Hydromorph Guardian
Creature — Elemental
, Sacrifice this creature: Counter target spell that targets a creature you control.
- CMC
- 3
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- U
- Rarity
- common
- Set
- Torment
- Price
- $0.15
- EDHREC rank
- #25812
Hydromorph Guardian trades itself to counter a spell targeting any creature you control — a one-time Counterspell stapled to a 2/2 body. The cost is real: sacrificing a creature to protect a creature is card disadvantage, and three mana for a 2/2 with no other upside is below rate.
Format Analysis
Where it lives, where it can’t
| Format | Verdict |
|---|---|
| commander | legal |
| legacy | legal |
| modern | not legal |
| pioneer | not legal |
| standard | not legal |
| vintage | legal |
| pauper | legal |
| oathbreaker | legal |
In Commander, Hydromorph Guardian occupies a niche in blue creature-heavy decks that want redundant protection effects, but Siren Stormtamer and Sylvan Safekeeper do the same job more efficiently in nearly every case. Pauper is its best home — the format's slower pace and limited access to instant-speed countermagic make a body that doubles as protection more meaningful. In Legacy and Vintage, it's too slow and too narrow to see play. Oathbreaker follows the same logic as Commander: it's legal, rarely optimal.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
$0.15 bulk tier
At $0.15, Hydromorph Guardian is deep bulk — pick it up for pennies if the effect fits your build. Price stability is a non-issue; cards at this tier move on demand, not speculation.
Explore
Sources
Mentioned
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.