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Card Pros

Card Advantage: Ironscale Hydra provides a reliable way to maintain board presence, becoming a persistent threat that must be dealt with. Each time it’s dealt damage, it gains a +1/+1 counter, effectively turning any attempt to damage it into an opportunity for growth and greater board dominance.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly providing mana or treasure tokens, Ironscale Hydra demands multiple resources from your opponent to be removed from the battlefield. This means they’re expending more removal spells on it, potentially paving the way for other threats in your hand to hit the board with less resistance and accelerate your path to victory.

Instant Speed: Though Ironscale Hydra is not an instant itself, its ability to deter opponents from attacking or using damage-based removal at instant speed is invaluable. By forcing your opponent to plan around it, you gain a strategic edge and can commit to plays with a clearer understanding of the state of the board.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Since Ironscale Hydra doesn’t come with an inherent mechanism to protect itself from being targeted or ensure card advantage, relying on it as a singular threat might force you to discard valuable cards to other effects just to keep it on the battlefield.

Specific Mana Cost: Ironscale Hydra necessitates a heavy commitment to green mana within your mana base. This requirement can be restrictive, limiting the decks it can be easily incorporated into without affecting the mana curve or deck fluidity.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of five mana, including four green, Ironscale Hydra’s impact on the game isn’t immediate compared to other creatures or spells at a similar cost, potentially putting you at a tempo disadvantage.

Reasons to Include Ironscale Hydra in Your Collection

Versatility: Ironscale Hydra can adapt to various playstyles, thanks to its ability to thrive in an environment filled with multiple threats. Its innate durability allows it to be a cornerstone in decks that require a resilient creature.

Combo Potential: This card’s strength in combat makes it an excellent partner for strategies that capitalize on damage triggers or doubling counters, enabling diverse and powerful synergies within your deck.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where creature combat is prevalent, Ironscale Hydra’s capability to grow stronger with each damage it prevents can give players a distinct advantage, making it a prudent choice for adapting to dynamic competitive scenes.

How to beat

The Ironscale Hydra is a formidable creature that challenges opponents with its resilience. One of the most effective strategies to deal with this beast is by bypassing its damage-prevention ability. Spells that exile creatures, such as Path to Exile or Swords to Plowshares, are perfect tools for this job as they remove the Hydra from the battlefield without triggering its ability.

Countering the Hydra before it lands on the battlefield is another solid approach. Efficient counterspells can ensure that the creature never gets a chance to pose a threat. Alternatively, if the Hydra is already in play, utilizing board wipes that destroy all creatures can equalize the situation, provided you are prepared to rebuild after the clear.

Lastly, taking advantage of sacrifice effects can be a clever way to circumvent the Hydra’s formidable defenses. Cards that force an opponent to sacrifice a creature, such as Liliana of the Veil or Diabolic Edict, can help to remove the Hydra indirectly and give you the upper hand once again.

BurnMana Recommendations

Growing a collection that stands the test of time and combat is crucial in MTG. Ironscale Hydra isn’t just a creature; it’s an investment in durable board presence that turns enemy attacks into personal growth. Combining it with counter-multiplying and damage-based strategies could be a game-changer in your plays. However, with its cons in mind, you must build wisely. Gain the strategic edge in your matches and expand your horizons. If Ironscale Hydra’s resilience makes it a fit for your deck, or if you’re considering similar cards, delve deeper with us and refine your collection to conquer the battlefield.