Hedron Crab MTG Card


An efficient mill engine, Hedron Crab transforms landfall into potent deck disruption. Its one blue mana cost makes it a nimble play in mono-blue or mixed color decks. Fits well in graveyard-centric strategies, offering both flexibility and combo potential.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Crab
Abilities Landfall,Mill
Power 0
Toughness 2

Text of card

Landfall — Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control, target player puts the top three cards of his or her library into his or her graveyard.

Hedrons perplex minds both great and small.


Cards like Hedron Crab

Hedron Crab is a unique fixture in the array of MTG mill cards, strategically turning land plays into opportunities to exhaust an opponent’s library. This one-cost Crab rivals the function of creatures like Ruin Crab, which also mills three cards; albeit, with a stronger defense for one additional mana. Where Hedron Crab shines is in its cheaper cost, which could be pivotal for early board presence and setting the milling wheels in motion swiftly.

Exploring further comparisons, we find Drowner Initiate, another creature that mills whenever a spell is cast, not just landfall as with the Crabs. While it showcases repetition, it lacks the immediate impact Hedron Crab could have, as it depends on consistent spell casting. We also see Glimpse the Unthinkable, a non-creature spell, hitting deeper with a ten-card mill, but as a one-off effect and at a higher mana value, it’s not as sustainable as Hedron Crab’s repeatable ability with every landfall.

Overall, Hedron Crab maintains its exclusive niche in mill-focused decks within MTG. It offers low-cost, repetitive milling that can rapidly thin out an opponent’s deck when paired with a strategy that maximizes land play.

Ruin Crab - MTG Card versions
Drowner Initiate - MTG Card versions
Glimpse the Unthinkable - MTG Card versions
Ruin Crab - MTG Card versions
Drowner Initiate - MTG Card versions
Glimpse the Unthinkable - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Hedron Crab by color, type and mana cost

Merfolk of the Pearl Trident - MTG Card versions
Flying Men - MTG Card versions
Shrieking Drake - MTG Card versions
Cloud Pirates - MTG Card versions
Rootwater Diver - MTG Card versions
Fledgling Osprey - MTG Card versions
Manta Riders - MTG Card versions
Faerie Squadron - MTG Card versions
Faerie Seer - MTG Card versions
Fugitive Wizard - MTG Card versions
Wandering Ones - MTG Card versions
Teardrop Kami - MTG Card versions
Dreamcatcher - MTG Card versions
Drifter il-Dal - MTG Card versions
Sage of Epityr - MTG Card versions
Screeching Sliver - MTG Card versions
Timebender - MTG Card versions
Cloud Sprite - MTG Card versions
Merrow Witsniper - MTG Card versions
Cursecatcher - MTG Card versions
Merfolk of the Pearl Trident - MTG Card versions
Flying Men - MTG Card versions
Shrieking Drake - MTG Card versions
Cloud Pirates - MTG Card versions
Rootwater Diver - MTG Card versions
Fledgling Osprey - MTG Card versions
Manta Riders - MTG Card versions
Faerie Squadron - MTG Card versions
Faerie Seer - MTG Card versions
Fugitive Wizard - MTG Card versions
Wandering Ones - MTG Card versions
Teardrop Kami - MTG Card versions
Dreamcatcher - MTG Card versions
Drifter il-Dal - MTG Card versions
Sage of Epityr - MTG Card versions
Screeching Sliver - MTG Card versions
Timebender - MTG Card versions
Cloud Sprite - MTG Card versions
Merrow Witsniper - MTG Card versions
Cursecatcher - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Hedron Crab. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Dimir MillDimir Mill ModernMillModern Challenge 32 2024-04-18
Crab VineCrab Vine ModernCrab VineModern Preliminary 2024-04-21
Azorius MillAzorius Mill ModernMillModern Preliminary 2024-04-26 (1)
Mono-Blue MillMono-Blue Mill ModernMillModern Challenge 64 2024-04-22

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Hedron Crab offers an exceptional mill strategy, moving three cards from a deck to the graveyard per landfall trigger, potentially depleting an opponent’s resources or enhancing your graveyard strategies.

Resource Acceleration: By quickly filling your graveyard, Hedron Crab sets the stage for accelerated plays, especially in decks that thrive on graveyard synergy where a full graveyard is a valuable asset.

Instant Speed: While Hedron Crab’s ability isn’t at instant speed, its trigger is relentless, occurring every time a land enters the battlefield. This consistent effect can apply pressure on your opponent’s deck at any moment of the game, synchronizing effectively with fetch lands and other land play abilities.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One aspect players need to manage with Hedron Crab is its reliance on landfall to trigger its milling effect. This can sometimes necessitate optimal land management or specific deck construction to ensure a steady supply of land cards to discard, thus maximising the Crab’s potential.

Specific Mana Cost: Hedron Crab’s cost needs one blue mana, which can be restrictive for multi-color decks that may not always have the required mana type at the crucial moments needed to play the card efficiently.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Hedron Crab is a one-drop creature, in some scenarios, its effect does not match up with other cards that might produce more immediate board presence or control. This means that while its cumulative impact can be significant, it sometimes requires a higher investment in setting up situations where its ability can be fully capitalized.


Reasons to Include Hedron Crab in Your Collection

Versatility: Hedron Crab presents flexibility in deck building. Its landfall mechanic triggers not just with your own land plays but also with various land-centric strategies, fitting smoothly into control, mill or even some landfall decks.

Combo Potential: This aquatic ally shines in combinations involving multiple land drops or graveyard interactions. Paired with cards that allow extra land plays or resurrect spells, Hedron Crab can be a relentless source of milling, synergizing with a multitude of strategies.

Meta-Relevance: As the game evolves, decks that capitalize on graveyard manipulation remain a constant. Hedron Crab holds its ground in various metas, proving to be a persistent nuisance that can disrupt opponents and pave the way for strategic victories.


How to beat Hedron Crab

Hedron Crab is a unique creature that thrives in Magic: The Gathering landfall decks. This small card poses a sizeable threat, milling opponents by putting three cards from their library into their graveyard whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control. While seemingly innocuous at first, the Hedron Crab can quickly deplete a deck, especially when paired with multiple land drops in a turn.

So, how does one counter this crustacean? Keeping instant speed removal in your hand, such as Fatal Push or Path to Exile, allows you to respond to the Crab before it becomes a recurring problem. Prioritize removing it the moment it hits the board if possible. Graveyard hate cards like Relic of Progenitus or Leyline of the Void can negate the milling effect, rendering the Hedron Crab’s ability useless. Counter spells, too, provide a solid line of defense against it ever entering the battlefield.

Be wary of not just the creature itself, but also the deck it’s part of. Often, the Crab is a cog in a larger machine filled with cards aiming to exploit the milled cards. Attack the strategy, not just the card, and you’ll find greater success in your matches.


BurnMana Recommendations

In the intricate dance of MTG play, knowledge is as potent as the spells you cast. Hedron Crab may seem unassuming, but it’s a lynchpin in mill-centric decks that can effortlessly shift the tides of battle in your favor. Understanding the delicate balance between its strengths and weaknesses is key to mastering its potential. If you’re seeking to harness the relentless mill power of Hedron Crab or simply aiming to fortify your library against it, knowledge is your greatest ally. Step up your game by exploring strategies, synergies, and counterplays that catapult your deck to victory. Embark on a deeper dive with us to truly comprehend and conquer with Hedron Crab.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Hedron Crab MTG card by a specific set like Zendikar and Mystery Booster, 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 Hedron Crab 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 Hedron Crab Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2009-10-02 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Jesper Ejsing.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12009-10-02ZendikarZEN 472003NormalBlackJesper Ejsing
22019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 3982003NormalBlackJesper Ejsing
32020-09-26The ListPLST ZEN-472003NormalBlackJesper Ejsing

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Hedron Crab has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2009-10-01 The landfall ability triggers whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control for any reason. It triggers whenever you play a land, as well as whenever a spell or ability (such as Rampant Growth) causes you to put a land onto the battlefield under your control. It will even trigger when a spell or ability causes another player to put a land onto the battlefield under your control (as can happen with Yavimaya Dryad’s ability, for example).
2009-10-01 When a land enters the battlefield under your control, each landfall ability of the permanents you control will trigger. You can put them on the stack in any order. The last ability you put on the stack will be the first one that resolves.