Bull Hippo MTG Card


Forces opponents to waste resources, giving you a subtle card advantage. Shifts the resource balance subtly, deterring costly opponent spells. Naturally resilient to blue’s instant-speed interruptions, improving strategy.
Card setsReleased in 6 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Hippo
Abilities Islandwalk,Landwalk
Power 3
Toughness 3

Text of card

Islandwalk (This creature can't be blocked as long as defending player controls an Island.)


Cards like Bull Hippo

Bull Hippo serves as an intriguing piece in the pantheon of green creature cards in MTG. It finds its peers in cards like Charging Rhino, which shares the same mana cost and also cannot be blocked by more than one creature. Unlike Charging Rhino, however, Bull Hippo lacks trample but brings its unique ability to play, rendering it unblockable by blue creatures.

Another card that treads similar ground is Brutalizer Exarch. Although it offers a different set of abilities, including the utility of searching your library for a creature card or putting a noncreature permanent on the bottom of its owner’s library, it represents the same mana value. It does not share the unblockable trait, but it gives players other tactical advantages.

Exploring these comparisons, we can see that Bull Hippo holds a distinct niche. While it might not have the board impact of some other options, its specific blue creature evasion can be strategically valuable in certain matchups, making Bull Hippo a card that, under the right conditions, can solidly hold its own in MTG’s vast ecosystem of creatures.

Charging Rhino - MTG Card versions
Brutalizer Exarch - MTG Card versions
Charging Rhino - MTG Card versions
Brutalizer Exarch - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Bull Hippo by color, type and mana cost

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Giant Spider - MTG Card versions
Marsh Viper - MTG Card versions
Scarwood Bandits - MTG Card versions
Carnivorous Plant - MTG Card versions
Erhnam Djinn - MTG Card versions
War Mammoth - MTG Card versions
Aurochs - MTG Card versions
Lhurgoyf - MTG Card versions
Jackalope Herd - MTG Card versions
Golden Bear - MTG Card versions
Argothian Swine - MTG Card versions
Elvish Piper - MTG Card versions
Erithizon - MTG Card versions
Skyshroud Cutter - MTG Card versions
Ulvenwald Oddity // Ulvenwald Behemoth - MTG Card versions
Fungusaur - MTG Card versions
Viridian Lorebearers - MTG Card versions
Monkey Monkey Monkey - MTG Card versions
Matsu-Tribe Birdstalker - MTG Card versions
Order of the Sacred Bell - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Bull Hippo might not draw cards directly, the ability to freely attack or block without fear of instant-speed removal can indirectly lead to card advantage. By demanding answers from your opponent, you essentially force them to use their resources inefficiently, preserving your own hand.

Resource Acceleration: Bull Hippo doesn’t offer direct mana acceleration, but its presence on the board can dissuade opponents from casting cost-intensive spells, subtly shifting the resource balance in your favor. This defensive advantage can help you race ahead in deploying your threats.

Instant Speed: Although Bull Hippo is a creature spell without instant speed, its impact on the game can affect plays at instant speed. Its natural resilience to blue’s notorious instant-speed tricks ensures your strategy is less likely to be disrupted during critical moments of interaction.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Bull Hippo Mtg Card doesn’t necessitate a discard upon casting, but its significance in gameplay often requires strategic hand management to ensure you can play it without sacrificing essential cards.

Specific Mana Cost: This card comes with a mana cost that includes green symbols, making it suitable primarily for green-focused or multicolor decks that can accommodate such specific mana requirements.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a need for four mana, including three green, Bull Hippo’s casting cost is on the higher side, making it less competitive when compared with other creatures that offer similar or greater strength and abilities for the same or lower mana investment.


Reasons to Include Bull Hippo in Your Collection

Versatility: Bull Hippo provides a solid body on the board that can serve various roles, from a reliable blocker to an offensive threat. Its ability to trample over lesser creatures makes it a useful addition to decks that aim to apply constant pressure on the opponent.

Combo Potential: While not a traditional combo piece, Bull Hippo benefits from cards and effects that increase the damage output of trampling creatures or grant additional combat phases, enhancing its potential to deal significant damage.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta that sees a lot of smaller creatures and control decks, Bull Hippo can be a game-changer. With its above-average toughness and trample ability, it can break through lines of defense that are typically put up against single, large threats.


How to beat

The Bull Hippo’s ability to prohibit opponents from playing blue spells during your turn adds a unique layer of defense to your gameplay in Magic: The Gathering. This green creature from the Visions set can be quite a roadblock due to its decent size and peculiar protection from blue spells, which often carry powerful control elements.

To effectively counter Bull Hippo, one strategy is to utilize removal spells that don’t specifically fall into the blue color. Black spells such as “Doom Blade” or “Go for the Throat” offer efficient means to take out the Hippo outside of your turn, ensuring it won’t interfere with your plans. Another tactic is to engage the Hippo in combat with a creature strong enough to survive and eliminate it. Tokens, pump spells, or combat tricks that increase the power and toughness of your creatures can tip the scales in your favor.

Remember, sideboard choices tailored to your meta, such as artifact removal like “Naturalize” can dismantle equipment or enchantments that might be bolstering the Bull Hippo’s resilience. By staying versatile and considering the broad spectrum of spells at your disposal, the Bull Hippo can be tamed and overcome, allowing you to maintain control of the game.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Bull Hippo MTG card by a specific set like Portal and Portal, 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 Bull Hippo and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Bull Hippo Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 1997-05-01 and 2001-04-11. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11997-05-01PortalPOR 160d1997NormalBlackRoger Raupp
21997-05-01PortalPOR 1601997NormalBlackRoger Raupp
31998-10-12Urza's SagaUSG 2391997NormalBlackDaren Bader
41999-07-01Starter 1999S99 1261997NormalWhiteDaren Bader
52001-04-11Seventh Edition7ED 233★1997NormalBlackHeather Hudson
62001-04-11Seventh Edition7ED 2331997NormalWhiteHeather Hudson

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Bull Hippo has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal