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Protean Hydra

Green

2 printings listed in our catalog, from newest to oldest.

Protean Hydra, Magic 2011 printing
Magic 2011 M11 · No. 194 2010-07-16

Card text

{X}{G}
Creature — Hydra
This creature enters with X +1/+1 counters on it. If damage would be dealt to this creature, prevent that damage and remove that many +1/+1 counters from it. Whenever a +1/+1 counter is removed from this creature, put two +1/+1 counters on it at the beginning of the next end step.
0 / 0
EDHREC rank #6665 Rare Not on the Reserved List
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The 2 printings

All, with their prices ↓

Standard ∅ Not legal
Pioneer ∅ Not legal
Modern ✓ Legal
Legacy ✓ Legal
Vintage ✓ Legal
Pauper ∅ Not legal
Commander ✓ Legal
Oathbreaker ✓ Legal
Brawl ∅ Not legal
Historic ∅ Not legal
Timeless ∅ Not legal
Alchemy ∅ Not legal
Explorer ∅ Not legal
Gladiator ∅ Not legal
Penny ✓ Legal
Duel ✓ Legal

Official rulings

6 rulings · in English, source Scryfall

Protean Hydra’s last ability triggers whenever a +1/+1 counter is removed from it for any reason, not just when a +1/+1 counter is removed by its second ability.

2009-10-01 · Wizards of the Coast

All damage that would be dealt to Protean Hydra is prevented, even if it doesn’t have that many +1/+1 counters on it. This is true even if Protean Hydra has no +1/+1 counters on it at all (and is able to remain on the battlefield because some other effect is boosting its toughness). If the amount of damage that would be dealt to Protean Hydra is greater than the number of +1/+1 counters on it, all the +1/+1 counters on Protean Hydra are removed from it.

2009-10-01 · Wizards of the Coast

If any +1/+1 counters are removed from Protean Hydra during the end step, its last ability will trigger and set up a delayed triggered ability that will trigger at the beginning of the next end step (which is near the end of the following turn).

2009-10-01 · Wizards of the Coast

If multiple +1/+1 counters are removed from Protean Hydra at once, its last ability will trigger that many times.

2009-10-01 · Wizards of the Coast

If unpreventable damage is dealt to Protean Hydra, the Hydra’s second ability will try to prevent it and fail (meaning that damage has its normal results), and it will also remove that many +1/+1 counters from Protean Hydra.

2009-10-01 · Wizards of the Coast

If a -1/-1 counter is put on Protean Hydra while it has +1/+1 counters on it, that -1/-1 counter and a +1/+1 counter will be removed from it as a state-based action. This will cause Protean Hydra’s last ability to trigger.

2009-10-01 · Wizards of the Coast

All printings