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โ€œ Myth unit that grows heads as it fights enemy units. Good against human soldiers. โ€
—In-game description

โ€œ Myth unit. Grows heads as it kills enemy soldiers and myth units. โ€
—In-game description

The Hydra (plural: Hydrai) is a legendary many-headed reptilian monster. In Age of Mythology, it is a Heroic Age Greek myth unit available to worshipers of Dionysus.

Ability[]

  • Polycephaly (Passive): Grows additional heads when fighting enemy units. Each head can attack. (The Hydra gains an extra head based on the total damage dealt to units excluding wild animals, up to a maximum of five heads. Each head adds 100% to its damage).
    HeadsTotal damage dealtAttack damage
    1< 150​30 Hack Attack hack / ​15 Crush Attackcrush
    2โ‰ฅ 150 and < 500​60 Hack Attack hack / ​30 Crush Attackcrush
    3โ‰ฅ 500 and < 1,250​90 Hack Attack hack / ​45 Crush Attackcrush
    4โ‰ฅ 1,250 and < 2,500​120 Hack Attack hack / ​60 Crush Attackcrush
    5โ‰ฅ 2,500​150 Hack Attack hack / ​75 Crush Attackcrush

Further statistics[]

God bonuses[]

Myth technologies[]

Specific[]

  • Chthonic Rites: Allows Hydrai to regenerate +2.5 hit points per second. (since Retold)

General[]

Age bonuses[]

Relics[]

Tactics[]

Hydras attack by biting at adjacent enemies. Technically, their long necks enable them to attack at very short range, but this rarely makes a difference. While Hydras do not have a special attack, they do gradually increase their attack in proportion to the amount of damage dealt. A Hydra's attack increases with each head it grows. The starting stat for the hack attack is 30 and crush is 15, and it increases to a maximum of 150 and 75 respectively (a Hydra would have to deal 1,600 damage to fully evolve). Animals killed by the Hydra count increase the attack as well, so one tactic is to set a Hydra on a pack of harmless animals in order to gain an undamaged, improved Hydra.

The Hydra's attack also deals crush damage, making it good at destroying buildings. They are powerful in combat as they get even stronger with the number of opponents they kill. They also have a lot of armor and hit points so can last prolonged battles. They are strong against other myth units but like all myth units are countered by heroes.

Changelog[]

Age of Mythology[]

  • Hydrai deal ​20 Hack Attack hack / ​10 Crush Attackcrush damage per second, have ​40% pierce armor, and cost 5 population.
  • Hydrai gain a damage bonus by killing units, growing an extra head after killing 3 units and increasing its base damage by 16.67% per unit.
    HeadsKilling unitsAttack Damage
    10​20 Hack Attack hack / ​10 Crush Attackcrush
    1​23.3 Hack Attack hack / ​11.7 Crush Attackcrush
    2​26.7 Hack Attack hack / ​13.3 Crush Attackcrush
    23​30 Hack Attack hack / ​15 Crush Attackcrush
    4​33.3 Hack Attack hack / ​16.7 Crush Attackcrush
    5​36.7 Hack Attack hack / ​18.3 Crush Attackcrush
    36​40 Hack Attack hack / ​20 Crush Attackcrush
    7​43.3 Hack Attack hack / ​21.7 Crush Attackcrush
    8​46.7 Hack Attack hack / ​23.3 Crush Attackcrush
    49​50 Hack Attack hack / ​25 Crush Attackcrush
    10​53.3 Hack Attack hack / ​26.7 Crush Attackcrush
    11​56.7 Hack Attack hack / ​28.3 Crush Attackcrush
    512​60 Hack Attack hack / ​30 Crush Attackcrush

Retold[]

  • Hydrai deal ​30 Hack Attack hack / ​15 Crush Attackcrush damage per hit. Damage per second remains unchanged.
  • Hydrai have ​50% pierce armor and cost 4 population.
  • Hydrai gain +20% hit points and attack in the Mythic Age. They further gain +100% hit points, +100% attack, and +20% speed in the Wonder Age.
  • Hydrai gain a damage bonus by damage dealt, growing an extra head and increasing base damage by 100% per total amount of damage. They need to deal 100 damage to grow the second head, 400 damage for the third head, 800 damage for the fourth head, and 1,600 damage for the fifth head.
  • With update 17.27932, Hydrai need to deal 150 damage to grow the second head, 500 damage for the third head, 1,250 damage for the fourth head, and 2,500 damage for the fifth head.

Immortal Pillars[]

Mythology[]

โ€œ Scientific name -- Hydra lernaea
Size -- 20,000+ lbs.
Diet -- carnivore, especially cattle and humans

Another of the fierce offspring of Echinda[sic] and Typhon, the Hydra was a large serpent with multiple heads and poisonous breath. Killing the Hydra near the city of Lerna in Argolis was the second of Heracles' twelve tasks. Each time he cut off one of the Hydra's heads, however, two more grew back. A nephew helped him by cauterizing each wound as a head was lopped off. The last head was immortal, so Heracles buried it under a large rock. Once the beast's body was dead, Heracles dipped his arrowheads into its blood, giving them extra potency.
โ€
—In-game help section

Trivia[]

  • The Hydra was originally a naval myth unit, but it was split in 2 to create the naval Scylla and the terrestrial Hydra.
  • The relation between Hydra and Scylla might be a reference to the uncommon misconception that Sauropods and Plesiosaurs are closely related.
  • The Hydra in Age of Mythology seems to be a species of carnivorous sauropod or terrestrial plesiosaur instead of the more classical serpentine depictions/descriptions of the creature. In Retold, its features are made more fantastical.

Gallery[]

Video[]

Myth units in Age of Mythology
Greeks
Archaic Age Pegasus ยท Hippocampus ยท Shade of Hades
Classical Age Centaur ยท Minotaur ยท Cyclops
Heroic Age Nemean Lion ยท Hydra ยท Scylla ยท Manticore
Mythic Age Colossus ยท Medusa ยท Carcinos ยท Chimera
Egyptians
Classical Age Anubite ยท Sphinx ยท Wadjet
Heroic Age Petsuchos ยท Roc ยท Scarab ยท Leviathan ยท Scorpion Man ยท Minion ยท Lost Ship
Mythic Age Phoenix ( Phoenix Eggยท War Turtle ยท Avenger ยท Mummy
Norse
Archaic Age Raven
Classical Age Troll ยท Valkyrie ยท Einheri ยท Draugr
Heroic Age Kraken ยท Mountain Giant ยท Walking Woods ยท Frost Giant ยท Battle Boar ยท Rock Giant
Mythic Age Jormun Elver ยท Fimbulwinter Wolf ยท Fenris Wolf Brood ยท Fire Giant ยท Nidhogg ยท Fafnir
Atlanteans
Classical Age Automaton ยท Spider egg ยท Promethean ( Promethean Offspringยท Caladria ยท Servant ยท Carnivora
Heroic Age Nereid ยท Satyr ยท Stymphalian Bird ยท Dryad ยท Behemoth
Mythic Age Centimanus ยท Man O' War ยท Argus ยท Lampades ยท Tartarian Spawn
Chinese (Immortal Pillars)
Classical Age Qilin ยท Yazi ยท Qiongqi
Heroic Age Baihu ยท Taowu ยท Taotie ยท Pixiu ยท Fei ยท Chiwen
Mythic Age Hundun ยท Zhuque ยท Qinglong ยท Xuanwu ยท Yinglong
Removed in Retold
Chinese (Tale of the Dragon)
Classical Age Qilin ยท Monkey King ยท Terracotta Warrior
Heroic Age War Salamander ยท Jiangshi ยท Pixiu
Mythic Age Azure Dragon ยท Dragon Turtle ยท Vermilion Bird ยท White Tiger ยท Earth Dragon
Other
Common Titan
Campaign Ao Kuang ยท Gaia ยท Kronos ยท Prometheus ยท Theris* ยท Chiyou
Cheat Bella ยท Walking Berry Bush
Scenario Editor-exclusive Harpy ยท Santa ยท Vulture
Cut Apep ยท Golem ยท Griffon ยท Trollkarien
Hidden William Walrus
Units in Age of Mythology
Common
Non-military Fishing Ship ยท Transport Ship ยท Caravan ( Donkey ยท Camel ยท Ox ยท Llama ยท Mechanical Ox)
Myth units Titan
Heroes Regent
Greeks
Non-military Villager ยท Kataskopos
Infantry Hoplite ยท Hypaspist ยท Myrmidon (Zeus) ยท Militia (Poseidon)
Ranged soldiers Toxotes ยท Peltast ยท Gastraphetoros (Hades)
Cavalry Hippeus ยท Prodromos ยท Hetairos (Poseidon)
Siege weapons Petrobolos ยท Helepolis
Ships Trireme ยท Pentekonter ยท Juggernaut
Heroes Hippocrates (Removed)
Zeus : Jason ยท Odysseus ยท Heracles ยท Bellerophon
Poseidon : Theseus ยท Atalanta ยท Hippolyta ยท Polyphemus
Hades : Ajax ยท Achilles ยท Chiron ยท Perseus
Aphrodite : The Argo
Myth units Pegasus ยท Hippocampus ยท Shade of Hades ยท Centaur ยท Minotaur ยท Cyclops ยท Scylla ยท Nemean Lion ยท Hydra ยท Manticore ยท Carcinos ยท Colossus ยท Medusa ยท Chimera
Egyptians
Non-military Laborer
Infantry Spearman ยท Axeman ยท Mercenary ยท Khopesh Swordsman (Removed)
Ranged soldiers Slinger ยท Chariot Archer
Cavalry Camel Rider ยท War Elephant ยท Mercenary Cavalry
Siege weapons Catapult ยท Siege Tower
Ships Kebenit ยท Ramming Galley ยท War Barge ยท Lost Ship
Heroes Pharaoh ยท Priest ยท Son of Osiris
Myth units Anubite ยท Sphinx ยท Wadjet ยท Leviathan ยท Petsuchos ยท Roc ยท Scarab ยท Scorpion Man ยท Minion ยท War Turtle ยท Phoenix ยท Phoenix Egg ยท Avenger ยท Mummy
Animals Baboon of Set ยท Gazelle of Set ยท Hyena of Set ยท Giraffe of Set ยท Crocodile of Set ยท Hippopotamus of Set ยท Rhinoceros of Set ยท Elephant of Set ยท Serpent ยท Sea Snake
Norse
Non-military Gatherer ยท Dwarf ยท Ox Cart
Infantry Berserk ยท Throwing Axeman ยท Hirdman ยท Huskarl
Ranged soldiers Bogsveigir (Removed)
Cavalry Raiding Cavalry ยท Jarl
Siege weapons Portable Ram ยท Ballista
Ships Longboat ยท Dreki ยท Dragon Ship
Heroes Hersir ยท Godi ยท Hero of Ragnarok ยท Gullinbursti
Myth units Raven ยท Troll ยท Valkyrie ยท Einheri ยท Draugr ยท Kraken ยท Mountain Giant ยท Walking Woods ยท Frost Giant ยท Battle Boar ยท Rock Giant ยท Jormun Elver ยท Fimbulwinter Wolf ยท Fenris Wolf Brood ยท Fire Giant ยท Fafnir ยท Nidhogg
Atlanteans
Non-military Citizen ยท Oracle
Infantry Murmillo ยท Katapeltes ยท Destroyer ยท Fanatic
Ranged soldiers Arcus ยท Turma
Cavalry Contarius
Siege weapons Cheiroballista ยท Fire Siphon ยท Onager (Removed)
Ships Bireme ยท Fire Ship ยท Siege Bireme
Myth units Automaton ยท Spider egg ยท Promethean ( Promethean Offspringยท Caladria ยท Servant ยท Carnivora ยท Nereid ยท Satyr ยท Stymphalian Bird ยท Dryad ยท Behemoth ยท Man O' War ยท Centimanus ยท Argus ยท Lampades ยท Tartarian Spawn
Chinese (Immortal Pillars)
Non-military Peasant ยท Kuafu ยท Sky Lantern ยท Clay Peasant (Nรผwa)
Infantry Dao Swordsman ยท Ge Halberdier ยท Tiger Cavalry (Dismounted)
Ranged soldiers Chu Ko Nu ยท Fire Archer ยท Wuzu Javelineer
Cavalry Terracotta Rider ยท Tiger Cavalry ยท White Horse Cavalry
Siege weapons Siege Crossbow ยท Axe Cart
Ships Doujian ยท Mengchong ยท Louchuan
Heroes Pioneer ยท Sage ยท Jiang Ziya ยท Yang Jian (Fuxi) ยท Nezha (Fuxi) ยท Li Jing (Nรผwa) ยท Kuafu (Hero) (Nรผwa) ยท Wen Zhong (Shennong)
Myth units Qilin ยท Yazi ยท Qiongqi ยท Chiwen ยท Baihu ยท Pixiu ยท Fei ยท Taotie ยท Taowu ยท Xuanwu ยท Zhuque ยท Qinglong ยท Hundun ยท Yinglong
Removed in Retold
Chinese (Tale of the Dragon)
Non-military Peasant ยท Yak Caravan
Infantry Halberdier
Ranged soldiers Chu Ko Nu ยท Mounted Archer
Cavalry Cataphract ยท General ยท Scout Cavalry ยท War Chariot
Siege weapons Fire Lance ยท Sitting Tiger
Ships Junk ยท Fire Ship ยท Siege Junk
Heroes Monk ยท Immortal
Myth units Qilin ยท Monkey King ยท Terracotta Warrior ยท War Salamander ยท Jiangshi ยท Pixiu ยท Azure Dragon ยท Dragon Turtle ยท Vermilion Bird ยท White Tiger ยท Earth Dragon
Other (non-campaign exclusive)
Cheat units Bella ยท Flying Purple Hippo ยท Forkboy ยท Lazer Bear ยท Methane Chicken ยท Walking Berry Bush
Animals Alfred ยท Arctic Wolf ยท Aurochs ยท Baboon ยท Bear ยท Black Bear ยท Boar ยท Caribou ยท Chicken ยท Cow ยท Crocodile ยท Crowned Crane ยท Deer ยท Bird: Hawk, Flying Red Crowned Crane, Vulture ยท Elephant ยท Elk ยท Gazelle ยท Golden Lion ยท Giraffe ยท Goat ยท Golden Pheasant ยท Harpy ยท Hippopotamus ยท Hyena ยท Lion ยท Monkey ยท Panda ยท Pig ยท Polar Bear ยท Red Crowned Crane ยท Relic Monkey ยท Rhinoceros ยท Serpent (Predator) ยท Shade (RM) ยท Walrus ยท Water Buffalo ยท Wolf ยท Zebra
Removed in Retold: Bird: Eagle, Parrot ยท Duck ยท Elephant (Indian) ยท Lizard ยท Panda Bear ยท Ram ยท Tiger ยท Yak
Scenario Editor Bow Cavalry ยท Dog ยท Harpy ยท Horse ยท Monkey Raft ยท Ornlu ยท Priest (SPC) ยท Qing Rider ยท Raft ยท Reindeer ยท Santa ยท Testing Dummy ยท Valkyrie Horse ยท Vulture
Cut Greeks: Cataphract ยท Oxybeles
Egyptians: Chariot ยท Gaiassa
Norse: Knarr
Chinese: Guandao Pikeman ยท Meteor Hammer ยท Rocket Artillery
Nature: Unicorn ยท Wild Camel ยท Nubian Goat ยท Wild Horse ยท Shore Fish ยท Anchovies ยท Musk Ox
Hidden Apep ยท Bondi ยท Golem ยท Griffon ยท Recognizer ยท Revealer ยท Trollkarien ยท William Walrus