Feral Hydra MTG Card


Strategic flex for MTG decks, Feral Hydra’s growth scales with available mana, increasing its battlefield dominance. Empowered by mana ramp; this creature benefits from decks designed to generate extra resources. Instant speed adjustments allow for dynamic play, keeping opponents unsure and improving combat outcomes.
Card setsReleased in 6 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Hydra Beast
Power 0
Toughness 0

Text of card

Feral Hydra comes into play with X +1/+1 counters on it. : Put a +1/+1 counter on Feral Hydra. Any player may play this ability.

It shreds its prey as each head fights for the choicest bits.


Cards like Feral Hydra

Feral Hydra carves its niche among the vast array of creature cards in MTG. This particular beast shares similarities with cards like Managorger Hydra and Primordial Hydra. All three cards involve the theme of growth, but each takes a distinct path to getting there. Feral Hydra allows players to increase its might by spending mana, offering flexibility in when and how much to enhance this creature. This mirrors Managorger Hydra’s mechanic which grows it whenever any player casts a spell.

On the other side, Primordial Hydra does not just grow each turn, but also potentially doubles in size, showcasing explosive growth that can quickly dominate the battlefield. However, unlike Feral Hydra, its starting size is linked to the mana invested in it upon casting, which means less initial control over its size. This means that while Primordial Hydra can be a more potent threat if left unchecked, Feral Hydra gives you steady control over its strength throughout the game. In essence, these hydras provide MTG players with different strategic options within the creature growth theme, each with its own advantages in the ever-evolving landscape of the game.

Managorger Hydra - MTG Card versions
Primordial Hydra - MTG Card versions
Managorger Hydra - MTG Card versions
Primordial Hydra - MTG Card versions

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

Scryb Sprites - MTG Card versions
Llanowar Elves - MTG Card versions
Ghazbán Ogre - MTG Card versions
Shanodin Dryads - MTG Card versions
Wall of Wood - MTG Card versions
Village Elder - MTG Card versions
Spike Drone - MTG Card versions
Skyshroud Elite - MTG Card versions
Elvish Berserker - MTG Card versions
Tree Monkey - MTG Card versions
Wild Dogs - MTG Card versions
Elvish Herder - MTG Card versions
Pouncing Jaguar - MTG Card versions
Taunting Elf - MTG Card versions
Llanowar Elite - MTG Card versions
Scavenger Folk - MTG Card versions
Willow Geist - MTG Card versions
Fyndhorn Elves - MTG Card versions
Nimble Mongoose - MTG Card versions
Sylvan Safekeeper - MTG Card versions
Scryb Sprites - MTG Card versions
Llanowar Elves - MTG Card versions
Ghazbán Ogre - MTG Card versions
Shanodin Dryads - MTG Card versions
Wall of Wood - MTG Card versions
Village Elder - MTG Card versions
Spike Drone - MTG Card versions
Skyshroud Elite - MTG Card versions
Elvish Berserker - MTG Card versions
Tree Monkey - MTG Card versions
Wild Dogs - MTG Card versions
Elvish Herder - MTG Card versions
Pouncing Jaguar - MTG Card versions
Taunting Elf - MTG Card versions
Llanowar Elite - MTG Card versions
Scavenger Folk - MTG Card versions
Willow Geist - MTG Card versions
Fyndhorn Elves - MTG Card versions
Nimble Mongoose - MTG Card versions
Sylvan Safekeeper - MTG Card versions

Key Takeaways

  1. Strategic flex for MTG decks, Feral Hydra’s growth scales with available mana, increasing its battlefield dominance.
  2. Empowered by mana ramp; this creature benefits from decks designed to generate extra resources.
  3. Instant speed adjustments allow for dynamic play, keeping opponents unsure and improving combat outcomes.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Feral Hydra provides innate versatility, allowing you to expand its power every time you have spare mana. This flexibility can lead to card advantage by requiring your opponents to deal with a single growing threat, potentially saving other creatures or spells in your hand from removal.

Resource Acceleration: Although the Feral Hydra itself doesn’t directly accelerate resources, it benefits greatly from any form of ramp. Each mana invested in its ability translates into a larger, more formidable creature, making it a wise investment in decks that excel at generating large amounts of mana.

Instant Speed: The ability to pump the Feral Hydra at instant speed is a strategic asset. You can pass the turn with untapped mana and choose to either expand the Hydra if the mana isn’t needed elsewhere or respond to your opponents’ actions. This keeps your adversaries on their toes, as the threat of a sudden increase in the Hydra’s size can significantly alter combat outcomes.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Unlike other creature cards that offer direct value, Feral Hydra asks for a continuous investment of resources to grow stronger. This can place a strain on your hand, diminishing your ability to respond to threats.

Specific Mana Cost: While Feral Hydra’s initial cost is flexible in terms of color, effectively using its ability requires a consistent input of green mana. This restricts the card’s versatility, primarily anchoring it to mono-green or green-centric decks.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The base mana cost of Feral Hydra can make it a slow starter compared to other options. Investing further mana to make it a formidable threat takes time, which can be detrimental in a fast-paced game where tempo is key.


Reasons to Include Feral Hydra in Your Collection

Versatility: Feral Hydra’s adaptable nature makes it a strong contender for a variety of deck builds. Its ability to grow in size as you invest more mana into it allows for flexible strategies, fitting perfectly in decks that want a scalable threat.

Combo Potential: In combination with cards that can untap creatures or duplicate their abilities, Feral Hydra can become monstrous. It serves not just as a creature but as a mana sink, letting you dump excess mana for exponential power growth.

Meta-Relevance: With constantly shifting battlefield dynamics, Feral Hydra is relevant in games where the power level of creatures matters. In a meta where board presence equates to victory, this creature can rapidly become a dominant force.


How to beat

Feral Hydra presents an adaptable challenge on the battlefield in Magic: The Gathering. This creature can grow rapidly, making it a formidable threat to any opponent. Its ability to be pumped up by any player creates a unique dynamic, often deterring aggressive moves unless one can manage its growth.

Dealing with this beast efficiently requires either removal before it becomes too large or the use of damage prevention and bounce spells to reset its counters. Spells like Path to Exile, Unsummon, or board wipes like Day of Judgment can prove invaluable. It’s also worthwhile to note that since Feral Hydra allows both players to build it up, strategic planning is necessary to avoid unintentionally strengthening your adversary’s position. Control decks with countermeasures tend to mitigate the threat of continuously evolving creatures like Feral Hydra.

We can see that understanding the right timing and choosing the effective kind of removal are key to overcoming the raw power that Feral Hydra offers to the battlefield. Cards with the ability to target and eliminate creatures irrespective of their size become especially crucial when facing such scalable threats in Magic: The Gathering.


BurnMana Recommendations

Wrapping up, the Feral Hydra presents a unique avenue for growth and adaptability within the MTG meta. Its versatility and instant speed capabilities allow for a dynamic combat experience that places your opponent in a continuous guessing game. Deck builders with an affinity for resource acceleration and sizable creatures will find this card both a challenge and an ally. Ensure your collection boasts a Feral Hydra and harness its potential to dictate the pace of the game. Need insights into perfecting your deck and advancing your strategy? Dive deeper into the magical realm with us and transform your gameplay into an art form. Mastery awaits at BurnMana.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Feral Hydra MTG card by a specific set like Shards of Alara and Magic Player Rewards 2009, 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 Feral Hydra and other MTG cards:

TCGPlayerBUY NOW
BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Printings

The Feral Hydra Magic the Gathering card was released in 6 different sets between 2008-10-03 and 2022-12-02. Illustrated by Steve Prescott.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12008-10-03Shards of AlaraALA 1312003NormalBlackSteve Prescott
22009-01-01Magic Player Rewards 2009P09 1312003NormalBlackSteve Prescott
32010-06-18ArchenemyARC 532003NormalBlackSteve Prescott
42018-06-08BattlebondBBD 1972015NormalBlackSteve Prescott
52020-07-17JumpstartJMP 3952015NormalBlackSteve Prescott
62022-12-02Jumpstart 2022J22 6582015NormalBlackSteve Prescott

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Feral Hydra has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal