this with pariah or pariah's shield forms an amazing no lose combo. You take no damage, and whenever anyone tries to deal damage to you, phytohydra gains +1/+1 counters. In general this is a pretty good card.
SavageBrain89
★★★★☆ (4.3/5.0)(9 votes)
One of the best cards from the Ravnica block. The Pariah and Pariah's Shield combos are superb. The only bad thing about thiscard is that it has no protection form destroy spells. The solution: Privileged Position and Shield of the Oversoul.
SwordSkill
★★★★☆ (4.3/5.0)(9 votes)
This creature just can't die in combat or by damage. Only destoyers and counters will have effect on this
darkfury
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(10 votes)
wouldnt wither be able to kill this?
Qazior
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(10 votes)
Not wither, -1/-1 counters but not wither, the damage is never dealt
PainfulTears
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(1 vote)
This card is pretty epic
Donovan_Fabian
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
The downside to this card is that its a 1/1 that can still be exiled, if your opponent simply chooses not to block it or etc, you can't do more than 1 damage to them at a time. You could change this with a sigil captain, or as mentioned earlier pariah's shield, but its a lot of set up to get a 5 mana creature to work. It's still really awesome for most cases, especially against red where they don't have anything to destroy it besides burn. Tower above might also be one of the most fun cards you could possibly have for phytohydra.
Agadeem_Dragon
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.8/5.0)(5 votes)
Phytohydra+Guilty Concience= to my knowledge infinite power hydra!
Quang
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Tip: Be highly cautious when you summon this. It's best to have counterspells or protection spells ready.
Szyx
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Jeezness do I love this card. Wish I could afford like 11 playsets of them.
Anyways, my combo idea is to have one of these out with an army of en-kor creatures. Have all your en-kor attack, and if they get blocked guess where that damage is going? That's right, Fight-o-Hidra!!!
Guest1741815526
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
ClockworkSwordfish, I love the idea of Pariah with this card, but I don't think your Druid's Call idea works. In order to get the squirrel tokens, the enchanted creature needs to be dealt damage, but Phytohydra's ability is a damage replacement; in other words, it's never dealt damage, therefore it shouldn't be able to produce squirrel tokens.
JarieSuicune
★★☆☆☆ (2.3/5.0)(3 votes)
Ugh, I hate how the Oracle doesn't cover some situations that just need clearly stated for some people (like me). Such as this: How does Trample interact with it? Will it just absorb the equivalent of it it's stats and then the rest of the Trample moves on, or does it just absorb the whole thing?
Hmmm, and I guess it doesn't count as "prevent damage" since it doesn't say prevent, huh?
SpencerDub
★★★★☆ (4.9/5.0)(6 votes)
@JarieSuicune: The controller of the attacking creature need only apply "lethal" damage to the Phytohydra before assigning its trample damage to the defending player. If the Phytohydra had no +1/+1 counters on it, then only one point of damage would need to be assigned.
The damage would then turn into a +1/+1 counter, but at that point, the damage would have already been assigned, so the Phytohydra wouldn't suddenly block more damage. Additionally, unless the trample damage was done with first (or double) strike, the counter would be placed after the assign damage step, so Phytohydra would also only hit back for 1.
Of course, since it's technically the attacking player's choice, he or she could theoretically assign more than lethal damage to the Phytohydra. This would only cause it to grow more, and would reduce the amount of trample damage dealt to the defending player.
Kryptnyt
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
@clockwork- replacement effect means that Druid's Call and this were never meant to be
Sironos
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(5 votes)
Man, this is insane, not even deathtouch kills this guy since it doesn't receive the damage.
JoshuaFH
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Love this card man.
UNBAN_SHAHRAZAD
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@Agadeem_Dragon:
Guilty Conscience only makes this a doubling Phytohydra, not an infinite one. It's not like Stuffy Doll.
darthsik
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(3 votes)
Not that I dont love this card, but i feel like saying that it almost caused a fistfight between a good friend and I. we were locked in an hour long endurance match, when i finally had the mana to beef my creature up to a 13/13 with trample, which will end the game. Until my buddy blocks me with his just played phytohydra which is only a 1/1 with no counters as of yet, he proceeds to block my behemoth with trample and tells me that he gets 13 +1+1 counters on the hydra.... after a heated argument i finally gave up and told him to do whatever... guess what happens next round... thats right he overruns me and wins the match.... until i checked the discussion on the card and low and behold he could only take 1 +1+1 counters and take the rest of the trample damage... good card as long as everyone is clear on the rules. I DID GET THE LAST LAUPH THOUGH.
ClockworkSwordfish
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This card is one of my favourites. It dies to Doom Blade, sure, but you have so much more fun than the guy playing DB that that doesn't matter a bit. It's best if you can flash it into play (not the battlefield, gorramit) when your opponent attacks with a fattie and then watch the look on your his face change from mild disappointment about the new chump blocker to dismay and then fear, at just about the time he reads the word "instead". Barrels of monkeys have nothing on this. I played Guided Strike on my opponent's creature after he announced blockers. Crowned by the amazing art, it just doesn't get better than this, folks. It has its flaws, but cards like this make the game worth playing. 5/5, no question.
Edit: Forgot to mention that this + Pariah + Druid's Call = the most fun combo in the game.
2nd edit: Sorry. That doesn't work. Still, Pariah...
ItsSlaughteringTime
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
this card is so *** confusing when it comes to using it in a game.
I just love Ravnica. And it's cards like this one that prove me right ;)
creepycrawler
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Biollante! Necessary addition to any plant deck.
ajpinton
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Would infect kill this guy? I know it still deals damage but as a replacement effect it puts -1/-1 counters on the creature. So which replacement effect would go off? Would it use the stack, if so who would get to pick the order? I would assume active player...
MechaKraken
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Such a great card. If removal spells didn't exist then this would be a house. A very broken house.
Attach Whispersilk Cloak on it and send it forth!!!
AK-474000
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This card can cause a lot of headache for you if you play with your friends. I have had a few issues with people wondering what would its effect do if it was attacked with death touch, trample, wither, infect...the list goes on. sadly i am not totally sure what to say, but from reading these comments has given me a better idea of this card. I have never been able to use this cards effect. Once everyone hears its ability it is an unblockable 1/1 since no one dares make it stronger. I mostly use it for distractions. By putting Armored Ascension makes him a real target. I do like the idea of Pariah or you could use a provoke to help use his ability as well.
wickedragon
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@ajpinton Infect doesn't do anything to it since Infect doesn't replace the damage with -1/-1 counters; it deals damage in the form of -1/-1 counters. So, as has been stated earlier on this page, it will get +1/+1 counters instead of -1/-1 counters. I <3 Pariah's Shield
Splizer
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
"Fight yo hydra? Phytohydra! I fight yo hydra w' Phytohydra!" Sorry, but this card is so cool it needs a line from Samuel L. Jackson or something to recognize its awesomeness.
umumwhatshisname
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(2 votes)
dear infect, eat me. Sincerely yours, Photohydra
zerosavant
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Ooooh. Nasty. This is the creature that Doom Blade was meant for.
sarroth
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(17 votes)
"Feed me, Seymour... Cuz if you feed me, Seymour, I can grow up big and strong."
ScepterofEternities
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This + Pariah's Shield + Asha's Favour + Shield of the Oversoul/Privileged Position. Just Imagine.
ridiculousricky
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Does anyone else think he should have been {2UGG} instead? Because the flavor is just so simic.
Purple_Shrimp
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
did anyone else start playing in Ravnica and think this was the greatest card in history
The wise Phytohydra knows to pack a Lure and Rancor when it goes into battle, and to call on Ghave, Guru of Spores to give it a makeover when it becomes regularly chump blocked.
And yes, it's spelled out right on the card, guys. It takes +1/+1 counters INSTEAD of damage. That means it's IMMUNE to Deathtouch (which only activates when a creature takes damage), Wither, and Infect (which are stated as "damage in the form of -1/-1 counters").
wealing
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
phytohydra, pariah, and two greater auramancies and your opponents can drool lol
Colossus_of_Darkstee
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
what happens if the damage can't be prevented? it doesn't explicitly state that you prevent the damage
Grumman
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@Colossus_of_Darksteel: Can't-be-prevented doesn't help. This is a replacement effect, not a prevention effect.
Play Lightning Bolt's on it as permenant, surprise Giant Gwowth's :D
LordRandomness
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
If you want to humiliate someone using this, start running Afflict or Virulent Wound or something.
Superllama12
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Dear Red and Green, HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAA!!!!!!!!! Sincerely, Phytohdra
Arkendale
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Pariah (as noted before) + Greater Auramancy can cause all sorts of difficulty for your opponent. They better pray they have a board-wipe. I'm looking at you Mutilate (because we all know some indestructible shenanigans are bound to pop up) and I suppose Final Judgment too...
swords_to_exile
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Om Nom Nom ALL THE RED DECKS....
crazysnake111
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
plane out awsome just awsome
Luigino
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I hated/loved this card. Always played it, yet it could never really block because my brother's damn knight all had flanking :(
GrimjawxRULES
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Correct me if I'm wrong, but the Photohydra's ability isn't damage prevention. The way it's worded makes it look like a replacement effect, so even if the damage is unpreventable, the Photohydra still doesn't die. No matter how it would take damage, it doesn't. Instead, it gets that many +1/+1 counters. Now that I think of it, isn't this one of the only creatures with a replacement effect on received damage?
Continue
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(1 vote)
http://i1.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/000/216/411/8QmIp.gif Mother of God...
azure_drake222222
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Red Deck Loses.
Arachnos
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(3 votes)
This begs to be played with Valor Made Real for an impenetrable wall.
"Look at this creature, so like the Conclave it serves. Cut one head and it grows two. Damage it and it gets that many +1/+1 counters instead." —Veszka, Selesnya evangel
SirLibraryEater
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Give it flash and it's even more Johnny-friendly. "Hmm, Lavalanche?" "Yeah. Have fun." "How much is {X}?" "8." "Hmmmm. Phytohydra." "You suck."
Deadling
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I love these guys. They are a staple of every w/g deck I make, just about. Mix a set of these with Predator Ooze, and you have a very nasty duo of creatures on the field. Just for starters, use your imagination for other fill ins, lol.
I'm Thinking a canopy cover on this fellow would ward off those nasty creature removal spells
blurrymadness
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This was my first rare IIRC.
My favorite combo with this about 5 years ago are all pretty much mentioned here: Guilty Conscience and the En-Kor.
As blockers you could leave back 1/1s who put all the damage on this guy; as an attacker he'd double in size every turn; while GC was occasionally of use against my opponent's fat as well. Boy that was a bad deck; but it was Timmy as all get out to attack and watch it grow to insane sizes.
Comments (61)
Anyways, my combo idea is to have one of these out with an army of en-kor creatures. Have all your en-kor attack, and if they get blocked guess where that damage is going? That's right, Fight-o-Hidra!!!
Hmmm, and I guess it doesn't count as "prevent damage" since it doesn't say prevent, huh?
The damage would then turn into a +1/+1 counter, but at that point, the damage would have already been assigned, so the Phytohydra wouldn't suddenly block more damage. Additionally, unless the trample damage was done with first (or double) strike, the counter would be placed after the assign damage step, so Phytohydra would also only hit back for 1.
Of course, since it's technically the attacking player's choice, he or she could theoretically assign more than lethal damage to the Phytohydra. This would only cause it to grow more, and would reduce the amount of trample damage dealt to the defending player.
replacement effect means that Druid's Call and this were never meant to be
Guilty Conscience only makes this a doubling Phytohydra, not an infinite one. It's not like Stuffy Doll.
Edit: Forgot to mention that this + Pariah + Druid's Call = the most fun combo in the game.
2nd edit: Sorry. That doesn't work. Still, Pariah...
Attach Whispersilk Cloak on it and send it forth!!!
Infect doesn't do anything to it since Infect doesn't replace the damage with -1/-1 counters; it deals damage in the form of -1/-1 counters. So, as has been stated earlier on this page, it will get +1/+1 counters instead of -1/-1 counters.
I <3 Pariah's Shield
Sorry, but this card is so cool it needs a line from Samuel L. Jackson or something to recognize its awesomeness.
The wise Phytohydra knows to pack a Lure and Rancor when it goes into battle, and to call on Ghave, Guru of Spores to give it a makeover when it becomes regularly chump blocked.
There's also Rite of Consumption. Mean, yes, but game-winning.
And yes, it's spelled out right on the card, guys. It takes +1/+1 counters INSTEAD of damage. That means it's IMMUNE to Deathtouch (which only activates when a creature takes damage), Wither, and Infect (which are stated as "damage in the form of -1/-1 counters").
it doesn't explicitly state that you prevent the damage
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!
Sincerely,
Phytohdra
Now that I think of it, isn't this one of the only creatures with a replacement effect on received damage?
Mother of God...
—Veszka, Selesnya evangel
"Hmm, Lavalanche?"
"Yeah. Have fun."
"How much is {X}?"
"8."
"Hmmmm. Phytohydra."
"You suck."
Inquisitor's Flail, for a huge buff and even faster growth.
Pariah's Shield, as discussed, because it makes you win. Not even infect gets through.
My favorite combo with this about 5 years ago are all pretty much mentioned here: Guilty Conscience and the En-Kor.
As blockers you could leave back 1/1s who put all the damage on this guy; as an attacker he'd double in size every turn; while GC was occasionally of use against my opponent's fat as well. Boy that was a bad deck; but it was Timmy as all get out to attack and watch it grow to insane sizes.