Question about hydra heads

[TheChangingMC]

Planning on taking down a hydra at the moment but we can't work out whether the heads count separately for some effects. For example, would it just take one instance of Shatter because it's one creature, or would each head take an instance because each head has a separate set of ears, things like that.
Anyone know?

[Cybren]

Planning on taking down a hydra at the moment but we can't work out whether the heads count separately for some effects. For example, would it just take one instance of Shatter because it's one creature, or would each head take an instance because each head has a separate set of ears, things like that.
Anyone know?

It's only one creature, and the heads share an HP total, so it takes normal damage. If you were to catch all the heads in the same blast I might rule that it would temporarily negate their advantage on saves vs being deafened though

[Ninja_Prawn]

Yeah, if you're playing by the rules in the MM, the heads don't count as separate targets. You can't hit more than one with an AoE, and you can't destroy more than one head per turn.

However, if your DM has seen this article (http://theangrygm.com/dungeons-and-dragons-and-dismemberment/), you might find yourself fighting a hydra that isn't playing by the MM rules. In that case, all bets are off. :smallamused: