Hydra

Hydras are three-headed amphibious beasts native to both Azeroth and Outland. Historians have long disagreed about whether the immense hydras of Azeroth and Outland share a common ancestor. What is clear, however, is that these ruthless creatures have existed on both realms since ancient times.Ghaz'an: Dungeon Journal entry Each head appears to display a level of independent behavior. The forms of hydras vary somewhat between the two worlds.
==Two-legged Azeroth hydras==
Hydras in Azeroth are found along the coasts of Darkshore, Ashenvale and Dustwallow Marsh, and were also found in Azshara before the Shattering and on the Echo Isles when it was under attack by the Kul Tiran fleetTo Tame a Land (WC3 Orc). Some seem to be intelligent and might be the favored pets or servants of the Old Gods. Aku'mai carries within her a small measure of the Old Gods' power. This three-headed hydra is greatly feared for her mindless savagery and insatiable hunger for living flesh, but the Twilight's Hammer worships her as a divine sign that the Old Gods will soon return.Aku'mai: Dungeon Journal They are reportedly difficult to kill, both because their wounds heal quickly and, when another creature would die from similar wounds, they split into two smaller hydras. This phenomenon is not observed in World of Warcraft, however. Some savage creatures discover ways to use hydras as guardians, though these creatures are by no means domesticated.
The hydras of the Broken Isles, however, look similar to those found on Draenor (see below).
===Notable hydras===
===Hydra species===
*Hydra Hatchling
*Hydra
*Elder Hydra
*Ancient Hydra
==Outland hydras==
Before its destruction, Draenor's hydras resembled Azeroth's but had four legs and longer bodies.
Outland hydras have a more alien appearance. The outer two of their heads are small and have horns growing out the sides, several small eyes on each side, and no visible lower jaw. The middle head is larger and is notable for a single eye in the center of its face. They are commonly found in the lakes and pools of Zangarmarsh, such as the famous Ghaz'an, a boss in the Underbog.
The Kurenai know how to make armor from hydra hides. However the older the animal becomes, the hide becomes too soft to be effective armor.Maktu's Revenge
In Netherstorm's Ethereal Eco-Domes, there is a single hydra called Markaru whose natural growth has been accelerated by the Ethereal technology. Aurine Moonblaze, an envoy of the Cenarion Expedition that was sent to investigate the technology, tasks you with retrieving its heart for study.
===Notable Outland hydras===
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===Outland hydra species===
*Doom Beast
*Greater Doom Beast
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==Hydras with submerged bodies==
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Witnessed only on Azeroth, these hydras are seemingly so massive that only their heads have ever been seen, while their bodies remain submerged beneath water or sand.
==Four-legged hydras==
Four-legged hydras are found on both Azeroth and Draenor.
===On Azeroth===
Four-legged hydras can be found in Nazjatar, notably populating the Ashen Strand. There, hydras of multiple different groups are fighting against each other for territory, with three identified groups (Siltridge, Voidscale and Stonemaw) each led by a different Scale Matriarch.
Others can be found on the Broken Isles, particularly in the regions of Azsuna and Val'sharah, as well as in Zuldazar and many other islands.
* <Spawn of Gahz'rilla> 
===On Draenor===
The hydras of Draenor are large, three-headed, four-legged reptiles with various elemental or natural breath abilities. Most hydras live on Draenor's shores, but some can be found in swampy areas inland.Khargax the DevourerVenolasix Despite often living among the mushrooms growing near many of the shores, they are not always resistant to the infestation.Jiasska the Sporegorger
The different broods are often named after the brood's matriarch or patriarch. The main broods are named after four large hydras: Lernaea whose brood is green and use poison-based attacks, Echidna whose brood is dark purple and use earth-based attacks, Keravnos whose brood is blue and use lightning-based attacks and Typhon whose brood is red and use fire based attacks.
Another group of green hydras, similar to the Lernaean, called Varashian can be found in the Writhing Mire in north-western Spires of Arak.Varashian Vilefang
These hydras are captured by the Shattered Hand orcs, who use their venom as poison on their blades.
The Burning Crusade hydra Mragesh was originally planned to appear in Warlords of Draenor, indicating a link between the two species even despite their different models.
====Notable Draenor hydras====
====Draenor hydras species====
==Shadowlands hydras==
Ardenweald is home to mandragora-like hydras that are entirely plants, and not animals.Belly Full of Fae They evolve from lashers.Gobbling Blossom
==Other creatures==
Water elemental members of the Abyssal Council have been known to appear in hydra form, namely The Duke of Fathoms and Lord Skwol. The Frigid Lieutenant is also an elemental.
Megaera is a hydra creature originating from a young cloud serpent. It was twisted into a multi-headed hydra and left to languish beneath Lei Shen's throne.
Mandragoras, vicious plant creatures created by the botani, mimic hydras, but unlike other plant life have been known to improve on the design.Trophy of Glory: Biolante (Alliance)
 Chromatus is also a multi-headed creature with a head of each dragonflight.
==Other meanings==
The term hydra may also refer a player character being controlled by another player who is controlling two or more characters at the same time. See Dual box.
==As a hunter pet==
Hydras were made a family of tamable hunter pets with the release of the Warlords of Draenor expansion. When tamed, they possess the Keen Senses ability.
The , a ghostly hydra and part of the three Spirits of Sholazar which are summoned as part of the daily Oracles quest A Cleansing Song, was briefly tamable between Patch 3.0.0 and Patch 3.0.8. This was due to all three of the spirits being labeled as crocolisks despite Atha using the hydra model.
According to a post on MMO-Champion, the patch 4.1.0 PTR contained a tamed pet passive with a hydra icon and the ability Bellowing Roar.Patch 4.1 PTR: New hydra pet available for hunters Despite this strong evidence that hydras were being considered as hunter pets, when patch 4.1.0 was released they did not become tamable.
===Patch changes===
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==As a companion pet==
*Gahz'rooki's Summoning Stone was sold by at Razor Hill Watchtower for one Radical Mojo. As of Patch 5.4.0, it can not longer be purchased; it now rarely drops from the Kor'kron mobs located in Northern Barrens.
*Hydraling drops from the treasure Varasha's Egg in the Writhing Mire, located in western Spires of Arak.
*Leviathan Egg has a chance to drop from High Warlord Naj'entus in Black Temple.
*Scalebrood Hydra drops from the Scale Matriarch rares in Nazjatar.
==In the RPG==
Hydras are three-headed beasts that dwell in marshes and in damp underground areas. They are notoriously difficult to kill, both because their wounds heal quickly and, when another creature would die from similar wounds, they split into two smaller hydras. Some savage creatures discover ways to use hydras as guardians, though these creatures are by no means domesticated. Hydras are fearless, because they know they are tough customers. They charge with little intelligence or tactics. Multiple hydras (such as those created when a large hydra becomes two smaller hydras) use flanking tactics and attempt to overwhelm a single opponent before moving on to the next.Monster Guide, pg. 89-90
In Manual of Monsters Appendix Three a creature called Savant Hydra is described however the validity of the source is disputed.
==Trivia==
*Draenor hydras are known as "Thunder hydras" in the game files. This is presumably because they share file location with the graphics for Megaera, who is called "Thunder Hydra Boss" in the files. Newly hatched Draenor hydras also resemble the heads of Megaera.
==Gallery==
Bittertide Hydra HS.jpg|A Bittertide Hydra represented as a four-legged hydra in Hearthstone.
Hydra Hearthstone.jpg|A hydra as seen in a piece of Hearthstone artwork.
Trigore the Lasher Mercenaries 3.jpg|Trigore the Lasher in Hearthstone Mercenaries.
Trigore the Lasher Mercenaries 1.jpg|Trigore the Lasher in Hearthstone Mercenaries, as an infant with one head.
Trigore the Lasher Mercenaries 2.jpg|Trigore the Lasher in Hearthstone Mercenaries, intermediate stage two heads.
Hydralodon HS.jpg| a colossal hydra in Hearthstone.
Emergency Maneuvers HS.jpg| card with a colossal hydra in Hearthstone.
==References==
 
Category:Magical beasts
Category:Tamable beasts
Category:Tenacity beasts
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