As part of the Theros set, Wizards of the Coast have released a Challenge Deck. The Challenge Deck functions differently to standard play, which allows for more variance within the card game. With each card in the deck not usable in standard play, how then does the deck work and is it worth the purchase? Let’s take a closer look and find out.
The Face the Hydra Challenge deck is built around one central theme, the Grecian mythological creature that is the Hydra. Players are tasked with using their decks to defeat the Hydra which is represented by the challenge deck. In Greek mythology the only way to defeat a Hydra is to cut off every head all at once and to tie torches on the stumps of the neck to prevent the head growing back. This is represented within the way the challenge deck plays out. The Hydra starts off with a set number of heads, the number increasing depending on the difficulty you wish the challenge to be.
Each turn the Hydra performs it takes the top card from its deck and casts it if it is a sorcery card. If however the card is a head, then the head will be summoned. The Hydras opponent then takes damage dependent on the number of heads on the field before passing to the players turn. The players turn functions as a standard turn within Magic the Gathering with the only difference being that any damage dealt is done to a head. If a head should have its Toughness reduced to zero then it enters the graveyard.
However Greek mythology states that the Hydra would regrow its head should it be removed and once more this holds true in the challenge. If a Hydra head should perish, the Hydra checks the top two cards on its deck and places any heads among them on the field, sending the sorcery cards to the grave. This creates the challenge, defeat the Hydra before it defeats you.
As for the deck itself, the Hydra has the following cards at its disposal.
Hydra Head x11
0 Power / 3 Toughness, Creature, Head
Hero’s Reward – When Hydra Head leaves the battlefield, each player gains 2 life.
Ravenous Brute Head x4
0 Power / 6 Toughness, Elite Creature, Head
Hero’s Reward – When Ravenous Brute Head leaves the battlefield, each player gains 2 life and draws a card.
Savage Vigor Head x1
0 Power / 8 Toughness, Elite Creature, Head
At the Beginning of the Hydra’s end step, reveal the top card of the Hydra’s library and the Hydra casts that card.
Hero’s Reward – When Savage Vigor Head leaves the battlefield, each player gains 4 life and draws a card.
Shrieking Titan Head x1
0 Power / 8 Toughness, Elite Creature, Head
At the beginning of the Hydra’s end step, each player discards a card.
Hero’s Reward – When Shrieking Titan Head leaves the battlefield, each player gains 4 life and draws a card.
Snapping Fang Head x1
0 Power / 8 Toughness, Elite Creature, Head
At the beginning of the Hydra’s end step, Snapping Fang Head deals 1 damage to each player.
Hero’s Reward – When Snapping Fang Head leaves the battlefield, each player gains 4 life and draws a card.
As you may have noticed none of the Hydra heads have any power, this is because the damage done to the player is a set value of 1 damage per standard head and 2 damage per elite head in the end step. This offsets the reward part of each head’s text giving life back. It also contributes to the difficulty aspect of the challenge, with the Hydra being able to damage from the start.
The Hydra also has the following Sorcery cards at its disposal.
Neck Tangle x3
If there are five or more Heads on the battlefield, tap two of them and they don’t untap during the Hydra’s next untap step. Otherwise, reveal the top card of the Hydra’s library and the Hydra casts that card.
Disorienting Glower x5
Players can’t cast spells until the Hydra’s next turn.
Distract the Hydra x5
Each player may sacrifice a creature. Each player who sacrificed a creature this way chooses a Head and taps it. Each player who didn’t sacrifice a creature loses 3 life.
Torn Between Heads x4
Tap up to two Heads. They don’t untap during the Hydra’s next untap step. Torn Between Heads deals 5 damage to each player.
Hydra’s Impenetrable Hide x4
Each Head gains indestructible until the end of the Hydra’s next turn.
Swallow the Hero Whole x5
Each player exile a creature he or she controls. Until the Hydra’s next turn, when a Head leaves the battlefield, return the exiled cards to the battlefield under their owner’s control.
Grown from the Stump x4
Put exactly two cards named Hydra Head onto the battlefield from the Hydra’s graveyard. If you can’t, reveal cards from the top of the Hydra’s library until you reveal a Head card. Put that card onto the battlefield and the rest into the Hydra’s graveyard.
Noxious Hydra Breath x4
Choose one – Noxious Hydra Breath deals 5 damage to each player; or destroy each tapped non-Head creature.
Strike the Weak Spot x2
Destroy target Head. If that Head was elite, the Hydra takes an extra turn after this one.
Unified Lunge x6
Unified Lunge deals X damage to each player, where X is the number of Heads on the battlefield
As you can see the sorcery cards require no cost since the Hydra requires no mana. The range of sorcery cards can be both beneficial for the Hydra and detrimental, with cards like Strike the Weak Spot potentially giving the Hydra an extra turn, but in contrast if there are no elite heads out yet then the player may gain an advantage from the loss of a Hydra Head.
The Face the Hydra challenge deck is an incredibly fun mix-up to the Magic the Gathering formula, with a different style of play. The deck has a lot of challenge to it, making players have to think about how you orchestrate your attacks and making you hope that the Hydra doesn’t reveal a card which could spell disaster for you like Disorientating Glower. The challenge is even constructed so you can face it cooperatively with a friend so you don’t have to face the challenge alone. It is almost definitely a pack which is worth picking up, allowing you to play the much loved Card Game in an all new way.
Should you buy?
What are your thoughts on the Face the Hydra Challenge Deck? Have you taken on the challenge and more importantly did you succeed? Let us know your thoughts on the new Challenge Deck in the comments below.
