Hightide Hermit MTG Card


Hightide Hermit generates energy for strategic play but demands careful resource management. Its mono-blue casting cost could limit deck integration and mana curve flexibility. Despite its cost, the Hermit’s versatility and combo potential make it a worthy addition.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost5
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Crab
Abilities Defender
Power 4
Toughness 4

Text of card

Defender When Hightide Hermit enters the battlefield, you get (four energy counters). Pay : Hightide Hermit can attack this turn as though it didn't have defender.


Cards like Hightide Hermit

Hightide Hermit can be slated into the unique category of defensive creature cards with a twist of resource management in MTG. Its kinship is shared with the likes of Managorger Hydra, which also grows under specific conditions. While the Hermit requires an energy investment to become a formidable blocker, Managorger Hydra capitalizes on the sheer number of spells played, expanding its threat level without any additional cost.

Glacial Wall is another creature that springs to mind, known for its solid defense at a low cost. However, unlike Hightide Hermit, it lacks the ability to generate energy, which can be crucial for decks that hinge on this mechanic for various advantages. There’s also the Engulfing Slagwurm, a behemoth in its own right, creating an immediate impact with its devour ability, which Hightide Hermit does not possess. The Hermit, however, offers stability to energy-centric strategies.

Assessing the value of creatures such as Hightide Hermit in MTG, its niche appeal to energy-focused decks and the protective role it plays makes it a card worth considering. It combines the defensive capabilities with an energy mechanic that could sway the tides in your favor during a game.

Managorger Hydra - MTG Card versions
Glacial Wall - MTG Card versions
Engulfing Slagwurm - MTG Card versions
Managorger Hydra - MTG Card versions
Glacial Wall - MTG Card versions
Engulfing Slagwurm - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Hightide Hermit by color, type and mana cost

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Infiltrator il-Kor - MTG Card versions
Mulldrifter - MTG Card versions
Vesuvan Doppelganger - MTG Card versions
Water Elemental - MTG Card versions
Air Elemental - MTG Card versions
Pirate Ship - MTG Card versions
Sandbar Crocodile - MTG Card versions
Segovian Leviathan - MTG Card versions
Sun Ce, Young Conquerer - MTG Card versions
Wu Admiral - MTG Card versions
Mawcor - MTG Card versions
Timin, Youthful Geist - MTG Card versions
Geology Enthusiast - MTG Card versions
Coastal Hornclaw - MTG Card versions
Meloku the Clouded Mirror - MTG Card versions
Azami, Lady of Scrolls - MTG Card versions
Richard Garfield, Ph.D. - MTG Card versions
Cloudhoof Kirin - MTG Card versions
Drelnoch - MTG Card versions
Adarkar Windform - MTG Card versions
Infiltrator il-Kor - MTG Card versions
Mulldrifter - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Hightide Hermit brings a unique dynamic to the battlefield by granting you four energy counters when it enters the play field. This provides a form of virtual card advantage, as energy can be a versatile resource, fueling other abilities within your deck.

Resource Acceleration: While the hermit itself doesn’t directly produce mana, it allows for a resource acceleration by using its energy counters to enable its ability to untap lands, potentially ramping up your available mana in the following turns.

Instant Speed: Although Hightide Hermit doesn’t operate at instant speed, its defensive capabilities as a creature with defender can deter attacks and buy you time to utilize instant speed interactions elsewhere in your deck, effectively complementing this type of strategy.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Hightide Hermit comes with a demand that isn’t centered on discarding but does require its controller to pay energy to unlock its potential. It’s worth noting that acquiring sufficient energy could potentially deplete other resources or actions that could be crucial in the game.

Specific Mana Cost: With a casting requirement that includes four blue mana, Hightide Hermit may prove challenging to integrate outside of mono-blue decks. For players running multicolored decks, this can be restrictive and could disrupt the overall mana curve.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: At five total mana, including the heavy reliance on blue, Hightide Hermit presents a significant investment for what it offers. Especially when considering that other creatures or spells at this cost could provide immediate impact without the additional energy cost to become unblockable.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Hightide Hermit offers a unique blend of defense and energy production that can slot into a variety of blue-based decks, particularly those that capitalize on energy counters.

Combo Potential: With the ability to generate a substantial amount of energy, Hightide Hermit can synergize with cards that leverage energy for powerful effects, opening the door for combo interactions.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where slower, more controlling games prevail, Hightide Hermit shines by fortifying your defenses while steadily boosting your energy reserves for a decisive late-game advantage.


How to Beat Hightide Hermit

Hightide Hermit is a unique card in the world of Magic: The Gathering, known for its defender ability and the capacity to provide you with an energy reserve when it enters the battlefield. It stands out due to the energy gain, but also for its ability to transform into an attacker for a turn at the cost of paying energy. Despite this, overcoming this crustacean can be straightforward with the right strategy.

Targeted removal spells are effective here, especially those that can bypass the Hermit’s higher toughness. Cards like Murder or Doom Blade can efficiently dispose of the Hermit before its energy can be a substantial threat. Counter spells also serve well to prevent Hightide Hermit from hitting the field in the first place. Should the Hermit make it onto the battlefield, bouncing it back to its owner’s hand with spells like Unsummon or using board control cards like Wrath of God can reset the energy advantage it provides. For those looking to turn the Hermit’s strength against it, cards that steal control of creatures can be particularly devastating, making all the invested energy work in your favor instead. In sum, while Hightide Hermit offers its controller a defensive option and an alternate energy route, it remains vulnerable to a well-prepared opponent.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Hightide Hermit MTG card by a specific set like Kaladesh 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 Hightide Hermit and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Hightide Hermit Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2016-09-30 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Jason Kang.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12016-09-30KaladeshKLD 512015NormalBlackJason Kang
22019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 4002015NormalBlackJason Kang
32020-09-26The ListPLST KLD-512015NormalBlackJason Kang

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Hightide Hermit has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2017-02-09 Energy counters are a kind of counter that a player may have. They're not associated with specific permanents. (Other kinds of counters that players may have include poison and experience.)
2017-02-09 Energy counters aren't mana. They don't go away as steps, phases, and turns end, and effects that add mana “of any type” to your mana pool can't give you energy counters.
2017-02-09 If an effect says you get one or more , you get that many energy counters. To pay one or more , you lose that many energy counters. Any effects that interact with counters a player gets, has, or loses can interact with energy counters.
2017-02-09 Keep careful track of how many energy counters each player has. You may do so by keeping a running count on paper, by using a die, or by any other clear and mutually agreeable method.
2017-02-09 You can't pay more energy counters than you have.
2017-02-09 is the energy symbol. It represents one energy counter.