Dam is correct. The War Hydra is not a very good card because it dies to any kind of hp reduction, gets bounced by opposing Har Ganeth and also dies to any non-combat damage. Its template is pretty confusing for newer players.

I can see how it's ability can't be used in response to FoM, but I don't get how it dies to non-combat damage. It says "remove a resource token to cancel 1 damage assigned to it" Doesn't say anything about combat or non-combat damage. I can see how cloud of flies which specifically says "uncancellable" would kill it.

I don't get how there are so many problems with figuring out how these cards work. Magic never seemed that bad and I started playing it when Tempest came out. It seems there is much more rule writing to be had for clarification.

If the Hydra can't respond to FoM, it can work this way.

Spend 2 resources to activate Reaper bolt thrower, apply your own indirect damage to hydra, gain 2 resources, pump it back into thrower for 2 more, back into hydra to gain 2 resources and back into reaper for 2 more, (hydra now has 1 resource token and you've dealt 6 indirect damage to opponent, 2 to yourself.) then return hydra next turn with Har Ganeth.

How about that?

The problem lies in the FAQ where it is ruled that Non-Combat-Damage directly applies after being assigned.

Ok thanks, I get it then, kind of like applying non-combat damage is a forced action and cannont be responded to.

Pertaining to above War Hydra + Reaper Bolt Thrower combo, what if you had an Altar of Khaine in play.

2 resources to thrower, directed to hydra, generate 2 resources to thrower, directed to hydra, generate 2 resources to thrower, then 2 damage back to hydra ( it has 1 resource token on it, you prevent the one damage, apply the 2nd damage to it, use the 1 resource to pump into altar and you saved the hydra to play next turn.

Hate to be a killjoy, but Reaper Bolt Thrower says 'each opponent', right? So...

yeah, it does. Reading is fun. I was used to the other indirect damage effects applying to both players.

ShubFan27 said:

The problem with this logic is some of us have been playing with decks that have always had these cards in them since their release.

Put simply some people have always had different ideas on building and card evaluation and as such have been playing decks that are just a bit outside of what is popular and do very well against what has been touted as the flavor of the month super deck.

All that said I would be relatively surprised if your deck didn't eat me alive. I'm not a very good player (this is not my main game and I only spend a fraction of my game time on it). My talents for this game really amount to thinking very differently about the game and building decks and using strategies that others either haven't thought of or dismissed out of hand.

Of course this is why I firmly believe it is the driver not the deck in this game.

Why would anyone want to build a deck that plays itself?