You've defeated several considerable enemies across Minato, the first of Shin Megami Tensei 5: Vengeance's sizable regions. But your first major test 𝓰of strength is Hydra, a many-headed enemy who appears in both Canon of Creation and the all-new Canon of Vengean💫ce storyline.

In this guide, we'll tell you everything you need to kno🌠w about Hydra, from how to prepare for the encounter to how to pummel the demon into submission with relative ease. Shin Megami Tensei is, as a rule, no slouch when it comes to challenging players to their brink, so don't expect a cakewalk even this early into the adventure!

Preparing For Hydra

Players who have chosen Canon of Vengeance will have Yoko Hiromine, a human guest character, in their curꦛrent✤ "stock" of potential party members.

Although we brought her with us against Hydra, Yoko isn't especially adept in this fight, though another party member who can use items is nothing to scoff at.

One of Shin Megami Tensei 5's lovely little touches is a merciful one: Aogami usually warns you just prior to a difficult story battle. Without a doubt, thi📖s is a cause for healing! But since you're reading our guide, you can also prepare your party to suit the scenario.

Hydra blocks all fire-type attacks, so don't take demons whose primary purpose is to bring the heat. On the other hand, Hydra is weak to ice-type attacks, so to continue our unnecessary a꧙nd frankly underwhelming puns, do take demons who can tell it to chill out.

Remember that Essences allow the Nahobino to take on the skills of demons, so never ꧃feel like you must cling to whatever the protagonist presently has before boss figh🐲ts.

Hydra's innate skill, Pernicious Venom, boosts the likelihood of critical hits against foes suffering from ailments. It only has a single ailment-inflicting attack: Toxic Breath deals medium-tier dark-type damage with a chance to inflict the poison status.

We brought along Mermaid, whose Stormcaller Song hits random foes three to six times with ice damage. Since Hydra's alone, it's three to six guaranteed hits to Hydra. Be warned: Mermaid is weak to fire!

It's best to avoid allowing the Nahobino to have a fire weakness, as Hydra uses Fire Breath +3, an all-hitting fire spell. Make sure you alter the Nahobino's affinities accordingly ahead of time if necessary.

Battling Hydra

Poison damages a party member immediately after they attack, so don't think of it as hurting them once per round - rather, factor in the pain they'll receive every time they act per round.

As such, you may find yourself relying upon the Nahobino for restorative items as often as not; and if you've got Yoko with you via Vengeance, she can take the Nahobino's place as item-user since she won't bring much to the table offensively here.

If you've brought Mermaid, spam Stormcaller's Song every turn. Make sure to bring a few Chakra Drops to keep her MP up (as well as everyone else's, for that matter). Sans Mermaid, just keep at it with Bufu and similar spells.

Hydra's Vitality is nothing to write home about. Therefore, Aramasa, a Nahobino-exclusive physical attack that strikes eight times, is a great way to spend the Nahobino's turns.

You can learn Aramasa through Aogami Type-1, one of the earliest Aogami husks found throughout the region.

Debuffing Hydra is a smart move, and if you have any Dark Dampeners, you can suppress Toxic Spray even more. Fire Dampeners are sav♑vy as well, especially if you've brought Mermaid.

Enjoy the gobs o𝐆f EXP earned for not only destroying Hydra, but completing a main quest, too!