Hydra

Hydras are distant relatives of Dragons and Lizards. Their most distinctive feature is their triple head (reference to the mythological Lernaean Hydra). They have historic ties with low class lizards and their most populous habitat is Banuta - the previous Lizard settlement. Besides Banuta, they are typically found in natural environments. They are particularly known for their unique waves, strong and frequent paralysis and strong healing.

You may hunt 650 of these as a task of the Killing in the Name of... Quest. Upon completion of the task you will face The Many.

Fights in close combat.

A hydra attacks in melee range. A hydra will retreat at 300 (12.77%, red) health.

Get a player with high hitpoints to absorb the melee, and get as many shooters (Paladins or Mages) as possible attacking the hydra from a diagonal direction. Hydras give great exp points with a comparatively low risk of death. More attackers will help counteract the hydra's frequent healing and reduce the Ammunition/Rune cost of killing it. Also a team may consist of 2 mages, one preferably a druid healing the knight blocking to reduce health potion consumption, and both summon 2 Demon Skeletons each and throw Heavy Magic Missiles, while the knight stands diagonal to the Hydra while the Summons attack. Also hunted alone by high level Knights, at level 110 or more. At level 160 and higher, a knight can profit from a solo hydra hunt.
A team of a level 60 knight and two level 40-50 mages works very well, but the mages should use magic shield all the time because the hydras can do pretty strong attacks.
At level 80 with assassin stars and 80+ distance a royal paladin can easily take hydras alone, but the spawn needs to be an open area and it will probably be a waste, unless you are very lucky.
The best strategy consists in a team of 2 royal paladins using enchanted spears along with Ethereal Spear spell runing while hitting the hydra, it is also helpful to have your distance skill 85+. It is the best way to get some profit.
Mages from level 55 onwards can solo these creatures one by one using Sudden Death Runes and, in the case of Sorcerers, using both a Wand of Darkness and Lightning, albeit at big waste unless you loot rares. The strategy consists of basically staying in diagonal melee range and using exura every time you are hit; whenever you are thrown down to yellow HP or are suspicious of a high combo you can either use exura gran or in some cases, exura vita. Just make sure to have your mana at least 50% and above between encounters.

• As announced on March 04, 2025, the patch reduced the drop rate of Stone Skin Amulet for this creature, thus changing its rarity from "rare" to "very rare".