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
-|game= Diablo III
-|portrait= Hydra-arena2.jpg
-<!-- |portrait-width= -->
-|active= Active
-|name= Hydra
-|ranks= 5
-|user= Wizard
-|tree= Tier 4
-|description= Creates a hydra that attacks your enemies with bolts of fire. Hydra deals X-Y damage per attack.
-|type= Direct Damage
-|quantity= 6-10 damage
-|effect= Turret shooting bolts
-|school= [[Fire]]
-|resource= [[Arcane Power]]
-|cost= 12
-|cast-time= Instant
-|duration= None
-|cooldown= 1.5 sec
-<!-- |synergies= Link them -->
-<!-- |req= Link it -->
-<!-- |prereq= Link it -->
-<!-- |catexclude= --> <!-- ONLY USE THIS IF THE SKILL IS FAN SKILL OR ARCHIVED -->
-}}
 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]].]]
+==Synergies==
+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>
-==Skill Rank Table==
-* '''Rank 1:''' Hydra deals 6-10 damage per attack.
+==Development==
+[[File:Hydra1.jpg|thumb|350px|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:[http://diablo.incgamers.com/blog/comments/hands-on-from-blizzcon-mega-pvp-arena-report/]
-==[[Synergies]]==
+<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>
-Hydra benefits directly from the following [[trait]]s:
-* [[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%.
-Depending on rune socketing, Hydra also benefits from the following traits:
-* [[Black Ice]]: Frozen targets take 25% more damage from all sources.
-* [[Temporal Flux]]: Enemies that have been hit by your Arcane spells are slowed down by 25% for 3 seconds.
-==[[Rune|Skill Rune]] Effects==
-[[File:Runes-hydra-all.jpg|thumb|400px|[[Hydra]] with [[Runestones]].]]
-[[Jay Wilson]] provided a whole new insight into the changes made to [[Runestones]] with a short quote from Gamescom, in August 2010.  [http://diablo.incgamers.com/blog/comments/jay-wilson-interview-g4tv/]
-::'''Jay Wilson: '''One of my favorites is on the [[Wizard]]. She has a skill called [[Hydra]], which is largely the same as it was in Diablo 2. Fiery (dragon) heads that shoot fireballs. Depending on which rune the Wizard sockets in that skill, the dragon heads change elements, and it’s a major change. Their entire appearance is altered. They can become poison heads, which shoot bolts of poison that leave pools of acid on the ground. There are lightning heads that shoot [[Chain Lightning]].  Cold heads that shoot [[Frost Bolts]] that slow enemies.  Another rune makes for a bigger fire attack, where the head just breaths a cone of flame.
-Jay did not list what all five runes did in Hydra, and his explanation left fans confused. Where were the three elemental damage types coming from? Nothing like that seemed to fit with the previous rune functions.
-This mystery was cleared up a few days later with new info [[Bashiok]] provided to [[Flux]], webmaster of fansite [[Diii.net]]. [http://diablo.incgamers.com/blog/comments/more-changes-to-runestones/]
-He explained that the Hydra runes provide:
-* Extra damage in the form of firewalls.
-* Multistrike (rapid fire)
-* And the 3 elemental properties.
-Extra damage and multishot are consistent with previously known rune functions. One of the elementals comes from the wildcard rune, and the other comes from what used to be the Energy rune. That rune now functions as a second wildcard in most skills, since changes to the [[resources]] made the mana-saving property obsolete. (Plus it just wasn't cool enough, in most instances.)
-So Hydra isn't a total outlier; it's just got one rune, (formerly known as Lethality) that usually affects critical bonuses, that's doing something very different (providing an elemental damage change, in Hydra).
+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}}
-==Development==
+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".
-[[File:Hydra1.jpg|thumb|350px|Hydra in action. Un-runed. October 2010.]]
-'''Hydra''' was first shown at [[BlizzCon 2009]], but was unfortunately too high level to select in the demo.
-At [[BlizzCon 2010]] it was shown in the gameplay panel and also in the PvP Arena. [[Flux]] discusses its viability:[http://diablo.incgamers.com/blog/comments/hands-on-from-blizzcon-mega-pvp-arena-report/]
+===Previous Versions===
+See the [[Wizard skill archive]] for more details on previous versions of Hydra and other Wizard skills.<br>
+Or see [[Hydra (BlizzCon 2008)]] for the original version of this skill.
-<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>
+===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 at killing anything with.
-'''Previous Games:'''<br>
-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.
-In [[Diablo II]], they were turned into flaming heads, and got the name {{iw|Sorceress_Fire_Spells#Hydra Hydra}}. While not dealing damage to anyone near the flames, the firebolts are of more use, especially if concentrating the fire on single targets at a time, and alternating skills while waiting for the [[cooldown]].
+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]].
@@ Line 104: / Line 67: @@
+==Media==
+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]]
-==Media==
+You can find pictures in the Diablo III screenshot and picture gallery:
-You can find pictures in the Diablo 3 screenshot and picture gallery:
+* [http://diablo.incgamers.com/gallery/ Diablo III screenshots and pictures]
-* [http://diablo.incgamers.com/gallery/ Diablo 3 screenshots and pictures]
+* [http://diablo.incgamers.com/gallery/search.php?keywords=Hydra&cat=all '''Hydra''' specific gallery contents]
-* [http://diablo.incgamers.com/gallery/search.php?keywords=Hydra&cat=all&x=10&y=8 '''Hydra''' specific gallery contents]
 <gallery>
+File:Hydra-arcane-fire.jpg|Arcane and Original version comparison.
 File:Hydra-arena1.jpg|Hydra made Arcane by rune.
 File:Hydra-arena2.jpg|Hydra made Arcane by rune.
@@ Line 117: / Line 84: @@
+==References==
+* [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
-==Related Articles==
-* {{iw|D1_Spellbooks#Guardian Diablo I Guardian spell}}
-* {{iw|Sorceress_Fire_Spells#Hydra Diablo II Hydra spell}}
-* [[Hydra (BlizzCon 2008)|Hydra]] -- Original page.
+{{Skill navbox Diablo III|Wizard|force}}
+[[category:Active skills]]
-==References==
+[[category:Wizard skills]]
-* [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/full-wizard-skill-trees/ BlizzCon 2009 Full Wizard Skill Trees]
+[[category:Wizard active skills]]
-* [http://diablo.incgamers.com/blog/comments/jay-wilson-interview-g4tv/ Jay Wilson interview by G4, August 2010]
-* [http://diablo.incgamers.com/blog/comments/hands-on-from-blizzcon-mega-pvp-arena-report/ BlizzCon 2010 PvP Hands-on Report]
-{{Slave navbox Diablo III|Wizard}}

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