Hydra
Huge monstrosity · Challenge 8
For four level 6 characters, 1 hydra is a Moderate fight under the 2024 rules.
How many hydras for a party of four?
The most hydras that fit each difficulty. A dash means even one is too many.
| Level | 2024 rules (XP budget) | 2014 rules (stays below…) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low | Moderate | High | Medium | Hard | Deadly | |
| 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 3 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 5 | – | – | 1 | – | – | 1 |
| 6 | – | 1 | 1 | – | – | 1 |
| 7 | – | 1 | 1 | – | 1 | 1 |
| 8 | 1 | 1 | 2 | – | 1 | 1 |
| 9 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 10 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 11 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Mixed party or different size? Use the encounter builder; it handles any combination.
Questions
What CR is a hydra in 5e?
A hydra is challenge rating 8, worth 3,900 XP. It is a huge monstrosity with an armor class of 15 and 172 hit points on average.
How many hydras should I use against a level 6 party?
For four level 6 characters under the 2024 rules: up to 0 for a Low encounter, 1 for Moderate and 1 for High.
Is a hydra a good fight for level 3 characters?
Not really. Even one hydra (3,900 XP) is beyond the High budget of four level 3 characters (1,600 XP).
Monsters of similar challenge
Frost giant
CR 8 · Huge giant · 3,900 XP
Young green dragon
CR 8 · Large dragon · 3,900 XP
Oni
CR 7 · Large giant · 2,900 XP
Stone giant
CR 7 · Huge giant · 2,900 XP
Young black dragon
CR 7 · Large dragon · 2,900 XP
Fire giant
CR 9 · Huge giant · 5,000 XP
Statistics from the System Reference Document 5.1. Full stat block: see the SRD or your rulebook.