Hindervines MTG Card

Gatecrash (GTC)
2013-02-01 - Number 124

Hindervines - March of the Machine Commander (MOC)

March of the Machine Commander (MOC)
2023-04-21 - Number 301

Card sets	Released in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Instant

Key Takeaways

Offers a tactical edge by preempting multiple threats, making it valuable in creature-dense metagames.
Instant speed allows for strategic plays, proving a boon for reactive game strategies.
Requires a specific board state for maximum effectiveness, which may limit its use.

Text of card

Prevent all combat damage that would be dealt this turn by creatures with no +1/+1 counters on them.

"Woodlands and laws. Both grow faster than the Azorius's ability to manage them." —Suniel the Woodwise

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Hindervines provides an edge by potentially neutralizing multiple threats with a single spell, particularly against token strategies or decks that flood the battlefield. This can often equate to dealing with more than one card from your opponent, which gives you a tactical upper hand.

Resource Acceleration: While Hindervines itself does not provide direct resource acceleration, its efficient use of mana to stifle numerous targets means you’re effectively saving resources to deploy other spells sooner, therefore indirectly contributing to your mana economy over the course of a match.

Instant Speed: The power of Hindervines is greatly amplified by its instant speed, allowing for unexpected combat tricks or the ability to respond to an opponent’s actions on their turn. This versatility keeps opponents guessing and gives you the flexibility to make the most strategic play available.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Hindervines requires a precise board state to be effective, mainly multiple creatures with +1/+1 counters to make the most out of its ability. If you’re playing a deck that doesn’t consistently create or manage counters, it may end up being a dead card in your hand.

Specific Mana Cost: The mana cost for Hindervines, being a mix of both green and generic mana, binds it firmly to green-based decks. This specific requirement for green mana can limit deck-building options and might not fit seamlessly into multi-colored decks that don’t prioritize green mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost of three, including two green, Hindervines is often compared unfavorably to other cards at similar cost points. In many scenarios, players could cast other spells that offer immediate impact or more significant board presence, which puts Hindervines at a disadvantage despite its potential to disrupt combat math.

Reasons to Include Hindervines in Your Collection

Versatility: Hindervines stands out as a flexible card, capable of fitting into decks geared towards controlling the battlefield. Its ability to prevent damage from multiple sources simultaneously makes it a powerful ally in formats with abundant creature-based strategies.

Combo Potential: This card delivers for players looking to craft synergies with damage-prevention or spell-triggered mechanics. It can integrate seamlessly into setups that capitalize on casting spells, such as with prowess or cards that trigger upon spell casting.

Meta-Relevance: Depending on the meta, where creature swarms and aggressive strategies are prevalent, Hindervines can serve as a significant roadblock. It can disrupt an opponent’s tempo and turn the tide of battle in your favor, making it a strategic addition to decks that thrive in interactive games.

How to Beat Hindervines

Hindervines serves as an intriguing control piece in Magic: The Gathering, especially in decks packed with multicolored cards. This spell can stifle an opponent’s attack by preventing multiple creatures from dealing damage. However, there are several strategies to outmaneuver Hindervines and keep your offense on point. Firstly, prioritize single-colored creatures in your deck construction. This move will render Hindervines less effective, as it only stops multicolored ones in their tracks.

Another successful tactic is to leverage instants that can remove, bounce, or neutralize Hindervines before it resolves. Cards like Dispel or Negate can counter it outright, ensuring that your attacking force remains unobstructed. Additionally, consider using spells that grant your creatures hexproof or indestructible until end of turn, such as Blossoming Defense, to sidestep Hindervines’ reach. Lastly, implementing a diverse array of threats—from enchantments to planeswalkers—can reduce your reliance on creature-based attacks, thus limiting Hindervines’ impact on the game’s outcome.

Recognizing Hindervines’ limitations and preparing your deck with these measures can help maintain the momentum and prevent your opponent from turning the tides with this one card.

Cards like Hindervines

Hindervines is an interesting entry in the range of counter-growth spells within Magic: The Gathering. Its most direct comparison might be with Fog, which offers a simple and straightforward method for preventing combat damage that would be dealt to players this turn. Hindervines, though similar in its defensive nature, adds a layer of complexity by countering only those creatures with no +1/+1 counters on them.

Comparably, Clinging Mists is another spell that forestalls damage and potentially prolongs the game, but it also includes a Fateful Hour mechanic that rewards you if your life total is low. This contrasts with Hindervines, which leans on the conditions of the creatures themselves rather than the player’s life total. And then we have cards like Moment’s Peace, offering the same effect with its flashback ability, providing an opportunity for reuse and greater strategic depth compared to the one-shot Hindervines.

Given these considerations, Hindervines finds its niche in decks that rely on +1/+1 counters or as a sideboard option against such strategies. While it doesn’t provide the recurrence of Moment’s Peace or the low-life bonus of Clinging Mists, its unique targeting requirements can be a boon under the right circumstances in MTG.

Cards similar to Hindervines by color, type and mana cost

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Hindervines MTG card by a specific set like Gatecrash and March of the Machine Commander, 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 Hindervines and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Hindervines Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2013-02-01 and 2023-04-21. Illustrated by Svetlin Velinov.

#	Released	Name	Code	Symbol	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2013-02-01	Gatecrash	GTC		124	2003	Normal	Black	Svetlin Velinov
2	2023-04-21	March of the Machine Commander	MOC		301	2015	Normal	Black	Svetlin Velinov

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Hindervines 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 Hindervines card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date	Text
2013-01-24	Hindervines checks whether a creature has a +1/+1 counter on it at the moment it deals damage. It doesn't matter whether a creature had a +1/+1 counter, or was even on the battlefield, when Hindervines resolved.