What are Hydras? | Magic Arcanum

[@TheJovenshire]

Man, I love what you do and how you do it. I have a MTG Arena Versus series I do on my channel. If you'd ever like to collab, I would love to work with you!

[@zanerich9460]

That would be so cool if it happened

[@jamestennant3468]

I would seriously watch this. Love you both as content creators

[@averybreeze2451]

Green has always been my favorite magic color and hydras have been my favorite creature type. It makes me happy to see hydras getting some love this set because of M20.

[@gobomania]

When he talks about Hydriod Krasis: "And the life gain is another green ability, tho not one we've seen on a hydras before!", Lifeblood Hydra: "Am I a joke to you mate?!"

[@tcgplayercom]

(Ryan) Yeah that's true. I'll say Lifeblood doesn't count because he was in a supplemental product, and, he has to die first...but you are correct lol

[@Skullgrin.]

"What are hydras?" They are my FRIENDS.

[@Morghast]

Hydra is bestest boi/gurl

[@enioapolinario8538]

Best friends :3

[@dedstrok32legosjuegosymas94]

The goodest boys

[@shadowrundas]

@@jakeroberson3011 until it becomes monstrous and gains trample

[@manaraider628]

Skullgrin YES!

[@derek7105]

My EDH deck is hydra tribal. So fun. Especially when Unbound Flourishing comes out

[@liamblood5239]

That cards been out for quite a while

[@derek7105]

Liam Blood out meaning on to the battlefield lol

[@liamblood5239]

Ahhh makes a lot more sense now 😂😂

[@Vader3334]

I‘m building a Sasaya Orochi Ascendant deck with a hydra sub theme and I love it when Unbound Flourishings hits the field, it so much fun

[@maxdereme]

Hydra Broodmaster will always be my favorite Magic card ever. The joy of pumping 80 mana into its Monstrosity cost and getting 40 40/40 tokens is unparalleled 😁

[@HamStudios]

*Plays a board wipe

[@hellsing7310]

Me: Oh hey, a new Magic vi- “Hydras” Me: *Instant flashbacks of Hungering Hydra*

[@terryfeynman]

HAIL HYDRA

[@evaninstinct1165]

ALL HAIL OUR HYDRA OVERLORDS

[@ultimateo621]

Wait, so walking ballista is a hydra?

[@danieledwards4310]

And hangerback walker and endless one and ugin's conjurant 👍

[@devin5201]

Yes

[@draxthemsklonst]

Hydroid Krasis is the most *realistic* hydra to hydra, due to actual hydras being cnidarians (group of jellyfish, anemones etc).

[@tcgplayercom]

(Ryan) SCIENCE!

[@terryfeynman]

@@tcgplayercom HAIL HYDRA

[@hiddenhydra]

except ulasht is an actual hydra

[@Blakewyattdunfee]

Ryan just explained that hydras are water serpents.

[@dominiciancabatit6012]

Do make a video about Progenitus. He's probably my favorite Magic legendary creature ever. I just love the art on that card. And also Marit Lage, the token. I love gigantic creatures.

[@lorenzorovighi6460]

DOMINIC IAN CABATIT and he never did

[@enclavecafe]

Primordial Hydra has always held a special place in my heart, since that was around the time I got into the game :D

[@Morghast]

Yeesssss hydras! One of the coolest in MTG in my opinion. Fell in love with Progenitus and the x green Hydra back in Alara

[@masego5217]

I thought Wurms were green’s “iconic” creature in the angel, demon, sphinx, dragon cycle

[@scomae5445]

They are. There's even a green wurm in alpha

[@mpetry8470]

Wurms aren't really relevant anymore, hydras while mostly non competitive have become more synonymous and commonplace inclusions as Green's rare creature.

[@zachariahpoltergeist4516]

My first thought as well.

[@metalvisionsongcontest7055]

Will Jackson They certainly used to be 😉. You know - "back in my day"...

[@danieledwards4310]

I thought it would be beasts or baloths

[@HypogeanSupremacy]

History of Sphinxes would be amazing :) edit: thanks for all the likes everyone

[@tcgplayercom]

(Ryan) Depending on how this video does, we were thinking about doing the iconic creature for all five colors, so Sphinxes would be on the list :-)

[@HypogeanSupremacy]

@@tcgplayercom Our prays have been answered :D

[@ildlyn8966]

I downvoted you.

[@araphel1836]

@@tcgplayercom PLEASE do so, very interesting and fun to watch, though dragons and angels will be tough with how many there are...

[@HypogeanSupremacy]

@@ildlyn8966 thank you for your honesty

[@SirianXM]

*sigh* aaaahhhhhh, whenever another Magic Arcanum vid pops up on your feed, it's time to kick back, open a cold one and be serenaded by the melodious tones of Ryan's lorespeak #MagicArcanum #TCG #perfection

[@AnArmyOfFish]

Protean hydra was one of my OG tablemagic beaters. Started playing magic around M10 so I think I got one in a deckbuilder's toolkit. Very well-designed, still good in my commander counters deck.

[@MrB0nez]

Your lessons on magic Have taught me and my wife so much, now we are able to make new deck with the correct meta. Know we have so much fun winning now once again thanks a ton

[@yellaturd]

Kalonian Hydra is the card that really got me into magic. The artwork and effect (that I played wrong for a year. I didn't realize the bonus counters stay on your creatures after combat) hooked me and are what I based my first proper deck around.

[@Rewcifer]

Thanks for these videos, Ryan! Much better than most lore videos out there with awkward speakers that drone on way too long with deep tangents explaining whole novels for context. You either catch yourself when you sense a tangent around the corner, or you refer to another one of your videos. Great work, and keep the videos coming!!

[@marmaladd1906]

I think the colors also get a small creature type. White with soldiers and knights, Blue with wizards, black with zombies, red with goblins and green with elves.

[@draxthemsklonst]

Now you're getting into the meat n potatoes of retroactive redos via R&D. They used to not acknowledge humans as a tribe. Also, if you notice, some of your list are classes (which is the model from Odyssey era, I believe). That tribal setup only 1/2 of the race/class model they use (taken from D&D) now. So it's also, kinda: White: humans (or kor, or kithkin) & soldiers (also knights or clerics). Blue: merfolk (or vedalken, or faeries, or moonfolk, sometimes) & wizards. Black: zombies (or vampires) & rogues (or assassins, or pirates). Red: goblins (sometimes minotaurs) & warriors (and shamans?) Green: elves (or orochi, or cats) & druids.

[@henrydave6603]

Always loved Hydras myself, so this was awesome to see the different ones over the years. Built a commander deck using all my green Hydras with a good mana engine. You need one to cast one of my favorites (at the moment), Hydra Broodmaster! A 7/7 for six mana is pretty good with a double X Monstrosity cost. This not only gives a one time boost for the Broodmaster, but gives you the same amount in Hydra creature tokens with power and toughness equal to that same amount. A great way to get a few extra hydras out there ^_^

[@kingdare4585]

What are hydras? I thought they where dehydrated lizards you soaked in water.

[@Astar72439]

i love rewatching all of these 2 years later, and i really like your take on ulvenwald hydra. great videos!

[@strictlyworse_mk7108]

I played RG Monsters and Devotion throughout their time in standard. In fact, RG Monsters was my first deck getting into the game after quitting Yugioh. Naturally, my favorite hydras are Polukranos and Genesis Hydra.

[@ty_sylicus]

Hydras are amongst my favorite creatures in Magic!

[@tcgplayercom]

(Ryan) You have good taste!

[@grantguetschow5129]

The Hydra creature type is one of my favorites with my first being set being Born of the Gods and the first Hydra I used was Scourge of Skola Vale in a Golgari deck. Can't wait for my favorite creature type to be talked about though: DEMONS.

[@ty_sylicus]

I'm shocked you didn't mention the Battle a Hydra deck they created for Theros! It was a ton of fun and very Hydra.

[@spiritninja5757]

Yes you said Heracles, finally I’m free, one KZbinr other than overly sarcastic productions know the true name of Heracles, I’m free

[@dominicsampson8215]

dark and gritty reboot lol

[@Dawes70]

His true name is Alcides though. Heracles is the name he took in an attempt to appease Hera (it means "Glory to Hera").

[@MeandMonkeyLP]

as if you are the only one knowing greek mythology lmao

[@Dawes70]

@@MeandMonkeyLP Never claimed that. No need to be hostile over a bit of trivia.

[@spiritninja5757]

MaMLP cease UWU

[@ronstarbuck3478]

My first deck I ever built was a Mono Green Hydra deck so Hydras have a special place in my heart. At the time, Journey Unto Nyx had just dropped so I had some good options for the time. Primordial and Kalonian were my top dogs, along with Mistcutter and Protean. Ramp, Stomp, Repeat. I also found Solidarity of Heroes to be a staple. Pit Fight and Bio Shift also came in handy.

[@ianbartlett1050]

Primordial Hydra has and will always be my favorite hydra. There's just something special about watching you little lizard grow into a 100+/100+ dream stomper.

[@eagleandy1]

9:50 oh god, that's bringing back memories of the M12 game where a challenge was fighting against a deck that played one of those EVERY TURN. I Pacified one of the first ones and it got to about 128/128 before I died to the others

[@Narutoloco66]

Playing Hydra Broodmaster in a walls deck with 4 Overgrown Battlements making a total of 30 or so mana is some great fun

[@psychokeam6777]

I love that land joke in 1:05. Go figure: Origins of hydras are found in swamps and lakes, so MTG decides Forests LOL

[@enioapolinario8538]

7:40 - PLEASE MAKE A PROGENITUS DECK, I LOVE THIS CARD 😍 Btw i love Hydras, thanks a lot for making the hard work to tell the whole story

[@tommyk6021]

Hydra Broodmaster was the first Hydra I got, and fond memories of it and its babies swinging for more than 100 damage make it my favorite (but Savageborn is a close second).

[@flarenite1004]

5:47 Borborygmos: "Ulasht, what hobbies do you have?" Ulasht:" You know the usual EAT, SMASH and gardening"

[@firefoxx7659]

My first MTG EDH deck was Hydra tribal headed by Zaxsara so cards like Gargos Voracious Hooded Vastwood Whiptongue and Stonecoil Serpent Ironscale Hungering Genesis were in there also Oko Thief of Crowns because why not.

[@lukenzur1667]

Super awesome presentation - by far the best MTG historian and fun to watch videos - love your remarks, info, and contents you bring :) thanks :)

[@Crisper333]

I can't pick a favorite but I'm SO stoked to be able to play Hydra Tribal. As soon as I saw Gargos spoiled I started planning my deck. I found that 2 Lotus Fields go quite well in the deck since Kiora is there and honestly that's the best use for them I've found yet. I also run Nissa's which helps things get even more ridiculous, lol.

[@wannabe12g68]

I was absolutely rolling when you said “EIGHT PIPS OF BROCCOLI!”

[@kendalcannon8858]

Managorger Hydra is in my top 3 cards of all time, it was my first ever pick in a draft and it got me to 3rd place.

[@thefrozengoat]

easily one of my favorite series on KZbin

[@randomheadshot4291]

My favorite hydra is Oran-Rief hydra, he was my first hydra when I got back into mtg last year (I played when I was 12 but had to stop playing when I moved and there was no one to play with and over the years my cards would just disappear😭) oran-rief hydra was the card that pointed me towards hydra cards as a whole, fell in love with'em and am trying to build a hydra deck still

[@lindyhop24]

As the first foil card I ever got in one of my first ever opened booster packs (it may have even been my first) Apocalypse Hydra will always hold a special place in my heart

[@Yesnog05]

Progenitus was one of my first mythic rare and my first commander. I loved my hydra deck, but I had to retire it when I started crafting more fun decks. But after getting Gargos in a pack, I might revisit hydras

[@bastionunitb7388]

What's your alls favourite Greek element Mine's HYDRAgen

[@barronkoll6436]

The promo foil Nesian Wilds ravager has my favorite art, its teeth and eyes are all shiny and ravaging

[@TahuTL]

Currently running a Grakmaw commander deck and although it seems decent on paper, in game it is actually very strong and huge fun to play!

[@Zollnation]

6:14 sprouting hydra you could combine gear and some enchantments, then you can get a hard army, and if one whould have a creature card that could deal one dmg to one creature and get an untap ability too on this one, to double this action. wooot a powerfull card played correctly and with luck.

[@ChunkyTheClown]

Hydroid Krasis is my favorite little affront to nature.

[@GeneralGray8]

"Hydra" *flashes back to fighting the hydra on gameday"

[@Mid-Tyr]

Return to Theros when Wizards

[@emersonfarror9219]

I have 4 kalonian Hydras in my deck

[@mehtheorc]

It's kinda funny that hydras started out red and became green's iconic creature type. Would love to see similar videos about the iconic creatures of other colours!

[@lunyofficial5189]

Always happy to see a new episode

[@Victorious_Battle]

I've only just found your channel and you are immediately my favorite Magic Loremaster. I've been playing Magic ever since I got the 7th Edition Starter Pack when it came out. Not to be a troll, though I'm sure you can appreciate the irony due to a main point of this video, Shivan Devastator is one of my favorite creatures😬.............🤷 🤘😎🤙

[@NjororTyr]

Before watching the video: New heads can be grown for RRR apice. Rock Hydra is one of my favorite cards of all time just for the text on the original being so evocative and easily understood.

[@Gravelark]

Gargos is my fav hydra. I like having mana left after casting something huge like him.

[@DaDunge]

2:40 Hydras becoming greens iconic creature is something like Theros right? And sphinxes becomming blue's even longer.

[@TheSushiandme]

4yrs passed by so fast 😢

[@001shadowknight]

thank you for showing me new hydras and the commander ill be buying for my hydra deck now, though you forgot heroe's bane and broodmother. though im not complaining. thank you for the story and history about my favorite card type in mtg

[@CommandoWallace]

Managorger Hydra is the card that flicked the switch in my brain and got me invested in magic

[@nova42_]

My favorites are Gargos, Gyrus, voracious hydra, hero’s bane, bioessence hydra, hydra broodmaster, savageborn hydra, and Ulasht. These are all my favorites mostly because I own them or I know somebody who does. By the way: you said the theros hydras were bad, but both of the ones listed here (hero’s bane and hydra broodmaster) are REALLY op in mana ramp decks, because I know with hero’s bane you can make it, like, a 1 million / 1 million creature in like 10 turns.

[@flamey9180]

My favorite Hydra was Hungering Hydra, mainly because it was the first card I've ever owned.

[@doncon_380]

We need cards like the first hydra in the new throne of eldraine set Really adds the flavour to the fantasy storytelling set

[@2MeterLP]

Voracious Hydra is my favorite hydra because its so flexible. Depending on when you play it, you can either get a decent early monster or a trampling behemoth in the lategame with 12/13 for just 8 mana.

[@NickNak1111]

You mean I finally have an awesome commander for my mono green hydra deck I wanted to build for a few years now!? I can't wait to make it happen!

[@jrightly]

I remember the first time I faced a Primordial Hydra in kitchen table magic and watched it absolutely destroy my makeshift zombie tribal deck

[@vaivs7903]

I love this series and your way of narrating ;) Can you please do a video on the 5 original elder dragons on dominaria?

[@tcgplayercom]

(Ryan) They're on our list!

[@nebulous4155]

17:48 "life gain is an ability we have not seen on hydras before" Lifeblood Hydra: Am I joke to you?

[@sethb3090]

My favorite wavers between Gargos and Ulasht. They both have cool, unique designs (though every time I look at Ulasht I'm disappointed again to realize he's not a Hellion Hydra). Right now Gargos is in the lead after I drafted a B/G reanimator deck at prerelease and watched him run people over. One guy lost most of his board dealing with Gargos and then scooped when I cast Blood for Bones. That Hydra takes no prisoners.

[@ximkai8794]

One of my more favorite decks this rotation is simic hydras. Slap down a simic ascendancy, verocious hydra(double it's counters), and that hydra growth enchantment and just watch your opponent panic as they realise you win in two more turns.

[@Ignatius970]

Added 3 new Hydras i didn't even know about to my Hydra deck thank you

[@Finapple]

My favourites are: Vampires, Eldrazi, hydras. I can't quite remember if you've covered vampires (aside from Sorin) yet but would love to hear more about them!

[@tcgplayercom]

(Ryan) I haven't done a video just on vampires yet but we will put it on our list. Thanks for the idea!

[@JoshuaVerscha]

I love my rock hydra card. Ive loved it for like two decades now.

[@jon9828]

15:02 "subvert eXpectstions" Was that intentional? Made me chuckle either way :).

[@manaraider628]

My answer: hydras are the sexiest of all the magic creatures, and the best ones in my opinion

[@GigaLordShinyMudkip1]

My favorite hydra is Mirror Entity. It is one of the few monowhite hydra in magic’s history and it can turn other creatures you control into hydras.

[@seniorspastic4157]

"You can have an 8/9 Voracious Hydra for just two mana!" B Y T H E G O D S

[@Puck07]

19:00 try Aggressive Mammoth insane 8 power and 8 toughness for 6 mana!!!!

[@angelusnielson7135]

Thank you, I was actually interested in playing a hydra tribal EDH deck. So this is helping.

[@sethb3090]

I kinda recommend Animar, Soul of Hydras...I mean Elements, since it can ramp out some stupidly large X creatures. That's actually my next EDH build.

[@mason103]

Would love to see one of these for goblins! There are some wacky ones out there like Goblin Snowman and Goblin Gardener

[@lanibentz9976]

I’ve always thought dinosaurs were more greens whole deal than hydras, but then I looked back and noticed how many of those were focused in ixalan and ikoria. Guess it just shows the impact those sets had on me. (Ancient brontodon best 10/10)

[@sevraznightshade1028]

Still love Rock Hydra! It may not be that good. But it's all about the memories using it as a kid.

[@Nvenom8.]

I always think of wurms as green's iconic creature. Am I wrong about that?

[@GokuAka97]

I love mtg stories and it would be great to know the story of Progenitus !!! ( progenitus have "protection from everything " lol )

[@majesticgothitelle1802]

I always relate green with elves and beasts. In myth the teath of hydra was used to raise the dead and ladon would declare as a hydra in away.

[@JNDDS1]

Little story : I use to draft with friends and for ravnica alligiance I was the one who brought the box. After the draft there was 12 boosters left and we would not be drafting again on this set because of war of the spark was coming. So I decided to make a 6 boosters sealed with a friend. I opened my first booster and I saw that there was a foil card at the end but I didn't want to spoil it. So I went through the booster and... no foil behind the rare ? Land ? Token ? Where is my foil card ? And behind the token... Hydroid Krasis Foil !!!! XD

[@MatthewSchooley94]

Hydras are my absolute favorite tribe in the entire game.

[@ohlai]

Sounds like your going to laugh whenever you talk... love it!

[@Bl4eberry]

Hydroid Krasis is also a nice shout out to the real world hydra, which is a multi-"headed" jellyfish-like creature with an insane regeneration ability

[@dicorockhimself]

Well I mean the jelly was named after the hydra

[@kriosuranous3440]

Can you do an episode covering the lore of what happened during Time Spiral block, because I’ve tried to learn about it before, but I don’t really understand it.

[@tcgplayercom]

(Ryan) It's on our list!

[@LegendLeaguer]

Just as nearly all my hydras arrive in the mail for my Gargos deck. Brought to me by TCGPlayer. (This is not a sponsored comment, just thought it was funny)

[@corradobonicelli842]

Love these videos! I'm waiting for the Progenitus one...

[@mathematics117]

My commander deck "elves to hydras" Basically I throw a bunch of lands and mana dorks on the field to summon giant hydras. It's always a fun time when I count 20 mana for a huge creature, the people I'm playing against get real scarred about what's coming out. :3

[@BioRose671]

Any chance for modern hydras? outside of the freed from the reel combo? IM madly in love with this creature type and want to rock these guys so bad

[@particularplaypaint5384]

I love hydra's growth in my green white black deck. Sadly nobody allows it to stay on the battlefield long enough. Doubling counters on a creature who generates counters turns out to be very scary.

[@magicmanmagicman5955]

I like the Feral hydra, looks very cool!

[@TitanicTortise]

Find myself playing genesis hydra the most. Grabs any permanent in a color that can ramp like no other. When I have an enchantment heavy deck with Green it's an easy include, especially if +1/+1 counters also matter.

[@ENRIQUEGOITIA]

Does gyrus come in as a 4/4 of the minimum cmc is made? Or is it only a 1/1 paying x = 1

[@Xoras777]

Can u tell us about the story of each core member of the Gatewatch like Jace, Liliana, Gideon since they are kinda like the main heroes of our story? The Chandra story was really great

[@R2Otube]

I actually really like the way they represented Hydras in the Face the Hydra deck that was made during the Theros block.

[@tcgplayercom]

(Ryan) Me too! But I think very few people got to experience that, and it's hard to find a copy now, so I didn't bring it up.

[@R2Otube]

@@tcgplayercom (Ryan) it was a great experience though wasn't it? Wish Wizards would do more of that. Thanks as always for taking the time to make these.