Hythonia the Cruel 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
Deathtouch: Monstrosity 3. (If this creature isn't monstrous, put three +1/+1 counters on it and it becomes monstrous.) When Hythonia becomes monstrous, destroy all non-Gorgon creatures.
Complete guide
Hythonia the Cruel is a fearsome Gorgon that serves as a powerful late-game board wipe on a stick. By using her monstrosity ability, she can clear the battlefield of almost all opposition while growing into an even larger threat. This legendary creature is a cornerstone for black decks looking to dominate the combat phase.
Unlocking Monstrosity
Hythonia the Cruel features the Monstrosity mechanic. For eight mana, you can activate this ability to place three +1/+1 counters on her, turning her from a 4/6 into a 7/9. Crucially, a creature can only become monstrous if it isn't already monstrous; if you activate the ability a second time, nothing will happen upon resolution because she has already achieved that state.
Resolving the Gorgon's Gaze
When you pay the monstrosity cost, the ability goes on the stack. Once it resolves, Hythonia becomes monstrous and her triggered ability immediately goes on the stack: 'destroy all non-Gorgon creatures.' Because this is a triggered ability that occurs *when* she becomes monstrous, she must be on the battlefield for the destruction to take place. If she is destroyed in response to the monstrosity activation, the board wipe will not happen.
Strategic Timing and Common Mistakes
A common mistake is forgetting that Hythonia's deathtouch applies to any damage she deals, though her board wipe is a destruction effect, not damage. Remember that 'monstrous' is a status, not an ability. Even if Hythonia loses her abilities (such as through a transformation effect) after becoming monstrous, she remains monstrous. Finally, note that this effect is indiscriminate; it will destroy your own non-Gorgon creatures just as easily as your opponents'.
Interaction examples
Syr Konrad, the GrimWith Syr Konrad, the Grim on the battlefield, you activate Hythonia's monstrosity. Hythonia becomes monstrous, triggering her ability to destroy all non-Gorgon creatures. As the creatures (including Syr Konrad himself) are destroyed and put into the graveyard, Syr Konrad's ability triggers for each other creature dying at the same time, dealing massive damage to your opponents as the board is cleared.
Gray Merchant of AsphodelYou have Gray Merchant of Asphodel on the battlefield, providing devotion to black. You activate Hythonia the Cruel's monstrosity ability. Before the board wipe resolves, your devotion includes the {B}{B} from Hythonia and {B}{B} from the Merchant. Once the trigger resolves, Gray Merchant of Asphodel is destroyed. This is a common sequence to clear the path for a monstrous Hythonia to attack directly on the following turn.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Hythonia the Cruel
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
Once a creature becomes monstrous, it can't become monstrous again. If the creature is already monstrous when the monstrosity ability resolves, nothing happens.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
Monstrous isn't an ability that a creature has. It's just something true about that creature. If the creature stops being a creature or loses its abilities, it will continue to be monstrous.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
An ability that triggers when a creature becomes monstrous won't trigger if that creature isn't on the battlefield when its monstrosity ability resolves.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Hythonia the Cruel
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