View source for Lernean Hydra (3.5e Monster)

{{author
|author_name=Sulacu
|date_created=October 7, 2016
|status=Complete
}}
__NOTOC__

{{3.5e Monster Classic
|#ofEntries=2

|monster=Lernean Hydra
|size=Gargantuan |type=Dragon |subtypes=
|hd=24d12+384 |hp=540
|init=+2
|speed=30 ft. (6 squares), [[SRD:Swim|swim]] 60 ft.
|ac=30 (-4 size, -1 [[SRD:Dexterity|Dex]], +25 [[SRD:Natural Armor|natural]]) |touch=5 |flat=30
|bab=+24 |grapple=&mdash;
|at=Slam +31 melee (6d6+16)
|full_at=2 slams +31 melee (6d6+16)
|space=20 ft. |reach=15 ft.
|sa=&mdash;
|sq=[[SRD:Damage Reduction|DR]] 50/[[Cosmic Damage Type (3.5e Variant Rule)|cosmic]], immunity to [[SRD:Poison|poison]] and [[SRD:Death Effect|death]] effects, [[SRD:Regeneration|regeneration]] 50, [[SRD:Resistance to Energy|resistance]] 50 to all energy types, [[SRD:Spell Resistance|spell resistance]] 32
|fort=+29 |ref=+13 |will=+14
|str=32 |dex=9 |con=42 |int=&mdash; |wis=&mdash; |cha=&mdash;
|skills=[[SRD:Jump Skill|Jump]] +46
|feats=&mdash;
|env=Lakes, swamps and places associated with the underworld
|org=Solitary
|cr=19
|treas=Triple standard
|align=Usually [[SRD:Neutral Evil|neutral evil]]
|adv=25-36 HD ([[SRD:Gargantuan Size|Gargantuan]]), 37-72 HD ([[SRD:Colossal Size|Colossal]])
|la=&mdash;

|monster2=Lernean Hydra Head
|size2=Large |type2=Dragon |subtypes2=
|hd2=24d12+24 |hp2=180
|init2=+2
|speed2=40 ft. (10 squares)
|ac2=40 (-1 size, +6 [[SRD:Dexterity|Dex]], +25 [[SRD:Natural Armor|natural]]) |touch2=15 |flat2=34
|bab2=+24 |grapple2=+40
|at2=[[SRD:Bite|Bite]] +31 melee (4d6+12 plus [[#Poison|poison]])
|full_at2=[[SRD:Bite|Bite]] +31 melee (4d6+12 plus [[#Poison|poison]])
|space2=20 ft. |reach2=15 ft.
|sa2=[[#Frightful Presence|Frightful presence]], [[#Improved Grab|improved grab]], [[#Miasma cloud|miasma cloud]], [[#Poison|poison]], [[#Spell-Like Abilities|spell-like abilities]], [[#Swallow Whole|swallow whole]]
|sq2=[[SRD:Damage Reduction|DR]] 20/[[Cosmic Damage Type (3.5e Variant Rule)|cosmic]], [[#Endless Regrowth|endless regrowth]], immunity to [[SRD:Poison|poison]] and [[SRD:Death Effect|death]] effects, [[SRD:Regeneration|regeneration]] 20, [[SRD:Resistance to Energy|resistance]] 20 to all energy types, [[SRD:Spell Resistance|spell resistance]] 32
|fort2=+17 |ref2=+20 |will2=+18
|str2=26 |dex2=23 |con2=12 |int2=15 |wis2=18 |cha2=25
|skills2=[[SRD:Appraise Skill|Appraise]] +29, [[SRD:Intimidate Skill|Intimidate]] +34, [[SRD:Knowledge Skill|Knowledge]] (religion) +29, [[SRD:Listen Skill|Listen]] +31, [[SRD:Search Skill|Search]] +29, [[SRD:Sense Motive Skill|Sense Motive]] +31, [[SRD:Spot Skill|Spot]]+31, [[SRD:Spellcraft Skill|Spellcraft]] +29
|feats2=[[SRD:Great Fortitude|Great Fortitude]], [[SRD:Improved Grapple|Improved Grapple]]
|env2=Lakes, swamps and places associated with the underworld
|org2=Solitary
|cr2=&mdash;
|treas2=Triple standard
|align2=Usually [[SRD:Neutral Evil|neutral evil]]
|adv2=25-36 HD ([[SRD:Gargantuan Size|Gargantuan]]), 37-72 HD ([[SRD:Colossal Size|Colossal]])
|la2=&mdash;
}}

A divine beast created by the Gods for some nefarious purpose, the hydra has spoken to the imagination of countless mortals. A monster possessing overflowing vitality, endlessly regrowing as long as just one of its heads remains. Poison strong enough to induce hallucinations, a frightful presence that can make a man drop dead from fear, and a massive body that no mortal blade can pierce. This manyheaded chthonic beast bears some similarities to [[SRD:Dragon Type|dragons]] and serpents, and is rumored to have its origins within a lake called Lerna that is said to contain a passage to the underworld.

A Lernean Hydra's body is roughly 70 feet from the tip of its heads to the tip of its tail, and weighs about 65 tons.

A Lernean Hydra speaks Abyssal.

=== Combat ===

A Lernean Hydra ravenously assaults anything within its territory, softening up threats with its poison or its spell-like abilities and then going in to devour them with one of its heads.

A Lernean Hydra standardly has five heads. [[SRD:Advancement (Creature Statistic)|Advancement]] can increase this number (see [[#Advancement|Advancement]] below).

During its turn, a Lernean Hydra's five heads may each make a [[SRD:Standard Action|standard action]], though its body may only make a single [[SRD:Move Action|move action]]. To make a double move, or to perform some other additional action with the body, one of the hydra's heads must eschew its [[SRD:Standard Action|standard action]] for the round.

If the Lernean Hydra's body makes a [[SRD:Reflex|Reflex]] save against an area of effect spell or effect, then any of the heads caught within the area gain the benefits of [[SRD:Evasion|evasion]] when saving against that particular effect.

'''{{Anchor|Endless Regrowth}} {{Ex}}:''' As long as a Lernean Hydra has even a single head remaining, it will never die. The only way to kill a Hydra without a divine tool or other [[Cosmic Damage Type (3.5e Variant Rule)|cosmic]] damage source is to simultaneously have all five heads destroyed (rendered [[SRD:Unconscious|unconscious]] from accumulated [[SRD:Nonlethal Damage|nonlethal damage]] due to its [[SRD:Regeneration|regeneration]]).

Whenever a Lernean Hydra's head wakes up from 'unconsciousness', it regrows itself, instantly recovering accumulated [[SRD:Nonlethal Damage|nonlethal damage]] to half its total [[SRD:Hit Points|hit points]]. As such, when a head regrows, it starts out with 90 [[SRD:Nonlethal Damage|nonlethal damage]].

'''[[SRD:Fear#Frightful Presence|{{Anchor|Frightful Presence}}]] {{Ex}}:''' A Lernean Hydra projects an aura of [[SRD:Fear#Frightful Presence|frightful presence]]. All creatures that witness the Lernean Hydra must make a DC 31 [[SRD:Will|Will]] save. On a failed saving throw, a creature becomes [[SRD:Shaken|shaken]]. If the save is failed by more than 10 points or if the creature that failed the save has 12 [[SRD:Hit Dice|HD]] or less, it is instead [[SRD:Frightened|frightened]]. A creature that succeeds on the saving throw is immune to the Lernean Hydra's frightful presence for 24 hours. 

'''[[SRD:Improved Grab|{{Anchor|Improved Grab}}]] {{Ex}}:''' To use this ability, a Lernean Hydra's head must hit with a [[SRD:Bite|bite]] attack. It can then attempt to start a [[SRD:Grapple|grapple]] as a [[SRD:Free Actions|free action]] without provoking an [[SRD:Attack of Opportunity|attack of opportunity]]. The Lernean Hydra can grapple a different opponent with each head without penalty.

'''{{Anchor|Miasma Cloud}} {{Su}}:''' To use this ability, all of the Lernean Hydra's currently active heads must expend their [[SRD:Standard Action|standard action]]. From the mouths of the Hydra issues forth a sickly green vapor that hangs thickly in the air. Upon settling the next [[SRD:Round|round]], the miasma cloud has a radius of 100 feet surrounding the Hydra and obscures vision like a ''[[SRD:Fog Cloud|fog cloud]]'' spell. The Hydra itself is not affected by the vision-impairing effect of its own miasma. Furthermore, there's a 20% chance that on the start of each turn, a creature will see a hallucinatory silhouette within the miasma that he must disbelieve with a DC 29 [[SRD:Will|Will]] save or perceive as an enemy.

Any creature within the area of the miasma cloud is exposed to the Lernean Hydra's [[#Poison|poison]].

The miasma cloud can be partially or fully dispersed by strong winds, such as a ''[[SRD:Gust of Wind|gust of wind]]''. A storm or weather effect with similarly strong winds will disperse the miasma cloud outright.

'''{{Anchor|Poison}} {{Ex}}:''' Those who are bitten by a Lernean Hydra or exposed to its [[#Miasma Cloud|miasma]] must make a DC 38 [[SRD:Fortitude|Fortitude]] save or become affected by its [[SRD:Poison|poison]]. 

The poison's initial effect is the [[SRD:Sickened|sickened]] condition and a confusion effect (as per the [[SRD:Confusion|spell]]). The secondary effect is an [[SRD:Insanity|insanity]] effect. As such, if the poison isn't neutralized within a minute, its effects will be permanent until removed by any effect that removes ''[[SRD:Insanity|insanity]]''. Immunity to [[SRD:Mind-Affecting Effect|mind-affecting]] effects will protect against the confusion effect, but not the sickened condition. The save DC is [[SRD:Constitution|Constitution]]-based.

'''{{Anchor|Regeneration}} {{Ex}}:''' Only Gods and other sources of [[Cosmic Damage Type (3.5e Variant Rule)|cosmic]] damage deal normal damage to a Lernean Hydra. If a Lernean Hydra loses a head to any attack or effect that doesn't bypass its regeneration, it regrows as soon as its regeneration reduces that head's total [[SRD:Nonlethal Damage|nonlethal damage]] below its total [[SRD:Hit Points|hit points]] (see [[#Endless Regrowth|endless regrowth]] above). Other body parts regrow in 3d6 minutes.

'''[[SRD:Spell-Like Abilities|{{Anchor|Spell-Like Abilities}}]]:''' At will&mdash;''[[SRD:Fireball|fireball]]'' (DC 20), ''[[SRD:Phantasmal Killer|phantasmal killer]]''* (DC 21); 3/day&mdash;''[[SRD:Greater Dispel Magic|greater dispel magic]]'', ''[[SRD:Greater Invisibility|greater invisibility]]'', ''[[Pyroclasm (3.5e Spell)|pyroclasm]]''** (DC 25). [[SRD:Caster Level|Caster level]] 20th. Save DCs are [[SRD:Charisma|Charisma]]-based. 

<nowiki>*</nowiki>: Depending on conditions currently suffered by the target, they incur a penalty to the save of the spell: [[SRD:Shaken|shaken]] (-2), [[SRD:Frightened|frightened]] or worse (-4), [[SRD:Confusion|confused]] (-4), [[SRD:Insanity|insane]] (-8).<br>
<nowiki>**</nowiki>: All active heads must contribute their [[SRD:Standard Actions|standard action]] to cast the spell.

'''The following abilities are always active on a Lernean Hydra's person, as the [[SRD:Spell|spells]] ([[SRD:Caster Level|caster level]] 20th)'''<br/>
''[[SRD:Arcane Sight|arcane sight]]'', ''[[SRD:Nondetection|nondetection]]'', ''[[See Through Fog (3.5e Spell)|see through fog]]''.

'''{{Anchor|Swallow Whole}} {{Ex}}:''' When a Lernean Hydra's head begins its turn [[SRD:Grapple|grappling]] an opponent up to [[SRD:Medium Size|Medium]] size, it can swallow that opponent with a successful [[SRD:Grapple|grapple]] check. Once inside the opponent takes the Hydra's [[SRD:Bite|bite]] damage (4d6+12) every [[SRD:Round|round]]. A swallowed creature can attempt to cut its way out by using a light [[SRD:Slashing Weapon|slashing]] or [[SRD:Piercing Weapon|piercing]] weapon to deal 100 points of damage to the Lernean Hydra's throat (AC 20). This damage is separate from normal battle damage and does not affect overall hit points, and is furthermore not subject to [[SRD:Damage Reduction|damage reduction]] or [[SRD:Fast Healing|fast healing]]. Once the creature exits, muscular action closes the hole; another swallowed opponent must cut its own way out. A Lernean Hydra's head can hold 1 [[SRD:Medium Size|Medium]] or smaller opponent.

A Lernean Hydra can have as many creatures swallowed as it has heads. If a head is destroyed, a creature swallowed by that head can crawl out as a [[SRD:Full-Round Actions|full-round action]] provided he does so before the head regenerates.


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