Benevolent Hydra - MTG Proxy Jumpstart

Benevolent Hydra – MTG Proxy Jumpstart

$4.00

13 in stock

High Quality MTG Proxy Cards

We use the latest technology to make high quality, realistic Magic: the Gathering proxies. The size and weight of our cards mirrors original Magic cards, and we strive to make every detail as accurate as possible. 

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Frequently Asked Questions

A proxy card is an easily acquired or home-made substitute for a collectible card. A proxy is used when a collectible card game player does not own a card, and it would be impractical for such purposes to acquire the card.

This usually occurs when a player desires a card that is cost-prohibitive, or is “playtesting” with many possible cards. When doing intensive training for a competitive tournament, it often makes more sense to use proxy cards while figuring out which cards will be brought to the tournament. Another card is substituted and serves the same function during gameplay as the actual card would.

A proxy can also be used in cases where a player owns a very valuable card, but does not wish to damage it by using it in actual play.

Proxy cards can be used in various situations. The rules and restrictions are object of common agreement, or a given policy, and may differ from the above-mentioned “fair play requirements”.

In casual games, the players may agree on a common policy of how to incorporate proxy cards. This allows to play a higher variation of card combinations and strategies, while keeping a limit on the expenses. In tournaments, the organizer may permit a limited number of proxy cards, and define rules about how these cards must look. This policy has become especially popular in games or formats where some vital cards are far too expensive, such as the vintage format inMagic: The Gathering.

For playtesting. Proxy cards allow a player to test new cards, before they decide to actually buy or trade for them. In card prototyping. Card developers in companies like Wizards of the Coast use proxies to playtest their ideas for new cards before they are printed.

Some players create cards based on their own ideas for card themes and mechanics. In this case, however, the term “proxy” may no longer be applicable, as these cannot be considered substitutes for existing objects.

Famous cards that are often proxied are the so-called power nine in Magic: The Gathering, which are considered totally out of balance in gameplay, while being unaffordable for the average player, due to their rarity and enormous price on the secondary market.

The main issue to guarantee fair play in a card game is that all cards in the deck must be indistinguishable for any player who does not view the front side (if card sleeves are used, the term ‘card’ means the sleeve with the card inside).

Ideally, all cards (both original and proxy) should be indistinguishable in the following characteristics to ensure fairness:

Card size and shape, including the typical rounding cut on the edges.

The card’s total weight, its center of gravity and, ideally, the moment of inertia (which implies a homogeneous distribution of mass on the surface).

Overall and local stiffness and elasticity – all cards should behave equally on bending.

Overall and local thickness.

Feel and relief (tactilecharacteristics) of the card, especially elevations and cavities on the surface on both sides.

The image printed on the back side, including its shininess.

Overall and local transparency, when examined with a light from behind.

Besides these physical implications, it should be considered that someone (the players or a judge) will need to control the validity of the cards – which may prove difficult with some of the above points.

Overview

Benevolent Hydra is a scalable green creature that anchors +1/+1 counter strategies. It enters the battlefield with X counters based on how much mana you invest, passively improves all counter placement on other creatures you control by adding one extra counter, and can tap and remove a counter from itself to put a counter on another creature. That trio—front‑loaded stats, a teamwide enhancement, and targeted redistribution—makes it both threat and engine in decks that care about counters.

How it plays

As an early play for X=1–2, the Hydra establishes a body and immediately improves future counter growth from effects like Rishkar, Luminarch Aspirant, or Adapt/Evolve creatures. As a mid/late topdeck, sinking 4–6 mana produces a sizable attacker that also supercharges your board’s development. The static enhancement applies only to other creatures, so the Hydra doesn’t snowball itself, but the tap ability lets you move its counters outward at instant speed in response to removal or to push combat math. Because it requires tapping, you’ll usually deploy it before combat and leverage the activation on later turns or after it loses summoning sickness. Replacement effects stack—pairing with cards that add extra counters turns each placement into a burst of growth.

Decks & synergies

  • +1/+1 counters shells: Works with Hardened Scales, Conclave Mentor, and Winding Constrictor; multiple “add one extra” effects stack for explosive scaling. (Oracle text confirms it boosts counters on other creatures you control and has a tap ability to move counters.)
  • Token/go‑wide: Turning a stream of small counters into bigger ones across your army makes anthem effects and overrun finishes lethal much sooner.
  • Modular/Energy/Adapt/Evolve: Any mechanic that places counters repeatedly benefits; moving a counter can also “turn on” abilities that check for counters.
  • Counter recursion: Combines cleanly with The Ozolith, proliferate effects, and creatures that ETB with counters you want to magnify.

Sequencing & tips

Cast Benevolent Hydra before your primary counter engines to maximize value over time. Use the tap ability to save important creatures from damage (move a counter to grow them out of burn range) or to create surprise lethal by shifting counters onto an evasive or trampling attacker. Remember that the static boost doesn’t help itself; if you need the Hydra to grow, plan to feed it counters from other sources and then distribute them later.

Formats

At its best in Commander and casual constructed where counter synergies are dense. It’s legal across eternal formats but primarily shines at tables that can stack Hardened‑Scales‑style effects and enjoy intricate combat math.

Proxy note

Third‑party proxy for casual play and testing. Not tournament legal. ProxyMTG is unaffiliated with Wizards of the Coast.

Additional information

Weight 0.0125 kg

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