Hydra 5: Best Priest Video to Date

While talking to GC the other day, it became quite apparent that BG9 is becoming increasingly stale to the point where players are beginning to abandon it in favor of other battlegrounds. All of the recent bannings apparently aren't helping much either. Alas, Hoodrych, Yog, Clicker, an old Ner'zhul original Tyrrana, and GC, all picked up and transfered to Mal'Ganis. Granted, I don't personally think they will find anything but an easy ride to merciless gladiator, a change of pace and escape from moronic 12dps teams is never a bad thing. According to GC, they're all excited for the QT Blood Elves like Faction anyway.

Thanks to the TR server, there's really no need to stay on a BG you don't want to be on, or join the huge crowd that had transfered to BG9. Because of the TR, you can finally just play anywhere you want with any of your friends and still get most of the competition BG9 had/has to offer on the TR. Granted, you have to pay to do it, but at least you can spend most of your time with friends.

Hydra 5

Hydra 5 is without a doubt, the best Priest video I have seen since I began writing here last September. I get a lot of videos in my inbox, and this just takes the cake and is beyond anything I've seen. I can sum the video up by saying that it redefines the term "clutch".

Video can be found at the following link: http://files.filefront.com/Hydra5wmv/;10226080;/fileinfo.html

The first couple of fights are an amazing display of creativity and use of Rocket Boots. It cannot be passed off as lucky timing, because the points at which they are used throughout the entire video are in very crucial, impacting scenarios. Breaking sheeps that would otherwise be full duration, or put Hydra far behind on healing is just plain awesomeness.

The first Warrior/Druid fight is an excellent portrayal of Hydra's personal skill and ability to balance offensive and defensive play. Pulling off the delicate level of nonchalance that Hydra possesses in these fights is incredibly difficult to do. The well-timed and intelligent mana burns in combination with the ability to keep both him and his partner alive is just impressive.

The first Warrior/Shaman fight was when the video really started getting good. I didn't expect Hydra to top his use of the Rocket boots, but his craftiness only further became apparent in this fight. When the Warrior he is facing changes targets from Hydra's partner to him, the position he takes on the pillar causes the warrior to fall instantly upon intercepting into range. At first I wasn't sure if this was intended, but after he baits the Warrior the second time it was obvious that it was. Quite pro.

On the topic of baiting players, carefully mind the opportunity Hydra creates by leaping from the bridge to the ramp later on in the fight, successfully tricking the Warrior into attempting the same thing, but failing miserably instead. This is the point in the video where we can see that Hydra makes quite good use of Holy Fire as well, saving Mind Blast for the MB>SW:D combo when the opportunity is there.

The only beef I have so far in this video is that some of the opponents are half-way on the side of mental retardation. The Shaman in this fight was quite dumb, not shocking Hydra a single time and staying within melee range of Hydra's Warrior partner the whole time - successfully earning a nice trophy of "eating the most unnecessary amount of Whirlwind and collateral damage possible"

Hydra also shows his ability to take full advantage of every tool in the Priest arsenal. Mind the excellent timing of PI to burn the everliving crap out of the Shaman when he was in LOS on the bridge.

In the mirror match against the Warrior/Priest, Hydra blows PS early at a period of exposure. Hamstrung by the Warrior, being dispel spammed, and pressured by the Warrior, Hydra makes sure to mitigate the most amount of damage possible, try to protect his buffs, and use PS early enough to have it be available for later use, which it was. He also is very mindful of waiting for the MS debuff to fall when he has the time to wait before healing and preventing an unnecessary amount of wasted mana.

When he wants to create pressure, he also saves and uses chastise nicely, in a chastise to mind blast combo when the Warrior overextends himself.

Mage/Rogue can be one of the most difficult fights for a Priest simply because you pretty much have 1 out against all of the CC. When Hydra's SW:D gets resisted, which was incredibly clutch as usual, things only get more difficult. This fight was amazing. I'm sure that Rogue was like "Oh yes... Oh yes...getting away...getting away...lets bandage now...OH ****!!!"

The following Rogue/Lock is again, an amazing example of how good rocket boots can be, and the SW:D's breaking sheeps on the next fight were just as entertaining to watch.

Overall, the video is quite enjoyable, even if you aren't a Priest. The entertainment factor alone is high enough to keep anyone attentive. Recommend it to your friends.