Dracohydra (/ˈdɹæ.koʊ.haɪ.drə/)
The Many-Headed Terror
A dracohydra is a huge, winged draconic creatures that combines many of the most fearsome characteristics of dragons and hydras. Dracohydras typically have 5 heads, but 2 to 6 heads have also been recorded. They are often covered in thick, muddy-brown scales, with light cream colored scales on their bellies. They usually have red eyes. A dracohydra can reach up to 125 feet long, not counting its multiple snake-like tails, which can be as long as 100 feet.
The dracohydra is the result of arcane experimentation dedicated to recreating Tiamat's power. Amalgamating the magic of chromatic dragons with the blood of a hydra resulted in a many-headed draconic monster with wings and multiple snakelike tails. The dracohydra's breath weapon is a multicolored mass of energy that contains the essence of a chromatic dragon's elemental power.
These gluttonous creatures' appearance heralds disaster for any region they settle in, as they feed relentlessly—with each head demanding a feast of its own. If left alone, they hunt the local fauna almost to extinction, then move on to threatening the folk of nearby settlements.
A dracohydra can sometimes be found in the service of the spellcaster who created it, kept obedient by the rituals of their creation.
The Menagerie ran from one in the Feywild
Basic Information
Anatomy
Dracohydras were gargantuan winged draconic creatures that combined many of the most fearsome characteristics of dragons and hydras.
“If it's not on fire, they'll eat it. Hells, if it is on fire, they'll put it out then eat it.”
Description
These multipronged monsters were truly enormous: individual dracohydras had been recorded as reaching a length of 125 feet (38.1 meters), not counting their tails which could be as long as 105 feet (32 meters). They generally reached their maximum size when they reached 12 years of age. They had anywhere between two and five heads, though the majority typically sported three. Dracohydras were covered in thick, muddy-brown scales, with the scales on their bellies ranging to a lighter cream color, and their eyes were red. Although dracohydras had features associated with both dragons and hydras, they were not in fact hybrid creatures, but rather a distinct species.Dietary Needs and Habits
Diet: Carnivore
Behaviour
Personality
Although not the most discerning of dracoforms, dracohydras had some measure of intelligence and were able to speak their own variation of Draconic—they understood roughly half of what chromatic dragons said and vice versa. Some dracohydras were taught Common by wizards associated with the Cult of the Dragon. A typical dracohydra's personality was akin to that of a white dragon: bestial, selfish, and rapacious. They had trouble processing abstract thoughts, and so tended to act in a rather direct and unsubtle manner. Dracohydras were incredibly voracious creatures who needed a steady supply of food to sate themselves. Their overwhelming preference was fresh meat, though they had been known to eat virtually anything—even rocks and gemstones—when hungry enough. They were known for killing intruders into their territories for the sake of it, even when not motivated by hunger. This territorial instinct was prized by the Cult of the Dragon, who used dracohydras as stationary guards. The extreme food requirements for dracohydras meant that the Cult usually kept dracohydras near a large food source, such as a herd of grazing animals. Apart from feeding them, the Cult relied on methods such as bribery, manipulation, and magical charming to keep their dracohydras in line. The favored terrain of a dracohydra was snow-covered mountain peaks, preferably in an area with frequent violent storms. Still, they would settle for most remote mountainous regions—the further from civilization the better.Combat
As one might expect given their abundance of heads, dracohydra combat centered largely on using their innate breath weapons or simply biting their opponents to shreds, with occasional kicks, wing buffets, and claw attacks thrown in. When faced with a seemingly insurmountable foe, dracohydras tended to flee.Additional Information
Social Structure
Society
Dracohydras were solitary beings who only sought out others of their species for mating purposes, forming mated pairs to raise their offspring. Dracohydra parents protected their young, though would rarely give their own lives in defense of their children. When dracohydra offspring reached young adulthood, they generally headed out on their own, or—more rarely—challenged one of their parents. It was not uncommon for dracohydras to enslave humanoid beings, though they usually grew bored of their slaves very quickly and simply ate them instead. They had an intense hatred for all other draconic creatures, usually attacking them on sight if they found their odds to be favorable. Dracohydras especially considered storm giants, stone giants, and red dragons to be their mortal enemies. Red dragons, in particular, considered the meat of a young dracohydra to be a delicacy.Uses, Products & Exploitation
Harvesting
Instructions
Instructions: Because this creature is an Monstrosity, the player should roll a Nature Check using the DCs in the table below. On a success, the player is able to harvest the item. On a failure, the item cannot be harvested (either because the character is not skilled enough, or because the item is ruined). The DM should note that many of the items have an expiration, and can not be sold or used after the expiration has passed.
| DC | Item | Description | Value | Weight | Expiration | Crafting |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Dracohydra Teeth (sack) | A dracohydra has rows of sharp, jagged teeth. The teeth can be used to make jewelry, but also make good arrowheads. A sack of dracohydra teeth can produce about 6d10 arrows. | 50 gp | 15 lb. | ∞ | Arrows +1 (DMG) |
| 10 | Dracohydra Blood (7 vials) | Dracohydras are known for their regenerative abilities, making their blood prized by healers and alchemists. | 25 gp | 1 lb. | 7 days | Potion of Superior Healing (DMG) |
| 15 | Dracohydra Hide | The scaled hide of a dracohydra is extremely tough and durable. The scales are highly decorative, and often used in jewelry. Smiths can use the hide to make scale armor. | 300 gp | 30 lb. | 10 days | Scale Armor +1 (DMG) |
| 20 | Dracohydra Head | A dracohydra is a terror to civilizations, often hunting local fauna to extinction, and then moving on to the people. The creature typically has a bounty on it, but the heads make grand hunting trophies. Artificers and spellcasters find the heads worth studying. Alchemists and healers can find useful ingredients in each head. | 200 gp | 15 lb. | 7 days | - |
This kind of creature does not normally carry treasure. This kind of creature does not normally have or collect treasure. However, the creature may have a lair full of bodies, or reside somewhere that treasure already exists.
This creature produces 8-96 pieces of Harvested Meat, weight of 4 lb. ea. DC: 5, Expire: 1 day, Value: 2 sp ea. The meat of many monsters is considered vile and distasteful. Monstrosities and aberrations, in particular, may have tainted blood or rancid tasting meat. Dungeon Master's discretion.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Favored climate: Temperate
Favored terrain: Mountains and barrens
Average Intelligence
Intelligence: Low
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Abilities
The breath weapon of a dracohydra was similar to that of a black dragon, essentially a spray of concentrated acid that could reach as far as 40 feet (12 meters). They were in turn immune to the deleterious effects of acid. Dracohydras grew more powerful as they aged, gaining a number of spell-like abilities. A young adult could cast wall of fog, an adult could add darkness to their arsenal, an old dracohydra typically knew stinking cloud, and the great wyrms of the species had command of cloudkill.Civilization and Culture
Major Language Groups and Dialects
Language(s): Variation of Draconic
History
Exactly how dracohydras came to be was a matter of debate among sages. Some believed them to represent the next step in the evolution of dragons, while others believed them to be an offshoot species related to the very first dragons of antiquity. Others still believed dracohydras to have been created by Tiamat, the Queen of Chromatic dragons. Another theory proposed that Sammaster, the leader of the Cult of the Dragon who was famous for producing many draco-hybrid creatures, had engineered dracohydras into existence.
Sources
Source(s):
- James Wyatt (October 2021). Fizban's Treasury of Dragons. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 176. ISBN 978-0786967292.
- Nigel Findley, et al. (October 1990). Draconomicon. Edited by Mike Breault. (TSR, Inc.), p. 67. ISBN 0-8803-8876-5.
- Dale Donovan (January 1998). Cult of the Dragon. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 100. ISBN 0-7869-0709-6.
- Nigel Findley, et al. (October 1990). Draconomicon. Edited by Mike Breault. (TSR, Inc.), p. 68. ISBN 0-8803-8876-5.
- Dale Donovan (January 1998). Cult of the Dragon. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 101. ISBN 0-7869-0709-6.
Genetic Ancestor(s)
Scientific Name
Animalia, Monstra, Beastia, Dragonkind, Dracohydra
Origin/Ancestry
Monstrosity (Beast Dragonkind | Dracohydra)
Lifespan
1200+
Conservation Status
No conservation, often hunted on sight.
Average Height
40 to 80 feet
Average Weight
50,000 to 150,000 pounds
Average Length
Up to 125 ft (38.1 m), plus up to 105 ft (32 m) of tail length
Average Physique
Skin color(s): Brown
Eye color(s): Red
Geographic Distribution
Related Ethnicities
5E Statistics
Dracohydra
| Size | Huge |
| Type | Monstrosity |
| Alignment | Typically Chaotic Evil |
| Challenge Rating | 11 |
General Information
| Activity Cycle | Night |
| Diet | Carnivore |
| Intelligence | Low |
| Language(s) | Variation of Draconic |
| Favored Climate | Temperate |
| Favored Terrain | Mountains and barrens |
Appearance
| Average length | Up to 125 ft (38.1 m), plus up to 105 ft (32 m) of tail length. |
| Average Weight | 200 lbs. |
| Skin color(s) | Brown |
| Eye color(s) | Blue to black |
See Also: Dracohydra on Forgotten Realms Wiki