The Black Hydra is Cortex's flagship—a floating fortress combining awesome fire power with exceedingly long range. Construct one of these and watch as your enemy's fleet pales into insignificance.

They are equipped with two plasma cannon turrets, three laser turrets (830 range) and even a small anti-air missile launcher. Their main cannon range exceeds even that of the missile cruisers and possess such might that plasma shields will provide only a temporary respite from the shells.

While the cannons obliterate targets from afar, the lasers give the Black Hydra incredible lethality at shorter ranges too. Owing to the range and mobility a Black Hydra is able to destroy any T3 unit they clash with, as long as it doesn't get too close.

They achieve maximum damage when oriented to their targets from the broadside, so they are able to shoot all cannons and lasers at once.

While they are also equipped with medium anti-air missile launchers they are still vulnerable to heavier aircraft and possess no anti-submarine weaponry so never leave them bereft of an escort.