Spitting Hydra
Creature — Hydra
This creature enters with four +1/+1 counters on it.
, Remove a +1/+1 counter from this creature: It deals 1 damage to target creature.
- CMC
- 5
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- R
- Rarity
- rare
- Set
- Tempest Remastered
- Price
- —
- EDHREC rank
- #29751
Spitting Hydra enters as a pile of damage that opponents have to respect — each +1/+1 counter is a removal spell on legs, costing one mana and one counter to deal a point to any target. The mana investment to load it up is real, but in a deck that generates or moves counters freely, it doubles as a repeatable ping engine and a must-answer threat.
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 | not legal |
| oathbreaker | legal |
Commander is where Spitting Hydra actually lives — the 100-card singleton format rewards tap-to-activate utility creatures, and +1/+1 counter synergies run deep enough that the Hydra finds a natural home in Hydra tribal, Simic counters, or any deck running Doubling Season effects. The activation cost of one mana per counter is slow by competitive standards, but at casual to mid-power tables the Hydra applies consistent pressure and picks off small utility creatures turn after turn. Legacy and Vintage have it legal but ignore it entirely — the format speed makes a setup-dependent X-drop unplayable. Oathbreaker can use it, but the 20-life starting total compresses the window where pinging for one matters.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
unknown tier
Pricing data for Spitting Hydra isn't currently available in this listing, so check Scryfall or TCGPlayer for a live figure before buying. It's an older card with a narrow audience, which typically keeps the price modest — worth picking up if the price reflects that.
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Sources
Mentioned
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.