Hades II: Beginner's Guide

Getting Started in Hades II

You begin in the Crossroads hub as Melinoë, who is trained by Hecate. Runs take you out through one of two paths: the Underworld path starts in Erebus, and the Surface path starts in the City of Ephyra. Between runs you spend resources at the Crossroads on Arcana, Incantations (unlocked at the cauldron, they add merchants, locations and upgrades), weapons and tools. Early runs will most likely end before the first boss, Hecate in Erebus; that is expected, and Hades II also grants a growing damage-resistance bonus (God Mode) after each failed run.

Arcana Cards are unlocked with Ashes and then equipped; unlocking a card also reveals the card next to it. Spend Ashes on new cards when you return, unless you are saving for a specific one. Extra survivability, such as a card that adds a Death Defiance (an extra life), is a common early pick.

Weapon Selection for Beginners

There are six Nocturnal Arms: the Witch's Staff (the starting weapon), Sister Blades, Umbral Flames, Moonstone Axe, Argent Skull and Black Coat. Each has three standard Aspects plus one hidden Aspect, which you unlock with resources after casting the relevant Incantation. The Witch's Staff is enough to get through early runs; try the others once you are comfortable with run length and enemy patterns. Aspect strength varies between guides and patches, so check a current tier list rather than trusting any single ranking.

Boons, Magick and Hexes

Olympian gods offer Boons during a run, usually as a choice of three. One Boon at a time affects each of your moves, but you can take several passive Boons from each god. Magick is the bar that powers the cast and Omega moves: Omega moves are charged versions of your attacks, specials and cast, and they cost a lot of Magick, but the bar refills when you enter a new room, so use them freely. Cast creates a circle that locks enemies in place, and the Omega version also damages trapped enemies. Hexes are separate: they are summon attacks that call on the goddess Selene, and you pick one of three.

Essential Tips

1. Use Omega moves often. The Magick bar refills at the start of each encounter, so there is little reason to hoard it.
2. Read Boon descriptions fully. Interactions can be complex, and one Boon at a time modifies each of your moves.
3. Sprint makes Melinoë briefly invincible. Holding the button keeps her running, but the invincibility only reapplies after you stop and sprint again.
4. Unlock tools before weapons. The pickaxe and fishing rod gather the materials that crafting and unlocks depend on.
5. Check Incantations after each run. The cauldron only offers a limited number at a time.
6. Pick rooms carefully. Avoid mini-boss rooms when your health is low; a Centaur Heart room gives extra health.
7. Keepsakes can be upgraded, and each upgrade strengthens their effect.

Region and Boss Order

The Underworld path runs through Erebus (boss: Hecate), Oceanus (Scylla and the Sirens), the Fields of Mourning (Cerberus) and Tartarus (Chronos). The Surface path runs through the City of Ephyra (Polyphemus), the Rift of Thessaly (Eris), Mount Olympus (Prometheus) and the Summit (Typhon). Each region unlocks after you clear the previous one. Dash constantly, learn each boss's patterns over repeated runs, and keep a Death Defiance in reserve for the harder encounters.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is Hades II complete?
A: Yes. Hades II left Early Access with version 1.0 in September 2025 (25 September on Windows, Switch and Switch 2).

Q: Is it better than Hades I?
A: That is a matter of taste. Hades II adds a larger world with two paths, more weapons and a new magic system, but Hades I remains a tighter, shorter game. Critics praised both.

Q: Do I need to play Hades I first?
A: Not mechanically. Story context helps with character callbacks, but Hades II can be played without the first game.

Q: Is Hades II still in Early Access?
A: No. It launched in Early Access in May 2024 and 1.0 followed in September 2025.

Q: Is there a console version?
A: Yes. Hades II is on Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 (since 25 September 2025), and on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S (since April 2026), as well as Windows and macOS. See the Hades II game page for more.