Hydra

"Our shots dissolved in the translucent matrix around it, useless."

- Grimoire description

The Hydra is a Vex unit with nearly impregnable shields and rock-melting fire-power.

Overview
Hydras are hulking, segmented machines, described as resembling "robotic centipedes," which hover above the ground possess formidable defensive and offensive capabilities. Hydras utilize unidirectional defensive circular shields and are equipped with a powerful weapon called the Aeon Maul. In addition to being formidable combatants, Hydras serve as major processing nodes for the Vex network. Like many Vex units, they vary in size, with the largest (such as Argos, Planetary Core) easily measuring hundreds of meters across.

Gameplay
Hydras should be engaged with extreme caution. Not only are their circular shields impenetrable and invulnerable to attack, but they are also armed with Aeon Maul, a type of Vex heavy weaponry. These explosive, Void damage-dealing weapons are fired in rapid succession and are capable of quickly blasting away at a Guardian's shield. They will continuously bombard the player's position on the battlefield from long range and will suppress them if left alone. Even after they are killed, Hydras should still be kept at a distance, as their head will explode upon death. This explosion causes massive damage to, and can even kill, Guardians.

Destiny 2
Hydras now have three semicircular shields as opposed to just one, giving them stronger defenses, and their death blasts have a larger radius.

Hezen Corrective Hydras

 * Ultra Hydra

Hezen Protective Hydras

 * Maniphage
 * Vechron, Spire Lord

Virgo Prohibition Hydras

 * Vekron, the Conductive Mind

Sol Divisive Hydras

 * Divisive Mind
 * The Undying Mind

Sol Collective Hydras

 * Aegion, Deductive Mind
 * Agoros, Gatekeeper
 * Alecto, Infinite Proxy
 * Antikytheran Mind
 * Arcane Mind
 * Argos, Planetary Core
 * Belmon, Transcendent Mind
 * Branched Mind, Proxy
 * Dimio, Oppressive Mind
 * Hapax, the Convergent Mind
 * Network Mind
 * Pagouri, Beloved by Calus
 * Panoptes, Infinite Mind
 * Phanes, Prototype Mind
 * Pakrion
 * Recursive Mind
 * Ruined Mind
 * Sublimating Mind, Forge Warden
 * Tekton, Constructive Mind
 * Terminus Keeper
 * Thesmotae, Subjugated Mind
 * Treacherous Mind
 * Viadon, Inquisitor Mind

Unknown affiliation

 * Sekrion, Nexus Mind
 * Secluded Mind
 * Templar

Variations

 * Angelic
 * Axis Hydra
 * Descendant Hydra
 * Gatekeeper
 * Hydra Disciple
 * Integrator Hydra
 * Keeper of Ages Unseen
 * Mercury Defender
 * Paraversal Challenger
 * Paraversal Contender
 * Precursor Hydra
 * Quantum Hydra
 * Radian Clocker
 * Transcendent Hydra

Trivia

 * In Destiny 2, killing a Hydra with elemental damage will cancel its death blast.
 * The top of a Hydra chassis can be seen hanging on the ceiling of Lord Shaxx's space in the new Tower.
 * The Undying Mind was the only hydra to have three shields in Destiny.

List of appearances

 * Destiny
 * The Dark Below
 * House of Wolves
 * The Taken King
 * Rise of Iron
 * Destiny 2
 * Curse of Osiris
 * Forsaken
 * Season of the Drifter
 * Season of Opulence
 * Shadowkeep
 * Season of the Undying
 * Season of Dawn
 * Beyond Light
 * Season of the Splicer
 * Season of Plunder