Protean Hydra
~$4.24 low · ~$15.50 high
Green. Creature — Hydra
Magic 2011 #194 · Illustrated by Jim Murray
Magic 2011 #194 · Illustrated by Jim MurrayWhat is Protean Hydra worth?
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TCGplayer market prices in USD, updated October 14, 2026. Each price is for one printing and one finish.
Oracle text
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
Format legality
All 2 printings of Protean Hydra
| Printing | Rarity | Non-foil | Foil | Cardmarket (EUR) | My collection |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Magic 2011 m11 #194· 2010rare· Cardmarket €2.62 · €4.34 foil | rare | $4.24 | $15.50 | €2.62€4.34 foil | |
 Magic 2010 m10 #200· 2009mythic· Cardmarket €2.48 · €7.50 foil | mythic | $4.85 | $15.36 | €2.48€7.50 foil |
Prices are TCGplayer market prices in USD for each printing and finish, via Scryfall. They are a guide, not an appraisal.
Where to buy Protean Hydra
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Card details
- First printed
- 2009
- Printings
- 2
- Mana value
- 1
- EDHREC rank
- #6,619 on EDHREC (Commander popularity)
- Artist
- Jim Murray
What the codes mean
The small print at the bottom of the Magic 2011 card (#194).
194
- 194Collector number: this card's place in the set list. Main-set cards print it over the set's card count.
Cards from 1998 to mid-2014 print the collector number over the set's card count (like 90/383) next to the copyright line. They have no rarity letter, set code or language code: the set symbol and its colour show the set and rarity.
How to read a Magic card: every part and code, on real cards.
Rulings (6)
2009-10-01
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
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
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
If multiple +1/+1 counters are removed from Protean Hydra at once, its last ability will trigger that many times.
2009-10-01
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
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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