Hydra | How to kill a boss Dark Souls Guide

Last update: 11 May 2016

Description

Giant water beast that attacks with powerful projectiles from a distance and uses its numerous heads in a melee fight. But despite appearances, it is a fairly simple opponent, considered sometimes as miniboss.

In the game you'll encounter this enemy twice - in Darkroot Basin and in The Ash Lake. The following description focuses on the second, slightly better version of Hydra, but it also applies to the first version of the beast. In Darkroot Basin you have to eliminate ice golems running around the lake before the main fight.

Attacks and weaknesses

Hydra has two main attacks:

1) Projectiles - very dangerous area projectiles. Hydra shoots them at the moment she notice you. Sometimes you can block them with a shield. You can also jump forwards.

2) Heads - heads attacks are easy to be blocked with a shield. After each of them you have also few minutes to hit Hydra.

Tips

1) Do not fight from a distance - it is much easier to defeat Hydra, once you get close to her. The attacks are clearly marked and you can easily block them with a shield.

2) Watch out for a shallow water border - during the melee fight you have to be careful not to go too far into the lake and also do not go back too far. In first case you can drown and in the second case Hydra might start shooting projectiles at you.

Tactics

The basic tactics is to fight in a close distance. Locate Hydra and run towards her with raised shield or just sprint - you'll have to block or avoid her projectiles. [1] In Ash Lake you can hide in the middle of the way in the root - but you're not 100% safe there. [2]

Once you get close to Hydra, go to the water (but watch out for a deep fragment, where the beast is located!) and raise your shield. [1] Hydra will attack you with heads, but you can block them with no problems. After each attack quickly counterattack. [2] Repeat this several times - after few blows you'll cut off the head.

At the end of the fight you may need to finish off Hydra with a bow or spells.