Hydra Omnivore MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost6
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Hydra
Power 8
Toughness 8

Key Takeaways

  1. By connecting with one opponent, Hydra Omnivore deals damage to all, increasing card advantage immensely.
  2. Its board presence pressures opponents, indirectly accelerating your resource gain and tactical advantage.
  3. Though it has a specific mana cost and is vulnerable to discard effects, its potential impact is significant.

Text of card

Whenever Hydra Omnivore deals combat damage to an opponent, it deals that much damage to each other opponent.

"We should learn from the hydra. It never plays favorites; it devours everyone equally." —Thrass, elder druid


Card Pros

Card Advantage: By dealing damage to one opponent, you’re effectively amplifying that impact across the entire table with Hydra Omnivore. This creature can quickly become overwhelming, offering a significant increase in card advantage as each hit translates into potential damage to multiple opponents.

Resource Acceleration: It may not directly generate mana or tokens, but its ability to pressure all your opponents at once can put you at a resource advantage. This is particularly beneficial in multiplayer formats where the Hydra can dictate the pace of the game and potentially keep opponents from stabilizing their board, indirectly accelerating your path to victory.

Instant Speed: While Hydra Omnivore itself isn’t an instant, its presence on the battlefield requires immediate response. This creates an environment where your opponents must hold mana up for removal, which can allow your instant speed spells to pass through with less resistance.


Card Cons

Specific Mana Cost: Hydra Omnivore commands a unique blend of mana, including two green mana symbols as part of its cost, potentially limiting it to green-centric decks or those with a robust mana base capable of meeting its color demands.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Carrying a cost of six mana, Hydra Omnivore’s ability to impact the battlefield is hindered by its late-game arrival, particularly when faster-paced aggro decks surmount significant pressure in early turns.

Discard Requirement: With no innate protection from discard effects or board wipes, if you are forced to discard Hydra Omnivore before you’re able to cast it, its impressive board impact potential is completely nullified, emphasizing the risk of including high-cost creatures in your deck.


Reasons to Include Hydra Omnivore in Your Collection

Versatility: Hydra Omnivore is a creature that offers flexibility in gameplay, fitting into a variety of green-centric or multi-colored decks. Its ability to deal damage to all opponents at once makes it particularly valuable in multiplayer games.

Combo Potential: This card can be the linchpin in devastating combos, especially when coupled with effects that double damage or increase its power. Imagine connecting with just one player and watching the domino effect on the rest of the table.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where games often pivot towards group slug or battlecruiser magic, Hydra Omnivore stands out. It’s an impactful card that can shift the dynamics of the game, making it a formidable choice against several popular strategies.


How to beat Hydra Omnivore

Confronted by the might of Hydra Omnivore in a game of Magic: The Gathering requires a tactical approach. This colossal creature can devour opponents when it swings, as damage dealt to one opponent is also inflicted on all others. While it might seem overwhelming, remember that controlling such a beast is achievable. Spot removals like Path to Exile or Murder are effective, instantly clearing the way for your strategy. Board wipes are also an excellent solution; cards like Wrath of God or Damnation reset the playing field irrespective of the Hydra’s size. Alternatively, countering the spell when cast can prevent the Omnivore from entering the battlefield altogether.

Ensnaring this creature with enchantments that negate its abilities, such as Pacifism or Lignify, also renders it harmless. In the realm of red, combat tricks like Unsummon can bounce Hydra Omnivore back to the hand, buying critical time or disrupting opponent tempo. Engage it in combat with deathtouch creatures to guarantee a one-on-one victory regardless of its size. Hydra Omnivore may be a formidable threat but with these strategies, it becomes a manageable challenge within your Magic: The Gathering duels.


BurnMana Recommendations

Hydra Omnivore offers a wild ride through the realm of MTG, stretching the boundaries of strategic combat across multiplayer battlefields. Harnessing its potential to pressure all opponents simultaneously requires finesse and tactical awareness. Deck synergy, strategic inclusivity, and knowledge of its unique strengths and vulnerabilities can elevate your gameplay. Whether you’re capitalizing on its distributed damage trait or integrating it into power-flaunting combos, Hydra Omnivore can define the pace of the game. Eager to witness this colossal creature dominate your MTG matches or curious about fine-tuning your deck? Dive deeper into our guides and discussions to fortify your strategy and command the board with confidence.


Cards like Hydra Omnivore

The Hydra Omnivore card presents a distinct threat in MTG, standing out with its ability to deal damage to all opponents when connecting with just one. Cards like Lhurgoyf and Ghalta, Primal Hunger also boast potent attacking capabilities, yet lack the widespread impact of Hydra Omnivore. Lhurgoyf’s power and toughness scale with the graveyard, a trait not shared by Hydra Omnivore, whose force is uniformly distributed across opponents’ life totals.

In the realm of widespread damage, Craterhoof Behemoth is a creature that also amplifies board presence but relies on the number of creatures you control to boost its impact. Unlike Hydra Omnivore, it affects other creatures rather than dealing direct opponent damage. Similarly, Comet Storm offers a customizable approach to multi-target damage, but as a spell, it lacks the recurring presence and potential for repeated damage that Hydra Omnivore brings to the battlefield if it remains unchecked.

Considering the unique angle of its distributed damage, Hydra Omnivore has a specific edge over similar MTG creatures and spells, particularly in multiplayer settings, where its ability can swiftly alter the balance of power and direct the flow of the game in the player’s favor.

Lhurgoyf - MTG Card versions
Ghalta, Primal Hunger - MTG Card versions
Craterhoof Behemoth - MTG Card versions
Comet Storm - MTG Card versions
Lhurgoyf - Ice Age (ICE)
Ghalta, Primal Hunger - Rivals of Ixalan Promos (PRIX)
Craterhoof Behemoth - Avacyn Restored (AVR)
Comet Storm - Worldwake Promos (PWWK)

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

Craw Wurm - MTG Card versions
Gaea's Liege - MTG Card versions
Force of Nature - MTG Card versions
Wiitigo - MTG Card versions
Autumn Willow - MTG Card versions
Ancient Silverback - MTG Card versions
Sulam Djinn - MTG Card versions
Verdeloth the Ancient - MTG Card versions
Nemata, Grove Guardian - MTG Card versions
Gang of Elk - MTG Card versions
Kavu Howler - MTG Card versions
Crashing Centaur - MTG Card versions
Giant Warthog - MTG Card versions
Rhox - MTG Card versions
Kodama of the East Tree - MTG Card versions
Terra Stomper - MTG Card versions
Feral Throwback - MTG Card versions
Silvos, Rogue Elemental - MTG Card versions
Brontotherium - MTG Card versions
Elvish Aberration - MTG Card versions
Craw Wurm - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Gaea's Liege - Time Spiral Timeshifted (TSB)
Force of Nature - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Wiitigo - Masters Edition II (ME2)
Autumn Willow - Pro Tour Collector Set (PTC)
Ancient Silverback - Urza's Destiny (UDS)
Sulam Djinn - Invasion (INV)
Verdeloth the Ancient - Modern Masters (MMA)
Nemata, Grove Guardian - The List (PLST)
Gang of Elk - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Kavu Howler - Apocalypse (APC)
Crashing Centaur - Odyssey (ODY)
Giant Warthog - Judgment (JUD)
Rhox - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Kodama of the East Tree - Commander Legends (CMR)
Terra Stomper - Zendikar (ZEN)
Feral Throwback - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Silvos, Rogue Elemental - Onslaught (ONS)
Brontotherium - Legions (LGN)
Elvish Aberration - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Hydra Omnivore MTG card by a specific set like Commander 2011 and Conspiracy, 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 Hydra Omnivore and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Hydra Omnivore Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2011-06-17 and 2018-08-09. Illustrated by Svetlin Velinov.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12011-06-17Commander 2011CMD 1612003normalblackSvetlin Velinov
22014-06-06ConspiracyCNS 1692003normalblackSvetlin Velinov
32018-08-09Commander 2018C18 1532015normalblackSvetlin Velinov

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Hydra Omnivore has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2011-09-22 The damage dealt by Hydra Omnivore as a result of its triggered ability is not combat damage (and doesn’t cause the ability to trigger again).

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