diff --git a/packages/svelte/scripts/check-treeshakeability.js b/packages/svelte/scripts/check-treeshakeability.js
index 66129b8657..be744874c7 100644
--- a/packages/svelte/scripts/check-treeshakeability.js
+++ b/packages/svelte/scripts/check-treeshakeability.js
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ const bundle = await bundle_code(
 	).js.code
 );
 
-if (!bundle.includes('hydrate_nodes')) {
+if (!bundle.includes('hydrate_nodes') && !bundle.includes('hydrate_anchor')) {
 	// eslint-disable-next-line no-console
 	console.error(`✅ Hydration code treeshakeable`);
 } else {
diff --git a/packages/svelte/src/compiler/phases/3-transform/client/visitors/template.js b/packages/svelte/src/compiler/phases/3-transform/client/visitors/template.js
index edbfe19bde..8468d4d594 100644
--- a/packages/svelte/src/compiler/phases/3-transform/client/visitors/template.js
+++ b/packages/svelte/src/compiler/phases/3-transform/client/visitors/template.js
@@ -1045,7 +1045,7 @@ function create_block(parent, name, nodes, context) {
 		);
 
 		/** @type {import('estree').Expression[]} */
-		const args = [b.id('$$anchor'), template_name];
+		const args = [template_name];
 
 		if (state.metadata.context.template_needs_import_node) {
 			args.push(b.false);
@@ -1089,7 +1089,7 @@ function create_block(parent, name, nodes, context) {
 
 			if (use_comment_template) {
 				// special case — we can use `$.comment` instead of creating a unique template
-				body.push(b.var(id, b.call('$.comment', b.id('$$anchor'))));
+				body.push(b.var(id, b.call('$.comment')));
 			} else {
 				state.hoisted.push(
 					b.var(
@@ -1103,7 +1103,7 @@ function create_block(parent, name, nodes, context) {
 				);
 
 				/** @type {import('estree').Expression[]} */
-				const args = [b.id('$$anchor'), template_name];
+				const args = [template_name];
 
 				if (state.metadata.context.template_needs_import_node) {
 					args.push(b.false);
diff --git a/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/blocks/await.js b/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/blocks/await.js
index b437c17389..6afb629e2f 100644
--- a/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/blocks/await.js
+++ b/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/blocks/await.js
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 import { is_promise } from '../../../common.js';
-import { hydrate_block_anchor } from '../hydration.js';
 import { remove } from '../reconciler.js';
 import {
 	current_component_context,
@@ -23,8 +22,6 @@ import { INERT } from '../../constants.js';
 export function await_block(anchor, get_input, pending_fn, then_fn, catch_fn) {
 	const component_context = current_component_context;
 
-	hydrate_block_anchor(anchor);
-
 	/** @type {any} */
 	let input;
 
diff --git a/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/blocks/css-props.js b/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/blocks/css-props.js
index 68efe677e7..d9e3e8b088 100644
--- a/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/blocks/css-props.js
+++ b/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/blocks/css-props.js
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { namespace_svg } from '../../../../constants.js';
-import { hydrate_nodes, hydrate_block_anchor, hydrating } from '../hydration.js';
+import { hydrate_anchor, hydrate_nodes, hydrating } from '../hydration.js';
 import { empty } from '../operations.js';
 import { render_effect } from '../../reactivity/effects.js';
 import { remove } from '../reconciler.js';
@@ -12,8 +12,6 @@ import { remove } from '../reconciler.js';
  * @returns {void}
  */
 export function css_props(anchor, is_html, props, component) {
-	hydrate_block_anchor(anchor);
-
 	/** @type {HTMLElement | SVGElement} */
 	let element;
 
@@ -24,7 +22,9 @@ export function css_props(anchor, is_html, props, component) {
 		// Hydration: css props element is surrounded by a ssr comment ...
 		element = /** @type {HTMLElement | SVGElement} */ (hydrate_nodes[0]);
 		// ... and the child(ren) of the css props element is also surround by a ssr comment
-		component_anchor = /** @type {Comment} */ (element.firstChild);
+		component_anchor = /** @type {Comment} */ (
+			hydrate_anchor(/** @type {Comment} */ (element.firstChild))
+		);
 	} else {
 		if (is_html) {
 			element = document.createElement('div');
diff --git a/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/blocks/each.js b/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/blocks/each.js
index 02ec4b94e7..739601f01e 100644
--- a/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/blocks/each.js
+++ b/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/blocks/each.js
@@ -6,13 +6,7 @@ import {
 	EACH_ITEM_REACTIVE,
 	EACH_KEYED
 } from '../../../../constants.js';
-import {
-	hydrate_nodes,
-	hydrate_block_anchor,
-	hydrating,
-	set_hydrating,
-	update_hydrate_nodes
-} from '../hydration.js';
+import { hydrate_anchor, hydrate_nodes, hydrating, set_hydrating } from '../hydration.js';
 import { empty } from '../operations.js';
 import { insert, remove } from '../reconciler.js';
 import { untrack } from '../../runtime.js';
@@ -59,11 +53,15 @@ function each(anchor, flags, get_collection, get_key, render_fn, fallback_fn, re
 	var state = { flags, items: [] };
 
 	var is_controlled = (flags & EACH_IS_CONTROLLED) !== 0;
-	hydrate_block_anchor(is_controlled ? /** @type {Node} */ (anchor.firstChild) : anchor);
 
 	if (is_controlled) {
 		var parent_node = /** @type {Element} */ (anchor);
-		parent_node.append((anchor = empty()));
+
+		anchor = hydrating
+			? /** @type {Comment | Text} */ (
+					hydrate_anchor(/** @type {Comment | Text} */ (parent_node.firstChild))
+				)
+			: parent_node.appendChild(empty());
 	}
 
 	/** @type {import('#client').Effect | null} */
@@ -115,14 +113,11 @@ function each(anchor, flags, get_collection, get_key, render_fn, fallback_fn, re
 		if (hydrating) {
 			var b_items = [];
 
-			// Hydrate block
-			var hydration_list = /** @type {import('#client').TemplateNode[]} */ (hydrate_nodes);
-			var hydrating_node = hydration_list[0];
+			/** @type {Node} */
+			var child_anchor = hydrate_nodes[0];
 
 			for (var i = 0; i < length; i++) {
-				var nodes = update_hydrate_nodes(hydrating_node);
-
-				if (nodes === null) {
+				if (child_anchor.nodeType !== 8 || /** @type {Comment} */ (child_anchor).data !== '[') {
 					// If `nodes` is null, then that means that the server rendered fewer items than what
 					// expected, so break out and continue appending non-hydrated items
 					mismatch = true;
@@ -130,17 +125,19 @@ function each(anchor, flags, get_collection, get_key, render_fn, fallback_fn, re
 					break;
 				}
 
+				child_anchor = hydrate_anchor(child_anchor);
 				b_items[i] = create_item(array[i], keys?.[i], i, render_fn, flags);
-
-				// TODO helperise this
-				hydrating_node = /** @type {import('#client').TemplateNode} */ (
-					/** @type {Node} */ (
-						/** @type {Node} */ (nodes[nodes.length - 1] || hydrating_node).nextSibling
-					).nextSibling
-				);
+				child_anchor = /** @type {Comment} */ (child_anchor.nextSibling);
 			}
 
-			remove_excess_hydration_nodes(hydration_list, hydrating_node);
+			// remove excess nodes
+			if (length > 0) {
+				while (child_anchor !== anchor) {
+					var next = /** @type {import('#client').TemplateNode} */ (child_anchor.nextSibling);
+					/** @type {import('#client').TemplateNode} */ (child_anchor).remove();
+					child_anchor = next;
+				}
+			}
 
 			state.items = b_items;
 		}
@@ -440,20 +437,6 @@ function reconcile_tracked_array(array, state, anchor, render_fn, flags, keys) {
 	});
 }
 
-/**
- * The server could have rendered more list items than the client specifies.
- * In that case, we need to remove the remaining server-rendered nodes.
- * @param {import('#client').TemplateNode[]} hydration_list
- * @param {import('#client').TemplateNode | null} next_node
- */
-function remove_excess_hydration_nodes(hydration_list, next_node) {
-	if (next_node === null) return;
-	var idx = hydration_list.indexOf(next_node);
-	if (idx !== -1 && hydration_list.length > idx + 1) {
-		remove(hydration_list.slice(idx));
-	}
-}
-
 /**
  * Longest Increased Subsequence algorithm
  * @param {Int32Array} a
diff --git a/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/blocks/if.js b/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/blocks/if.js
index dde4de4dbc..d8e252c3f3 100644
--- a/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/blocks/if.js
+++ b/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/blocks/if.js
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { IS_ELSEIF } from '../../constants.js';
-import { hydrate_nodes, hydrate_block_anchor, hydrating, set_hydrating } from '../hydration.js';
+import { hydrate_nodes, hydrating, set_hydrating } from '../hydration.js';
 import { remove } from '../reconciler.js';
 import {
 	destroy_effect,
@@ -23,8 +23,6 @@ export function if_block(
 	alternate_fn = null,
 	elseif = false
 ) {
-	hydrate_block_anchor(anchor);
-
 	/** @type {import('#client').Effect | null} */
 	let consequent_effect = null;
 
diff --git a/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/blocks/key.js b/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/blocks/key.js
index 55dcda75f7..66cdb3ed68 100644
--- a/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/blocks/key.js
+++ b/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/blocks/key.js
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 import { UNINITIALIZED } from '../../constants.js';
-import { hydrate_block_anchor } from '../hydration.js';
 import { remove } from '../reconciler.js';
 import { pause_effect, render_effect } from '../../reactivity/effects.js';
 import { safe_not_equal } from '../../reactivity/equality.js';
@@ -12,8 +11,6 @@ import { safe_not_equal } from '../../reactivity/equality.js';
  * @returns {void}
  */
 export function key_block(anchor, get_key, render_fn) {
-	hydrate_block_anchor(anchor);
-
 	/** @type {V | typeof UNINITIALIZED} */
 	let key = UNINITIALIZED;
 
diff --git a/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/blocks/svelte-component.js b/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/blocks/svelte-component.js
index 7ef6f3d66f..ff00b90127 100644
--- a/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/blocks/svelte-component.js
+++ b/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/blocks/svelte-component.js
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-import { hydrate_block_anchor } from '../hydration.js';
 import { pause_effect, render_effect } from '../../reactivity/effects.js';
 import { remove } from '../reconciler.js';
 import { current_effect } from '../../runtime.js';
@@ -14,8 +13,6 @@ import { current_effect } from '../../runtime.js';
  * @returns {void}
  */
 export function component(anchor, get_component, render_fn) {
-	hydrate_block_anchor(anchor);
-
 	/** @type {C} */
 	let component;
 
diff --git a/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/blocks/svelte-element.js b/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/blocks/svelte-element.js
index 225721e0ff..58645c4eac 100644
--- a/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/blocks/svelte-element.js
+++ b/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/blocks/svelte-element.js
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { namespace_svg } from '../../../../constants.js';
-import { hydrate_nodes, hydrate_block_anchor, hydrating } from '../hydration.js';
+import { hydrate_anchor, hydrate_nodes, hydrating } from '../hydration.js';
 import { empty } from '../operations.js';
 import {
 	destroy_effect,
@@ -44,8 +44,6 @@ function swap_block_dom(effect, from, to) {
 export function element(anchor, get_tag, is_svg, render_fn) {
 	const parent_effect = /** @type {import('#client').Effect} */ (current_effect);
 
-	hydrate_block_anchor(anchor);
-
 	/** @type {string | null} */
 	let tag;
 
@@ -114,7 +112,7 @@ export function element(anchor, get_tag, is_svg, render_fn) {
 					// If hydrating, use the existing ssr comment as the anchor so that the
 					// inner open and close methods can pick up the existing nodes correctly
 					var child_anchor = hydrating
-						? /** @type {Comment} */ (element.firstChild)
+						? element.firstChild && hydrate_anchor(/** @type {Comment} */ (element.firstChild))
 						: element.appendChild(empty());
 
 					if (child_anchor) {
diff --git a/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/blocks/svelte-head.js b/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/blocks/svelte-head.js
index 5ef9c53ea8..4a534dd101 100644
--- a/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/blocks/svelte-head.js
+++ b/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/blocks/svelte-head.js
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { hydrate_nodes, hydrating, set_hydrate_nodes, update_hydrate_nodes } from '../hydration.js';
+import { hydrate_anchor, hydrate_nodes, hydrating, set_hydrate_nodes } from '../hydration.js';
 import { empty } from '../operations.js';
 import { render_effect } from '../../reactivity/effects.js';
 import { remove } from '../reconciler.js';
@@ -15,7 +15,13 @@ export function head(render_fn) {
 
 	if (hydrating) {
 		previous_hydrate_nodes = hydrate_nodes;
-		update_hydrate_nodes(document.head.firstChild);
+
+		let anchor = /** @type {import('#client').TemplateNode} */ (document.head.firstChild);
+		while (anchor.nodeType !== 8 || /** @type {Comment} */ (anchor).data !== '[') {
+			anchor = /** @type {import('#client').TemplateNode} */ (anchor.nextSibling);
+		}
+
+		anchor = /** @type {import('#client').TemplateNode} */ (hydrate_anchor(anchor));
 	}
 
 	var anchor = document.head.appendChild(empty());
diff --git a/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/elements/custom-element.js b/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/elements/custom-element.js
index c53447913d..0f6cb7dc67 100644
--- a/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/elements/custom-element.js
+++ b/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/elements/custom-element.js
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ if (typeof HTMLElement === 'function') {
 					 * @param {Element} anchor
 					 */
 					return (anchor) => {
-						const node = open(anchor, () => {
+						const node = open(() => {
 							const slot = document.createElement('slot');
 							if (name !== 'default') {
 								slot.name = name;
diff --git a/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/hydration.js b/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/hydration.js
index 01cc9a29f7..cb3bee021c 100644
--- a/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/hydration.js
+++ b/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/hydration.js
@@ -1,6 +1,3 @@
-import { schedule_task } from './task.js';
-import { empty } from './operations.js';
-
 /**
  * Use this variable to guard everything related to hydration code so it can be treeshaken out
  * if the user doesn't use the `hydrate` method and these code paths are therefore not needed.
@@ -29,102 +26,46 @@ export function set_hydrate_nodes(nodes) {
 }
 
 /**
- * @param {Node | null} first
- * @param {boolean} [insert_text] Whether to insert an empty text node if `nodes` is empty
+ * This function is only called when `hydrating` is true. If passed a `<![>` opening
+ * hydration marker, it finds the corresponding closing marker and sets `hydrate_nodes`
+ * to everything between the markers, before returning the closing marker.
+ * @param {Node} node
+ * @returns {Node}
  */
-export function update_hydrate_nodes(first, insert_text) {
-	const nodes = get_hydrate_nodes(first, insert_text);
-	set_hydrate_nodes(nodes);
-	return nodes;
-}
+export function hydrate_anchor(node) {
+	if (node.nodeType !== 8) {
+		return node;
+	}
 
-/**
- * Returns all nodes between the first `<![>...<!]>` comment tag pair encountered.
- * @param {Node | null} node
- * @param {boolean} [insert_text] Whether to insert an empty text node if `nodes` is empty
- * @returns {import('#client').TemplateNode[] | null}
- */
-function get_hydrate_nodes(node, insert_text = false) {
-	/** @type {import('#client').TemplateNode[]} */
-	var nodes = [];
+	var current = /** @type {Node | null} */ (node);
 
-	var current_node = /** @type {null | import('#client').TemplateNode} */ (node);
+	// TODO this could have false positives, if a user comment consisted of `[`. need to tighten that up
+	if (/** @type {Comment} */ (current)?.data !== '[') {
+		return node;
+	}
 
+	/** @type {Node[]} */
+	var nodes = [];
 	var depth = 0;
 
-	var will_start = false;
-	var started = false;
-
-	while (current_node !== null) {
-		if (current_node.nodeType === 8) {
-			var data = /** @type {Comment} */ (current_node).data;
+	while ((current = /** @type {Node} */ (current).nextSibling) !== null) {
+		if (current.nodeType === 8) {
+			var data = /** @type {Comment} */ (current).data;
 
 			if (data === '[') {
 				depth += 1;
-				will_start = true;
 			} else if (data === ']') {
-				if (!started) {
-					// TODO get rid of this — it exists because each blocks are doubly wrapped
-					return null;
+				if (depth === 0) {
+					hydrate_nodes = /** @type {import('#client').TemplateNode[]} */ (nodes);
+					return current;
 				}
 
-				if (--depth === 0) {
-					if (insert_text && nodes.length === 0) {
-						var text = empty();
-						nodes.push(text);
-						current_node.before(text);
-					}
-
-					return nodes;
-				}
+				depth -= 1;
 			}
 		}
 
-		if (started) {
-			nodes.push(current_node);
-		}
-
-		current_node = /** @type {null | import('#client').TemplateNode} */ (current_node.nextSibling);
-
-		started = will_start;
+		nodes.push(current);
 	}
 
-	return null;
-}
-
-/**
- * @param {Node} node
- * @returns {void}
- */
-export function hydrate_block_anchor(node) {
-	if (!hydrating) return;
-
-	// @ts-ignore
-	var nodes = node.$$fragment ?? get_hydrate_nodes(node);
-	set_hydrate_nodes(nodes);
-}
-
-/**
- * Expects to only be called in hydration mode
- * @param {Node} node
- * @returns {Node}
- */
-export function capture_fragment_from_node(node) {
-	if (
-		node.nodeType === 8 &&
-		/** @type {Comment} */ (node).data === '[' &&
-		hydrate_nodes?.[hydrate_nodes.length - 1] !== node
-	) {
-		const nodes = /** @type {Node[]} */ (get_hydrate_nodes(node));
-		const last_child = nodes[nodes.length - 1] || node;
-		const target = /** @type {Node} */ (last_child.nextSibling);
-		// @ts-ignore
-		target.$$fragment = nodes;
-		schedule_task(() => {
-			// @ts-expect-error clean up memory
-			target.$$fragment = undefined;
-		});
-		return target;
-	}
-	return node;
+	throw new Error('Expected a closing hydration marker');
 }
diff --git a/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/operations.js b/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/operations.js
index 4261c66cac..5861e26e14 100644
--- a/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/operations.js
+++ b/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/operations.js
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { capture_fragment_from_node, hydrate_nodes, hydrating } from './hydration.js';
+import { hydrate_anchor, hydrate_nodes, hydrating } from './hydration.js';
 import { get_descriptor } from '../utils.js';
 
 // We cache the Node and Element prototype methods, so that we can avoid doing
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ export function child(node) {
 		return node.appendChild(empty());
 	}
 
-	return capture_fragment_from_node(child);
+	return hydrate_anchor(child);
 }
 
 /**
@@ -159,11 +159,7 @@ export function first_child(fragment, is_text) {
 		return text;
 	}
 
-	if (first_node !== null) {
-		return capture_fragment_from_node(first_node);
-	}
-
-	return first_node;
+	return hydrate_anchor(first_node);
 }
 
 /**
@@ -176,28 +172,26 @@ export function first_child(fragment, is_text) {
 export function sibling(node, is_text = false) {
 	const next_sibling = next_sibling_get.call(node);
 
-	if (hydrating) {
-		// if a sibling {expression} is empty during SSR, there might be no
-		// text node to hydrate — we must therefore create one
-		if (is_text && next_sibling?.nodeType !== 3) {
-			const text = empty();
-			if (next_sibling) {
-				const index = hydrate_nodes.indexOf(/** @type {Text | Comment | Element} */ (next_sibling));
-				hydrate_nodes.splice(index, 0, text);
-				next_sibling.before(text);
-			} else {
-				hydrate_nodes.push(text);
-			}
-
-			return text;
-		}
+	if (!hydrating) {
+		return next_sibling;
+	}
 
-		if (next_sibling !== null) {
-			return capture_fragment_from_node(next_sibling);
+	// if a sibling {expression} is empty during SSR, there might be no
+	// text node to hydrate — we must therefore create one
+	if (is_text && next_sibling?.nodeType !== 3) {
+		const text = empty();
+		if (next_sibling) {
+			const index = hydrate_nodes.indexOf(/** @type {Text | Comment | Element} */ (next_sibling));
+			hydrate_nodes.splice(index, 0, text);
+			next_sibling.before(text);
+		} else {
+			hydrate_nodes.push(text);
 		}
+
+		return text;
 	}
 
-	return next_sibling;
+	return hydrate_anchor(/** @type {Node} */ (next_sibling));
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/reconciler.js b/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/reconciler.js
index ca12e72e5b..b580267e4b 100644
--- a/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/reconciler.js
+++ b/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/reconciler.js
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
-import { append_child } from './operations.js';
-import { hydrate_nodes, hydrate_block_anchor, hydrating } from './hydration.js';
+import { hydrate_nodes, hydrating } from './hydration.js';
 import { is_array } from '../utils.js';
 
 /** @param {string} html */
@@ -74,7 +73,6 @@ export function remove(current) {
  * @returns {Element | Comment | (Element | Comment | Text)[]}
  */
 export function reconcile_html(target, value, svg) {
-	hydrate_block_anchor(target);
 	if (hydrating) {
 		return hydrate_nodes;
 	}
diff --git a/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/task.js b/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/task.js
index 6568000a36..a14344fd26 100644
--- a/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/task.js
+++ b/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/task.js
@@ -22,18 +22,6 @@ function process_raf_task() {
 	run_all(tasks);
 }
 
-/**
- * @param {() => void} fn
- * @returns {void}
- */
-export function schedule_task(fn) {
-	if (!is_task_queued) {
-		is_task_queued = true;
-		setTimeout(process_task, 0);
-	}
-	current_queued_tasks.push(fn);
-}
-
 /**
  * @param {() => void} fn
  * @returns {void}
diff --git a/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/template.js b/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/template.js
index 4b438a6baa..9e23f58853 100644
--- a/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/template.js
+++ b/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/dom/template.js
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { hydrate_nodes, hydrate_block_anchor, hydrating } from './hydration.js';
+import { hydrate_nodes, hydrating } from './hydration.js';
 import { child, clone_node, empty } from './operations.js';
 import {
 	create_fragment_from_html,
@@ -83,18 +83,12 @@ export function svg_template_with_script(svg, return_fragment) {
 /**
  * @param {boolean} is_fragment
  * @param {boolean} use_clone_node
- * @param {null | Text | Comment | Element} anchor
  * @param {() => Node} [template_element_fn]
  * @returns {Element | DocumentFragment | Node[]}
  */
 /*#__NO_SIDE_EFFECTS__*/
-function open_template(is_fragment, use_clone_node, anchor, template_element_fn) {
+function open_template(is_fragment, use_clone_node, template_element_fn) {
 	if (hydrating) {
-		if (anchor !== null) {
-			// TODO why is this sometimes null and sometimes not? needs clear documentation
-			hydrate_block_anchor(anchor);
-		}
-
 		return is_fragment ? hydrate_nodes : /** @type {Element} */ (hydrate_nodes[0]);
 	}
 
@@ -104,23 +98,21 @@ function open_template(is_fragment, use_clone_node, anchor, template_element_fn)
 }
 
 /**
- * @param {null | Text | Comment | Element} anchor
  * @param {() => Node} template_element_fn
  * @param {boolean} [use_clone_node]
  * @returns {Element}
  */
-export function open(anchor, template_element_fn, use_clone_node = true) {
-	return /** @type {Element} */ (open_template(false, use_clone_node, anchor, template_element_fn));
+export function open(template_element_fn, use_clone_node = true) {
+	return /** @type {Element} */ (open_template(false, use_clone_node, template_element_fn));
 }
 
 /**
- * @param {null | Text | Comment | Element} anchor
  * @param {() => Node} template_element_fn
  * @param {boolean} [use_clone_node]
  * @returns {Element | DocumentFragment | Node[]}
  */
-export function open_frag(anchor, template_element_fn, use_clone_node = true) {
-	return open_template(true, use_clone_node, anchor, template_element_fn);
+export function open_frag(template_element_fn, use_clone_node = true) {
+	return open_template(true, use_clone_node, template_element_fn);
 }
 
 const space_template = template(' ', false);
@@ -132,7 +124,7 @@ const comment_template = template('<!>', true);
 /*#__NO_SIDE_EFFECTS__*/
 export function space_frag(anchor) {
 	/** @type {Node | null} */
-	var node = /** @type {any} */ (open(anchor, space_template));
+	var node = /** @type {any} */ (open(space_template));
 	// if an {expression} is empty during SSR, there might be no
 	// text node to hydrate (or an anchor comment is falsely detected instead)
 	//  — we must therefore create one
@@ -161,12 +153,9 @@ export function space(anchor) {
 	return anchor;
 }
 
-/**
- * @param {null | Text | Comment | Element} anchor
- */
 /*#__NO_SIDE_EFFECTS__*/
-export function comment(anchor) {
-	return open_frag(anchor, comment_template);
+export function comment() {
+	return open_frag(comment_template);
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/render.js b/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/render.js
index fea594d9c8..7c1e223ca7 100644
--- a/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/render.js
+++ b/packages/svelte/src/internal/client/render.js
@@ -11,12 +11,11 @@ import { remove } from './dom/reconciler.js';
 import { flush_sync, push, pop, current_component_context } from './runtime.js';
 import { render_effect, destroy_effect } from './reactivity/effects.js';
 import {
+	hydrate_anchor,
 	hydrate_nodes,
-	hydrate_block_anchor,
 	hydrating,
 	set_hydrate_nodes,
-	set_hydrating,
-	update_hydrate_nodes
+	set_hydrating
 } from './dom/hydration.js';
 import { array_from } from './utils.js';
 import { handle_event_propagation } from './dom/elements/events.js';
@@ -66,7 +65,6 @@ export function set_text(dom, value) {
  * @param {null | ((anchor: Comment) => void)} fallback_fn
  */
 export function slot(anchor, slot_fn, slot_props, fallback_fn) {
-	hydrate_block_anchor(anchor);
 	if (slot_fn === undefined) {
 		if (fallback_fn !== null) {
 			fallback_fn(anchor);
@@ -138,27 +136,25 @@ export function hydrate(component, options) {
 	const first_child = /** @type {ChildNode} */ (container.firstChild);
 	const previous_hydrate_nodes = hydrate_nodes;
 
-	// Call with insert_text == true to prevent empty {expressions} resulting in an empty
-	// `nodes` array, resulting in a hydration error down the line
-	// TODO is both this and the `container.appendChild(anchor)` below necessary?
-	const nodes = update_hydrate_nodes(first_child, true);
-	set_hydrating(true);
-
 	let hydrated = false;
 
 	try {
 		// Don't flush previous effects to ensure order of outer effects stays consistent
 		return flush_sync(() => {
-			const anchor = nodes === null ? container.appendChild(empty()) : null;
+			set_hydrating(true);
+
+			const anchor = hydrate_anchor(first_child);
 			const instance = _mount(component, { ...options, anchor });
+
 			// flush_sync will run this callback and then synchronously run any pending effects,
 			// which don't belong to the hydration phase anymore - therefore reset it here
 			set_hydrating(false);
 			hydrated = true;
+
 			return instance;
 		}, false);
 	} catch (error) {
-		if (!hydrated && options.recover !== false && nodes !== null) {
+		if (!hydrated && options.recover !== false) {
 			// eslint-disable-next-line no-console
 			console.error(
 				'ERR_SVELTE_HYDRATION_MISMATCH' +
@@ -188,7 +184,7 @@ export function hydrate(component, options) {
  * @param {import('../../main/public.js').ComponentType<import('../../main/public.js').SvelteComponent<Props, Events>>} Component
  * @param {{
  * 		target: Document | Element | ShadowRoot;
- * 		anchor: null | Text;
+ * 		anchor: null | Node;
  * 		props?: Props;
  * 		events?: { [Property in keyof Events]: (e: Events[Property]) => any };
  *  	context?: Map<any, any>;
diff --git a/packages/svelte/tests/runtime-browser/driver.js b/packages/svelte/tests/runtime-browser/driver.js
index 7c8d32274d..7a5603e9b8 100644
--- a/packages/svelte/tests/runtime-browser/driver.js
+++ b/packages/svelte/tests/runtime-browser/driver.js
@@ -25,7 +25,8 @@ export default async function (target) {
 				target,
 				props: config.props,
 				intro: config.intro,
-				hydrate: __HYDRATE__
+				hydrate: __HYDRATE__,
+				recover: false
 			},
 			config.options || {}
 		);
diff --git a/packages/svelte/tests/runtime-legacy/shared.ts b/packages/svelte/tests/runtime-legacy/shared.ts
index e8074b9e5b..708e2180e6 100644
--- a/packages/svelte/tests/runtime-legacy/shared.ts
+++ b/packages/svelte/tests/runtime-legacy/shared.ts
@@ -261,7 +261,7 @@ async function run_test_variant(
 				target,
 				immutable: config.immutable,
 				intro: config.intro,
-				recover: config.recover === undefined ? false : config.recover,
+				recover: config.recover ?? false,
 				hydrate: variant === 'hydrate'
 			});
 
diff --git a/packages/svelte/tests/snapshot/samples/bind-this/_expected/client/index.svelte.js b/packages/svelte/tests/snapshot/samples/bind-this/_expected/client/index.svelte.js
index 15f8e4f211..c5a68bdb8c 100644
--- a/packages/svelte/tests/snapshot/samples/bind-this/_expected/client/index.svelte.js
+++ b/packages/svelte/tests/snapshot/samples/bind-this/_expected/client/index.svelte.js
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ export default function Bind_this($$anchor, $$props) {
 	$.push($$props, false);
 	$.init();
 
-	var fragment = $.comment($$anchor);
+	var fragment = $.comment();
 	var node = $.first_child(fragment);
 
 	$.bind_this(Foo(node, {}), ($$value) => foo = $$value, () => foo);
diff --git a/packages/svelte/tests/snapshot/samples/dynamic-attributes-casing/_expected/client/main.svelte.js b/packages/svelte/tests/snapshot/samples/dynamic-attributes-casing/_expected/client/main.svelte.js
index 3f13e05aff..946778169a 100644
--- a/packages/svelte/tests/snapshot/samples/dynamic-attributes-casing/_expected/client/main.svelte.js
+++ b/packages/svelte/tests/snapshot/samples/dynamic-attributes-casing/_expected/client/main.svelte.js
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ export default function Main($$anchor, $$props) {
 	// needs to be a snapshot test because jsdom does auto-correct the attribute casing
 	let x = 'test';
 	let y = () => 'test';
-	var fragment = $.open_frag($$anchor, frag, false);
+	var fragment = $.open_frag(frag, false);
 	var div = $.first_child(fragment);
 	var svg = $.sibling($.sibling(div, true));
 	var custom_element = $.sibling($.sibling(svg, true));
diff --git a/packages/svelte/tests/snapshot/samples/each-string-template/_expected/client/index.svelte.js b/packages/svelte/tests/snapshot/samples/each-string-template/_expected/client/index.svelte.js
index 7e1177d2b7..69beacc312 100644
--- a/packages/svelte/tests/snapshot/samples/each-string-template/_expected/client/index.svelte.js
+++ b/packages/svelte/tests/snapshot/samples/each-string-template/_expected/client/index.svelte.js
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ export default function Each_string_template($$anchor, $$props) {
 	$.push($$props, false);
 	$.init();
 
-	var fragment = $.comment($$anchor);
+	var fragment = $.comment();
 	var node = $.first_child(fragment);
 
 	$.each_indexed(node, 1, () => ['foo', 'bar', 'baz'], ($$anchor, thing, $$index) => {
diff --git a/packages/svelte/tests/snapshot/samples/function-prop-no-getter/_expected/client/index.svelte.js b/packages/svelte/tests/snapshot/samples/function-prop-no-getter/_expected/client/index.svelte.js
index c50bc71263..0fd6ddfa1a 100644
--- a/packages/svelte/tests/snapshot/samples/function-prop-no-getter/_expected/client/index.svelte.js
+++ b/packages/svelte/tests/snapshot/samples/function-prop-no-getter/_expected/client/index.svelte.js
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ export default function Function_prop_no_getter($$anchor, $$props) {
 	}
 
 	const plusOne = (num) => num + 1;
-	var fragment = $.comment($$anchor);
+	var fragment = $.comment();
 	var node = $.first_child(fragment);
 
 	Button(node, {
diff --git a/packages/svelte/tests/snapshot/samples/hello-world/_expected/client/index.svelte.js b/packages/svelte/tests/snapshot/samples/hello-world/_expected/client/index.svelte.js
index 2b53401f64..0587fc3988 100644
--- a/packages/svelte/tests/snapshot/samples/hello-world/_expected/client/index.svelte.js
+++ b/packages/svelte/tests/snapshot/samples/hello-world/_expected/client/index.svelte.js
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ export default function Hello_world($$anchor, $$props) {
 	$.push($$props, false);
 	$.init();
 
-	var h1 = $.open($$anchor, frag);
+	var h1 = $.open(frag);
 
 	$.close($$anchor, h1);
 	$.pop();
diff --git a/packages/svelte/tests/snapshot/samples/state-proxy-literal/_expected/client/index.svelte.js b/packages/svelte/tests/snapshot/samples/state-proxy-literal/_expected/client/index.svelte.js
index 309b17fe2f..a714d84f8d 100644
--- a/packages/svelte/tests/snapshot/samples/state-proxy-literal/_expected/client/index.svelte.js
+++ b/packages/svelte/tests/snapshot/samples/state-proxy-literal/_expected/client/index.svelte.js
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ export default function State_proxy_literal($$anchor, $$props) {
 
 	let str = $.source('');
 	let tpl = $.source(``);
-	var fragment = $.open_frag($$anchor, frag);
+	var fragment = $.open_frag(frag);
 	var input = $.first_child(fragment);
 
 	$.remove_input_attr_defaults(input);
diff --git a/packages/svelte/tests/snapshot/samples/svelte-element/_expected/client/index.svelte.js b/packages/svelte/tests/snapshot/samples/svelte-element/_expected/client/index.svelte.js
index 26c7ca22b1..cf329f7148 100644
--- a/packages/svelte/tests/snapshot/samples/svelte-element/_expected/client/index.svelte.js
+++ b/packages/svelte/tests/snapshot/samples/svelte-element/_expected/client/index.svelte.js
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ export default function Svelte_element($$anchor, $$props) {
 	$.push($$props, true);
 
 	let tag = $.prop($$props, "tag", 3, 'hr');
-	var fragment = $.comment($$anchor);
+	var fragment = $.comment();
 	var node = $.first_child(fragment);
 
 	$.element(node, tag, false);