Hydra
Reptile-like monsters with multiple heads, gray-brown to dark brown with light yellow or tan underbelly
Basic Fantasy Role-Playing Game
| Armor Class | 16 to 23 |
|---|---|
| Hit Dice | 5 to 12 (+10) |
| Number Appearing | 1, Wild 1, Lair 1 |
| Attacks | 5 to 12 bites |
| Damage | 1d10 per bite |
| Movement | 40' (10') |
| Save As | Fighter: 5 to 12 |
| Morale | 9 |
| XP | 360 - 1,875 |
| Treasure Type | B |
Hydras are reptile-like monsters with multiple heads. They are gray-brown to dark brown, with a light yellow or tan underbelly. The eyes are amber and the teeth are yellow-white. Hydras are about 20 feet long and weigh about 4,000 pounds. They are bad-tempered and territorial, but not particularly cunning.
A hydra may be slain by damage in the normal fashion; however, most who fight them choose to strike at their heads. If a character using a melee weapon chooses to strike at a particular head, and succeeds in doing 8 points of damage, that head is disabled (severed or severely damaged) and will not be able to attack anymore. Such damage also applies to the monster’s total hit points, of course.
Some hydras live in the ocean; use the given movement as a swimming rate rather than walking in this case. A very few hydras can breathe fire; those that have this ability can emit a flame 10’ wide and 20’ long one time per head per day. This attack will be used about one time in three (1-2 on 1d6) if it is available; roll for each head which is attacking. Each such attack does 3d6 damage, with a save vs. Dragon Breath reducing the amount by half.
Special Abilities
Other Sources
Old-School Essentials Classic Fantasy
| Armor Class | 5 [14] |
|---|---|
| Hit Dice | 5 to 12 (8hp per HD) |
| Number Appearing | 1 (1) |
| Attacks | 5 to 12 × bite (1d10) |
| THAC0 | By HD (15 [+4] to 10 [+9]) |
| Movement | 120' (40') |
| Saving Throws | By HD |
| Morale | 9 |
| Alignment | Neutral |
| XP | 175 / 275 / 450 / 650 / 900 / 900 / 1,100 / 1,100 |
| Treasure Type | B |
Special Abilities
OSRIC
| Armor Class | 5 |
|---|---|
| Hit Dice | 5 to 16 |
| Number Encountered | 1 |
| Attacks | 5 to 16 |
| Damage | 1d6,1d8, 1d10 or 1d12 based on size |
| Move | 90-ft |
| Alignment | Neutral |
| Intelligence | Semi- |
| XP | 5/110+5/hp up to 9/5,000+20/hp |
| Treasure Type | 1d8×1,000 cp (50%), 1d6×1,000 p (25%), 1d4×1,000 ep (25%), 1d3×1,000 gp (25%), 1d8 gems (30%), 1d4 jewellery (20%), sword, armour or misc. weapon (10%) |
| Size | Large |
| Frequency | Uncommon |
| Lair | 20% |
A hydra is a multi-headed reptilian monster that lives in damp, dark places like swamps, bogs, or marshes. Sometimes they are found underground if the lair is sufficiently dank and wet.
Hydras have reptilian bodies, four legs, a tail and 1d12+4 heads. Each head counts as 1 hit die and has 8 full hit points, so a 10 headed hydra will have 10 hit die and 80 hp. Each head can attack independently or up to four heads can attack a single target. The damage a hydra does is based on the number of heads. A hydra with 5 or 6 heads is considered small and does 1d6 points of damage. One with 7 to 10 heads is considered medium and does 1d8 points of damage. One with 11 or 12 heads is considered large and does 1d10 points of damage, and one with 13 to 16 heads is considered huge and does 1d12 damage.
The colouration of a hydra ranges from light brown to an almost blackish brown with a yellow or tan underbelly. Their eyes range from yellow to orange.