= Attacks and techniques =
This creature has three six attacks: '''Claws''', '''FP Ripping claws''', '''Poison bite''', '''ClawsMachine gun bite''' , '''FP Tearing poison bite''', and '''Tail strike'''. === Claws ==={| class="wikitable" style="font-size:10pt;text-align:center"|-! Damage type !! Range !! <span style="color:#274e13">MAPT</span> !! <span style="color:#0c53a6">IS</span> !! <span style="color:#980000">LDV</span> !! Pain (C1) !! Pain (C2) !! Pain (A1) !! Pain (A2) !! Pain (A3) !! Pain (A4) !! Pain (A5) |-| Sharp || Melee || '''<span style="color:#274e13">2</span>''' || '''<span style="color:#0c53a6">9</span>''' || '''<span style="color:#980000">+1</span>''' || 33% || 30% || 26% || 21% || 17% || 8% || 2%|} === FP Ripping claws ==={| class="wikitable" style="font-size:10pt;text-align:center"|-! Damage type !! Range !! <span style="color:#274e13">MAPT</span> !! <span style="color:#0c53a6">IS</span> !! <span style="color:#980000">LDV</span> !! Pain (C1) !! Pain (C2) !! Pain (A1) !! Pain (A2) !! Pain (A3) !! Pain (A4) !! Pain (A5) |-| Sharp || Melee || '''<span style="color:#274e13">2</span>''' || '''<span style="color:#0c53a6">9</span>''' || '''<span style="color:#980000">+1</span>''' || '''73%''' || '''66%''' || 26% || 21% || 17% || 8% || 2%|} * FP stands for flesh-piercing. This attack is more efficient against unarmored ACs than against armored ACs to reflect an effect similar to expanding ammunition.
=== Poison bite ===
* For every head that has been [[limb damage|disabled or severed]], this attack loses 2 MAPT.
=== Claws Machine gun bite ===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:10pt;text-align:center"
|-
! Damage type !! Range !! <span style="color:#274e13">MAPT</span> !! <span style="color:#0c53a6">IS</span> !! <span style="color:#980000">LDV</span> !! Pain (C1) !! Pain (C2) !! Pain (A1) !! Pain (A2) !! Pain (A3) !! Pain (A4) !! Pain (A5)
|-
| Sharp || Melee || '''<span style="color:#274e13">220</span>''' || '''<span style="color:#0c53a6">922</span>''' || '''<span style="color:#980000">+10</span>''' || 3313% || 3012% || 2610% || 218% || 177% || 83% || 21%
|}
* On a successful hit, inflicts [[Venom]] +2.
* For every head that has been [[limb damage|disabled or severed]], this attack loses 4 MAPT.
=== FP Tearing poison bite ===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:10pt;text-align:center"
|-
! Damage type !! Range !! <span style="color:#274e13">MAPT</span> !! <span style="color:#0c53a6">IS</span> !! <span style="color:#980000">LDV</span> !! Pain (C1) !! Pain (C2) !! Pain (A1) !! Pain (A2) !! Pain (A3) !! Pain (A4) !! Pain (A5)
|-
| Sharp || Melee || '''<span style="color:#274e13">10</span>''' || '''<span style="color:#0c53a6">14</span>''' || '''<span style="color:#980000">+2</span>''' || '''55%''' || '''51%''' || 20% || 16% || 13% || 6% || 1%
|}
* FP stands for flesh-piercing. This attack is more efficient against unarmored ACs than against armored ACs to reflect an effect similar to expanding ammunition.
* On a successful hit, inflicts [[Venom]] +2.
* For every head that has been [[limb damage|disabled or severed]], this attack loses 2 MAPT.
=== Tail strike ===
Creature traits:
*'''Drops items on death''': Upon being defeated, this creature will drop the following items:
** 1d8 [[Valuables#Special valuables|Hydra scales]]
*'''Multiple heads''': The effects of '''[[limb damage]] to the HEAD limb group''' are calculated based on the head with the highest HP. In practice, this means that this creature will '''not''' die if one of its heads has been disabled or severed, as long as it still possesses at least one remaining healthy head.
*'''Yields extra items when butchered''': If [[Hunting|butchered]], this creature will produce extra items:** 1d2-1 [[Meds|Medium poison glands]]
Like the independent heads of a [[two-headed serpent]], each of the heads of a hydra is capable of moving and acting independently. Although all five heads seem to (somehow) control their body, each is in control of their own neck. Each hydra appears to have a "dominant" or "control" head, which seems to be responsible for important decision-making. This "control" head then orders the remaining four heads, termed "follower" heads, which simply perform the tasks thought by the control head. This allows for greater coordination of what would be 5 different minds and instincts in a single body, and is what allows the hydra to perform impressive coordinates feats.
The hydra is capable of defending itself with its claws, its tail, or the natural defenses that its armored, bullet-resistant scales provide, but by far the most dangerous ability of the hydra is their capability to perform synchronized, coordinated bite attacks. Each head is armed with venom sacs and sharp fangs, and at its fastest, when all five heads are attacking at the same time, this creature is capable of performing up to 2 bites per second, taking less than 5 seconds to deliver a dose of venom that would be lethal to a [[human]], to say nothing of the simple danger of 5 heads biting and tearing flesh, opening wounds in the process.
In one word, hydras are extremely '''lethal''', capable of instantly killing unprepared adventurers. Certain hydras are capable of racking up a very high sapient kill count, and because each hydra has a relatively unique appearance, it is customary to give a name to a hydra that has killed at least 10 people. The life expectancy of a hydra is unknown, with certain named individuals having lived for well over 150 years, further contributing to each individual creature's personal legend.
The most lethal hydra in history was a male individual nicknamed '''''Pinky Five-Brains'''''. Pinky Five-Brains was originally known as just Pinky, and was a pinkish colored hydra who lived during late Era 6, and is believed to have killed over 300 sapients and committed rampages in three different settlements of the Central Zone (notably, [[Twinleaf City]] in Hexema of E6-670, [[Littleton]] in Duplima of E6-671, and [[Intersection 10]] later the same year, in the month of Nonama). This hydra is was notorious for having and never been killed, but instead seemingly disappearing from the UA after 19 months of rampaging across the UA. It is believed that the creature fled north after the last rampage, ; their current whereabouts unknown. After the last its final rampage and the a lack of confirmed sightings, Pinky's legend solidified and was then known as , gaining the title of Five-Brains, attributing his impressive kill count and his ability to evade retribution to genius intellect.
If you are in an area where hydras have been sighted, consider fleeing immediately if you spot one. Only the most well-prepared and well-equipped of adventurers should take on these fearsome creatures.
[[Category:Creatures]]