Hydra and Chaos Hydra

Fortress creatures
Level 1
Gnoll
Gnoll Marauder
Level 2
Lizardman
Lizard Warrior
Level 3
Serpent Fly
Dragon Fly
Level 4
Basilisk
Greater Basilisk
Level 5
Gorgon
Mighty Gorgon
Level 6
Wyvern
Wyvern Monarch
Level 7
Hydra
Chaos Hydra
Towns

Statistics
Hydra
Cost per troop  2200
	Attack 16 Defense 18 Damage 25–45 Health 175 Speed 5 Movement Ground Size 2 Growth 1 AI Value 4120
Special abilities:
• Attack all adjacent enemies • No enemy retaliation
Chaos Hydra
Cost per troop  3500 1
	Attack 18 Defense 20 Damage 25–45 Health 250 Speed 7 Movement Ground Size 2 Growth 1 AI Value 5931
Special abilities:
• Attack all adjacent enemies • No enemy retaliation
Portraits

Hydras and Chaos Hydras are level 7 creatures of Fortress town. They are recruited from the Hydra Pond.

"Hydras and chaos hydras are multiheaded serpents attacking with vicious bites. When they attack, they attack all adjacent enemy troops. This attack is so overwhelming no counterstrike is possible." ^{RoE manual}

Hydras and Chaos Hydras, as well as all living Dragons, can be transformed into Bone Dragons at a Skeleton Transformer.

Tactics and info

User commentary

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Neither Hydras nor Chaos Hydras have any immunities, and they are the slowest level 7 creatures in the game. But when the hero has expert teleport, the Hydras and Chaos Hydras are excellent at siege warfare; teleport them behind walls and they will wreak major havoc on enemy troops. Counterstrike is devastating if the enemy surrounds them; each time they attack or counterattack, they damage all enemy troops around them.

Hydras and Chaos Hydras are generally regarded as the worst 7th level creature, serving only as a relatively strong defensive unit and guard for Ranged attack type units. In addition to their slow speed and lack of ranged attack or flight, their strongest ability - attacking multiple foes without retaliation - typically depends on opponents choosing to surround the hydra with melee attackers. While this can be devastating when the right battle is fought, more often than not your Hydras and Chaos Hydras will be outpaced, outshot, tied down with spells and tangled up in obstacles for the majority of the battle. They also bear the lowest minimal damage for a tier 7 unit, sharing this stat with the Bone and Ghost Dragons.

Combat strategy tip

A few chaos hydras defending a castle is about the best overall defense-for-cost strategy in the game. If you have a hero that can cast fire shield, counterstrike, shield, or anti-magic you can potentially defend a Fortress Town against an attacking army many times more formidable. Leave your hydras to defend and send your primary hero out with creatures level 1-6

If a Hydra attacks multiple creatures with a Fire Shield (e.g. from Ironfist of the Ogre), they get the damage from all Fire Shields.

See also:

• List of creatures