Hades II

A forgiving first build on the Witch's Staff. Lean on Omega moves, a strong defensive god, and one clear damage status while you learn Magick and Sprint.

Stack Hestia's Scorch for damage over time. Apply the status fast, then let the burn tick while you reposition with Sprint.

Build around Zeus Blitz, which detonates after a threshold of hits. Stack fast, multi-hit attacks to trigger the burst again and again.

A defensive engine built on Aphrodite. Weak lowers enemy damage and Charm turns foes against each other, so rooms get easier as you stack the status.

Hera's Hitch links enemies so damage spreads between them. Pair one strong single-target source with Hitch to clear whole rooms at once.

Apollo's Daze gives enemies a chance to miss, and his boons widen your abilities. A large, forgiving build that controls rooms while it deals damage.

What to spend Ashes, Psyche, Moon Dust, Bones, Nightmare, and Nectar on, in order, so your permanent power grows fast.

The difficulty system: Vows, Fear up to 67, Vow ranks, Testaments, and a sensible order to stack Vows for the Nightmare farming loop.

The default starter and the most forgiving Nocturnal Arm, with quick melee, a long-range Special, and a strong Omega projectile.

The fastest Nocturnal Arm, twin daggers with low per-hit damage but relentless speed and an Omega Attack that teleports you behind a foe.

The slow, heavy Nocturnal Arm that hits hard and clears rooms, with an Omega Special that blocks while it charges.

The ranged Nocturnal Arm that shines when you keep the Omega Attack firing continuously, rewarding patience over a tougher learning curve.

A shotgun-like Nocturnal Arm that throws three skulls as finite ammo you must retrieve, with a Special that dashes and recovers them.

The secret sixth Nocturnal Arm, a mechanical jetpack and arms with a punch combo, a force-field Omega Attack, and an Omega Special that locks onto multiple enemies.

The Witch of the Crossroads and first boss of the descent, who guards the way out of Erebus with projectiles, hexes, and summoned minions.

The second descent boss, a sea monster fronting a siren band, fought three against one in the watery region of Oceanus.

The third descent boss, an infernal possessed form of the three-headed Hound of Hades, fought in the fast and deadly Fields of Mourning.

The Titan of Time and final boss of the descent, a two-phase fight in Tartarus whose second phase swings near-instakill attacks.

The Cyclops and first boss of the ascent, a brute who guards the way out of the City of Ephyra on the surface path.

The personification of Strife and second ascent boss, who wields the Adamant Rail and periodically buffs her own damage in the Rift of Thessaly.

The third ascent boss, guarding the climb through Mount Olympus on the surface path before the final confrontation with Typhon.

The Father of All Monsters and final boss of the ascent, a titan once sealed under Mount Etna and freed by Chronos, fought at the Summit.

The folded map of Hades II, the four descent regions and the four ascent regions in order, with their guardians, hazards, and which reagents come from where.

The meta-power grid of Hades II, a 5x5 Altar of Ashes you unlock with Ashes, equip against a Grasp budget, upgrade with Moon Dust, and arrange for adjacency effects.

The headline change from Hades 1, a Magick bar that powers charged Omega Attack, Special, and Cast, plus the shift from double-dash to Sprint.

The Olympian roster of Hades II, each god's signature status, boon rarity, Duo and Legendary Boons, Godsent Hexes, and how those pieces form a build.

Selene the Moon and her Hexes, the Magick cost to charge them, the Path of Stars upgrade tree, the Moon Beam Keepsake, and how a Hex fits a run.

Hecate's Cauldron Incantations that permanently unlock features, the four gathering tools you craft, and how to plan your material gathering around them.

Every resource in Hades II and what it does, from Bones and Ashes to the weapon reagents, Psyche, Moon Dust, Nightmare, Nectar, and in-run Gold.