When I read "Hydra Tribal" my first thought was RG with Ulasht, the Hate Seed in the command zone. Lots of flavor points for using one of the three legendary hydras (Polukranos and Progenitus are the others). He doesn't have a ton of synergy with other hydras, unfortunately, so flavor points are about all he brings to the table.
My second thought was Animar, Soul of Elements, because Animar loves Hydras (the cost-reduction from Animar works the way you'd hope it does with x-costing creatures) and because UG gives you access to some good options for a "+1/+1 counters matter" theme.
The only problem I have with animar is if he gets boucnced or wrathed, his ability will reset and then he won't really be helping the hydras. And yeah, if I was going for pure hydra flavor then ulasht would be my go to hydra.
What cards in u/g work with 1/1 counters other than evolve that I can use/abuse enough to matter with the hydras?
The only problem I have with animar is if he gets boucnced or wrathed, his ability will reset and then he won't really be helping the hydras.
That's true, but it's equally true of other commanders you could use, no? Say you play out Animar, followed by some ramp creatures (in this version, you'd want to replace most of your ramp sorceries with creatures like Sakura-Tribe Elder, Wood Elves, Farhaven Elf, Coiling Oracle, and Solemn Simulacrum). If you don't get wrathed, then all your ramp has effectively been doubled, and if you do get wrathed, you're not actually losing much.
Animar does tend to lose some oomph on re-casting from the command zone, especially if your deck isn't packed with cheap value creatures to reload counters, so if you want a commander that's independently powerful without being built around there are probably better options. But if you're mainly looking for an RGx commander who will boost your Hydras in some way, Animar's well-suited.
What cards in u/g work with 1/1 counters other than evolve that I can use/abuse enough to matter with the hydras?
World_Peace has some good suggestions; you could play around with Zameck Guildmage and Sage of Fables too, if you were so inclined (sounds like good clean fun with Protean Hydra). Casual Prime Speaker Zegana lists often have a "+1/+1 counter shenanigans" subtheme, so you might look up some of those.
Vorel actually sounds like a fun commander for hydra tribal himself, but having to ditch all the red hydras probably makes that a no-go.
I'd need more ways to put counters on them to make use of his ability, but green is pretty good at that. Arethere more ways in black? Cause as it is, I'm now lening towards temur for Kruphix, God of Horizons and Prophet of Kruphix so I can store mana and cast huge hydras
All the Hydras use +1/+1 counters, so it doubles the size of all of the them. For example, if you have Corpsejack Menace in play and you cast Mistcutter Hydra for X=5, it will come into play with 10 +1/+1 counters.
EDIT - Now that I think about it more, Varolz and Mikaeus are kinda non-bos with a bunch of X-spell creatures. There is a lot of +1/+! counter support in blue (especially the UG stuff)
Ofcourse a bunch of the more usefull Graft creature like Plaxcaster Frogling
Master Biomancer helps aswell if we plan to run some mana creatures and the like anyway, he also grows with some of the other cards which all helps.
So if in doubt, go for blue/green/red , has the most to play around with counters, white offers not too much, but it also has some +1/+1 counters to throw around (but mostly on quantity of creature, which doesnt help too much here).
Ofcourse a bunch of the more usefull Graft creature like Plaxcaster Frogling
Master Biomancer helps aswell if we plan to run some mana creatures and the like anyway, he also grows with some of the other cards which all helps.
So if in doubt, go for blue/green/red , has the most to play around with counters, white offers not too much, but it also has some +1/+1 counters to throw around (but mostly on quantity of creature, which doesnt help too much here).
Because his counters are reliant on having creatures out, and if I can't keep anything on the board then he's a dead draw, where if he's any of the other hydras, they either enter with a set amount of counters, or are X hydras.
I like where this is headed. I'd probably try to get Wood Elves (note that the land it gets comes in untapped, and it can get nonbasic forests, which is great) and Solemn Simulacrum in there somewhere, either replacing some non-creature ramp or support spells (you have a lot of those).
In general, I think there are some non-creature support spells that could become creatures, allowing them to get discounted by Animar, and also double as ramp spells for your hydras when Animar's in play. So some of the noncreature removal could become Acidic Slime/Reclamation Sage/Brutalizer Exarch (who's underrated IMO, very flexible and one of the few answers to a indestructible noncreatures like Gods, even when they're commanders), some of the counterspells could become Glen Elendra Archmage and Mystic Snake, some of the trample-granting effects could become Tuskguard Captain/Crowned Ceratok/Roughshod Mentor, etc.
I'm tempted to suggest more of my favorite RUG cards, but I don't want to accidentally start pushing you into an Animar-centric deck... I know we want the Hydras to stay the stars of the show.
EDIT - Oh, I realized another reason to swap out some non-creature spells for creatures with equivalent effects; Scourge of Skola Vale, Vastwood Hydra, and especially Genesis Hydra also all want a high creature count in the deck for various reasons.
I'm fine with some changes, so long as I can find a way for it to fit somehow flavor wise. The way I'm making animar work flavor wise in my head is his forest is under attack and he's summoning the hydras, with a little help from the elves. Not wuite how to justify Vorel though, but some flavor fail is ok
Besides, I may decide to work out a different animar build at some point. I seem to have this problem where I like to brew decks, even if I can't build them for a long time.
I can buy that flavor justification. Elves, hydras, and Animar all have this "spirit of the untamed wilderness" vibe going on, and Animar simultaneously plays well with cheap utility/ramp elves and big, expensive hydras, so it all fits together pretty well.
And it makes me want to work on this other idea I had for a machines of war (Steel Hellkite, Wurmcoil Engine, Darksteel Colossus etc.) kind of deck that I can't find a commander for, lol
Nature vs machines
He could work,but I don't want to derail this thread too much, lol
What other mass trample granting is there? I know nylea, but I want at least 4 and to try and fit on flavor wise, so I'll take out the battlehorns for nylea.
Idk about the banner, but wolf run I had forgotten about, and what do you think about these as a means of getting back some of what I may need if it doesn't get exiled.
So I went to my lgs the other day and bought some khans packs and got a temur banner, so I'll find a spot for that, lol
Also so a Worldly Tutor, so I'll need to make a spot for that, and I've also found out about Soul right Flamekin, which will replace Horned Helm
If you're looking for mass trample enablers, what about Tuskguard Captain? All your hydras have +1/+1 counters already so they'll have trample while he's out. Also, I'm a bit concerned about your vulnerability to flyers. Maybe Longshot Squad as well? Just a thought.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
Marath, Will of the Wild Tokens!! / Karrthus, Tyrant of Jund Dragons! / Muzzio, Visionary Architect / Brago, King Eternal / Daretti, Scrap Savant / Narset, Enlightened Master / Alesha, Who Smiles at Death / Bruna, Light of Alabaster / Marchesa, the Black Rose / Iroas, God of Victory / Freyalise, Llanowar's Fury / Omnath, Locus of rage / Titania, Protector of Argoth / Kozilek, the Great Distortion
Modern
Elves / Titanshift / Merfolk
Major thanks to Traprootkami for the signature.
My second thought was Animar, Soul of Elements, because Animar loves Hydras (the cost-reduction from Animar works the way you'd hope it does with x-costing creatures) and because UG gives you access to some good options for a "+1/+1 counters matter" theme.
What cards in u/g work with 1/1 counters other than evolve that I can use/abuse enough to matter with the hydras?
Major thanks to Traprootkami for the signature.
Pauper: Burn
Modern: Burn
Legacy: Burn
EDH: Marath, Will of the Wild - Ramp/Combo | Anafenza the Foremost - French | Uril, the Miststalker - Voltron | Freyalise, Llanowar's Fury - Goodstuff
Ghost Council of Orzhov - Tokens | Lazav, Dimir Mastermind - Control | Isamaru, Hound of Konda - Tiny Leaders
Animar does tend to lose some oomph on re-casting from the command zone, especially if your deck isn't packed with cheap value creatures to reload counters, so if you want a commander that's independently powerful without being built around there are probably better options. But if you're mainly looking for an RGx commander who will boost your Hydras in some way, Animar's well-suited.
World_Peace has some good suggestions; you could play around with Zameck Guildmage and Sage of Fables too, if you were so inclined (sounds like good clean fun with Protean Hydra). Casual Prime Speaker Zegana lists often have a "+1/+1 counter shenanigans" subtheme, so you might look up some of those.
Vorel actually sounds like a fun commander for hydra tribal himself, but having to ditch all the red hydras probably makes that a no-go.
3 Animar, Soul of Elements
Creatures
3 Omnath, Locus of Mana
5 Prophet of Kruphix
5 Kruphix, God of Horizons
3 Farhaven Elf
3 Wood Elves
3 Fertilid
2 Sylvan Ranger
2 Sakura-Tribe Elder
3 Vorel of The Hull Clade
3 Temur Ascendency
5 Surrak Dragon Claw
3 Genesis Hydra
5 Urban Evolution
Major thanks to Traprootkami for the signature.
All the Hydras use +1/+1 counters, so it doubles the size of all of the them. For example, if you have Corpsejack Menace in play and you cast Mistcutter Hydra for X=5, it will come into play with 10 +1/+1 counters.
You also have Necropolis Regent, Varolz, the Scar-Striped, Mikaeus, the Unhallowed, Exava, Rakdos Blood Witch, Flesh//Blood, Kresh the Bloodbraided, Mephidross Vampire, and those are just the ones that are in Jund colors that would help your Hydra theme. You also get black removal spells to add into the mix. Black has a lot to offer the base RG of a Hydra deck.
EDIT - Now that I think about it more, Varolz and Mikaeus are kinda non-bos with a bunch of X-spell creatures. There is a lot of +1/+! counter support in blue (especially the UG stuff)
Jalira, Master Polymorphist | Endrek Sahr, Master Breeder | Bosh, Iron Golem | Ezuri, Renegade Leader
Brago, King Eternal | Oona, Queen of the Fae | Wort, Boggart Auntie | Wort, the Raidmother
Captain Sisay | Rhys, the Redeemed | Trostani, Selesnya's Voice | Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord
Gisela, Blade of Goldnight | Obzedat, Ghost Council | Niv-Mizzet, the Firemind | Vorel of the Hull Clade
Uril, the Miststalker | Prossh, Skyraider of Kher | Nicol Bolas | Progenitus
Ghave, Guru of Spores | Zedruu the Greathearted | Damia, Sage of Stone | Riku of Two Reflections
Red is for some hydras, but the most usefull ones are green.
Corpsejack Menace is certainly worth the black, but not much else in the color.
Blue works good with Allstars like the Prophet of Kruphix , the counter doublers ala Evolution Vat, Gilder Bairn, ofcourse we allready run all the green ones.
Ofcourse a bunch of the more usefull Graft creature like Plaxcaster Frogling
Master Biomancer helps aswell if we plan to run some mana creatures and the like anyway, he also grows with some of the other cards which all helps.
So if in doubt, go for blue/green/red , has the most to play around with counters, white offers not too much, but it also has some +1/+1 counters to throw around (but mostly on quantity of creature, which doesnt help too much here).
WUBRG#BlackLotusMatterWUBRG
👮👮👮 #BlueLivesMatter 👮👮👮
Red is for some hydras, but the most usefull ones are green.
Corpsejack Menace is certainly worth the black, but not much else in the color.
Blue works good with Allstars like the Prophet of Kruphix , the counter doublers ala Evolution Vat, Gilder Bairn, ofcourse we allready run all the green ones.
Ofcourse a bunch of the more usefull Graft creature like Plaxcaster Frogling
Master Biomancer helps aswell if we plan to run some mana creatures and the like anyway, he also grows with some of the other cards which all helps.
So if in doubt, go for blue/green/red , has the most to play around with counters, white offers not too much, but it also has some +1/+1 counters to throw around (but mostly on quantity of creature, which doesnt help too much here).
WUBRG#BlackLotusMatterWUBRG
👮👮👮 #BlueLivesMatter 👮👮👮
In search of a foil french Dromar, the Banisher, pm me if you have one you want to part with, also foil Stratadon's.
Major thanks to Traprootkami for the signature.
In general, I think there are some non-creature support spells that could become creatures, allowing them to get discounted by Animar, and also double as ramp spells for your hydras when Animar's in play. So some of the noncreature removal could become Acidic Slime/Reclamation Sage/Brutalizer Exarch (who's underrated IMO, very flexible and one of the few answers to a indestructible noncreatures like Gods, even when they're commanders), some of the counterspells could become Glen Elendra Archmage and Mystic Snake, some of the trample-granting effects could become Tuskguard Captain/Crowned Ceratok/Roughshod Mentor, etc.
I'm tempted to suggest more of my favorite RUG cards, but I don't want to accidentally start pushing you into an Animar-centric deck... I know we want the Hydras to stay the stars of the show.
EDIT - Oh, I realized another reason to swap out some non-creature spells for creatures with equivalent effects; Scourge of Skola Vale, Vastwood Hydra, and especially Genesis Hydra also all want a high creature count in the deck for various reasons.
Besides, I may decide to work out a different animar build at some point. I seem to have this problem where I like to brew decks, even if I can't build them for a long time.
Major thanks to Traprootkami for the signature.
Nature vs machines
Major thanks to Traprootkami for the signature.
What other mass trample granting is there? I know nylea, but I want at least 4 and to try and fit on flavor wise, so I'll take out the battlehorns for nylea.
Major thanks to Traprootkami for the signature.
Pauper: Burn
Modern: Burn
Legacy: Burn
EDH: Marath, Will of the Wild - Ramp/Combo | Anafenza the Foremost - French | Uril, the Miststalker - Voltron | Freyalise, Llanowar's Fury - Goodstuff
Ghost Council of Orzhov - Tokens | Lazav, Dimir Mastermind - Control | Isamaru, Hound of Konda - Tiny Leaders
Major thanks to Traprootkami for the signature.
Also so a Worldly Tutor, so I'll need to make a spot for that, and I've also found out about Soul right Flamekin, which will replace Horned Helm
Major thanks to Traprootkami for the signature.
but that's as far as my golgari 1/1 counter knowledge goes
Major thanks to Traprootkami for the signature.