Phytohydra
Creature — Plant Hydra
If damage would be dealt to this creature, put that many +1/+1 counters on it instead.
- CMC
- 5
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- GW
- Rarity
- rare
- Set
- Ravnica: City of Guilds
- Price
- $0.76
- EDHREC rank
- #12898
Phytohydra turns every damage source into a growth engine — the more the board tries to kill it, the larger it gets, which makes it a persistent threat in decks that want a resilient, ever-scaling body. The cost is real: without a way to capitalize on that growing power, it just sits there getting big and doing nothing, which is why it belongs in Kirri, Talented Sprout specifically and almost nowhere else.
Best Commanders
Commanders with the highest synergy
Kirri, Talented Sprout
Kirri, Talented Sprout triggers off +1/+1 counters entering the battlefield, so every spell or wrath that pings Phytohydra converts directly into card advantage and board development — it's one of the few commanders that makes Phytohydra's passive growth feel like a full-on engine rather than a novelty.
Polukranos Reborn
Polukranos Reborn cares about +1/+1 counters for its own scaling, and Phytohydra fills the role of a counter-accumulating body that demands an answer — in that shell, Polukranos Reborn gives the hydra a strategic home even when the damage synergies aren't flowing.
Format Analysis
Where it lives, where it can’t
| Format | Verdict |
|---|---|
| commander | legal |
| legacy | legal |
| modern | legal |
| pioneer | not legal |
| standard | not legal |
| vintage | legal |
| pauper | not legal |
| oathbreaker | legal |
In Commander, Phytohydra earns its slot in a narrow band of decks — specifically those built around +1/+1 counters where a self-growing blocker generates real value rather than just table presence. In Legacy and Vintage, it's technically legal but wildly outclassed; nothing about Phytohydra's rate competes in those formats, and no competitive shell wants it. Modern is the same story: a five-mana do-nothing-on-entry creature with no immediate board impact doesn't meet the bar. Stick to Commander, and even there, be honest about whether your deck actually rewards the counter accumulation.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
$0.76 bulk tier
At $0.76, Phytohydra sits squarely in bulk territory — cheap enough that the financial ask is essentially zero for any deck that wants it. The price is unlikely to move meaningfully given how narrow the homes are, so buy it for the synergy, not for any expectation of appreciation.
Explore
Sources
Mentioned
- Kirri, Talented Sprout
- Polukranos Reborn
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.