MTG Top 10: Hydras | Magic: the Gathering | Episode 224

[@presenceofthemastermtg5962]

I love how mysterious progenitus looks in the mist.

[@lcfishing859]

My fav card

[@xyryyn]

The most broken thing about Hydroid Krasis is that the draw/gain life effect is triggered when cast, not when it resolves, so it happens even if the Krasis is countered.

[@NizzahonMagic]

Good point.

[@TheDarkZoren]

yeah, should have probably been mentioned. I've had plenty of games were Krasis being able to draw cards when countered kept me in the game against a heavy control deck.

[@OzonoFalco]

I guess a "top 10 cards of the decade" would be great. No reprints, just new cards from 2010 to 2019.

[@SK8R43]

Eh, the list would suck. Magic is going downhill fast nowadays. Most of the hype was from before 2005.

[@Messala91]

@@SK8R43 Creatures' power creep?

[@sakuretsu1152]

Well, the decade doesn't end until 2021. Decades start with a 1, rather than 0 in this sense. This decade started in 2011 and ends in 2020, so we still have a whole year of MtG to go.

[@thecovekids2229]

Please Please Please Please Please Please

[@OzonoFalco]

@@sakuretsu1152 That's just not true.

[@losthalo428]

6:35 veil of autumn seemsgood

[@matteopriotto5131]

It felt too good to find promo Hydroid Krasis in Ravnica Allegiance prerelease

[@tomnookyankees3761]

What makes the Hydroid Krasis even more stupid powerful is that the draw and life gain trigger is from being cast not ETB, meaning that even if the Krasis gets counters, that still doesn't prevent the card draw and life gain.

[@christophera2534]

I think that Voratious Hydra and Hydroid Krasis are played because of the best Mana accelerant in Standard, Nissa.

[@redstonepro5412]

Not only, at least krassis was played before nissa even existed

[@snakeman830]

Krasis would be played regardless. It was a powerhouse before War of the Spark.

[@dahighii]

I really feel like Nissa's passive ability should be on a standalone enchantment instead of stapled to a planeswalker.

[@flatman3134]

Voracious Hydra is very powerful on it's own, and Hydroid Krasis is just ridiculous

[@ericwollam5532]

As a commander player, Hydra broodmaster will always be one of my personal favorites as a mana dump. Especially in a deck that runs anointed procession, parallel lives, and doubling season, making 80 20/20 hydras is a really fun way to get a wincon off. Especially if you have that new artifact in throne of eldraine that gives all your stuff haste.

[@raynmanshorts9275]

White: Angels Green: Hydras Red: Dragons Black: Demons Blue: Sphinxes Dragons are already done, but I don't think you've done Angels, Demons, or Sphinxes (though I'm not sure if that last one has had 10 see pro play).

[@invictus5433]

He did angels and demons back in the day when he made videos for aetherhub. Just search top 10 angels.

[@derekwalter4238]

Your lack of wubrg ordering disturbs me

[@raynmanshorts9275]

@@invictus5433 I thought I had seen a top 10 angels and top 10 demons from him, but I couldn't find him on the channel, so I figured I was just remembering wrong.

[@pedrobianchi2412]

I didn’t see the link to Mark’s article in description.

[@philiphunt-bull5817]

Yeah, where tf is it?

[@Hardc6reStra5tedge]

Was also looking for it.

[@theChaoticChemist]

I think this is it magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/making-magic/building-better-monster-2013-11-11

[@Kokonutzlz]

The one about iconic creatures is right at the very top

[@vinnythewebsurfer]

You know I’ve always been curious about the idea behind this Iconic creature type in particular. Angels and demon for black and white? Very appropriate. Dragons and red? Duh. Sphinx is kinda funky but it makes sense with all the riddling they do and it’s more creative than going than just going for Big sea creatures. Then there’s hydras and green. At first I’d have thought they’d go with something like dinosaurs to embody the concept of a legendary but big and beefy creature but then I suppose that runs into the same issue like if Blue tried going with big sea creatures. In that aspect, there’s a cleverness to them but it’s not quite as intuitive like it’s fellow iconic creature.

[@nathanwilkins6107]

Green is all about growth and ramp. I think X cost hydras exemplify that that pretty well.

[@raynmanshorts9275]

Hydras are much more nature-oriented in MTG lore than in mythology. Look at how many hydras have forest artwork in the background.

[@Maximus2761]

Yeah, I've always found hydras weird mostly because we already had wurms.

[@TheSquareOnes]

Green had wurms before but I don't think those worked really well as an "iconic" creature since they just kinda blend into the generic fantasy mishmash without calling any attention to themselves as something particularly identifiable for new players. Say what you will about hydras but they are an iconic fantasy creature that many people unfamiliar with MTG will already know about and within the game itself they stand out as a pretty distinct creature type both visually and mechanically. Plus like Nathan pointed out they work perfectly with green's identity as a ramp color.

[@JoshuaRellick]

An iconic creature needs to be something that can exist on most planes. Dinosaurs exist on Ixalan but not many other planes.

[@vintageman91]

Aah, i was expecting hydroid krasis to be within top 3. I was really hyped when i first heard about that creature.

[@midnightbard3935]

Where is my Primordial Hydra? °-° That card is amazing!

[@inturnetaction336]

I agree but it becomes a huge target for creature removal fast.

[@akakscase]

I like a lot of these, but in a +1/+1 deck almost nothing beats the Kalonian Hydra

[@connormohs6046]

Andrew Case agreed. Also Probably one of the best creatures you can also use for God-Pharaoh’s gift

[@Kerrmunism]

Andrew Case Oh absolutely. Great finisher for a Simic deck

[@connormohs6046]

I’ve waited so long for a remake of this! Hydras are my favorite creature type

[@TehSeksyManz]

Hydras are awesome! Gonna make me a homebrew mono green Gargos EDH deck one of these days.

[@caseywellington4761]

That would be fun, but are there enough X-cost hydras to make it worthwhile?

[@TehSeksyManz]

@@caseywellington4761 I'd run the other non Xcmc hydras as well! The good ones, anyway.

[@xxhowisuxx]

ya ever get around to it? Hydra's are fun.

[@darthparallax5207]

i love these videos for helping me catch up on contextualizing many cards i sort of knew about when they were coming out, but missed while focusing on other sets and cards how they fit in Magic's full History: Ulvenwald Hydra is like a more fair Primeval Titan! it fills a very similar niche at searching non-basics out, and it might not be good enough for Modern -ever- because of the Fetch lands, but it -may- be good enough for Pioneer!

[@morgandubs7083]

I am very surprised that Kalonian Hydra did not make it, I remember that card being amazing.

[@NizzahonMagic]

It has 0 points.

[@TransparentEclipse]

I remember the sleep away camp where I first learned magic bc everyone played it there, there was this one kid a couple years older than me who was one of the best players in the camp, better than most counselors, and he had a hydra deck he would stomp everyone with. He loved tribal themes so that was one of his favorite decks and so hydras are always scary for me to face bc of how many times I got pummeled by them as a kid. Although, he could make basically any tribal deck work, hell he had a squid deck that he would win with frequently

[@ARC--5973]

Oran-Rief Hydra won me my very first game of Magic, so it will always be a personal favorite

[@hiddenleaf414]

Damn I’m impressed the Krasis and Voracious Hydra made it high on the list being much newer cards. Love them both.

[@marsgreekgod]

Top ten sideboard cards. you know you want to.

[@thomascarifioii1524]

I’ve been running U/G Hydras in standard right now... it’s a whole lot of fun even if it ain’t fires or food

[@NebulaAstrali]

managorger hydra was my favourite card when my friend was first getting me into magic

[@paoloazzini9003]

I think that speaking about icon creature types in magic we should distinguish between small/low cmc and big/high cmc creatures. So we have elfs and hydras for green, zombies and demons for black, goblins and dragons for red, merfolks and leviathans for blue, humans and angels for white.

[@TraucerDaUrbania]

Sphinx is Wizard's defined Iconic blue creature

[@paoloazzini9003]

@@TraucerDaUrbania you're right, i forgot them

[@jozefkeresturi2139]

Aren't vampires blacks iconic small creatures?

[@paoloazzini9003]

@@jozefkeresturi2139 i don't know... there's lot of white and red aligned vampires from many planes. Also think about this: who is more black, Liliana or Sorin?

[@lorthornb815]

I remember when I started playing magic and some dude had a Progenitus EDH, to me, that card was completely broken and I didn’t understand much of the game so that day I went home and started building my own Progenitus commander out of what I had at the time and I only had basic lands and cards from the Innistrad block. I was 12 o 13, I think, and now that I understand more of the game I look back and laugh at how innocent I was

[@Blacturne859]

Havent watched yet but primordial hydra was my favorite magic card that ever existed. Not expecting to see it but fingers crossed lol

[@jesseeharrell2076]

It should be on here, who knows how many thousands of unrecorded mtg games that card has won, but alas it's based on tournament play.

[@Infernoblade1010]

Love red green hydra decks! Potentially more nasty with splashing blue for hyrdoid krasis

[@redstonepro5412]

Krassis never really was a wincon for control The competetive controldecks were esper, and had teferi as finisher Krassis is just a stupid controlhoser and was played in golgari midrange which splashed blue.

[@TehSeksyManz]

Moist Golgari

[@Governorrr]

Wouldn't be magic without a hydra ;)

[@cippe8382]

i have a question: the managorger hydra gets +1/+1 with a spell, but are creature spells as well?

[@NizzahonMagic]

Yes

[@hisi420ent]

Hail hydra!

[@The_medicine_frog]

I have nicknamed the Managorger hydra the "Mango hydra". I misspoke once while reading it, and I liked the name.

[@williamlawton3630]

Where is one of the newest hydras, Questing Beast, and an older hydra, Protean Hydra? They're both badass hydras in opinion.

[@eluherrahaz1165]

How about a top 10 Myyyyr?

[@antoniocliad8286]

I have never seen the hydra as an exclusive green card but would associate the role with the wurm.

[@shalom7-praiseJesus]

but what about primordial Hydra?

[@skydmcsky]

I think you mean Veil of Summer, not Autumn

[@HaydenX]

Dramatic Entrance + Progenitus was a lot of fun in Standard...11 years ago...shit.

[@chrishiggins2651]

Damn no Primordial Hydra

[@darianmillen912]

Hydroid Krasis is absolutely bonkers.

[@TravirusTheKing]

Here's Question how be does a hydra have to be to become its own deck? (I'm referring to Theros Challenge deck)

[@Unk3mptLup1ne]

Aww no Apocalypse Hydra? Always loved that one

[@danielruizpeinado6764]

I think that kalonian Hydra is in the top 3-4 Hydra cards ,good video ,the Next can be the best each color planeswlkers

[@NizzahonMagic]

0 points for Kalonian Hydra

[@danielruizpeinado6764]

F

[@jaredt2590]

Progenitus can be easily handled by a spell that targets the other player and makes them sacrifice permanents. Another way to handle it is to block it with a creature with protection from any color/s.

[@NizzahonMagic]

Nothing can block it.

[@jaredt2590]

It's every color. If I have a green 1/1 that has protection from red for example it can block it and the two cancel each other out. No damage either way.

[@NizzahonMagic]

@@jaredt2590 Nope. You don't know how Protection works. It is admittedly unintuitive, but creatures with protection from X can't be blocked by creatures that are X. In other words, a creature that has protection from Blue can't be blocked by Blue creatures. In the case of Progenitus, which has protection from everything, it is unblockable. Regardless of whether other creatures have protection.

[@jaredt2590]

What year are those rules? I haven't played in a long time.

[@jaredt2590]

Apparently this rule we always played wrong, this has prompted me to check the others. Progenitus is a great card. Balanced and very nice once you get it out there.

[@presenceofthemastermtg5962]

can you do top ten french vanilla creatures?

[@bluepomegranate]

What do you mean by French vanilla creatures? I’ve heard of vanilla, but I’ve never heard anyone use French vanilla to refer to creatures

[@828burke]

@@bluepomegranate It's a joke about the flavor french vanilla

[@jakeapplegate6642]

Jared Cook French vanilla creatures have a single uninteresting keyword like wind drake or mammoth spider.

[@alaraplatt8104]

wish granted

[@darkmatter32x]

Krasis was and still is the bane of my deck.

[@logan13wick]

My biggest success with my hydra commander deck is primordial hydra with hardened scales and corpsejack menace

[@javiertalay]

"if a control deck resolves this" NO, that's the problem with this card. It doesn't even needs to resolve since what the caster wants from it is the "when you CAST this spell" part of it. Even if you counter the card it slaps you in the face

[@NizzahonMagic]

Fact

[@colinm.3419]

Why do the more recent standard cards always seem to show up at the top of list, while modern and old standard cards usually don't?

[@sallomon2357]

Cause powercreep and WOTC printing Modern cards in Standard legal sets

[@NizzahonMagic]

It depends on this list. There are plenty of lists with old cards at the top. With hydras, they really only started printing them regularly in Theros, when they started pushing them as iconic. So, like 80 percent of hydras have been printed in the last 6 years

[@arcerus22]

Have you done Dinosaurs? That could be a list on its own right there.

[@tmakalpha1]

What are the top 10 ramp spells?

[@Graatand]

@Tariq Maketab He already made that video?

[@jarbasjunio1074]

Where is the link for the article about iconic creature types?

[@JonaxII]

7:25 Wait, but it doesn't have dredge? Oh.

[@georgeducharme2819]

I prefer wurms over hydras as green's go to creature type

[@majesticgothitelle1802]

For me it's was beasts the representative of green. Mostly do to the lack of green Hydra in the game. How many green hydra was makes in the game?

[@nickbalmes6640]

Elves bruh but I do see the appeal in big scaly creatures too ;)

[@majesticgothitelle1802]

I would include centaur maybe satyr in green to.

[@redstonepro5412]

@@majesticgothitelle1802 this are both like theros-only-creature types

[@majesticgothitelle1802]

@@redstonepro5412 very true theros is mostly base on greak. Let replace them with insects for green.

[@gamingguru2k6]

My first deck was mono green hydra tribal.

[@TehSeksyManz]

Which format?

[@gamingguru2k6]

@@TehSeksyManz I was just playing kitchen tabletop with friends. They encouraged me to buy cards, so I bought a bunch of singles, and I made a hydra tribal deck. Often I could get out hydras at 20 p/t or higher. "Pacifism on your Primordial Hydra." *5 turns later* "Naturalize! I swing for 256/256 trample."

[@jesseeharrell2076]

WURMS are magic the gathering. The other creatures are from real life or other games, but WURMS, now that's iconic. Hellions would be the same if Wizards actually printed good Hellions.

[@thecovekids2229]

What’s the story behind your name?

[@lorthornb815]

Was Primordial Hydra close to make it?

[@lilacpilot3437]

How is the newest card also the top card on the list? That's crazy!

[@NizzahonMagic]

That's just how good Krasis is!

[@fleru5931]

Obviously the best one is polucranos, not the single card, but the “face the hydra” deck

[@newtonmarques1271]

Ive waited for this since the dragon vid

[@SangerZonvolt]

Progenitus is just King Gidorah, isn´t he?

[@_DrPlague]

Dev from SBMTG got be calling him Hydroid Krisis. I'm kinda mind blown it's been Krasis this whole damn time lol.

[@TheGloriousLobsterEmperor]

Gonna be 100% honest. I don't have a single good segue for this video. But do Top 10 Vintage Cards (Minus Power 9).

[@getsomebud]

sure you're using segue correctly?

[@rjphilla]

Literally Everyone : Krä-sis Nizzahone : Krâ-sis 😂 Sorry. You just said it SO many times pronouncing it wrong I had to joke you 😂

[@martintxo14]

Hydroid krasis don't need to resolve to be a win con

[@jakeapplegate6642]

Martin Alvarez it needs to resolve to win you the game. Drawing cards and gaining life can’t win on its own although drawing helps.

[@annonyme8529]

Mossborn hydra is coming soon !

[@tomatus270389]

Where's the link to the article?

[@NizzahonMagic]

It is in the description now.

[@McAizen_McSosuke]

primordial hydra should have made the list look it up its a really cool card that can spiral out of control really quick

[@NizzahonMagic]

I don't need to look it up, I know what it does. It has 0 points, so it didn't make the list.

[@petermacrae705]

I have not watch this yet, but Ulvenwald Hydra

[@kapmasta]

veil of autumn? im confused

[@r3d3j42]

Hydras all day baby

[@srsenor-vv3co]

And primordial hidra?

[@allamerican9421]

Stop posting good stuff right before work xD

[@Lucas-kn9de]

Spittin straight facts

[@ragingrohan7023]

Always lit videos 🔥🔥

[@SeviathTheHumanDrago]

I have Progenitus, I Love It.

[@stevenlorenzo6540]

No primordial hydra ? Fake news

[@kingofthekarps3066]

Veil of autumn? You mean veil of summer correct?

[@TehSeksyManz]

Faux paus

[@inturnetaction336]

Surprised there's no primordial hydra here

[@manhattanblockade8544]

Viel of Autumn? ;)

[@angelalex6944]

My baby Primordial Hydra didn't make the list:(

[@otomachiuna9617]

>left the link to the article in the description >not in the description oof

[@NizzahonMagic]

It is there now.

[@dilbertwesley]

3:55

[@alexandersnider734]

Veil of Autumn, not Veil of Bonds*

[@Dazulolwarrior]

I remember when Hydroid Krasis is like 60 bucks

[@stigmaoftherose]

I recall grabbing the simic box at prerelease hoping for it, and got it I was so happy.

[@TehSeksyManz]

The highest it ever got was $40

[@Defuseedits]

i love hydras

[@assault410]

1. Mutavault

[@maidenless_tarnished]

Veil of Summer*

[@NizzahonMagic]

Yeah I always mix that up, because there is a very similar card called Veil of Autumn.

[@Ninja_McMuffin]

Ummm... Primordial hydra?

[@thachuck5123]

Of summer

[@imthecaiman1703]

One thing I wish is that Nizzahon would look at cedh stats as well

[@Lovuschka]

*PTSD noises*

[@Vario69]

9:34 that isn't impressive... That's sad.... Wizards can't balance cards for shit

[@nickbalmes6640]

Hydras mmmmm

[@cspeeds96]

Wooooo

[@derekwalter4238]

I had some comments about "never sees play outside of standard" and then I remember you refuse to acknowledge edh.. what a shame

[@NizzahonMagic]

The way you say I "refuse to acknowledge" makes it sound like I hate the format, which I don't! There just isn't good data for EDH to make any sort of meaningful empirical statement about it. EDH is a very different format, without premiere play events sponsored by Wizards, where you can make an argument that lots and lots of cards have seen play. The main resource I do use when looking at EDH is EDHRec, and while that is useful, that would be like just looking at decks that play cards on tapped out, and using that criteria -- which would not be a great way to look at things.

[@derekwalter4238]

@@NizzahonMagic no, I get it. I understand how you do your research, and I agree that there's not really a good way to factor in the commander format. I guess I just don't like how you say the cards don't see play anywhere else. I know that's not your fault or problem, it's mine. I didn't mean any disrespect, but what else is a comment section for if not to share the thoughts you had while watching? Anyways, keep up the good work, man!

[@Venoseth]

Anyone else watch on 2x speed? Feeling the ten minute s t r e t c h

[@Es-yb3db]

Wut

[@ClampEEGEE]

I'm genuinely shocked that there are 10 Hydras that saw competitive play. They're usually pretty bad.

[@NizzahonMagic]

There are two good ones in Standard right now!