Hooded Hydra — ruling 1

Use the number of +1/+1 counters that were on Hooded Hydra the last time it was on the battlefield to determine how many Snake tokens to create.

Hooded Hydra — ruling 2

Hooded Hydra's last ability isn't a triggered ability. It's a replacement ability that modifies how Hooded Hydra is turned face up. Players can't respond to Hooded Hydra being turned face up and having five +1/+1 counters put on it.

Hooded Hydra — ruling 3

If Hooded Hydra is face down and it's turned face up some other way than by having its morph cost paid, the last ability will still apply.

Hooded Hydra — ruling 4

Morph lets you cast a card face down by paying {3}, and lets you turn the face-down permanent face up any time you have priority by paying its morph cost.

Hooded Hydra — ruling 5

The face-down spell has no mana cost and has a mana value of 0. When you cast a face-down spell, put it on the stack face down so no other player knows what it is, and pay {3}. This is an alternative cost.

Hooded Hydra — ruling 6

When the spell resolves, it enters the battlefield as a 2/2 creature with no name, mana cost, creature types, or abilities. It's colorless and has a mana value of 0. Other effects that apply to the creature can still grant it any of these characteristics.

Hooded Hydra — ruling 7

Any time you have priority, you may turn the face-down creature face up by revealing what its morph cost is and paying that cost. This is a special action. It doesn't use the stack and can't be responded to. Only a face-down permanent can be turned face up this way; a face-down spell cannot.

Hooded Hydra — ruling 8

Because the permanent is on the battlefield both before and after it's turned face up, turning a permanent face up doesn't cause any enters-the-battlefield abilities to trigger.

Hooded Hydra : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Hooded Hydra is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.

Official card text

This creature enters with X +1/+1 counters on it. When this creature dies, create a 1/1 green Snake creature token for each +1/+1 counter on it. Morph As this creature is turned face up, put five +1/+1 counters on it.

Complete guide

Hooded Hydra is a versatile Snake Hydra that offers incredible value whether you cast it for its full cost or sneak it onto the battlefield using the morph mechanic. It scales with your mana throughout the game and ensures you maintain a board presence even after it is destroyed. This card is a powerhouse for players who enjoy flexible creatures and token-based strategies.

Dual Casting Options

You have two ways to bring Hooded Hydra to the battlefield. You can cast it normally for {X}{G}{G}, where it enters with X +1/+1 counters, or you can cast it face down for {3} as a 2/2 creature using the morph ability. If you choose the morph route, you can later pay {3}{G}{G} to turn it face up, which automatically grants it five +1/+1 counters.

Resolution and Death Triggers

When Hooded Hydra dies, the game checks how many +1/+1 counters were on it at the last moment it was on the battlefield. You then create that many 1/1 green Snake creature tokens. Notably, the ability to gain five counters when turning face up is a replacement effect, not a triggered ability. This means it happens immediately as it turns face up; your opponents cannot cast a spell to kill it before those five counters are added.

Common Pitfalls

A frequent mistake is assuming that turning Hooded Hydra face up triggers 'enters the battlefield' abilities. Since the permanent is already on the battlefield when it flips, no such abilities will trigger. Additionally, remember that if a face-down Hooded Hydra leaves the battlefield for any reason, you must reveal it to all players to prove it was a legal morph card.

Strategic Timing

In the early game, casting this as a morph allows you to have a 2/2 blocker that can surprise your opponent later. In the late game, using mana from sources like Birds of Paradise or Llanowar Elves allows you to cast it with a massive X value, creating a game-ending threat that replaces itself with an army of Snakes if it is dealt with.

Interaction examples

The Morph Flip

Morph

You pay {3} to cast Hooded Hydra face down as a 2/2. Later, you pay {3}{G}{G} to turn it face up. Because of its replacement ability, it instantly becomes a 5/5 Snake Hydra with five +1/+1 counters. If it is then destroyed, you create five 1/1 Snake tokens.

Scaling with Mana Dorks

Llanowar Elves

Birds of Paradise

With Llanowar Elves and Birds of Paradise on the field, you have access to extra mana. You cast Hooded Hydra where X equals 4, spending a total of six mana. It enters with four +1/+1 counters. When it eventually dies, you will receive four 1/1 Snake tokens to replace it.

A Swarm of Snakes

Snake

If your Hooded Hydra has ten +1/+1 counters and your opponent uses a removal spell, the death trigger goes on the stack. Upon resolution, you populate your board with ten 1/1 green Snake tokens, effectively turning one large threat into a wide army that is much harder to block.

Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.

How it works : Hooded Hydra

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1September 20, 2014· Wizards of the Coast
Use the number of +1/+1 counters that were on Hooded Hydra the last time it was on the battlefield to determine how many Snake tokens to create.
Card named in this ruling
Snake
#2September 20, 2014· Wizards of the Coast
Hooded Hydra's last ability isn't a triggered ability. It's a replacement ability that modifies how Hooded Hydra is turned face up. Players can't respond to Hooded Hydra being turned face up and having five +1/+1 counters put on it.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#3September 20, 2014· Wizards of the Coast
If Hooded Hydra is face down and it's turned face up some other way than by having its morph cost paid, the last ability will still apply.
Card named in this ruling
Morph
#4September 20, 2014· Wizards of the Coast
Morph lets you cast a card face down by paying , and lets you turn the face-down permanent face up any time you have priority by paying its morph cost.
Card named in this ruling
Morph
#5September 20, 2014· Wizards of the Coast
The face-down spell has no mana cost and has a mana value of 0. When you cast a face-down spell, put it on the stack face down so no other player knows what it is, and pay . This is an alternative cost.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#6September 20, 2014· Wizards of the Coast
When the spell resolves, it enters the battlefield as a 2/2 creature with no name, mana cost, creature types, or abilities. It's colorless and has a mana value of 0. Other effects that apply to the creature can still grant it any of these characteristics.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#7September 20, 2014· Wizards of the Coast
Any time you have priority, you may turn the face-down creature face up by revealing what its morph cost is and paying that cost. This is a special action. It doesn't use the stack and can't be responded to. Only a face-down permanent can be turned face up this way; a face-down spell cannot.
Card named in this ruling
Morph
#8September 20, 2014· Wizards of the Coast
Because the permanent is on the battlefield both before and after it's turned face up, turning a permanent face up doesn't cause any enters-the-battlefield abilities to trigger.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#9September 20, 2014· Wizards of the Coast
A permanent that turns face up or face down changes characteristics but is otherwise the same permanent. Spells and abilities that were targeting that permanent, as well as Auras and Equipment that were attached to the permanent, aren't affected.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#10September 20, 2014· Wizards of the Coast
At any time, you can look at a face-down spell or permanent you control. You can't look at face-down spells or permanents you don't control unless an effect instructs you to do so.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#11September 20, 2014· Wizards of the Coast
You must ensure that your face-down spells and permanents can easily be differentiated from each other. You're not allowed to mix up the cards that represent them on the battlefield in order to confuse other players. The order they entered the battlefield should remain clear. Common methods for doing this include using markers or dice, or simply placing them in order on the battlefield.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#12September 20, 2014· Wizards of the Coast
If a face-down permanent leaves the battlefield, you must reveal it. You must also reveal all face-down spells and permanents you control if you leave the game or if the game ends.
No other card is named in this ruling.