If you're new to the Hades series and not familiar with the first part, you're likely to encounter difficulties while playing Hades 2. In our guide, you will find key tips that will help both experienced and new gamers easily start their journey in this game.
You can unlock new abilities using the Altar of Ash, which is located at the exit from the safe zone. You will come here for the first time after your first death. Arcanas serve as additional enhancements for your character.
Special attention should be paid to the Eternity Card, which grants an extra life per run, restoring 40% health and magic upon death. This is the 12th card, and to unlock it, you first need to obtain cards from the first two rows. Moreover, you will need enough Grasp points to carry multiple arcanas at the same time.
Grasp can be improved by using Psyche, a resource available through runs or trading with a merchant you can meet between combat levels. Psyche can also be accumulated by using the Peace Tablet to attract shadows.
Even for experienced players, battles with bosses at the beginning levels can pose a serious challenge. It's important to focus on gathering resources in the first few attempts, taking advantage of available spells, arcana cards, tools, and weapons.
It's recommended to first collect bones, which will allow unlocking and purchasing rarer resources from the Unfortunate Broker. His shop becomes available after using the spell Call of Abundant Goods in Hecate's cauldron, which requires 10 bones.
After that, you can upgrade the shop, adding more exotic materials to the assortment, including Nectar. This is especially useful for strengthening relationships and obtaining souvenirs.
It's also important to accumulate ash and Psyche beforehand, allowing you to unlock and use a greater number of arcana cards.
After your first death, you will meet a cute frog behind you — he will be here throughout the game. As you progress, you will have the opportunity to summon familiars, which will bring you additional advantages and can also gather resources for you.
In Hades 2, you can develop relationships with various deities of the Pantheon and spirits. It's important to engage in dialogue with them at the beginning of each run, not only to learn new story fragments but also to track the progress of your relationships with them.
The system in the game will allow you to understand how many hearts you have earned in relationships with characters, but this opportunity will only be available to you after you pass through the first two bosses and reach the third zone.
Spells can be acquired through the Cauldron of Hecate, which becomes available right after the start of the game. As you progress, new magical formulas will appear in your arsenal. Crafting these magical spells requires various components.
Here are three initial spells to pay attention to:
Over time, you will discover new spells. It's also recommended to pay attention to the spell Life Source of the Woods, which can create a safe zone right during your journey. In this zone, you can restore health in a special pool and even find some resources. Often, this spell will save your life at a critical moment and provide a temporary refuge. Moreover, you can encounter a cute cat nearby, with which you can interact.
To access the Tools of the Night spell in the Cauldron of Hecate, exchange one Moly (a bright yellow flower collected from Erebus). This will give you the opportunity to unlock the following initial tools opposite the symbol of Shelemus:
It's recommended to start with the Crescent Pickaxe, as it's the most accessible for unlocking at the early stages and allows mining silver. This resource is useful for obtaining the Silver Shovel and necessary for most initial unlocks.
The Peace Tablet is a good next step, as after one or two runs, you will be able to collect enough Psyche and silver for its acquisition. This allows you to mine Psyche in larger quantities and enhance your Grip even at an early stage of the game.
Each deity offers a variety of Gifts, the choice of which changes randomly. From the three offered, you will have to choose one. These Gifts can later be combined with Gifts from other Gods, strengthening depending on their rarity.
Don't stress over choosing the right Gifts, as you're just starting to get a feel for the game and finding your playstyle, which will undoubtedly change from one playthrough to the next. Aim to try out different options and identify those combinations that best suit your style.
In general, it's recommended to favor Gifts of higher rarity, which will be marked and highlighted in color according to their level from common to heroic. Depending on your playstyle, choose between improving attacks or spells, based on what you use most often.
The Fate's List is a series of mini-quests, completing which will earn you valuable items, including Nectar, Bones, and much more. It's recommended to unlock the Fate's List as soon as possible to start ticking off completed tasks as you go on your adventure. Most missions in this list can be completed during the normal course of gameplay. For example, the Spellcaster task, which requires you to create 10 different spells.
To gain access to the Fate's List, you first need to create the spell Fate's Intervention in Hecate's Cauldron and wait for the Moirai to arrive.
In Hades 2, to strengthen bonds with Melinoe and other characters, you're encouraged to give them Nectar. When meeting with the gods, approach the symbol representing them and select the Gift option before accepting their blessing. It's important to remember that Nectar should be offered before receiving the blessing, or else the chance to improve relations will disappear.
For some characters, like Arachne, and gods, including Artemis, Hermes, and Primordial Chaos, gaining their favor can be more challenging, as encounters with them are random or depend on progress in the main storyline. Therefore, it's recommended to always have at least one Nectar on hand for such unexpected meetings.
Nectar is relatively easy to find in the game. It can be purchased from the Unfortunate Broker for 30 bones, and its stocks are replenished after every level completion. Nectar can also be collected by completing tasks with Nectar symbols during gameplay.
In exchange for Nectar, characters usually gift you souvenirs, which serve as boosts for your runs and can be swapped in the box opposite the armory. Using souvenirs, you level them up and enhance their bonuses. One of the first valuable souvenirs to obtain is a gift from Dora, representing a spectral bow, allowing you to recover up to 50 health units between levels. This booster is an excellent starting bonus in Hades 2, helping you adapt to the challenges of Erebus.
Also, pay attention to Sisyphus, who, in gratitude for Nectar, will offer you Lucky Tooth — a souvenir acting as an extra chance to resurrect after death, which is incredibly useful during your playthrough.