Difference between revisions of "The Lernaean hydra"

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{{monster
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{{version031}}
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|name=the Lernaean hydra
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{{monster info|the Lernaean hydra}}
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|glyph={{Yellow|D}}
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''For a list of all reptiles, see [[list of reptiles and amphibians]].''
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|tile=[[File:Lernaean_hydra_new.png]]
 
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|flags={{Unique flag}}<br>{{Cold blood flag}}
 
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|resistances={{Poison resistance}}
 
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|vulnerabilities=none
 
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|max_chunks=12
 
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|meat={{Poisonous corpse}}
 
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|xp=7599
 
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|holiness={{Natural}}
 
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|magic_resistance=120
 
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|hp_range=150
 
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|avg_hp=150
 
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|armour_class=0
 
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|evasion=5
 
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|habitat=amphibious land
 
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|speed=10 (swim: 60%)
 
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|size={{huge}}
 
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|item_use={{Uses nothing}}
 
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|attack1=18 ({{Bite type}}: {{Plain flavour}}) per head (×27)
 
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|attack2=
 
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|attack3=
 
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|attack4=
 
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|hit_dice=30
 
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|base_hp=3
 
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|extra_hp=2
 
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|fixed_hp=0
 
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|intelligence={{Animal intelligence}}
 
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|genus=hydra
 
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|species=hydra
 
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}}
 
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{{Flavour|An ancient, outsized serpent-like water beast that possesses numerous heads. The poets mention more heads than vase-painters can paint, poisonous venom coming out of its eyes, and that this hydra is a guardian of an entrance to the Underworld. What of this is true, you do not know.}}
 
  
 
==Useful Info==
 
==Useful Info==
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'''The Lernaean hydra''' is a unique [[hydra]] with 27 heads (each head does up to 18 dmg - total: 486, but very strongly biased around the average of 260 or so) that appears in an alternate branch end of [[the Swamp]]. It has about twice the HP of a regular hydra, has 30 [[HD]], and regenerates quickly.
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'''The Lernaean hydra''' ("'''Lerny'''" for short) is a unique [[hydra]] with [[27]] heads. Each head can do up to 18 dmg for a total of 486, though very strongly biased around the average of 260, and reduced 27 times by [[AC]]/[[EV]] rolls. In addition, it has about twice the HP of a regular hydra, has 30 [[HD]], and can knock down [[Wall#Mangrove|trees]] by simply moving through them. Other than that, it behaves exactly like a normal hydra (notably that it swims and regenerates quickly).
  
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==Tips & Tricks==
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Lerny can occasionally be found in [[Swamp]]:4. If Swamp hasn't generated in your game, it may very rarely appear inside a specific [[runed door]] [[vault]] ("nicolae_hydra_factorization"). It can also appear as a [[zombie]] or [[skeleton]] in one ending.
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The danger posed by this monster is easily overstated.  It IS a threat, and perhaps ranks among the more dangerous monsters in the game, but to a careful, reasonably well-prepared player, it is a lot less dangerous than first appears:
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* It presents only a very modest threat to AC-based characters.  AC functions best against many small attacks, and the Lerneaen Hydra is just that. A character with high AC skill wearing [[gold dragon armour]] or [[crystal plate armour]] can expect to take at most 20-30 damage/turn from this monster. Not trivial, but considering that most characters with high AC will likely also have high HP, this makes TLH quite manageable.
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==Strategy==
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* To an EV-based character, it presents a threat, but still less of one than might initially appear.  A character with an AC of 18 and an EV of 35 can expect to evade half its attacks, and reduce the damage from the rest by about 1/2.  This translates to an average of about 60-65 damage/turn.  This is definitely more of a threat than against an AC character, but still, unlikely to be an instadeath.  Such characters will likely want to avoid engaging TLH in melee, or at the very least soften it up with wands and spells before hasting/quaffing a potion of might or simply berserking to attack it.
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This monster ''is'' a threat, and perhaps ranks among the more dangerous monsters in the game. But to a careful, reasonably well-prepared player, it is much less dangerous than it first appears:
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* It presents the greatest threat to low-HP spellcasters who have chosen not to train much in the way of defensive skills. These characters will absolutely want to avoid engaging TLH in melee, but luckily, they are also the ones best equipped to do so. Use Swiftness, Haste, and Flight to maintain distance, even when TLH is in water, and repeatedly pelt it with your most powerful conjurations. Note that summons are somewhat limited in effectiveness against it as it tends to chew through them, being able to redirect its remaining attacks once it kills one monster.
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*It presents only a moderate threat to characters with very high AC; AC functions best against many small attacks, and the Lernaean Hydra is just that. A character with 40+ AC (generally from high [[Armour skill]] and highly enchanted armour) can expect to take on average 20-30 damage/turn from this monster. By comparison, a character with about 20 AC will take twice as much damage/turn.
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* It also presents a threat to characters that are simply lower-level. However, there is generally little reason to explore the Swamp before you are XL 27.  It's not a horribly dangerous area, but it provides little in the way of loot and only modest XP for such a large branch. If you don't have a good suite of escape spells or good AC, you may want to delay exploring Swamp until you're more experienced, although TLH doesn't actually show up that often. Additionally, TLH only ever shows up on Swamp:5, so lower-level characters can feel free to explore the first four floors of the swamp (though there are still threats a-plenty on those upper floors).
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*Low-HP spellcasters who have chosen not to train much in the way of defensive skills should rightfully be afraid. These characters will absolutely want to avoid engaging Lerny in melee, but luckily, they are also the ones best equipped to do so. Use [[flight]] to deal with the water, [[Haste]] and (careful use of) [[Swiftness]] to maintain distance, and repeatedly pelt it with your most powerful attack spells.
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* TLH has several crucial weaknesses that are easily overlooked:
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**Lerny's ability to redirect its remaining attacks after a kill means most Summoning spells short of a [[Malign Gateway]] will just be mauled down. Even [[Summon Cactus Giant|cactus giant]]s aren't effective, as spines only activate once per monster turn. However, summons can still activate [[Inner Flame]]/a [[scroll of immolation]].
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** It has no resistances other than poison. Conjurers and elementalists of all stripes will easily be able to inflict damage on it.
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*It also presents a threat to characters that are simply low-level. However, you don't have to explore Swamp:4. Unless you're doing a challenge run, you can delay the Swamp rune until after completing Spider:1-3 / Snake:1-3. Note that Lerny doesn't actually show up that often.
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** It actually has fairly low HP for such a powerful unique.  Unlike nasties such as [[Cerebov]] or [[Antaeus]], spellcasters are unlikely to need a source of channeling to kill it in one go.
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** Its defenses are terrible. It literally has no AC, and its EV is negligible for all but the most inaccurate spells.  As with the other weaknesses mentioned, this means that it generally doesn't take long to kill.
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Keep in mind that you don't ''have'' to kill every monster possible. Sure, Lerny's worth a good chunk of experience, but if you don't have a safe way to kill it, just grab the rune and go. Alternatively, you can come back after you've explored other areas and gotten stronger, since you'll only need the Swamp's rune once you're ready to open the [[Realm of Zot]].
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** It has no ranged abilities. Thus, it is fairly easy to kite it to death, or at the very least take off half its HP before it gets in melee range.
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* Lastly, unlike with normal hydras, don't expect a flaming edged weapon to be particularly effective. You're not going to kill TLH by cutting off all its heads, you're going to kill it by taking its HP to zero. Players should be careful about using non-flaming edged weapons - the extra HP TLH will get from regrowing heads can make it last considerably longer - but flaming edged weapons don't provide a whole lot of benefit. By all means, use one if you have one, but it isn't necessary: a non-edged weapon will do just fine, provided you have a reasonable amount of skill with it.
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===Weaknesses===
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Lerny has several crucial weaknesses that are easily overlooked:
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*It actually has fairly low HP for such a powerful unique, ''zero'' AC, and negligible EV. It is also stuck to melee. Ranged attacks can easily wear Lerny down, spellcasters are unlikely to need a source of MP recovery to kill it in one go, and it generally doesn't take long to kill. Even melee characters can use [[Throwing|throwing weapons]] and [[wand]]s to soften it up before engaging.
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*It has no resistances, other than poison and to [[throwing net]]s. Conjurers and elementalists of all stripes will easily be able to inflict damage on it.
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*It cannot [[see invisible]] and only has animal intelligence. Not only will Lerny have difficulty tracking you down, but you'll have an easier time dodging attacks and might even be able to get off a devastating [[stab]]. Note that being in [[water]] without flight will negate most perks of invisibility.
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===Tips & Tricks===
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*A [[phantom mirror]] can be brutally effective against Lerny. The phantom often moves first, so it's likely to kill (or severely damage) the original.
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*If there's a suitable mass of monsters of suitable distance, a [[scroll of immolation]] will easily vanquish Lerny; preferably with haste, flight, and a ranged attack able to activate a chain reaction. Alternatively, you can set off the reaction with [[summon]]s, [[undead]], or other allies, who are also affected by immolation.
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*Lerny is a hydra, with the usual head-cutting mechanics:
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**Flaming edged weapons do cut off heads, but going from 27 to 26 heads doesn't make a big difference. If you have a renewable/cheap means of escape, you might be able to chip away at the head count.
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**Lerny is capped at 27 heads. Non-flaming edged weapons still cause the healing, but won't increase the number of heads. While a normal edged weapon will likely prove ineffective, a weapon of [[freezing]] can at least slow Lerny down (letting you escape).
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**Lerny is much easier to fight when encountered as a zombie. On top of the usual weaknesses for [[derived undead]], such as lowered [[speed]] and [[willpower]], its heads will not regrow when severed, and it will not regenerate health.
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==Trivia==
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The [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lernaean_Hydra Lernaean Hydra] was a monster in Greek mythology that was killed by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hercules Hercules] as one of his Twelve Labors.

Latest revision as of 03:27, 5 February 2024

Version 0.31: This article may not be up to date for the latest stable release of Crawl.
the Lernaean hydra D The Lernaean hydra.png
HP 99-200
HD 30
XP 5262
Speed 10 (swim: 60%)
AC 0
EV 5
Will 120
Attack1 18 (bite: plain)


Resistances rPois+
rDrown
Vulnerabilities None
Habitat Amphibious
Intelligence Animal
Uses Uses nothing
Holiness Natural
Size Giant
Type hydra, hydra
Flags Cold-blooded
Regenerates
Unique
A huge beast, mightiest of hydras, infamous in myth and legend. It flows through the water faster than a human can run, swatting aside trees as though they were matchsticks. Its many heads slaver and gnash constantly as it hunts for prey to slake its bottomless appetite.

“The second Labour which he undertook was the slaying of the Lernaian Hydra,
springing from whose single body were fashioned a hundred necks, each bearing
the head of a serpent. And when one head was cut off, the place where it was
severed put forth two others; for this reason it was considered to be
invincible, and with good reason, since the part of it which was subdued sent
forth a two-fold assistance in its place. Against a thing so difficult to
manage as this Herakles devised an ingenious scheme and commanded Iolaos to
sear with a burning brand the part which had been severed, in order to check
the flow of the blood.”
-Diodorus Siculus, _Bibliotheca Historica_. [4. 11. 5.]. c. 100.

For a list of all reptiles, see list of reptiles and amphibians.

Useful Info

The Lernaean hydra ("Lerny" for short) is a unique hydra with 27 heads. Each head can do up to 18 dmg for a total of 486, though very strongly biased around the average of 260, and reduced 27 times by AC/EV rolls. In addition, it has about twice the HP of a regular hydra, has 30 HD, and can knock down trees by simply moving through them. Other than that, it behaves exactly like a normal hydra (notably that it swims and regenerates quickly).

Lerny can occasionally be found in Swamp:4. If Swamp hasn't generated in your game, it may very rarely appear inside a specific runed door vault ("nicolae_hydra_factorization"). It can also appear as a zombie or skeleton in one ending.

Strategy

This monster is a threat, and perhaps ranks among the more dangerous monsters in the game. But to a careful, reasonably well-prepared player, it is much less dangerous than it first appears:

  • It presents only a moderate threat to characters with very high AC; AC functions best against many small attacks, and the Lernaean Hydra is just that. A character with 40+ AC (generally from high Armour skill and highly enchanted armour) can expect to take on average 20-30 damage/turn from this monster. By comparison, a character with about 20 AC will take twice as much damage/turn.
  • Low-HP spellcasters who have chosen not to train much in the way of defensive skills should rightfully be afraid. These characters will absolutely want to avoid engaging Lerny in melee, but luckily, they are also the ones best equipped to do so. Use flight to deal with the water, Haste and (careful use of) Swiftness to maintain distance, and repeatedly pelt it with your most powerful attack spells.
    • Lerny's ability to redirect its remaining attacks after a kill means most Summoning spells short of a Malign Gateway will just be mauled down. Even cactus giants aren't effective, as spines only activate once per monster turn. However, summons can still activate Inner Flame/a scroll of immolation.
  • It also presents a threat to characters that are simply low-level. However, you don't have to explore Swamp:4. Unless you're doing a challenge run, you can delay the Swamp rune until after completing Spider:1-3 / Snake:1-3. Note that Lerny doesn't actually show up that often.

Keep in mind that you don't have to kill every monster possible. Sure, Lerny's worth a good chunk of experience, but if you don't have a safe way to kill it, just grab the rune and go. Alternatively, you can come back after you've explored other areas and gotten stronger, since you'll only need the Swamp's rune once you're ready to open the Realm of Zot.

Weaknesses

Lerny has several crucial weaknesses that are easily overlooked:

  • It actually has fairly low HP for such a powerful unique, zero AC, and negligible EV. It is also stuck to melee. Ranged attacks can easily wear Lerny down, spellcasters are unlikely to need a source of MP recovery to kill it in one go, and it generally doesn't take long to kill. Even melee characters can use throwing weapons and wands to soften it up before engaging.
  • It has no resistances, other than poison and to throwing nets. Conjurers and elementalists of all stripes will easily be able to inflict damage on it.
  • It cannot see invisible and only has animal intelligence. Not only will Lerny have difficulty tracking you down, but you'll have an easier time dodging attacks and might even be able to get off a devastating stab. Note that being in water without flight will negate most perks of invisibility.

Tips & Tricks

  • A phantom mirror can be brutally effective against Lerny. The phantom often moves first, so it's likely to kill (or severely damage) the original.
  • If there's a suitable mass of monsters of suitable distance, a scroll of immolation will easily vanquish Lerny; preferably with haste, flight, and a ranged attack able to activate a chain reaction. Alternatively, you can set off the reaction with summons, undead, or other allies, who are also affected by immolation.
  • Lerny is a hydra, with the usual head-cutting mechanics:
    • Flaming edged weapons do cut off heads, but going from 27 to 26 heads doesn't make a big difference. If you have a renewable/cheap means of escape, you might be able to chip away at the head count.
    • Lerny is capped at 27 heads. Non-flaming edged weapons still cause the healing, but won't increase the number of heads. While a normal edged weapon will likely prove ineffective, a weapon of freezing can at least slow Lerny down (letting you escape).
    • Lerny is much easier to fight when encountered as a zombie. On top of the usual weaknesses for derived undead, such as lowered speed and willpower, its heads will not regrow when severed, and it will not regenerate health.

Trivia

The Lernaean Hydra was a monster in Greek mythology that was killed by Hercules as one of his Twelve Labors.

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