Rock Hydra
Limited Edition Alpha 171 • rare
- Set
- Limited Edition Alpha
- Collector number
- 171
- Rarity
- Rare
- Mana cost
- X mana red mana red mana
- Type
- Creature
- Colors
- Red
- Artist
- Jeff A. Menges
- Market price
- €905.96
What it does
This creature enters with X +1/+1 counters on it.
For each 1 damage that would be dealt to this creature, if it has a +1/+1 counter on it, remove a +1/+1 counter from it and prevent that 1 damage.
red mana: Prevent the next 1 damage that would be dealt to this creature this turn.
red mana red mana red mana: Put a +1/+1 counter on this creature. Activate only during your upkeep.
Where you can play it
- StandardNot legal
- PioneerNot legal
- ModernNot legal
- LegacyLegal
- VintageLegal
- CommanderLegal
- PauperNot legal
- BrawlNot legal
- HistoricNot legal
- TimelessNot legal
- Penny DreadfulLegal
- OathbreakerLegal
Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC. Card text via Scryfall. Not approved or endorsed by Wizards. As of the last catalogue refresh.
Where to find one
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Where it came from
The Rock Hydra was released in 1993 as part of Limited Edition Alpha, the inaugural printing of the Magic: The Gathering trading card game created by Richard Garfield and published by Wizards of the Coast. Conceived as a strategic centerpiece for tabletop hobbyists, the set was designed to mimic the complexity of collectible systems while introducing a unique resource-management mechanic that transformed the landscape of fantasy gaming.
The card features the distinct illustrative style of Dan Frazier, whose work on the original set helped define the visual identity of the game’s early monsters. Frazier’s depiction of the creature emphasizes the earthy, metamorphic qualities of the Hydra, leaning into the high-fantasy aesthetic that characterized the mid-nineties gaming scene. While the Hydra itself remains a classic example of early game mechanics, the set as a whole was received with surprise at its immediate popularity, eventually sparking a global cultural phenomenon.
Written by Pi, the helpful collecto.rs AI
Who's collecting this
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About Rock Hydra
Rock Hydra is a card in the Magic: The Gathering catalog on collecto.rs. Limited Edition Alpha 171 • rare. Catalog data is sourced from Scryfall. No public cards collectors track this one yet — adding yours would make you the first on collecto.rs.
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Where does the Rock Hydra catalog entry come from?
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