I actually agree that Hydras with static power/toughness or whatever just makes no sense for hydras. The core feature of hydras, the one thing they always have in common among all franchises is their variable number of heads.
Making hydras into the "go to" iconic creature type for green just makes no sense. I think manticores would make a much better stand in for hydras, especially now that there's precedent of flightless manticores. They represent the ferocity of the wild much better than hydras, especially since hydras seem more black/green with their focus on survival and (in the original source material) toxicity. Plus, manticores currently compete with dragons for the same design space and dragons are like omnipresent, because they're so popular.
Hydras represent green's theme of growth. Manticores in green are just lions with scorpion tails. While I personally view Manticores as red's answer to blue's Sphinxes, if I had to move Manticores to another color, it would be black.
So, the black lady with a sword we saw a while back is apparently Kenrith's wife. Looking at Will and Rowan, then at their other two children, I'm going to guess she's his second wife, and not the twins' biological mother.
Temporary control would feel weird on a Dragon. "Oh, I bothered carrying you all the way to my lair just so we could have some afternoon tea." Keeping the permanent for as long as the Dragon remains on the battlefield makes more sense. I don't get why the creature theft is limited to Humans, I would sooner they imposed a cost or size limit.
I think red just found its new best 1 cmc creature.
White: Stoneforge Mystic allows me to tutor an Equipment, and cheat Equipment onto the battlefield.
Blue: Snapcaster Mage grants flashback to any instant or sorcery card in my graveyard.
Black: Dark Confidant draws me extra cards at a reasonable price.
Green: Tarmogoyf gets bigger with every card type in all graveyards.
Red: Hold my beer.
There a reason you have to be such a downer about it?
Whatever the dragon steals, you can sac to a card like Witch's Oven. I mean, saccing Humans to make Food is gross, and I probably wouldn't have limited the creature theft to Humans, but it shows that you can find a use for the Dragon's loot or captive. You can also tap the artifact or Human to, say, Improvise, Convoke, or activate cards like Springleaf Drum. Also consider that Conjurer's Closet can flicker the artifact or Human creature, returning it to the battlefield under your control, now fully functional. Add a Strionic Resonator to copy the Closet's triggered ability and target the Dragon, and use a Panharmonicon to copy the Dragon's ETB effect.
Hydras represent green's theme of growth. Manticores in green are just lions with scorpion tails. While I personally view Manticores as red's answer to blue's Sphinxes, if I had to move Manticores to another color, it would be black.
Hmm...Simian Spirit Guide?
1 Lathliss, Dragon Queen
4 Scourge of Valkas
Rituals
4 Rite of Flame
4 Simian Spirit Guide
4 Manamorphose
4 Pyretic Ritual
4 Seething Song
4 Irencrag Feat
4 Dragonstorm
4 Gitaxian Probe
4 Street Wraith
Land
19 Mountain
Really, the deck doesn't need more than one Scourge to end the game, so long as you have Lathliss and at least one other Dragon in your deck.
Add Manamorphose for card draw and higher storm count. Also add Street Wraith and Gitaxian Probe for free card draw.
1 Lathliss, Dragon Queen
4 Scourge of Valkas
Rituals
4 Rite of Flame
4 Manamorphose
4 Pyretic Ritual
4 Seething Song
4 Irencrag Feat
4 Dragonstorm
4 Gitaxian Probe
4 Street Wraith
Land
23 Mountain
A Hellion Hydra
Lizard Hydras
Plant Hydras
Snake Hydras
Hydra Beasts
Hydra Mutants
Jellyfish Hydra Beasts
A Hydra Avatar
And now Turtle Hydras. Crocodile Hydra when, Wizards?
Interesting twist on Rule of Law.
White: Stoneforge Mystic allows me to tutor an Equipment, and cheat Equipment onto the battlefield.
Blue: Snapcaster Mage grants flashback to any instant or sorcery card in my graveyard.
Black: Dark Confidant draws me extra cards at a reasonable price.
Green: Tarmogoyf gets bigger with every card type in all graveyards.
Red: Hold my beer.
Whatever the dragon steals, you can sac to a card like Witch's Oven. I mean, saccing Humans to make Food is gross, and I probably wouldn't have limited the creature theft to Humans, but it shows that you can find a use for the Dragon's loot or captive. You can also tap the artifact or Human to, say, Improvise, Convoke, or activate cards like Springleaf Drum. Also consider that Conjurer's Closet can flicker the artifact or Human creature, returning it to the battlefield under your control, now fully functional. Add a Strionic Resonator to copy the Closet's triggered ability and target the Dragon, and use a Panharmonicon to copy the Dragon's ETB effect.