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[[File:IconHydra.png|left]]
[[File:Hydra-arena2.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Hydra in action.]]'''Hydra''' is an Offensive Arcane [[Wizard skill]] unlocked at [[clvl|Level]] 1920, summoning a hydra that attacks enemies with bolts of fire.
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==Background==
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 Skillrune Effects==The following is a very quick listsummary. See the [[Hydra rune effects]] page for a more thorough summary description of rune effects, or any of the individual rune pages for numbers, screenshots, blue quotes, and much more.
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 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]].]]
<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]], and Hydra became a level 19 skill. When the skill system was once again overhauled for the [[Beta Patch 13]] in February 2012, Hydra was classified as an Arcane skill and moved to level 20.
===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 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]].