Protean Hydra MTG Card


Protean Hydra increases in strength when damaged, becoming a formidable board presence. Hydra’s synergy with +1/+1 counters makes it a powerhouse in specialized decks. Efficient in mana-heavy builds, it excels in green-centric decks despite its cost.
Card setsReleased in 2 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityMythic
TypeCreature — Hydra
Power 0
Toughness 0

Text of card

Protean Hydra enters the battlefield with X +1/+1 counters on it. If damage would be dealt to Protean Hydra, prevent that damage and remove that many +1/+1 counters from it. Whenever a +1/+1 counter is removed from Protean Hydra, put two +1/+1 counters on it at the beginning of the end step.


Understanding Protean Hydra’s Place in MTG

Protean Hydra emerges as a standout card compared to other MTG creature cards with growth capabilities. This card’s unique attribute is its resilience and ability to return stronger from combat, thanks to its +1/+1 counters refilling mechanic. In contrast, creatures like Managorger Hydra offer a similar counter accumulation effect but rely on the casting of spells to grow. The Managorger Hydra, while lacking protection against damage, grows unbounded with each spell cast by any player, potentially becoming larger than the Protean Hydra over time.

Cards like Protean Hydra

Protean Hydra carves a niche for itself within MTG’s pantheon of creatures leveraging +1/+1 counters. Its nearest relative in mechanics and spirit could be Primordial Hydra, which doubles its counters with each turn rather than replenishing after damage. Both cards share the capacity to escalate their threat level over time; however, Primordial Hydra potentially accelerates at a faster rate, absent of any interaction with opponents.

Another card worth comparing is the renowned Kalonian Hydra, which doubles all +1/+1 counters on creatures you control when it attacks. This card is more aggressive and strives for a collective impact contrary to Protean Hydra’s individual endurance. Such differences highlight the strategic diversity that MTG offers players, enabling the selection of cards based on preferred playstyles and deck themes.

However, it’s the resilience and inevitability of the Protean Hydra that sets it apart, emerging from battles not only unscathed but often larger, a daunting prospect for any opponent to face over the course of a match.

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

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Rime Dryad - MTG Card versions
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Spike Drone - MTG Card versions
Skyshroud Elite - MTG Card versions
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Card Pros

Card Advantage: Protean Hydra offers tremendous value as it thrives from battle. With its ability to gain +1/+1 counters each time it’s dealt damage, it has the potential to become a major threat that can influence your board presence significantly without the need for additional cards.

Resource Acceleration: This Hydra seamlessly integrates with decks that focus on +1/+1 counters and can benefit from numerous synergies within those archetypes. It can rapidly become a colossal creature, effectively ramping your offensive capabilities without the need for extra mana investment beyond its initial casting.

Instant Speed: While the Protean Hydra itself does not operate at instant speed, it pairs well with spells that do. This means in a reactive game where you are waiting for the perfect moment, the Protean Hydra can be the follow-up threat post-instant speed interaction, capitalizing on an opponent’s depleted resources or end-of-turn scenarios.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Protean Hydra doesn’t have a discard requirement itself, maintaining a hand to support its growth and protect it can strain your card resources, especially in decks that don’t replenish their hand quickly.

Specific Mana Cost: Protean Hydra’s casting cost demands heavy green mana investment, which can be problematic in multicolored decks that need a balanced mana base to function effectively.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a starting mana cost of XXG, getting a significant sized Hydra into play requires a large mana investment. This can be less efficient compared to other creatures or spells that might offer immediate board impact or versatility for the same cost.


Reasons to Include Protean Hydra in Your Collection

Versatility: Protean Hydra’s flexible scaling makes it a great inclusion in decks that adapt to varied situations. With the ability to invest as much mana as you have available, this card can be a game winner whether it’s early or late.

Combo Potential: With each damage it survives, Protean Hydra gains twice that many +1/+1 counters. This ability synergizes with numerous mechanics and can be the cornerstone of powerful interactions, especially in counter-heavy strategies.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state that favors combat and creature-based strategies, Protean Hydra can quickly become a dominating presence. It persists on the battlefield and often requires specific answers that opponents might not have readily available, giving you a notable edge.


How to beat Protean Hydra

Protean Hydra stands as a formidable force within the MTG realm, captivating players with its ability to grow from combat damage due to its unique mechanic. This mechanic involves adding a number of +1/+1 counters equal to the damage it received, which in turn can quickly escalate the Hydra’s power and toughness, making it a tough challenge on the battlefield.

Defeating this creature often requires tactics that circumvent its damage-based growth. One effective strategy is to leverage spells that enforce -1/-1 counters like “Black Sun’s Zenith” or to use effects that don’t deal damage but can exile or bounce, such as “Path to Exile” or “Unsummon.” These methods prevent the Hydra from benefiting from its ability to swell in size. Additionally, using control spells that prevent the Hydra from engaging in combat, such as “Pacifism” or “Arrest,” can nullify its threat, leaving the Hydra as an ineffective creature on the field.

Focusing on such removal strategies allows players to maintain an upper hand against Protean Hydra, ensuring that this potentially overwhelming creature is kept in check, thereby preserving the delicate balance of the match in their favor.


BurnMana Recommendations

The Protean Hydra is an MTG card that offers dynamic play and adaptability to fit various strategies. Its ability to turn damage into growth makes it a thrilling addition for players who enjoy nuanced battlefield tactics and incremental advantage. If you’ve been impressed by its potential to outgrow your opponent’s threats and adapt to the ebb and flow of combat, you’ll find a wealth of knowledge and strategic depth on our platform. Dive deeper with us into the world of MTG, where formidable creatures like Protean Hydra await to supercharge your deck. Discover more tactics, expand your collection, and tap into the true potential of your cards.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Protean Hydra MTG card by a specific set like Magic 2010 and Magic 2011, 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 Protean Hydra and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Protean Hydra Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2009-07-17 and 2010-07-16. Illustrated by Jim Murray.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12009-07-17Magic 2010M10 2002003NormalBlackJim Murray
22010-07-16Magic 2011M11 1942003NormalBlackJim Murray

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Protean Hydra has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Protean Hydra 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 All damage that would be dealt to Protean Hydra is prevented, even if it doesn’t have that many +1/+1 counters on it. This is true even if Protean Hydra has no +1/+1 counters on it at all (and is able to remain on the battlefield because some other effect is boosting its toughness). If the amount of damage that would be dealt to Protean Hydra is greater than the number of +1/+1 counters on it, all the +1/+1 counters on Protean Hydra are removed from it.
2009-10-01 If a -1/-1 counter is put on Protean Hydra while it has +1/+1 counters on it, that -1/-1 counter and a +1/+1 counter will be removed from it as a state-based action. This will cause Protean Hydra’s last ability to trigger.
2009-10-01 If any +1/+1 counters are removed from Protean Hydra during the end step, its last ability will trigger and set up a delayed triggered ability that will trigger at the beginning of the next end step (which is near the end of the following turn).
2009-10-01 If multiple +1/+1 counters are removed from Protean Hydra at once, its last ability will trigger that many times.
2009-10-01 If unpreventable damage is dealt to Protean Hydra, the Hydra’s second ability will try to prevent it and fail (meaning that damage has its normal results), and it will also remove that many +1/+1 counters from Protean Hydra.
2009-10-01 Protean Hydra’s last ability triggers whenever a +1/+1 counter is removed from it for any reason, not just when a +1/+1 counter is removed by its second ability.