How to Beat Hydra

Hydra is a boss in Shin Megami Tensei V (SMT 5). Read on to know the best strategies to use against Hydra, Hydra's weaknesses, best demons to use against Hydra, and the best buffs to use to counter Hydra, and the most effective strategies to use to beat Hydra!

How to Beat Hydra

Use Dark Dampeners Use Ice Against Hydra But Don't Overuse It Counter Its Magatsuhi Skill with Dark Dampener Use Critical Damage Skills After Omagatoki Critical

Use Dark Dampeners

Hydra is a boss with a massive amount of HP but its moves are semi-predictable. It randomly changes between physical and fire AoE attacks while it uses Toxic Breath after charging its Magatsuhi. With this in mind, it will be easy to make counter plays against his lethal combo by bringing 3 Dark Dampeners with you. The Nahobino should also fuse with a demon's essence that has Bufu to gain more turns during the fight.

Use Ice Against Hydra But Don't Overuse It

Hydra is weak to Ice so when fighting the Hydra, all damage dealers should be exploiting the Hydra's weakness by using Bufu but not spamming it every turn as you risk the problem of running out of MP. Only use Bufu to extend your turn then follow it up with physical attacks to avoid running out of fuel mid-fight.

Counter Its Magatsuhi Skill with Dark Dampener

The Hydra will 100% use Toxic Breath which is a curse attack after charging its Magatsuhi. Instead of defending, use this opportunity to deal absurd amounts of damage by going full offensive. Once the Nahobino's last turn arrives, end it by using a Dark Dampener to instantly negate all of Hydra's damage.

Use Critical Damage Skills After Omagatoki Critical

If you're ready to use your Magatsuhi skills, using skills that have greater effects after critical hits such as Bestial Bite will allow you to maximize your DPS with less MP consumption. This is perfect for the Nahobino since he will also be using Bufu to gain extra turns during the fight.

Best Demons to Use Against Hydra

Demons Resistant to Fire and Curse

Aitvaras can be fused at level 17, which is two levels higher than the Hydra at level 15. It's a bit of a grind, but Aitvaras blocks fire damage and is resistant to poison, making it perfect for this fight. Daemon is another useful demon that is resistant to fire and Curse. You can use its essence and fuse it to the Nahobino to grant the Nahobino some resistances too.

Best Buff Bots

Obariyon is a great demon to have against Hydra due to its resistance to curse as well as having access to Sukunda which can greatly reduce Hydra's turn rate when it uses AoE attacks. This can easily be replaced by another offensive demon but extra turns genererated from missed attacks will offer a slight advantage this fight.

Healers

Angel is weak to curse but since its easy to know when Hydra uses a curse attack, this will not pose problems. Angel is the best healer to have against Hydra due to its ability to use Humble Blessing which is an AoE heal spell unique to Angel and it can quickly negate all damage taken from Fire Breath.

Damage Dealers

For damage dealers, we highly recommend Azumi and Apsaras. Apsaras and Azumi both posses the Bufu skill which is the Hydra's weakness. Apsaras has a high level but if you grind for Aitvaras, you can fuse her even without doing her sidequest but doing her quest will allow you to get her earlier for this fight.

Hydra Stats and Weaknesses

Recommended Level

Recommended Level	Location	Drops
15-17	Tokyo Tower	Bead

Hydra Stats

Hydra's Weaknesses and Resistances

Elemental Weaknesses and Resistances

Status Ailments Resistances

Hydra's Skill Proficiencies

Elemental

Other

Hydra's Skills

Shin Megami Tensei Related Guides

Boss Battle Guides | List of Bosses

All Boss Types

Related Boss Guides
Story Bosses	Optional Bosses
DLC Bosses

Story Bosses

Story Boss Guides
Hydra	Eligor
Nuwa	Lahmu (1st Fight)
Loup-garou	Fionn mac Cumhaill
Lahmu (2nd Fight)	Shohei Yakumo
Surt	Ishtar
Chernobog	Arioch
Abdiel	Odin
Zeus	Vasuki
Metatron	Tsukuyomi
Nuwa	Abdiel
Lucifer	Lucifer (Secret Ending)

Optional Bosses

Optional Boss Guides
Pazuzu	Anahita
King Frost	Thunderbird
Loki	Belphegor
Moloch	Amanozako
Camael	Abaddon
Arahabaki	Khonsu
Fionn mac Cumhaill (2nd Fight)	Baal
Huang Long	Asura and Mithras
Amon	Gabriel, Raphael, and Uriel
Belial	Michael
Inanna	Danu
Maria	Khonsu Ra
Zeus (2nd Fight)	Shiva

Optional Mini-Bosses

Optional Boss Guides
Apsaras	Leanan Sidhe
Shiki-Ouji	Xuanwu
Jatayu	Kumbhanda
Quetzalcoatl	Baihu
The Kunitsukami	Futsunushi
Adramelech	Zaou-Gongen

Punishing Foes

Punishing Foes Guides
Oyamatsumi	Horus
Girimekhala	Hecatoncheires
Chimera	Seth
Bishamonten	Jikokuten
Koumokuten	Zouchouten
Garuda

DLC Bosses

DLC Boss Guides
Artemis	Cleopatra
Mephisto	Matador
Daisoujou	Hell Biker
White Rider	Red Rider
Black Rider	Pale Rider
Mother Harlot	Trumpeter
Demi-Fiend