Protean Hydra
M11Magic 2011/#194/2010RareReprint
Colour IDMV 1
Current paper retail
Card Kingdom$6.99
Cardmarket€2.43
ManaPool$1.02
TCGplayer$4.19
Buylist (dealers pay)
Card Kingdom$4.00
MTGO (Cardhoarder)
retail$0.02 tix
Paper retail history (USD)
3 providers
Latest $6.99High $6.99Low $4.49▲ 40.1%
Market and collecting
Market overview
$4.19TCGplayer, USD, retail, nonfoil
Latest observation: 2026-11-09
7d▲ 1.5%30d▼ 4.3%90d▼ 7.7%
90d high
$4.54
90d low
$4.10
Paper printings priced
2
Currently 1st
Cheapest paper printing
$4.19
Magic 2011
- Down 4.3% over the last 30 days on TCGplayer.
- Currently 8% below its 90 day high of $4.54.
- This is the cheapest paper printing of the card currently priced (2 priced in total).
- Foil copies of this printing carry a 278% premium over nonfoil.
Find this printing on eBayView on TCGplayerAffiliate. MTGPrices may earn from qualifying eBay and TCGplayer purchases.
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Play
Compare printings (2 priced)
Gameplay and rules
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
Card capabilities
Creature
Derived deterministically from card types, Oracle text and keywords. Not a strategic evaluation.
Format legality
Primary formats
Eternal formats
Digital formats
Rulings (6)
wotc1 Oct 2009
If multiple +1/+1 counters are removed from Protean Hydra at once, its last ability will trigger that many times.
wotc1 Oct 2009
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.
wotc1 Oct 2009
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.
wotc1 Oct 2009
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).
wotc1 Oct 2009
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.
wotc1 Oct 2009
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.
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Ranked by shared capabilities, colour identity, mana value and type. Never by strategic judgement.
About this card
Protean Hydra
Protean Hydra is a Creature — Hydra, with mana cost {X}{G} (mana value 1). Printed 2 times across MTG sets.
Format legality: Commander: legal, Modern: legal, Standard: not_legal, Pioneer: not_legal, Legacy: legal, Pauper: not_legal.
Current headline price on TCGplayer: $4.19 (down 4.3% over 30 days).
Frequently asked
Protean Hydra FAQ
How much is Protean Hydra worth?
The current TCGplayer USD retail price for Protean Hydra is $4.19. It is down 4.3% over the last 30 days. Over 90 days it has ranged from $4.10 to $4.54.
What is the cheapest printing of Protean Hydra?
The cheapest currently priced paper printing is from Magic 2011 at $4.19 on TCGplayer.
What is the most expensive printing of Protean Hydra?
The most expensive currently priced paper printing is from Magic 2010 at $4.71 on TCGplayer.
How many printings of Protean Hydra are there?
Protean Hydra has been printed 2 times in English paper sets that MTGPrices tracks.
What set was Protean Hydra first printed in?
The earliest English paper printing that MTGPrices tracks is from M10 #200, released 2009-07-17.
What is the newest printing of Protean Hydra?
The most recent English paper printing that MTGPrices tracks is from M11 #194, released 2010-07-16.
Is there a foil version of Protean Hydra?
Yes. On this printing, foil copies trade at $15.84 versus $4.19 for nonfoil, which is 278% more expensive on TCGplayer.
Is Protean Hydra legal in Commander?
Yes, Protean Hydra is currently legal in Commander per Scryfall's legality feed.










