Difference between revisions of "Hydra"

Latest revision as of 17:52, 16 April 2015

"Project Hydra" was the codename for the Diablo III project and team before the announcement at WWI 2008.

Arcane Hydra in action.

Hydra is a Force Wizard skill unlocked at Level 21, summoning a hydra that attacks enemies with bolts of fire. This skill causes a dragon-headed creature to pop out of the ground and fire magical attacks at nearby enemies. The rune effects modify the appearance and damage type in various ways.

Background[edit | edit source]

Among the many secrets of the Ancient Repositories, the Wizard found the Hydra spell to call forth a ward to dispatch of enemies from multiple directions.

Skill Rune Effects[edit | edit source]

Refer to the Hydra rune effects article for thorough descriptions of all five rune effects in this skill, including screenshots, videos, strategy tips, and other related information.

Name	Level	Description

<skill class="Wizard">Hydra</skill> <skill class="Wizard" rune="Arcane Hydra">Hydra</skill> <skill class="Wizard" rune="Lightning Hydra">Hydra</skill> <skill class="Wizard" rune="Blazing Hydra">Hydra</skill> <skill class="Wizard" rune="Frost Hydra">Hydra</skill> <skill class="Wizard" rune="Mammoth Hydra">Hydra</skill>

Skill Design[edit | edit source]

This was too high level to use at BlizzCon 2009, though players sorely wanted to try it out and see the improvements from Diablo I. Graphical, if nothing else.

It's interesting to contemplate what the Hydra (multi-strike) rune would have done to Hydra. More than 3 heads per cast? Plus, Greek Mythology fans could geek out. Especially if they named their character Learnean.

Hydra with Runestones.

Synergies[edit | edit source]

The following Wizard passives provide a benefit to Hydra, runed or not:

Name	Level	Description

<skill class="Wizard">Glass Cannon</skill> <skill class="Wizard">Arcane Dynamo</skill>

Development[edit | edit source]

Hydra in action. Un-runed. October 2010.

Hydra was first shown at BlizzCon 2009, where it was on the Conjuring Skill Tree at Tier IV. Unfortunately, it was too high level to select in the gameplay demo.

At BlizzCon 2010 it was shown in the gameplay panel and also in the PvP Arena. Flux discussed its viability:[1]

You could only have one Hydra active at a time, and it had a slow firing rate. Like Meteor, it was useful to stick these out there to let them ping away, hoping the damage would add up over time. They were very commonly used near the end of rounds, when one or two characters were chasing one on the other team. Most Wizards would cast Hydras in the path of the fleeing enemy, knowing they’d get in a shot or two and help finish them off.

Skill tiers were removed for the July 2011 Press Event, allowing skills to unlock steadily from levels 1 to 30. Consequently, all skill levels were adjusted and Hydra became a level 19 skill.

Beta[edit | edit source]

The Diablo III Beta started in September 2011, and while it ran, all of the skills continued to undergo extensive iteration. Skill changes varied from changing the levels the skills are unlocked, to changes in resource cost, damage, and even function. A few skills were removed altogether, and a few new ones were added. Also, the entire skill system received an overhaul with the Beta Patch 13 update in February 2012, with physical runes replaced by rune effects that automatically unlock at various levels for the different skills.

Hydra remained at level 19 when the beta started. With the Patch 13 changes, it was classified as an Arcane skill and moved to level 20. For March's Beta Patch 14, Hydra was moved to level 21 and nerfed just a bit. Also, the category "Arcane" was renamed to "Force".

Previous Versions[edit | edit source]

See the Wizard skill archive for more details on previous versions of Hydra and other Wizard skills.
Or see Hydra (BlizzCon 2008) for the original version of this skill.

In Other Games[edit | edit source]

The hydra spell was originally seen in Diablo I, then called Guardian. The principle was that three heads were summoned from the ground, shooting firebolts at enemies for a limited time. They are more fun to cast than efficient at killing anything with.

In Diablo II, they were turned into flaming heads, and got the name Hydra. While not dealing damage to anyone near the flames, their firebolts are of more use, especially if concentrating the fire on single targets at a time, and alternating skills while waiting for the cooldown.

Trivia[edit | edit source]

Hydra was the codename for the Diablo III project and team before the announcement at WWI 2008.

Media[edit | edit source]

Hydra can be seen in action on video here:

You can find pictures in the Diablo III screenshot and picture gallery:

Arcane and Original version comparison.
Hydra made Arcane by rune.
Hydra made Arcane by rune.

References[edit | edit source]

BlizzCon 2009 Full Wizard Skill Trees
BlizzCon 2010 PvP Hands-on Report
Zediono's translation of JudgeHype's pre-beta report — IncGamers 1st Aug 2011
Silva's Wizard Runestone Effects — IncGamers 5th Sep 2011
Wizard Active Skills — Blizzard's Official Diablo III Site

Template:Skill navbox Necromancer primary

Template:Skill navbox Necromancer secondary

Template:Skill navbox Necromancer corpses

Template:Skill navbox Necromancer bloodandbone

Template:Skill navbox Necromancer reanimation

Template:Skill navbox Necromancer curses

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-::'''''"Project Hydra"''' was the codename for the [[Diablo III]] project and team before the announcement at [[WWI 2008]].
+::'''''"[[Project Hydra]]"''' was the codename for the [[Diablo III]] project and team before the announcement at [[WWI 2008]].''
-'''Hydra''' is a [[Wizard]] Tier 4 [[Wizard skills|skill]] unlocked at [[clvl|level]] 10, summoning a hydra that attacks enemies with bolts of fire.
+[[File:IconHydra.png|left]]
+[[File:Hydra-arena2.jpg|thumb|350px|Arcane Hydra in action.]]
+'''Hydra''' is a Force [[Wizard skill]] unlocked at [[clvl|Level]] 21, summoning a hydra that attacks enemies with bolts of fire. This skill causes a dragon-headed creature to pop out of the ground and fire magical attacks at nearby enemies. The rune effects modify the appearance and damage type in various ways.
+<br><br><br>__TOC__
 ==Background==
-{{Skillbox D3
-|portrait= Hydra-arena2.jpg
-<!-- |portrait-width= -->
-|name= Hydra
-|user= Wizard
-|tier= 4
-|clvl= 10
-|description= Creates a hydra that attacks your enemies with bolts of fire. Hydra deals X-Y damage per attack.
-|type= Direct [[Damage]]/[[DoT]]
-|resource= Costs [[Arcane Power]]
-|alabaster= [[Arcane]] Hydra
-|crimson= [[Cold]] Hydra
-|golden= Adds fire walls
-|indigo= [[Lightning]] Hydra
-|obsidian= [[Acid]] Hydra
-}}
 Among the many secrets of the [[Ancient Repositories]], the [[Wizard]] found the Hydra spell to call forth a ward to dispatch of enemies from multiple directions.
+==Skill Rune Effects==
+Refer to the [[Hydra rune effects]] article for thorough descriptions of all five rune effects in this skill, including screenshots, videos, strategy tips, and other related information.
+{{skill description header}}
+<skill class="Wizard">Hydra</skill>
+<skill class="Wizard" rune="Arcane Hydra">Hydra</skill>
+<skill class="Wizard" rune="Lightning Hydra">Hydra</skill>
+<skill class="Wizard" rune="Blazing Hydra">Hydra</skill>
+<skill class="Wizard" rune="Frost Hydra">Hydra</skill>
+<skill class="Wizard" rune="Mammoth Hydra">Hydra</skill>
 ==Skill Design==
 This was too high level to use at [[BlizzCon 2009]], though players sorely wanted to try it out and see the improvements from [[Diablo I]]. Graphical, if nothing else.
-It's interesting to contemplate what the [[Hydra Rune|Hydra (multi-strike) rune]] would do to Hydra. More than 3 heads per cast? Plus, Greek Mythology fans could geek out. Especially if they named their character [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lernaean_Hydra Learnean].
+It's interesting to contemplate what the [[Hydra Rune|Hydra (multi-strike) rune]] would have done to Hydra. More than 3 heads per cast? Plus, Greek Mythology fans could geek out. Especially if they named their character [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lernaean_Hydra Learnean].
+[[File:Runes-hydra-all.jpg|thumb|center|400px|[[Hydra]] with [[Runestones]].]]
-==Skill Rank Table==
+==Synergies==
-* '''Rank 1:''' Hydra deals 6-10 damage per attack.
+The following [[Wizard passives]] provide a benefit to Hydra, runed or not:
+{{skill description header}}
+<skill class="Wizard">Glass Cannon</skill>
+<skill class="Wizard">Arcane Dynamo</skill>
-==Trait Synergies==
-Hydra benefits directly from the following [[Wizard traits]]:
-* [[Glass Cannon]]: Increases damage done by spells and increases armor.
-* [[Intimidation]]: Increases damage done and reduces vendor costs.
-* [[Quickening]]: Increases spell casting speed.
-* [[Beast Hunter]]: Damage bonus against beasts.
-* [[Demonsbane]]: Damage bonus against Demons.
-* [[Just...Stay...Dead!]]: Damage bonus against undead.
-* [[Power Surge]]: Increase critical strike damage.
-* [[Penetrating Spells]]: Reduces the resistances of your target to your spells by 20%.
-'''Note:''' The current [[trait]] list is very out-of-date and will no doubt be overhauled before game release.
-==Skill Rune Effects==
-[[File:Runes-hydra-all.jpg|thumb|400px|[[Hydra]] with [[Runestones]].]]
-A revamped [[runes|skill rune]] system was unveiled at [[BlizzCon 2010]]. Full rune effects for three skills were listed in the [[Gameplay_Panel_Blizzcon_2010#Specific_Skill_Rune_Examples|Gameplay Panel]]: [[Weapon Throw]], Hydra, and [[Plague of Toads]]. The Hydra rune effects are:
-* [[Alabaster rune]]: Creates an [[Arcane]] Hydra which shoots bolts of Arcane power.
-* [[Crimson rune]]: Creates a [[Cold]] Hydra which shoots chilling bolts that damage and [[freeze]] enemies.
-* [[Golden rune]]: Turns the Hydra into one giant head that breathes fire walls.
-* [[Indigo rune]]: Creates a [[Lightning]] Hydra which shoots chain lightning at monsters.
-* [[Obsidian rune]]: Creates an [[Acid]] Hydra which shoots poisonous bolts at monsters that melts them into piles of goo.
@@ Line 71: / Line 45: @@
 <blockquote>''You could only have one Hydra active at a time, and it had a slow firing rate. Like [[Meteor]], it was useful to stick these out there to let them ping away, hoping the damage would add up over time. They were very commonly used near the end of rounds, when one or two characters were chasing one on the other team. Most Wizards would cast Hydras in the path of the fleeing enemy, knowing they’d get in a shot or two and help finish them off.</blockquote>
+Skill tiers were removed for the [[July 2011 Press Event]], allowing skills to unlock steadily from levels 1 to 30. Consequently, all skill levels were adjusted and Hydra became a level 19 skill.
+===Beta===
+{{Beta skill notes}}
+Hydra remained at level 19 when the beta started. With the Patch 13 changes, it was classified as an Arcane skill and moved to level 20. For March's [[Beta Patch 14]], Hydra was moved to level 21 and nerfed just a bit. Also, the category "Arcane" was renamed to "Force".
 ===Previous Versions===
@@ Line 77: / Line 58: @@
 ===In Other Games===
-The hydra spell was originally seen in [[Diablo I]], then called {{iw|D1_Spellbooks#Guardian Guardian}}. The principle was that three heads were summoned from the ground, shooting firebolts at enemies for a limited time. They are more fun to cast than efficient to kill anything with.
+The hydra spell was originally seen in [[Diablo I]], then called {{iw|D1_Spellbooks#Guardian Guardian}}. The principle was that three heads were summoned from the ground, shooting firebolts at enemies for a limited time. They are more fun to cast than efficient at killing anything with.
 In [[Diablo II]], they were turned into flaming heads, and got the name {{iw|Hydra Hydra}}. While not dealing damage to anyone near the flames, their firebolts are of more use, especially if concentrating the fire on single targets at a time, and alternating skills while waiting for the [[cooldown]].
 ==Trivia==
 Hydra was the codename for the [[Diablo III]] project and team before the announcement at [[WWI 2008]].
@@ Line 91: / Line 70: @@
 Hydra can be seen in action on video here:
 * [[Gameplay: Blizzcon 2010]] (in the [[Arena]])
+* [[Skill Animations Videos#Wizard Video|Video: August 2011 Wizard Skill Animations]]
 You can find pictures in the Diablo III screenshot and picture gallery:
@@ Line 102: / Line 82: @@
 File:Hydra-arena2.jpg|Hydra made Arcane by rune.
 </gallery>
@@ Line 108: / Line 87: @@
 * [http://diablo.incgamers.com/blog/comments/full-wizard-skill-trees/ BlizzCon 2009 Full Wizard Skill Trees]
 * [http://diablo.incgamers.com/blog/comments/hands-on-from-blizzcon-mega-pvp-arena-report/ BlizzCon 2010 PvP Hands-on Report]
+* [http://diablo.incgamers.com/forums/showthread.php?p=7960229#post7960229 Zediono's translation of JudgeHype's pre-beta report] — IncGamers 1st Aug 2011
+* [http://diablo.incgamers.com/forums/showthread.php?p=8007624#post8007624 Silva's Wizard Runestone Effects] — IncGamers 5th Sep 2011
+* [http://us.battle.net/d3/en/class/wizard/active/ Wizard Active Skills] — Blizzard's Official Diablo III Site
+{{Skill navbox Diablo III|Wizard|force}}
-{{Slave navbox Diablo III|Wizard}}
+[[category:Active skills]]
+[[category:Wizard skills]]
+[[category:Wizard active skills]]

Fan-made Classes			Fan-made Skills [e]
• Alchemist • Arcane Warrior • Artisan • Aurian Mage • Bard • Channeller • Dragon Warrior	• Flagellant • Giant (U) • Hollow Man • Nomad • Onaga Manji • Phase Knight	• Ranger • Slayer (U) • Techpriest (U) • Telepath • Untainted (U) • Zealot	Dragon Warrior Skills • Bow and Throwing Skill Tree • Dragon Disciplines Skill Tree • Martial Arts Skill Tree	Untainted Skills • Divine Skill Tree	Aurian Mage Skill • Holy Power Skill Tree • Shadow Spells Skill Tree • Nature Forces Skill Tree
(U) = Unfinished				Untainted Skills • Divine Skill Tree