Ah ha, a MA Pythium question...

[Sir_Dr_D]

1) Recruit an independant mage who has nature magic
2) Get the mage to build some snake rings
3) Equip the snake rings on some theugs, and perhaps robes of missile protection.
4) Place each of these theugs amongst a group of 3 hydras.
5) Script -> body ethereal , body ethereal, body ethereal
6) Tell the Hydras to hold and attack
7) If needed back up the hydras with archers, and arch theugs casting lightning or other evocations. ( melee troops are pointless.)


End result: Devastation. A small group of hydras can take down entire armies.

[BandarLover]

That is a different on Darrel. I'm by no means an expert in this game but I'm no newbie either and I've just never really found a great use for them. This was pretty much the responce I expected when I posted though. Thanks everyone for the input.

[Edi]

Now, if we are to get Serpent Cult and its sacred Hydras back for LA...

[Ironhawk]

Bandar you can also use the Hydras as a "scorched earth" sort of attack. Buy like 5-8 of the small ones. Arrange them in a line on the battlefield with orders to Hold & Attack. Then have all the leadership flee the battle so that the hydras rout. The trick being that they still spew poison clouds as they rout so the enemy will walk right through it as they chase them.

Its a tricky tactic - you need to position the line and the timing of the rout just right based on the speed of the enemy army you are attacking.

[Wish]

they are great in the late game. play pyth with order and growth to make sure you get loads of cash, then give them to a mage with a serpent ring on, and enough gear to cast fog warriors. fog warrior hydras eat through everything.

also my second expansion army usually consists of 10 hydras and that hydra tamer guy you can recruit. put the hydras in groups of 5 up front and the commander in the back scripted to holdx5 and stay behind troops.

I've had this army eat up a knights of the chalice province (with heavy losses, but still.)

it cuts through lesser indes like a hot knife through butter.

[Yrkoon]

How about having a hydra tamer on holdx5 at the rear of the battlefield and hydras in front set to guard commander ? The hydra will retreat until they reach the tamer, leaving a trail of poison clouds in their wake. Enemy troops trying to catch them up will take damage without even reaching them for a few turns, them the hydras can shred whatever is left of the army.

Maybe not a great tactic against archers though. Unless they use up all their arrows, they won't follow the hydras.

[Wish]

that might work too, never tried it.