monster

Snapping Hydra

CR 11

Huge Monstrosity, Unaligned

Reveal Stat Block

Armor Class

20 (natural armor)

Hit Points

149 (13d12 + 65)

Speed

30 ft., swim 40 ft.

str

dex

-3

con

int

-4

wis

cha

-2

Traits

Amphibious.The hydra can breathe air and water.

Multiple Heads.The hydra has five heads. Whenever the hydra takes 30 or more damage in a single turn, one of its heads dies. If all its heads die, the hydra dies. At the end of its turn, the hydra grows two heads for each of its heads that died since its last turn, unless it has taken cold damage since its last turn. The hydra regains 10 hit points for each head regrown this way.

Reactive Heads.For each head the hydra has beyond one, it gets an extra reaction that can be used only for opportunity attacks.

Wakeful.While the hydra sleeps, at least one of its heads is awake.

Actions

Multiattack.The hydra makes as many Bite attacks as it has heads.

Bite.mw 9 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. ({@damage 2d8 + 5) piercing damage.

Shell Defense.The hydra withdraws its limbs and heads into its shell. Until it emerges as a bonus action, it gains a +4 bonus to AC and has advantage on Strength and Constitution saving throws. While in its shell, the hydra has the prone condition, its speed is 0 and can't increase, its heads can't die, it has disadvantage on Dexterity saving throws, and it can't take any other actions or reactions.

Snapping Hydra

A rare variety of hydra native to the wilds of Eldraine, snapping hydras resemble giant, many-headed turtles. Snapping hydras dwell at the bottom of the wild's largest lakes, or along shorelines where the wilds meet the ocean. These monstrous creatures are aptly named; their bites are known to snap giants' arms cleanly in half.

Snapping hydras have naturally long life spans and strong instincts of self-preservation. When a snapping hydra feels a battle's odds tipping out of its favor, the hydra lets out a raspy screech and retracts into its shell. In the wilds of Eldraine, it's never long before a hungry or curious creature arrives to investigate, leaping into battle with the hydra's foes while the hydra makes an opportune exit.