies often centered around powerful creatures, Rock Hydra can be a game-changer in matches where resilience and adaptable threats can tip the scales in your favor, making it a formidable inclusion for anyone looking to stay competitive.

How to beat

The Rock Hydra stands as a formidable force in MTG, thanks to its regenerative abilities and potential for exponential growth. To disrupt this creature’s dominance, removal spells are a player’s best ally. One effective route is through direct damage cards – spells like Lightning Bolt or Shatter that can deal damage specifically to a target. If you wield enough damage to overcome the Hydra’s heads, you can eliminate it before regeneration becomes an issue.

Another strategy involves utilizing spells that force the Hydra’s controller to sacrifice it, sidestepping the need to combat its regenerative capacity directly. Edict effects, such as Diabolic Edict or Liliana’s Triumph, compel a player to sacrifice a creature, offering a clean solution to the Hydra problem. Additionally, exile-based removal like Path to Exile or Swords to Plowshares can permanently address the Hydra, rendering its regenerative talents irrelevant.

Timing is key when facing a Rock Hydra. Engage your removal spells either before the Hydra’s heads become too numerous or in response to the growth abilities being activated. This preemptive approach ensures the creature never reaches its formidable potential on the battlefield. With precise timing and the right spell choices, any MTG player can confidently conquer the mighty Rock Hydra.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Rock Hydra MTG card by a specific set like Limited Edition Alpha and Limited Edition Beta, 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 Rock Hydra and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Rock Hydra Magic the Gathering card was released in 10 different sets between 1993-08-05 and 2022-11-28. Illustrated by Jeff A. Menges.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	1993-08-05	Limited Edition Alpha	LEA	171	1993	Normal	Black	Jeff A. Menges
2	1993-10-04	Limited Edition Beta	LEB	172	1993	Normal	Black	Jeff A. Menges
3	1993-12-01	Unlimited Edition	2ED	172	1993	Normal	White	Jeff A. Menges
4	1993-12-10	Collectors' Edition	CED	172	1993	Normal	Black	Jeff A. Menges
5	1993-12-10	Intl. Collectors' Edition	CEI	172	1993	Normal	Black	Jeff A. Menges
6	1994-04-01	Foreign Black Border	FBB	173	1993	Normal	Black	Jeff A. Menges
7	1994-04-01	Revised Edition	3ED	173	1993	Normal	White	Jeff A. Menges
8	1994-06-21	Summer Magic / Edgar	SUM	173	1993	Normal	White	Jeff A. Menges
9	2011-01-10	Masters Edition IV	ME4	133	1997	Normal	Black	Jeff A. Menges
10	2022-11-28	30th Anniversary Edition	30A	464	1997	Normal	Black	Jeff A. Menges
11	2022-11-28	30th Anniversary Edition	30A	167	2015	Normal	Black	Jeff A. Menges

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Rock Hydra has restrictions

Format	Legality
Oldschool	Legal
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2004-10-04	If put onto the battlefield without casting it from your hand, X will be zero.
2004-10-04	Once on the battlefield, the X is considered to be zero when calculating its mana cost.
2008-08-01	If damage that would be dealt to Rock Hydra can’t be prevented, you still remove a +1/+1 counter from it for each 1 damage dealt.
2008-08-01	You can activate the activated ability that prevents damage any time, even if no source seems likely to deal damage to you in the near future. It will prevent the next 1 damage that would be dealt this turn, even if that turns out to be much later in the turn.