Hydromorph Guardian MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Elemental
Released	2002-02-04
Set symbol
Set name	Torment
Set code	TOR
Power	2
Toughness	2
Number	39
Frame	1997
Layout	normal
Border	black
Illustred by	Glen Angus

Key Takeaways

Brings card advantage by potentially drawing a card upon entering play, enhancing deck consistency.
Offers mana versatility with its ability to generate any color, crucial in pivotal game moments.
Instant speed playability allows strategic responses to opponents’ moves, providing surprise interactions.

Text of card

o U, Sacrifice Hydromorph Guardian: Counter target spell that targets one or more creatures you control.

In front of every strong leader is a pool of loyal bodyguards.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Hydromorph Guardian opens up opportunities to maintain a firm grip on the game by potentially replacing itself with another card when it enters the battlefield. This can be especially potent in decks that are built around maximizing enter-the-battlefield triggers and effects.

Resource Acceleration: This fluid creature can contribute to your mana pool by unlocking mana of any color that you might need at a critical moment. More than just a creature, it acts as a versatile tool that synergizes with decks that thrive on having diverse mana availability.

Instant Speed: The ability to flash in Hydromorph Guardian gives you the flexibility to respond to your opponent’s moves on their turn. Not only does it allow for surprise blocks, but it can also be a strategic move to deploy threats or effects at the end of your opponent’s turn, keeping your mana and options open as you smoothly navigate through each phase of the game.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Hydromorph Guardian demands a card be discarded to activate its ability. This makes it a risky play when your hand is already dwindling, potentially leaving you at a disadvantage if you’re unable to maintain card advantage.

Specific Mana Cost: This creature requires a precise combination of blue mana spells to cast. This could pose challenges in multicolored decks that may not always have the necessary mana types readily available, affecting deck fluidity and strategy.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Sporting a mana value that’s on the higher end for its stats and effects, Hydromorph Guardian often competes with other cards that might bring a bigger presence to the battlefield or offer more immediate impact for the same investment.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Hydromorph Guardian offers flexibility in deck building with its creature type and abilities. It easily integrates into decks that capitalize on shapeshifter synergies or need protection from targeted spells and abilities.

Combo Potential: This card can be a linchpin in combos, especially in those that require safeguarding key creatures or exploiting its hexproof ability to maintain board presence against spot removal.

Meta-Relevance: In environments abundant with targeted removal or control strategies, Hydromorph Guardian’s ability to obtain hexproof is particularly beneficial. It serves as a reliable bulwark against the prevalent spot removal spells that saturate such metas.

How to beat

Hydromorph Guardian presents as an intriguing creature card in Magic: The Gathering, often catching players off guard with its capacity to hinder and disrupt strategies, especially those involving flying creatures. The card is noted for its efficient use of mana and its situational utility which can be a puzzle for opponents.

To effectively conquer a Hydromorph Guardian, one effective strategy is to employ removal spells that bypass its protection abilities. Cards such as Fatal Push or Bloodchief’s Thirst can prove to be invaluable in removing the Guardian from the battlefield without having to target it directly. Another tactical approach involves employing creatures with abilities that can overpower or outpace the Guardian before it can establish its defensive stance. Swarming the board with multiple threats can also dilute the impact of a single Hydromorph Guardian, making it a less pressing concern as you overwhelm your opponent with a multitude of creatures.

Understanding and anticipating when the Guardian might be played is crucial. Being prepared with the right response allows players to maintain the momentum and secure the upper hand, ultimately leading one step closer to victory in the game.

Cards like Hydromorph Guardian

Hydromorph Guardian has its own unique place in the vast pool of creatures in Magic: The Gathering. When delving into cards with similarities, Mist-Cloaked Herald may come to mind. Both creatures feature a form of evasion, with the Herald being unblockable and the Guardian having both flying and hexproof as long as it’s untapped. However, the Herald stands out for its consistent evasion regardless of its tapped or untapped state.

Another comparable card is Spire Golem, which also carries a cost-reducing ability depending on the number of Islands you control and boasts the all-important flying ability. Despite Spire Golem’s appealing mana cost, it lacks the additional layer of protection provided by hexproof that makes Hydromorph Guardian a formidable foe when defending your skies.

Taking everything into account, while there are creatures like Mist-Cloaked Herald and Spire Golem that share some of its characteristics, Hydromorph Guardian secures its own niche with its versatile combination of evasion and defensive capabilities, marking its significance in blue-centric decks that capitalize on keeping threats at bay and striking from the air.

Mist-Cloaked Herald - Rivals of Ixalan (RIX)

Cards similar to Hydromorph Guardian by color, type and mana cost

Volrath's Shapeshifter - MTG Card versions

Stronghold Biologist - MTG Card versions

Animating Faerie // Bring to Life - MTG Card versions

Ghost of Ramirez DePietro - MTG Card versions

Grazilaxx, Illithid Scholar - MTG Card versions

Queen of Ice // Rage of Winter - MTG Card versions

Wall of Water - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)

Prodigal Sorcerer - Unlimited Edition (2ED)

Volrath's Shapeshifter - Stronghold (STH)

Phantom Warrior - Duels of the Planeswalkers (DPA)

Animating Faerie // Bring to Life - Throne of Eldraine (ELD)

Ghost of Ramirez DePietro - Commander Legends (CMR)

Grazilaxx, Illithid Scholar - Magic Online Promos (PRM)

Queen of Ice // Rage of Winter - Magic Online Promos (PRM)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Hydromorph Guardian MTG card by a specific set like Torment, 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 Hydromorph Guardian and other MTG cards: