How To Deal With Hydras

the hydra (including the handlers) is only 175pts. The storm of chaos one was "fixed" I suppose. It's a mystery why they didn't do an errata on the dark elf one.

Because GW does not do "balance" errata. They just fix wording on occasion - but rarely do they use the awesome media of online errata to truly fix or rebalance things. Occasionally balance stuff leaks through, like the power scroll, but I am pretty sure the guy responsible for that excellent errata was fired. They probably stoned him with Gary Morley's old sculpts on the way out the door as well.

This post has been edited by Cannibalbob on Mar 10 2012, 06:21 PM

Yeah, either way, the Hydra is a pretty hideous package for what you're paying for it. It's commonly accepted that you're going to have to bring a significantly more expensive unit than it to put it down.

Hydra's are probably THE unit that got the biggest bonus' from 8th, being able to use breath weapons in close combat and getting thunderstomp makes them, at least in my opinion, the best unit in the game, period. Blorcs with flaming banner work wonders sure, but you're going to lose a few on the way that's for sure. Also if you haven't experienced a double Hydra breath charge then prepare to be amazed, 10 S6 attacks with hatred, 12 S3 hatred, 4D6 autohit flaming S5 hits and 2D6 autohit S6 stomps is fecking brutal, for 350pts its just disgusting.

Arfa da Grate

At your point value you're playing it's tough to handle a hydra. I would try doom divers to try to take some wounds off and use a giant like suggested above give your giant some warpaint, hopefully you are running savage orcs so you can give the giant some sort of save vs the shooting! I believe bolt throwers are war-machines have you given some thought of using the curse icon for the 6+ ward save vs war-machines for 5 pts I think it's a great investment for any character to take.

This post has been edited by ChoppaDave83 on Mar 12 2012, 02:28 AM

A good way to deal with the hydra is using the ruby ring. Maybe is not the best magic item ever, but if you deal one wound to the hydra, it will help a lot to kill it, cause you will be able to shoot it and ignore its regen. The other options are: flaming banner on BO, common orc big uns or SOs with BSB.

This seems like it might be a pretty good idea combined with a few spear chukkas. Since the magic phase happens before the shooting phase you can use the ring to try to get a wound on the Hydra and then shoot it the same turn. If you can get the spell off without it being dispelled you stand a decent chance of getting a wound on the Hydra. If you do then you can probably kill or at least seriously maim it with 1-2 spear-chukka hits.

This post has been edited by Cannibalbob on Mar 12 2012, 09:19 AM

Yep, that's the idea . Also shooting it with doom divers would help a lot.

If you hit it with fire first then a doom diver would be decent, but without fire I would not bother firing a doom diver at a Hydra. The doom diver only wounds on 4s and with the random amount of hits if you don't negate the regen save you would be lucky to even get one wound in. The advantage of bolt-throwers is that they at least wound on 2s.

You're a bit mistaken fellas, removing regen only works in the same phase. If you hit it with ruby ring, then it's only removed for the magic phase, not the shooting face.

You are right! It has to be in the same phase. My bad! Slap me .

*KL-TCH!*



Theo

*KL-TCH!*



Theo

Thanks!

I'll try the ruby ring... I usually take the feedback scroll vs Dark Elves but 'ill take the ring and a dispel scroll.

Its perfect if you get the brain busta (usually not my prefered spell), its in the same phase so no regen...

Thank you for all your advices. I'll try them next game.

Ruby Ring is always worth taking, even though it doesn't combine with your war machines. It's a very cheap extra basic spell that cannot kill your shaman if it miscasts, and it is cast on 3+. Also, it's an enchanted item. It's one of my must items in every army list.

Against Hydras it's good too. If you cause even one wound, you can start using your other direct damage spells to bring the regenerationless Hydra down. Foot of Gork, signature spell and the other sniping spell are all good for this.

I like to shoot the enemy Hydra down with magic and shooting before it enters combat. It's a very cheap monster and it can cause some terrible mess, so it's better to aim your all war machines and spells at it for one turn and it wont be a problem. Manglers and Fanatics are not the answer against Hydras because of Harpies.

If the Hydra is not dead before it enters combat... Well, good luck.

- Cheers, Skarsnik. /)(\

Hm... now that I think of it, yes, the Ruby Ring is a good addition to any O&G army. You're already bringing a Scroll caddy, might as well make him useful. Darn it, now I have to carve out points for that, too...