Talk:Hydra/@comment-33780977-20190108193732

Regarding

Explosive barrel advice
Here's how I do it, at the Encampment during Rude Awakening. 1. Disarm Pawns 1.2. Equip Rusted sword/dagger and both save and enter the Rift to create a checkpoint to be able to try again faster. 2. During encounter wait till the crushing of the first tower - this part lasts a bit longer so there's more time for stunts. And there are explosive barrels conveniently placed there so this means something. You can take some off shelves while waiting for Hydra. 3. Watch for some side head attempting to grab a soldier - their presence there also means something ;). BTW Grab attempt may also be lured - if one closes and Hydra's head's neck forms S while hissing, this means the grab attack is comming - as opposed to straight neck grab attack this one will happen even if you'll go away. 3.1. Run and grab said head and climb to its nose as it swallows the guard. 4. Now, depending on aiming even one hit to the eyes may stagger the head but three-hit comboing its nose should work too. 5.1. Wait till it shakes off from stagger and repeat combo. Two-three times should be enough to trigger "spasm attack" - it differs from stagger in that that it'll direct its mouth upwards and open really wide.BTW Four combos may end fight so there's only one try, per head. 5.2 Jump off - sadly the camera makes safe landing really hard, just wait till you see the ground. 5.3 Pick up the barrel and hopefuly the head will be low enough (no higher than half of a meter) to catch a barrel. 5.4. Administer "spasm medicine". To maximize your chances approach the head face to face and jump toss. BTW The game may "recognise a swallow" even if the barrel detonates on spasming Hydra's mouth. 6. As opposed to what the article says about bow characters, barrel bulge can be detonated with melee attacks too so climb and strike it I guess.

Fun fact: With the right positioning even Hydra's attack can detonate the swallowed explo-barrel ;)