Spitting Hydra MTG Card

Stronghold (STH)
1998-03-02 - Number 99

Spitting Hydra - Tempest Remastered (TPR)

Tempest Remastered (TPR)
2015-05-06 - Number 161

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	5
Rarity	Rare
Type	Creature — Hydra
Power	0
Toughness	0

Key Takeaways

Spitting Hydra’s scalable counters offer dynamic board presence and robust strategic options throughout the game.
Demands thoughtful mana investment, leading to a diverse gameplay experience with ample combo potential.
Requires careful planning to either maximize its power or devise strategies to efficiently counter it.

Text of card

Spitting Hydra comes into play with four +1/+1 counters on it. o1o R, Remove a +1/+1 counter from Spitting Hydra: Spitting Hydra deals 1 damage to target creature.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Spitting Hydra enters the battlefield with a number of +1/+1 counters on it, potentially offering a substantial presence on the board that can deter opponents and provide a resilient threat. Its ability to scale with the game’s progression can pivot you into a favorable position with just one creature.

Resource Acceleration: Although Spitting Hydra itself doesn’t directly produce mana or acceleration, it can represent a major goal for your mana investments. Through this, it encourages you to use your resources efficiently to maximize its counter-gaining ability and grow it to a size where it can dominate the battlefield.

Instant Speed: While Spitting Hydra doesn’t operate at instant speed, its ability to add +1/+1 counters at any time you could cast a sorcery means you can adjust your strategy and adapt to your opponent’s actions between your own turns. This can force opponents to rethink their strategies, knowing that you can significantly bolster your creature with the right amount of resources on your turn.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: No player enjoys being forced to part ways with valuable cards in their hand, especially when strategizing complex plays. Spitting Hydra’s presence in your deck doesn’t impose this restriction, letting you retain your full hand for maximum tactical flexibility.

Specific Mana Cost: Tailoring a deck around specific mana requirements can be tricky. Cards like Spitting Hydra demand a commitment to a particular color combination to tap into their full potential, potentially restricting deck diversity and experimentation.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: In fast-paced games, every mana point counts, and Spitting Hydra’s cost asks for a considerable investment. For what you pay to summon this creature, other options might provide more immediate board presence or value, making it essential to weigh its cost against your strategy’s tempo and resource allocation.

Reasons to Include Spitting Hydra in Your Collection

Versatility: Spitting Hydra’s unique X cost for counters allows it to scale in power throughout the game, making it a flexible threat in various deck archetypes, adapting to the pace of any match.

Combo Potential: With the ability to add and move counters, this creature synergizes well with proliferate mechanics and cards that capitalize on +1/+1 counters, offering numerous combo avenues for enthusiasts.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where board presence is key, Spitting Hydra can serve as a powerful and recurring force, adjusting to survive against prevalent sweepers or to dominate creature-based strategies.

How to beat

Spitting Hydra presents a formidable challenge on the battlefield with its scalable power and potential for devastating effects on your game strategy. Understanding its unique strengths is essential to counter it effectively. This creature’s power hinges on the number of +1/+1 counters it has, which can make it quite the goliath to tackle. Removing counters can decrease its threat, but this is often easier said than done.

However, strategies to subdue the Spitting Hydra can vary—relying on spot removal spells that don’t provide it with an opportunity to use its ability can prove useful. Cards that exile or force the player to sacrifice it circumvent the counter-related abilities. Another method to consider is lowering its toughness to zero, a tactic that works irrespective of its counters. Utilizing board wipes can also reset the playing field, giving you a chance to start afresh without the looming threat of the Hydra’s potential growth in power.

With careful planning and the right card selection, you can navigate the battlefield adeptly, ensuring that Spitting Hydra doesn’t escalate beyond control. Engaging with this card calls for both strategic foresight and timely execution, paving your way to victory despite the challenges it poses.

Cards like Spitting Hydra

Spitting Hydra epitomizes the unique and complex mechanics often seen in creatures in the realm of Magic: The Gathering. With characteristics similar to Savageborn Hydra, it harnesses the powerful feature of variable power and toughness. Savageborn Hydra allows you to double the value of +1/+1 counters placed on it, showcasing potential for exponential growth. Unlike Spitting Hydra, which requires the removal of counters to deal damage, Savageborn offers a more straightforward method of increasing its size.

Mistcutter Hydra is another card echoing the versatile nature of Hydra creatures. It boasts haste and protection from blue, crucial for immediate impact on the game board and defense against a common control color. Yet, it doesn’t share the direct damage ability the Spitting Hydra holds. Lastly, Kalonian Hydra brings to the table a doubling ability for all +1/+1 counters on creatures you control, amplifying the potential damage output across your creature base, which contrasts with Spitting Hydra’s more focused, targeted approach.

In sum, these Hydra creatures each carry distinctive strengths and strategies within the MTG universe. While they differ in their specifics, Spitting Hydra remains a solid, flexible option for players looking to incorporate direct damage and creature growth tactics in their decks.

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

Balduvian War-Makers - MTG Card versions

Flowstone Salamander - MTG Card versions

Ma Chao, Western Warrior - MTG Card versions

Dwarven Strike Force - MTG Card versions

Volatile Arsonist // Dire-Strain Anarchist - MTG Card versions

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Spitting Hydra MTG card by a specific set like Stronghold and Tempest Remastered, 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 Spitting Hydra and other MTG cards: