Hythonia the Cruel MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	6
Rarity	Mythic
Type	Legendary Creature — Gorgon
Abilities	Deathtouch,Monstrosity
Released	2013-09-27
Set symbol
Set name	Theros
Set code	THS
Power	4
Toughness	6
Number	91
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Chris Rahn

Key Takeaways

Hythonia the Cruel excels at creating card advantage through her board-clearing monstrous ability.
Indirectly aids in resource conservation by deterring opponents from resource over-commitment.
Poses a constant looming threat, impacting opponent strategies and pacing before activation.

Text of card

Deathtouch : Monstrosity 3. (If this creature isn't monstrous, put three +1/+1 counters on it and it becomes monstrous.) When Hythonia the Cruel becomes monstrous, destroy all non-Gorgon creatures.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Hythonia the Cruel offers a unique angle on card advantage. When her monstrous ability is activated, she has the potential to act as a board wipe, clearing the opponent’s field of creatures and leaving them at a disadvantage. Such a reset can often mean drawing into a win for the player who retains creature control.

Resource Acceleration: As a standalone card, Hythonia does not directly contribute to resource acceleration. However, her presence on the board can be a deterrent, preventing opponents from over-committing resources and thereby indirectly preserving your mana and cards for more opportune moments. Additionally, her ability to destroy all non-Gorgon creatures can save resources that would otherwise be used on various removal spells.

Instant Speed: Although Hythonia the Cruel doesn’t function at instant speed, her monstrous ability could be likened to having a sweeping effect at the ready. Once she’s a creature on the board, a player can activate her ability at any time they could cast an instant, holding the threat over opponents’ heads and dictating the pace of play.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One downside is that it lacks an effect that could replenish your hand, thus a scenario where it demands sacrifices can be detrimental if your hand is already stretched thin.

Specific Mana Cost: Hythonia the Cruel requires a specific mana alignment, needing two black mana in its casting cost. This can restrict deck building, particularly for multicolored decks looking to balance their mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a total mana value of six, there are occasions where Hythonia the Cruel might not be the most efficient creature-based solution in your deck, particularly when quicker board control is paramount.

Reasons to Include Hythonia the Cruel in Your Collection

Versatility: Hythonia the Cruel is an adaptable card that can serve as both a formidable creature and a board wipe. Its ability to destroy all non-Gorgon creatures makes it a powerful inclusion in any black deck, especially those that need ways to turn the tide of the battlefield.

Combo Potential: With the right setup, Hythonia the Cruel can be a key component in a combo that clears the board for lethal attacks. It works well with strategies that revolve around creature destruction to pave the way for a decisive victory.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where creature-based decks dominate, having Hythonia the Cruel offers a significant advantage. The threat of her monstrous ability alone can alter the way opponents play, making her a timely and strategic play in various metagames.

How to beat

Hythonia the Cruel stands as a formidable force in the MTG realm, with the sheer power to wipe the board clean of lesser creatures. This Gorgon’s ability, once monstrous, doesn’t just destroy non-Gorgon creatures; it desolates hopes for a quick recovery due to her commanding presence on the battlefield. Wrestling control back from Hythonia requires strategic planning and clever play.

To tip the scales back in your favor, it’s crucial to dodge her monstrous ability trigger. This can be done using instant-speed removal spells to dispatch her before she transforms. Counterplay also includes leveraging indestructible creatures that can endure the monstrous onslaught, or employing hexproof creatures who slip past Hythonia’s gaze. Another angle is to focus on denying the mana she needs to become monstrous, potentially through land destruction or counter spells aimed at mana acceleration tools.

Ultimately, staying aware of your opponent’s potential to unleash Hythonia’s monstrosity, while keeping versatile answers in hand, is key to maintaining dominance over a card that could otherwise single-handedly dictate the tide of the game. By preemptively planning and deploying these tactics, even the Cruel’s reign can be concluded swiftly.

Cards like Hythonia the Cruel

Hythonia the Cruel holds a unique position among the pantheon of powerful creatures in Magic: The Gathering. When drawing parallels to other cards, Gaze of Granite comes to mind. Both can clear the board of multiple threats, yet Hythonia the Cruel does so by becoming monstrous, a lethal move for any non-Gorgon creature unfortunate enough to cross its path. Unlike Gaze of Granite’s customizable removal potency based on mana investment, Hythonia wipes the field clean of lesser creatures in a swift singular act of mythic proportions.

Similarly, we can compare her to Massacre Girl, a card notorious for triggering a chain reaction of creature deaths. Massacre Girl can potentially clear a board, much like Hythonia, without targeting, yet it relies on a tactical setup of the battlefield, and sometimes may fall short if board conditions are not in her favor. On the other hand, Hythonia offers more predictability in reaching her destructive potential.

Assessing Hythonia the Cruel’s impact in the game, her ability to decisively control the state of the board places her in a formidable position within MTG’s various destroyer cards, rewarding strategic plays and timing in achieving a clear path to victory.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Hythonia the Cruel MTG card by a specific set like Theros, 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 Hythonia the Cruel and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Hythonia the Cruel has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2013-09-15	An ability that triggers when a creature becomes monstrous won't trigger if that creature isn't on the battlefield when its monstrosity ability resolves.
2013-09-15	Monstrous isn't an ability that a creature has. It's just something true about that creature. If the creature stops being a creature or loses its abilities, it will continue to be monstrous.
2013-09-15	Once a creature becomes monstrous, it can't become monstrous again. If the creature is already monstrous when the monstrosity ability resolves, nothing happens.