Creature Reference Back to Creatures

Hydra

Huge · Monstrosity · CR 8 · Unaligned

Source. 5e 2014 Rules

15 (natural armor)

172 (15d12+75)

Ability Scores

Core attributes and their modifiers.

STR

DEX

CON

INT

-4

WIS

CHA

-2

Overview

Category Monsters

Size Huge

Type Monstrosity

Alignment Unaligned

XP 3900

Initiative Bonus +1

Movement

Walk 30 ft (9.1 m)

Swim 30 ft (9.1 m)

Climb 15 ft (4.6 m)

Crawl 15 ft (4.6 m)

Senses

Darkvision 60 ft (18.3 m)

Passive Perception 16

Skills

Perception +6

Environments

Caves Ocean Plane of Water Swamp or Marsh

Traits

Hold Breath

The hydra can hold its breath for 1 hour.

Multiple Heads

The hydra has five heads. While it has more than one head, the hydra has advantage on saving throws against being blinded, charmed, deafened, frightened, stunned, and knocked unconscious.
Whenever the hydra takes 25 or more damage in a single turn, one of its heads dies. If all its heads die, the hydra dies.
At the end of its turn, it grows two heads for each of its heads that died since its last turn, unless it has taken fire damage since its last turn. The hydra regains 10 hit points for each head regrown in this way.

Reactive Heads

For each head the hydra has beyond one, it gets an extra reaction that can be used only for opportunity attacks.

Wakeful

While the hydra sleeps, at least one of its heads is awake.

Actions

Bite

Cost 1

+8 to hit, reach 10 ft (3 m). Hit: 1d10 thunder damage.

Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 10 (1d10 + 5) piercing damage.

Multiattack

Cost 1

The hydra makes as many bite attacks as it has heads.

About Hydra

Hydra is a huge monstrosity with a Challenge Rating of 8. It has a unaligned alignment.

In combat, this creature maintains an Armor Class of 15 and possesses 172 hit points (derived from 15d12+75).

GM Tips: Using Hydra

1 tips available

When using Hydra in your D&D 5e campaign, consider these tactical approaches:

Aquatic Combat: This creature can swim at 30 ft. It has advantage in water environments. Consider fighting on land or using water-based spells against it.

Player Guide: Facing Hydra

1 strategies available

When your party encounters this creature, keep these strategies in mind:

Aquatic Combat Defense: This creature can swim at 30 ft! It has advantage in water. Fight on land if possible. Use 'Control Water' or drain water sources to limit its mobility.

Encounter Building Calculator

Standard Party Encounter (4-5 characters):

This creature is a medium encounter for a party of 4 characters of level 8.

Solo Encounter:

A single character of level 11 (up to level 20) can face this creature in a medium to hard encounter.

Experience Point Thresholds:

Medium: 7,200 XP
Hard: 10,800 XP
Deadly: 14,400 XP

Based on D&D 5e Dungeon Master's Guide encounter building guidelines. CR roughly equals party level for medium encounters.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the challenge rating of Hydra?: Hydra has a Challenge Rating of 8, making it appropriate for parties of level 8.0.
What type of creature is Hydra?: Hydra is a Huge Monstrosity, which affects how certain spells and abilities interact with it.