Can a Hydra make multiple opportunity attacks at once?

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$begingroup$


A normal creature only has one reaction that may be used as a single attack of opportunity. A Hydra, though, has one of these reactions per head.



My question would be: may several reactions be combined in reaction to the same action and thus allowing several attacks of opportunity at once?



Scenario: Fighter A attacks Hydra with five heads and then tries to leave, thus provoking an opportunity attack. Now, as a reaction to this, may the Hydra attack Fighter A only once or up to five times?










share|improve this question











$endgroup$
















    16












    $begingroup$


    A normal creature only has one reaction that may be used as a single attack of opportunity. A Hydra, though, has one of these reactions per head.



    My question would be: may several reactions be combined in reaction to the same action and thus allowing several attacks of opportunity at once?



    Scenario: Fighter A attacks Hydra with five heads and then tries to leave, thus provoking an opportunity attack. Now, as a reaction to this, may the Hydra attack Fighter A only once or up to five times?










    share|improve this question











    $endgroup$














      16












      16








      16


      0



      $begingroup$


      A normal creature only has one reaction that may be used as a single attack of opportunity. A Hydra, though, has one of these reactions per head.



      My question would be: may several reactions be combined in reaction to the same action and thus allowing several attacks of opportunity at once?



      Scenario: Fighter A attacks Hydra with five heads and then tries to leave, thus provoking an opportunity attack. Now, as a reaction to this, may the Hydra attack Fighter A only once or up to five times?










      share|improve this question











      $endgroup$




      A normal creature only has one reaction that may be used as a single attack of opportunity. A Hydra, though, has one of these reactions per head.



      My question would be: may several reactions be combined in reaction to the same action and thus allowing several attacks of opportunity at once?



      Scenario: Fighter A attacks Hydra with five heads and then tries to leave, thus provoking an opportunity attack. Now, as a reaction to this, may the Hydra attack Fighter A only once or up to five times?







      dnd-5e monsters opportunity-attack reactions






      share|improve this question















      share|improve this question













      share|improve this question




      share|improve this question








      edited Feb 21 at 21:02









      V2Blast

      25k383155




      25k383155










      asked Feb 21 at 18:10









      techorixtechorix

      1137




      1137




















          4 Answers
          4






          active

          oldest

          votes


















          24












          $begingroup$

          The hydra can take them all at the same time in response to a single trigger or pace them out over a round in response to multiple triggers.



          Here's the text of the feature we're talking about (from the hydra's stat block):




          Reactive Heads. For each head the hydra has beyond one, it gets an extra reaction that can be used only for opportunity attacks.




          And here's an explanation of how reactions are used, when you get them, and how opportunity attacks are triggered (from the Combat chapter of the Basic Rules):




          A reaction is an instant response to a trigger of some kind, which can occur on your turn or on someone else's. The opportunity attack... is the most common type of reaction....When you take a reaction, you can't take another one until the start of your next turn.... You can make an opportunity attack when a hostile creature that you can see moves out of your reach. To make the opportunity attack, you use your reaction to make one melee attack against the provoking creature. The attack occurs right before the creature leaves your reach.




          Combining these together, the hydra, unlike most creatures, has more than one reaction they can take per round (the extras can only be used for opportunity attacks, not Ready actions or other reaction options), regaining any spent reactions at the start of its next turn. There's no restriction to when those reactions can occur within that time frame, so they could happen simultaneously or separately over the course of the round, as the hydra chooses.



          In addition, there is no rule that a provocation, such as moving out of a hydra's reach, can only incur one opportunity attack. This means that whether multiple creatures are taking opportunity attacks or one creature's multiple heads are doing it, they can still all happen at once in response to the same provoking trigger.






          share|improve this answer











          $endgroup$




















            17












            $begingroup$

            Yes



            The Hydra contains the following in its stat block:




            Reactive Heads. For each head the hydra has beyond one, it gets an extra reaction that can be used only for opportunity attacks.




            If Fighter A is in fact leaving the range(10') of each head, then each head is able to take its reaction for an Opportunity Attack.



            Each head can take the reaction, but it gets to choose when it wants to. It can unload on the fighter, or it can let it go and save it for later in the round.



            Spent Reactions



            Do also note that once a head has taken its Opportunity Attack reaction, it has used a reaction and does not get another until the start of its turn (allowing other creatures to go in and out of range.) You will need to track the number of heads the Hydra has and how many reactions for Opportunity Attacks it has.




            When you take a reaction, you can't take another one until the start of your next turn.







            share|improve this answer











            $endgroup$




















              8












              $begingroup$

              Yes.



              The Hydra's heads function as separate entities in this case. You can assign attacks as desired, one or more attacks per opportunity. Just don't lose track of the opportunity attacks.






              share|improve this answer









              $endgroup$




















                3












                $begingroup$

                No



                Lets look at the opportunity attack rules:




                Opportunity Attacks



                [...]



                You can make an opportunity attack when a hostile creature that you can see moves out of your reach. To make the opportunity attack, you use your reaction to make one melee attack against the provoking creature. The attack occurs right before the creature leaves your reach.



                [...]




                Suppose we remove the reaction cost.




                You can make an opportunity attack when a hostile creature that you can see moves out of your reach. To make the opportunity attack, [SNIP] make one melee attack against the provoking creature. The attack occurs right before the creature leaves your reach.




                You'll note that this is very clear that you don't get to make 1 million opportunity attacks when someone leaves your reach.



                You can make an opportunity attack when the trigger occurs. It doesn't say "you can make as many as you want".



                Adding a cost -- an extra restriction -- doesn't suddenly make that paragraph let you make infinite opportunity attacks by paying the cost repeatedly. An extra restriction doesn't remove other requirements.



                So a Hydra can make one opportunity attack when provoked by someone leaving its reach. It costs one reaction. Unlike most creatures, it has multiple reactions, so can do this again later.






                share|improve this answer









                $endgroup$












                • $begingroup$
                  The topic seems to be a bit controversial. "You can make an oportunity attack" does not explicitly limit the number of attacks to be only one under all circumstances, though. It may also be just a general assumption based on the fact that most creatures only have one reaction. Else, there should be explicit rules on how many reactions and bonus attacks may be used at once.
                  $endgroup$
                  – techorix
                  Feb 25 at 21:01










                • $begingroup$
                  Also, I think it's quite realistic to imagine several heads doing opportunity attacks at once just as they do other attacks as well and it adds to the danger of the creature. Although I have to admit, a Hydra is one of the rather dangerous CR8 creatures already.
                  $endgroup$
                  – techorix
                  Feb 25 at 21:04










                • $begingroup$
                  @techorix There is nothing in the opportunity attack rules that say you can make more than one. It consistently uses the singular to refer to what you can do in response to it. Without any permission to make more than one in the opportunity attack rules in response to a given trigger, the availability of additional reactions does not change those rules. I get how people misread it; the rules where you can spend X reactions for X attacks is quite similar to the rules of 5e. But it isn't the rules of 5e as written.
                  $endgroup$
                  – Yakk
                  Feb 25 at 21:18










                • $begingroup$
                  the reasoning gets a bit circular here. I would think the rule of specific cases that trump general cases comes into place here. The Hydra is a specific case where multiple reactions exist which was not really considered in the general rule and didn't have to be considered there either as it is rightfully based on the general fact that most creatures only have one reaction. At least we can agree that one reaction only allows a single opportunity attack.
                  $endgroup$
                  – techorix
                  Feb 25 at 21:38










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                4 Answers
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                4 Answers
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                24












                $begingroup$

                The hydra can take them all at the same time in response to a single trigger or pace them out over a round in response to multiple triggers.



                Here's the text of the feature we're talking about (from the hydra's stat block):




                Reactive Heads. For each head the hydra has beyond one, it gets an extra reaction that can be used only for opportunity attacks.




                And here's an explanation of how reactions are used, when you get them, and how opportunity attacks are triggered (from the Combat chapter of the Basic Rules):




                A reaction is an instant response to a trigger of some kind, which can occur on your turn or on someone else's. The opportunity attack... is the most common type of reaction....When you take a reaction, you can't take another one until the start of your next turn.... You can make an opportunity attack when a hostile creature that you can see moves out of your reach. To make the opportunity attack, you use your reaction to make one melee attack against the provoking creature. The attack occurs right before the creature leaves your reach.




                Combining these together, the hydra, unlike most creatures, has more than one reaction they can take per round (the extras can only be used for opportunity attacks, not Ready actions or other reaction options), regaining any spent reactions at the start of its next turn. There's no restriction to when those reactions can occur within that time frame, so they could happen simultaneously or separately over the course of the round, as the hydra chooses.



                In addition, there is no rule that a provocation, such as moving out of a hydra's reach, can only incur one opportunity attack. This means that whether multiple creatures are taking opportunity attacks or one creature's multiple heads are doing it, they can still all happen at once in response to the same provoking trigger.






                share|improve this answer











                $endgroup$

















                  24












                  $begingroup$

                  The hydra can take them all at the same time in response to a single trigger or pace them out over a round in response to multiple triggers.



                  Here's the text of the feature we're talking about (from the hydra's stat block):




                  Reactive Heads. For each head the hydra has beyond one, it gets an extra reaction that can be used only for opportunity attacks.




                  And here's an explanation of how reactions are used, when you get them, and how opportunity attacks are triggered (from the Combat chapter of the Basic Rules):




                  A reaction is an instant response to a trigger of some kind, which can occur on your turn or on someone else's. The opportunity attack... is the most common type of reaction....When you take a reaction, you can't take another one until the start of your next turn.... You can make an opportunity attack when a hostile creature that you can see moves out of your reach. To make the opportunity attack, you use your reaction to make one melee attack against the provoking creature. The attack occurs right before the creature leaves your reach.




                  Combining these together, the hydra, unlike most creatures, has more than one reaction they can take per round (the extras can only be used for opportunity attacks, not Ready actions or other reaction options), regaining any spent reactions at the start of its next turn. There's no restriction to when those reactions can occur within that time frame, so they could happen simultaneously or separately over the course of the round, as the hydra chooses.



                  In addition, there is no rule that a provocation, such as moving out of a hydra's reach, can only incur one opportunity attack. This means that whether multiple creatures are taking opportunity attacks or one creature's multiple heads are doing it, they can still all happen at once in response to the same provoking trigger.






                  share|improve this answer











                  $endgroup$















                    24












                    24








                    24





                    $begingroup$

                    The hydra can take them all at the same time in response to a single trigger or pace them out over a round in response to multiple triggers.



                    Here's the text of the feature we're talking about (from the hydra's stat block):




                    Reactive Heads. For each head the hydra has beyond one, it gets an extra reaction that can be used only for opportunity attacks.




                    And here's an explanation of how reactions are used, when you get them, and how opportunity attacks are triggered (from the Combat chapter of the Basic Rules):




                    A reaction is an instant response to a trigger of some kind, which can occur on your turn or on someone else's. The opportunity attack... is the most common type of reaction....When you take a reaction, you can't take another one until the start of your next turn.... You can make an opportunity attack when a hostile creature that you can see moves out of your reach. To make the opportunity attack, you use your reaction to make one melee attack against the provoking creature. The attack occurs right before the creature leaves your reach.




                    Combining these together, the hydra, unlike most creatures, has more than one reaction they can take per round (the extras can only be used for opportunity attacks, not Ready actions or other reaction options), regaining any spent reactions at the start of its next turn. There's no restriction to when those reactions can occur within that time frame, so they could happen simultaneously or separately over the course of the round, as the hydra chooses.



                    In addition, there is no rule that a provocation, such as moving out of a hydra's reach, can only incur one opportunity attack. This means that whether multiple creatures are taking opportunity attacks or one creature's multiple heads are doing it, they can still all happen at once in response to the same provoking trigger.






                    share|improve this answer











                    $endgroup$



                    The hydra can take them all at the same time in response to a single trigger or pace them out over a round in response to multiple triggers.



                    Here's the text of the feature we're talking about (from the hydra's stat block):




                    Reactive Heads. For each head the hydra has beyond one, it gets an extra reaction that can be used only for opportunity attacks.




                    And here's an explanation of how reactions are used, when you get them, and how opportunity attacks are triggered (from the Combat chapter of the Basic Rules):




                    A reaction is an instant response to a trigger of some kind, which can occur on your turn or on someone else's. The opportunity attack... is the most common type of reaction....When you take a reaction, you can't take another one until the start of your next turn.... You can make an opportunity attack when a hostile creature that you can see moves out of your reach. To make the opportunity attack, you use your reaction to make one melee attack against the provoking creature. The attack occurs right before the creature leaves your reach.




                    Combining these together, the hydra, unlike most creatures, has more than one reaction they can take per round (the extras can only be used for opportunity attacks, not Ready actions or other reaction options), regaining any spent reactions at the start of its next turn. There's no restriction to when those reactions can occur within that time frame, so they could happen simultaneously or separately over the course of the round, as the hydra chooses.



                    In addition, there is no rule that a provocation, such as moving out of a hydra's reach, can only incur one opportunity attack. This means that whether multiple creatures are taking opportunity attacks or one creature's multiple heads are doing it, they can still all happen at once in response to the same provoking trigger.







                    share|improve this answer














                    share|improve this answer



                    share|improve this answer








                    edited Feb 21 at 18:54

























                    answered Feb 21 at 18:20









                    BloodcinderBloodcinder

                    22.7k380139




                    22.7k380139























                        17












                        $begingroup$

                        Yes



                        The Hydra contains the following in its stat block:




                        Reactive Heads. For each head the hydra has beyond one, it gets an extra reaction that can be used only for opportunity attacks.




                        If Fighter A is in fact leaving the range(10') of each head, then each head is able to take its reaction for an Opportunity Attack.



                        Each head can take the reaction, but it gets to choose when it wants to. It can unload on the fighter, or it can let it go and save it for later in the round.



                        Spent Reactions



                        Do also note that once a head has taken its Opportunity Attack reaction, it has used a reaction and does not get another until the start of its turn (allowing other creatures to go in and out of range.) You will need to track the number of heads the Hydra has and how many reactions for Opportunity Attacks it has.




                        When you take a reaction, you can't take another one until the start of your next turn.







                        share|improve this answer











                        $endgroup$

















                          17












                          $begingroup$

                          Yes



                          The Hydra contains the following in its stat block:




                          Reactive Heads. For each head the hydra has beyond one, it gets an extra reaction that can be used only for opportunity attacks.




                          If Fighter A is in fact leaving the range(10') of each head, then each head is able to take its reaction for an Opportunity Attack.



                          Each head can take the reaction, but it gets to choose when it wants to. It can unload on the fighter, or it can let it go and save it for later in the round.



                          Spent Reactions



                          Do also note that once a head has taken its Opportunity Attack reaction, it has used a reaction and does not get another until the start of its turn (allowing other creatures to go in and out of range.) You will need to track the number of heads the Hydra has and how many reactions for Opportunity Attacks it has.




                          When you take a reaction, you can't take another one until the start of your next turn.







                          share|improve this answer











                          $endgroup$















                            17












                            17








                            17





                            $begingroup$

                            Yes



                            The Hydra contains the following in its stat block:




                            Reactive Heads. For each head the hydra has beyond one, it gets an extra reaction that can be used only for opportunity attacks.




                            If Fighter A is in fact leaving the range(10') of each head, then each head is able to take its reaction for an Opportunity Attack.



                            Each head can take the reaction, but it gets to choose when it wants to. It can unload on the fighter, or it can let it go and save it for later in the round.



                            Spent Reactions



                            Do also note that once a head has taken its Opportunity Attack reaction, it has used a reaction and does not get another until the start of its turn (allowing other creatures to go in and out of range.) You will need to track the number of heads the Hydra has and how many reactions for Opportunity Attacks it has.




                            When you take a reaction, you can't take another one until the start of your next turn.







                            share|improve this answer











                            $endgroup$



                            Yes



                            The Hydra contains the following in its stat block:




                            Reactive Heads. For each head the hydra has beyond one, it gets an extra reaction that can be used only for opportunity attacks.




                            If Fighter A is in fact leaving the range(10') of each head, then each head is able to take its reaction for an Opportunity Attack.



                            Each head can take the reaction, but it gets to choose when it wants to. It can unload on the fighter, or it can let it go and save it for later in the round.



                            Spent Reactions



                            Do also note that once a head has taken its Opportunity Attack reaction, it has used a reaction and does not get another until the start of its turn (allowing other creatures to go in and out of range.) You will need to track the number of heads the Hydra has and how many reactions for Opportunity Attacks it has.




                            When you take a reaction, you can't take another one until the start of your next turn.








                            share|improve this answer














                            share|improve this answer



                            share|improve this answer








                            edited Feb 22 at 16:32

























                            answered Feb 21 at 18:15









                            NautArchNautArch

                            60.1k8216400




                            60.1k8216400





















                                8












                                $begingroup$

                                Yes.



                                The Hydra's heads function as separate entities in this case. You can assign attacks as desired, one or more attacks per opportunity. Just don't lose track of the opportunity attacks.






                                share|improve this answer









                                $endgroup$

















                                  8












                                  $begingroup$

                                  Yes.



                                  The Hydra's heads function as separate entities in this case. You can assign attacks as desired, one or more attacks per opportunity. Just don't lose track of the opportunity attacks.






                                  share|improve this answer









                                  $endgroup$















                                    8












                                    8








                                    8





                                    $begingroup$

                                    Yes.



                                    The Hydra's heads function as separate entities in this case. You can assign attacks as desired, one or more attacks per opportunity. Just don't lose track of the opportunity attacks.






                                    share|improve this answer









                                    $endgroup$



                                    Yes.



                                    The Hydra's heads function as separate entities in this case. You can assign attacks as desired, one or more attacks per opportunity. Just don't lose track of the opportunity attacks.







                                    share|improve this answer












                                    share|improve this answer



                                    share|improve this answer










                                    answered Feb 21 at 18:15









                                    Miles BedingerMiles Bedinger

                                    3,854538




                                    3,854538





















                                        3












                                        $begingroup$

                                        No



                                        Lets look at the opportunity attack rules:




                                        Opportunity Attacks



                                        [...]



                                        You can make an opportunity attack when a hostile creature that you can see moves out of your reach. To make the opportunity attack, you use your reaction to make one melee attack against the provoking creature. The attack occurs right before the creature leaves your reach.



                                        [...]




                                        Suppose we remove the reaction cost.




                                        You can make an opportunity attack when a hostile creature that you can see moves out of your reach. To make the opportunity attack, [SNIP] make one melee attack against the provoking creature. The attack occurs right before the creature leaves your reach.




                                        You'll note that this is very clear that you don't get to make 1 million opportunity attacks when someone leaves your reach.



                                        You can make an opportunity attack when the trigger occurs. It doesn't say "you can make as many as you want".



                                        Adding a cost -- an extra restriction -- doesn't suddenly make that paragraph let you make infinite opportunity attacks by paying the cost repeatedly. An extra restriction doesn't remove other requirements.



                                        So a Hydra can make one opportunity attack when provoked by someone leaving its reach. It costs one reaction. Unlike most creatures, it has multiple reactions, so can do this again later.






                                        share|improve this answer









                                        $endgroup$












                                        • $begingroup$
                                          The topic seems to be a bit controversial. "You can make an oportunity attack" does not explicitly limit the number of attacks to be only one under all circumstances, though. It may also be just a general assumption based on the fact that most creatures only have one reaction. Else, there should be explicit rules on how many reactions and bonus attacks may be used at once.
                                          $endgroup$
                                          – techorix
                                          Feb 25 at 21:01










                                        • $begingroup$
                                          Also, I think it's quite realistic to imagine several heads doing opportunity attacks at once just as they do other attacks as well and it adds to the danger of the creature. Although I have to admit, a Hydra is one of the rather dangerous CR8 creatures already.
                                          $endgroup$
                                          – techorix
                                          Feb 25 at 21:04










                                        • $begingroup$
                                          @techorix There is nothing in the opportunity attack rules that say you can make more than one. It consistently uses the singular to refer to what you can do in response to it. Without any permission to make more than one in the opportunity attack rules in response to a given trigger, the availability of additional reactions does not change those rules. I get how people misread it; the rules where you can spend X reactions for X attacks is quite similar to the rules of 5e. But it isn't the rules of 5e as written.
                                          $endgroup$
                                          – Yakk
                                          Feb 25 at 21:18










                                        • $begingroup$
                                          the reasoning gets a bit circular here. I would think the rule of specific cases that trump general cases comes into place here. The Hydra is a specific case where multiple reactions exist which was not really considered in the general rule and didn't have to be considered there either as it is rightfully based on the general fact that most creatures only have one reaction. At least we can agree that one reaction only allows a single opportunity attack.
                                          $endgroup$
                                          – techorix
                                          Feb 25 at 21:38















                                        3












                                        $begingroup$

                                        No



                                        Lets look at the opportunity attack rules:




                                        Opportunity Attacks



                                        [...]



                                        You can make an opportunity attack when a hostile creature that you can see moves out of your reach. To make the opportunity attack, you use your reaction to make one melee attack against the provoking creature. The attack occurs right before the creature leaves your reach.



                                        [...]




                                        Suppose we remove the reaction cost.




                                        You can make an opportunity attack when a hostile creature that you can see moves out of your reach. To make the opportunity attack, [SNIP] make one melee attack against the provoking creature. The attack occurs right before the creature leaves your reach.




                                        You'll note that this is very clear that you don't get to make 1 million opportunity attacks when someone leaves your reach.



                                        You can make an opportunity attack when the trigger occurs. It doesn't say "you can make as many as you want".



                                        Adding a cost -- an extra restriction -- doesn't suddenly make that paragraph let you make infinite opportunity attacks by paying the cost repeatedly. An extra restriction doesn't remove other requirements.



                                        So a Hydra can make one opportunity attack when provoked by someone leaving its reach. It costs one reaction. Unlike most creatures, it has multiple reactions, so can do this again later.






                                        share|improve this answer









                                        $endgroup$












                                        • $begingroup$
                                          The topic seems to be a bit controversial. "You can make an oportunity attack" does not explicitly limit the number of attacks to be only one under all circumstances, though. It may also be just a general assumption based on the fact that most creatures only have one reaction. Else, there should be explicit rules on how many reactions and bonus attacks may be used at once.
                                          $endgroup$
                                          – techorix
                                          Feb 25 at 21:01










                                        • $begingroup$
                                          Also, I think it's quite realistic to imagine several heads doing opportunity attacks at once just as they do other attacks as well and it adds to the danger of the creature. Although I have to admit, a Hydra is one of the rather dangerous CR8 creatures already.
                                          $endgroup$
                                          – techorix
                                          Feb 25 at 21:04










                                        • $begingroup$
                                          @techorix There is nothing in the opportunity attack rules that say you can make more than one. It consistently uses the singular to refer to what you can do in response to it. Without any permission to make more than one in the opportunity attack rules in response to a given trigger, the availability of additional reactions does not change those rules. I get how people misread it; the rules where you can spend X reactions for X attacks is quite similar to the rules of 5e. But it isn't the rules of 5e as written.
                                          $endgroup$
                                          – Yakk
                                          Feb 25 at 21:18










                                        • $begingroup$
                                          the reasoning gets a bit circular here. I would think the rule of specific cases that trump general cases comes into place here. The Hydra is a specific case where multiple reactions exist which was not really considered in the general rule and didn't have to be considered there either as it is rightfully based on the general fact that most creatures only have one reaction. At least we can agree that one reaction only allows a single opportunity attack.
                                          $endgroup$
                                          – techorix
                                          Feb 25 at 21:38













                                        3












                                        3








                                        3





                                        $begingroup$

                                        No



                                        Lets look at the opportunity attack rules:




                                        Opportunity Attacks



                                        [...]



                                        You can make an opportunity attack when a hostile creature that you can see moves out of your reach. To make the opportunity attack, you use your reaction to make one melee attack against the provoking creature. The attack occurs right before the creature leaves your reach.



                                        [...]




                                        Suppose we remove the reaction cost.




                                        You can make an opportunity attack when a hostile creature that you can see moves out of your reach. To make the opportunity attack, [SNIP] make one melee attack against the provoking creature. The attack occurs right before the creature leaves your reach.




                                        You'll note that this is very clear that you don't get to make 1 million opportunity attacks when someone leaves your reach.



                                        You can make an opportunity attack when the trigger occurs. It doesn't say "you can make as many as you want".



                                        Adding a cost -- an extra restriction -- doesn't suddenly make that paragraph let you make infinite opportunity attacks by paying the cost repeatedly. An extra restriction doesn't remove other requirements.



                                        So a Hydra can make one opportunity attack when provoked by someone leaving its reach. It costs one reaction. Unlike most creatures, it has multiple reactions, so can do this again later.






                                        share|improve this answer









                                        $endgroup$



                                        No



                                        Lets look at the opportunity attack rules:




                                        Opportunity Attacks



                                        [...]



                                        You can make an opportunity attack when a hostile creature that you can see moves out of your reach. To make the opportunity attack, you use your reaction to make one melee attack against the provoking creature. The attack occurs right before the creature leaves your reach.



                                        [...]




                                        Suppose we remove the reaction cost.




                                        You can make an opportunity attack when a hostile creature that you can see moves out of your reach. To make the opportunity attack, [SNIP] make one melee attack against the provoking creature. The attack occurs right before the creature leaves your reach.




                                        You'll note that this is very clear that you don't get to make 1 million opportunity attacks when someone leaves your reach.



                                        You can make an opportunity attack when the trigger occurs. It doesn't say "you can make as many as you want".



                                        Adding a cost -- an extra restriction -- doesn't suddenly make that paragraph let you make infinite opportunity attacks by paying the cost repeatedly. An extra restriction doesn't remove other requirements.



                                        So a Hydra can make one opportunity attack when provoked by someone leaving its reach. It costs one reaction. Unlike most creatures, it has multiple reactions, so can do this again later.







                                        share|improve this answer












                                        share|improve this answer



                                        share|improve this answer










                                        answered Feb 22 at 14:41









                                        YakkYakk

                                        7,3411041




                                        7,3411041











                                        • $begingroup$
                                          The topic seems to be a bit controversial. "You can make an oportunity attack" does not explicitly limit the number of attacks to be only one under all circumstances, though. It may also be just a general assumption based on the fact that most creatures only have one reaction. Else, there should be explicit rules on how many reactions and bonus attacks may be used at once.
                                          $endgroup$
                                          – techorix
                                          Feb 25 at 21:01










                                        • $begingroup$
                                          Also, I think it's quite realistic to imagine several heads doing opportunity attacks at once just as they do other attacks as well and it adds to the danger of the creature. Although I have to admit, a Hydra is one of the rather dangerous CR8 creatures already.
                                          $endgroup$
                                          – techorix
                                          Feb 25 at 21:04










                                        • $begingroup$
                                          @techorix There is nothing in the opportunity attack rules that say you can make more than one. It consistently uses the singular to refer to what you can do in response to it. Without any permission to make more than one in the opportunity attack rules in response to a given trigger, the availability of additional reactions does not change those rules. I get how people misread it; the rules where you can spend X reactions for X attacks is quite similar to the rules of 5e. But it isn't the rules of 5e as written.
                                          $endgroup$
                                          – Yakk
                                          Feb 25 at 21:18










                                        • $begingroup$
                                          the reasoning gets a bit circular here. I would think the rule of specific cases that trump general cases comes into place here. The Hydra is a specific case where multiple reactions exist which was not really considered in the general rule and didn't have to be considered there either as it is rightfully based on the general fact that most creatures only have one reaction. At least we can agree that one reaction only allows a single opportunity attack.
                                          $endgroup$
                                          – techorix
                                          Feb 25 at 21:38
















                                        • $begingroup$
                                          The topic seems to be a bit controversial. "You can make an oportunity attack" does not explicitly limit the number of attacks to be only one under all circumstances, though. It may also be just a general assumption based on the fact that most creatures only have one reaction. Else, there should be explicit rules on how many reactions and bonus attacks may be used at once.
                                          $endgroup$
                                          – techorix
                                          Feb 25 at 21:01










                                        • $begingroup$
                                          Also, I think it's quite realistic to imagine several heads doing opportunity attacks at once just as they do other attacks as well and it adds to the danger of the creature. Although I have to admit, a Hydra is one of the rather dangerous CR8 creatures already.
                                          $endgroup$
                                          – techorix
                                          Feb 25 at 21:04










                                        • $begingroup$
                                          @techorix There is nothing in the opportunity attack rules that say you can make more than one. It consistently uses the singular to refer to what you can do in response to it. Without any permission to make more than one in the opportunity attack rules in response to a given trigger, the availability of additional reactions does not change those rules. I get how people misread it; the rules where you can spend X reactions for X attacks is quite similar to the rules of 5e. But it isn't the rules of 5e as written.
                                          $endgroup$
                                          – Yakk
                                          Feb 25 at 21:18










                                        • $begingroup$
                                          the reasoning gets a bit circular here. I would think the rule of specific cases that trump general cases comes into place here. The Hydra is a specific case where multiple reactions exist which was not really considered in the general rule and didn't have to be considered there either as it is rightfully based on the general fact that most creatures only have one reaction. At least we can agree that one reaction only allows a single opportunity attack.
                                          $endgroup$
                                          – techorix
                                          Feb 25 at 21:38















                                        $begingroup$
                                        The topic seems to be a bit controversial. "You can make an oportunity attack" does not explicitly limit the number of attacks to be only one under all circumstances, though. It may also be just a general assumption based on the fact that most creatures only have one reaction. Else, there should be explicit rules on how many reactions and bonus attacks may be used at once.
                                        $endgroup$
                                        – techorix
                                        Feb 25 at 21:01




                                        $begingroup$
                                        The topic seems to be a bit controversial. "You can make an oportunity attack" does not explicitly limit the number of attacks to be only one under all circumstances, though. It may also be just a general assumption based on the fact that most creatures only have one reaction. Else, there should be explicit rules on how many reactions and bonus attacks may be used at once.
                                        $endgroup$
                                        – techorix
                                        Feb 25 at 21:01












                                        $begingroup$
                                        Also, I think it's quite realistic to imagine several heads doing opportunity attacks at once just as they do other attacks as well and it adds to the danger of the creature. Although I have to admit, a Hydra is one of the rather dangerous CR8 creatures already.
                                        $endgroup$
                                        – techorix
                                        Feb 25 at 21:04




                                        $begingroup$
                                        Also, I think it's quite realistic to imagine several heads doing opportunity attacks at once just as they do other attacks as well and it adds to the danger of the creature. Although I have to admit, a Hydra is one of the rather dangerous CR8 creatures already.
                                        $endgroup$
                                        – techorix
                                        Feb 25 at 21:04












                                        $begingroup$
                                        @techorix There is nothing in the opportunity attack rules that say you can make more than one. It consistently uses the singular to refer to what you can do in response to it. Without any permission to make more than one in the opportunity attack rules in response to a given trigger, the availability of additional reactions does not change those rules. I get how people misread it; the rules where you can spend X reactions for X attacks is quite similar to the rules of 5e. But it isn't the rules of 5e as written.
                                        $endgroup$
                                        – Yakk
                                        Feb 25 at 21:18




                                        $begingroup$
                                        @techorix There is nothing in the opportunity attack rules that say you can make more than one. It consistently uses the singular to refer to what you can do in response to it. Without any permission to make more than one in the opportunity attack rules in response to a given trigger, the availability of additional reactions does not change those rules. I get how people misread it; the rules where you can spend X reactions for X attacks is quite similar to the rules of 5e. But it isn't the rules of 5e as written.
                                        $endgroup$
                                        – Yakk
                                        Feb 25 at 21:18












                                        $begingroup$
                                        the reasoning gets a bit circular here. I would think the rule of specific cases that trump general cases comes into place here. The Hydra is a specific case where multiple reactions exist which was not really considered in the general rule and didn't have to be considered there either as it is rightfully based on the general fact that most creatures only have one reaction. At least we can agree that one reaction only allows a single opportunity attack.
                                        $endgroup$
                                        – techorix
                                        Feb 25 at 21:38




                                        $begingroup$
                                        the reasoning gets a bit circular here. I would think the rule of specific cases that trump general cases comes into place here. The Hydra is a specific case where multiple reactions exist which was not really considered in the general rule and didn't have to be considered there either as it is rightfully based on the general fact that most creatures only have one reaction. At least we can agree that one reaction only allows a single opportunity attack.
                                        $endgroup$
                                        – techorix
                                        Feb 25 at 21:38

















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