5e Cards
Challenge 8: 8

Hydra

Huge monstrosity, unaligned

Armor Class
15 (natural armor)
Hit Points
172 (15d12+75)
Speed
30 ft., swim 30 ft.
STR
20 (+5)
DEX
12 (+1)
CON
20 (+5)
INT
2 (−4)
WIS
10 (+0)
CHA
7 (−2)
Skills
Perception +6
Senses
darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 16
Languages
—
Challenge
8 (3,900 XP)
Proficiency Bonus
+3

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

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

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

How many for your party

Copies of the hydra (3,900 XP each) against a party of four characters of the same level. Build mixed fights in the encounter builder.

Number of Hydra for each difficulty, party of four
Party levelEasyMediumHardDeadly
Level 5——12–20
Level 6——12–20
Level 7—1—2–20
Level 8—1—2–20
Level 111—23–20
Level 12—2—3–20

In these lists

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Questions

What CR is the Hydra?

The Hydra is challenge 8, worth 3,900 XP, with a proficiency bonus of +3.

How many hit points does the Hydra have?

172 hit points (15d12+75), with AC 15 from natural armor.

How many should I use against four 5th-level characters?

Against four level 5 characters, 1 is hard by the encounter XP budget.