Lernaean Hydra

Huge monstrosity, chaotic evil

Armor Class: 15 (natural armor)

Hit Points: 225 (18d12 + 108)

Speed: 30 ft., swim 30 ft.

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STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
23 (+6)	12 (+1)	22 (+6)	3 (-4)	10 (+0)	7 (-2)

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Skills: Perception +4

Damage Immunities: Poison

Condition Immunities: Frightened, Poisoned

Senses: Darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 14

Languages: Understands Draconic but can’t speak

Challenge: 13 (10,000 XP)

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Multiple Heads. The hydra has nine 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.

Head Regrowth. When a head is severed from the hydra’s body, two heads sprout from the stump, unless the stump is cauterized by fire damage.

Regeneration. At the start of its turn, the hydra regains 10 hit points for each head that has been cut off, as long as it has at least two heads remaining. If the hydra takes fire damage, this trait doesn’t function at the start of the hydra’s next turn. The hydra dies only if all its heads are cut off and not allowed to regrow.

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

Wake of Venom. When a creature hits the hydra with a melee attack while within 10 feet of it, the hydra can use its reaction to exhale a cloud of toxic fumes. The attacker must succeed on a DC 16 Constitution saving throw or take 10 (3d6) poison damage.

Siege Monster. The hydra deals double damage to objects and structures.

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Actions

Multiattack. The Lernaean Hydra makes as many bite attacks as it has heads.(usually nine)

Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 10 (1d10 + 6) piercing damage plus 7 (2d6) poison damage.

Vicious Snap (Recharge 5-6). The hydra makes a bite attack against each creature within 10 feet of it.

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Legendary Actions

The hydra can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature’s turn. The hydra regains spent legendary actions at the start of its turn.

• Bite. The hydra makes one bite attack.
• Reactive Heads (Costs 2 Actions). The hydra makes an opportunity attack with one of its heads.
• Wake of Venom (Costs 3 Actions). The hydra uses its Wake of Venom reaction.

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Regional Effects

The region within 1 mile of the Lernaean Hydra’s lair is warped by its foul presence, creating one or more of the following effects:

• The waters of nearby lakes and rivers become tainted with poison, causing illness to those who drink from them.
• Local flora and fauna mutate into monstrous versions of themselves, under the hydra’s influence.
• Fog and mist shroud the area, obscuring vision and disorienting travelers.

If the Lernaean Hydra is slain, these effects fade over the course of 1d10 days.

Lerna is a region of springs and a former lake near the east coast of the Peloponnesus, south of Argos. It is most famous as the lair of the Lernaean Hydra.

Originally Posted by Kain Darkwind of the Dicefreaks d20 Community.

On this Thread

The Hydra of Lerna was a massive and poisonous serpent with nine heads. Every time one head was injured, another two grow in its place. Fire and acid prevent heads from growing back. The second labor of Hercules was to kill the Hydra. From the murky waters of the swamps of Lerna, the hydra would rise up and terrorize the countryside. The Hydra’s bite was venomous and its blood is poisonous even after its death.

The Hydra was the offspring of Typhon and Echidna.It was the sibling of the Nemean Lion, the Chimera and Cerberus amongst others.

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The Lernaean Hydra
Huge magical beast (Cosmic)
Hit Dice	49d10 + 735 (1,225 hp)
Initiative	+18
Speed	40 ft., Swim 80 ft.
Armor Class	53 (+4 deflection, +10 Dexterity, +3 insight, +28 natural, -2 size), touch 25, flat-footed 40
Base Attack/Grapple	+49/+71
Attack	7 bites +61 melee (3d8 + 28 and poison) or 7 spits +57 ranged touch (10d6 acid and poison)
Full Attack	7 bites +61/+56/+51/+46 melee (3d8 + 28 and poison)
Space/Reach	15 ft./20 ft.
Special Attacks	Poison
Special Qualities	Darkvision,fast healing 20, immortal head, Scent
Saves	Fort +47, Ref +42, Will +35
Abilities	Strength 39, Dexterity 31, Constitution 40, Intelligence 8, Wisdom 16, Charisma 19
Skills	Listen +29, Spot +29, Swim +74
Feats	Ability Focus (poison), Blind Fight, Cleave, Combat Reflexes*, Great Cleave, Great Fortitude, Improved Initiative, Improved Rapid Strike, Iron Will, lightning reflexes, Power Attack, Rapid Strike
Epic Feats	Epic Ability Focus (poison), Epic Fortitude, Epic Rapid Strike, Epic Reflexes, Epic Will, Superior Initiative
Climate/Terrain	Ancient Greece
Organization	Solitary (unique)
Challenge Rating	30
Treasure	None
Alignment	Chaotic Evil

Combat

The hydra’s heads have 175 hp. 10 points of fire or acid damage must be dealt to the stump to prevent 2 more heads from growing back. The Lernaean hydra can support any number of additional heads. For every additional twenty one heads it gains, its size category is increased one step.

The hydra’s poison spit has a range of 500 feet.

Poison (Ex): Injury/contact; Fortitude DC 55, 3d6 Constitution/3d6 Constitution

Immortal Head: The Hydra’s immortal head has regeneration 50 if separated from its body. No known form of attack can deal regular damage to it, although it can be severed normally.