EDH Optimizer
Hydras Commander decks
Hydras is a kindred archetype: the deck is built around one creature type and the cards that pay you for having many of them. It is mostly played in green and Gruul. Its most characteristic cards are Kalonian Hydra, Vastwood Hydra, Gargos, Vicious Watcher: not the most-played cards in the format, but the ones that appear in these decks far above what is normal for the same colors.
Cards that define the archetype
Ranked by how much MORE they are played inside the archetype than in the rest of Commander. Generic staples (Sol Ring, Arcane Signet…) fall out for exactly that reason: they are played everywhere equally.
| Card | Commanders | Avg. inclusion | Excess |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kalonian Hydra | 6 | 51% | +72 pts |
| Vastwood Hydra | 5 | 53% | +63 pts |
| Gargos, Vicious Watcher | 5 | 48% | +62 pts |
| Hungering Hydra | 5 | 66% | +62 pts |
| Genesis Hydra | 5 | 62% | +62 pts |
| Kodama's Reach | 7 | 44% | +54 pts |
| Garruk's Uprising | 6 | 56% | +54 pts |
| Mistcutter Hydra | 4 | 63% | +50 pts |
| Voracious Hydra | 4 | 68% | +50 pts |
| Primordial Hydra | 4 | 68% | +50 pts |
| Steelbane Hydra | 4 | 66% | +50 pts |
| Lifeblood Hydra | 4 | 67% | +50 pts |
| Goldvein Hydra | 4 | 63% | +49 pts |
| Hooded Hydra | 4 | 56% | +49 pts |
| Managorger Hydra | 4 | 63% | +47 pts |
| Branching Evolution | 4 | 56% | +39 pts |
| Protean Hydra | 3 | 55% | +38 pts |
| Neverwinter Hydra | 3 | 55% | +37 pts |
| Unbound Flourishing | 3 | 70% | +37 pts |
| Hydra's Growth | 3 | 47% | +35 pts |
| Corpsejack Menace | 3 | 61% | +34 pts |
| Terrasymbiosis | 3 | 50% | +32 pts |
| Doubling Season | 3 | 42% | +30 pts |
| Snakeskin Veil | 3 | 45% | +29 pts |
| Hardened Scales | 3 | 58% | +21 pts |
Commanders for Hydras
Ranked by how central this archetype is to their decks and by how played each commander is, according to EDHREC data.
By color identity
Green
Red · Green
Blue · Green
White · Green
Black · Green
Paste your list and we tell you whether the deck actually does what it wants to do: curve, ramp, interaction and a 10,000-game simulation.
🛠️ Build a deck like this 📥 Analyze my deckFrequently asked questions
What is the best commander for a Hydras deck?
The most-built commanders for this archetype are Progenitus, Polukranos Reborn // Polukranos, Engine of Ruin, Gargos, Vicious Watcher. EDH Optimizer has the full list of 27 commanders with their recommended cards, ranked by how central Hydras is to their decks.
Which cards are must-haves in a Hydras deck?
The three most characteristic are Kalonian Hydra, Vastwood Hydra, Gargos, Vicious Watcher. They are not the most-played cards in the format, but the ones that appear far more inside this archetype than in the rest of Commander — which is what actually makes them essential here.
What colors is Hydras played in?
The most common color identities are Green, Red · Green, Blue · Green. The "By color identity" section groups the commanders and links to the best cards for each combination.
How much does a Hydras deck cost?
It depends on the price cap PER CARD you set. Each commander page lists the best cards in three tiers (up to €2, up to €10 and no cap), and the optimizer only suggests swaps that fit the cap you pick.