The three types of hydra.
Hydras are huge draconic creatures in Final Fantasy Tactics. Their trio of heads are capable of dishing out triples of devastating attacks, and they can also fly. They that rank among the sturdiest monsters, with high attributes, being some of few monsters able to reach over 800 HP. They are weak to the wind and ice elements. Like all monsters, hydras have innate Counter. They can be first encountered in Balias Tor in chapter 4, albeit rarely; they appear more frequently in the Midlight's Deep secret dungeon.
Much like other monsters, dragons can be recruited if the party has an orator with the Entice ability, or any job with the Speechcraft command and the Beast Tongue support ability, or any job with the Tame support ability. Reis Duelar as the dragonkin can invite hydras and dragons to Ramza's company with Dragon's Charm, as well empower them with her other Dragon abilities.
Such as other recruitable creatures, hydras lay eggs (as long there are enough free slots available on the party roster), which can spawn three variations: hydra, greater hydra, and Tiamat. Each allied hydra variant gains access to a new ability when next to an allied human unit with the Beastmaster support ability.
Like most monsters, hydras can be poached and turned into items that can be bought at the Poachers' Dens found in trade cities during chapters 3 and 4.
Ranks[]
Each variant of the hydra family has similar stat growths, boasting high HP, as well high physical and magickal attack power. Stats increase slightly between each rank.
Rank I: Hydra[]
A dread beast possessed of three heads, each which shares its consciousness with the others.
The Ivalice Chronicles' description
Also known as Hyudra in the original Final Fantasy Tactics for the PlayStation. Despite being the lowest rank, the hydra can still pose a threat. It has access to Tri-Attack, which deals physical damage to adjacent units in three directions around itself.
If next to an ally with the Beastmaster support ability, the hydra gains access to Tri-Breath, which deals. which deals non-elemental damage to adjacent units in three directions around itself, equal to half the target's max HP.
The hydra can be poached for the blood sword, a rare sword that heals the user for the damage inflicted with the attack command; as well the scorpion tail, the strongest flail.
Rank II: Greater Hydra[]
A variety of hydra that is intelligent as it is savage, and dispatches its pretty with unsettling calmness.
The Ivalice Chronicles' description
Also known as Hydra in the original Final Fantasy Tactics for the PlayStation. It has access to Tri-Attack, as well Tri-Flame, which deals fire-elemental damage in random tiles within the targeted area, up to three times.
If next to an ally with the Beastmaster support ability, the hydra gains access to Tri-Thunder, which deals lightning-elemental damage in random tiles within the targeted area, up to three times.
The greater hydra can be poached for the Septième, a rare accessory that grants Auto-Haste and Invisibility at the start of the battle; as well the rubber suit, the best clothes, which also grants immunity to lightning-elemental damage.
Rank III: Tiamat[]
The magick-replete breath of this fearsome variety of hydra has wreaked havoc upon many a battlefield.
The Ivalice Chronicles' description
The strongest variant of hydra, and one of the few monsters that can reach 999 HP. It has access to Tri-Breath, Tri-Flame and Tri-Thunder, making it one of the most dangerous enemies.
If next to an ally with the Beastmaster support ability, the hydra gains access to Dark Whisper, which deals dark-elemental damage in random tiles within the targeted area, up to six times, while also having a chance to inflict Sleep or KO in each hit.
The greater hydra can be poached for the wyrmweave silk, the strongest cloth; as well the whale whisker, the strongest pole.
Tiamat is a recurring strong dragon in the Final Fantasy series.
Statistics[]
| Monster | Move | Jump | Phy. Evasion Rate | Innate Abilities | Common Poach | Rare Poach |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hydra | 4 | 4 | 0% | Cannot enter water, Fly, Counter | Blood Sword | Scorpion Tail |
| Greater Hydra | 4 | 4 | 0% | Cannot enter water, Fly, Counter | Septième | Rubber Suit |
| Tiamat | 4 | 4 | 0% | Cannot enter water, Fly, Counter | Wyrmweave Silk | Whale Whisker |
Abilities[]
The damage formula for Tri-Attack is as follows:
The formula for the hit rate of Tri-Breath is as follows:
The formula for all other magick attacks are as follows:
| Ability | Hydra | Greater Hydra | Tiamat | Range | Effect | Vertical |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tri-Attack | Yes | Yes | No | 1 | 3 adjacent panels | ? |
| Each of three heads attacks in turn. | ||||||
| Tri-Flame | No | Yes | Yes | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Each of three heads attacks with flame. Element: Fire | ||||||
| Tri-Thunder | No | No[note 1] | Yes | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Each of three heads attacks with lightning. Element: Lightning | ||||||
| Tri-Breath | No[note 1] | No | Yes | 2 (Four directions) | 2 (Three directions) | ? |
| Each of three heads attacks with insidious breath. | ||||||
| Dark Breath | No | No | No[note 1] | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Each of three heads attacks with darkness. Element: Dark Effect: KO, Sleep | ||||||
As party members[]
Hydra, just as they do as enemies, simply dominate the battlefield, especially greater hydra and Tiamat. Their incredible stats and movement capabilities allow them to keep up with human units, and their high HP helps make up for their inability to heal themselves. As the strongest tame-able monster species in the game, one can safely bring them into the final boss and Midlight's Deep and they will do their fair share. Like dragons, hydra are buffed when next to Reis Duelar as a dragonkin, making them even stronger than they already are.
Normal hydra are not as useful as their stronger variants, as they only possess Tri-Attack on their own with a unit with Beastmaster equipped next to them for Tri-Thunder. With only one short ranged melee attack, hydra are the least useful of the three and likely not worth using.
Greater hydra possess both Tri-Attack and Tri-Flame, allowing it to do close and long ranged attacks, making it a deadly ally. Though Tri-Flame, like all the breath attacks of the hydra family, hits random tiles out of four it can hit, a high level greater hydra need only hit an enemy once to deal great damage to them, if not outright kill them with the right conditions.
Tiamat are nightmares to the player's enemies. Tri-Breath, being non-elemental, means that it can damage any enemy without fear of them absorbing the breath, with Tri-Thunder and Tri-Flame being available to take advantage of weaknesses. Just as with the greater hydra, unless its breath attacks do not land, simply hitting an enemy once will do tremendous damage to them or kill them, and another will almost certainly kill most non-boss units. With a unit with the Beastmaster support ability or Reis next to a Tiamat, it gains access to Dark Whisper, which offers not just rare dark-elemental damage, but can outright kill a unit or put them to sleep on top of its sheer damage output.
Other appearances[]
Pictlogica Final Fantasy[]
This section about an enemy in Pictlogica Final Fantasy is empty or needs to be expanded. You can help the Final Fantasy Wiki by expanding it.Final Fantasy Brave Exvius[]
All three members of the Hydra family appear as bosses and enemies: the Hydra during the "Nelveska Temple" event, and the Greater Hydra (localized as Ghidra) and Tiamat in the "In the Name of Love" event. A stronger version of the Tiamat appears during the "March on Tiamat" event.
Gallery[]
Etymology[]
The Hydra was one of the spawn of Echidna, a many-headed serpentine monstrosity in Ancient Greek mythology. It could breathe poison, and indeed its very blood was deadly. The Hydra was killed as one of Heracles's Twelve Labors.
Tiamat is a primordial goddess of the ocean in Mesopotamian religion. The game Dungeons & Dragons has Tiamat as a chromatic dragon, the Queen of the Evil Dragons, and as such the opposing deity to Bahamut, who is a platinum dragon and the King of Benevolent Dragons.