Hades II builds on the award-winning roguelike foundation of the original, but this time you play as Melinoë, Princess of the Underworld and sister to Zagreus. Your quest takes you into new realms, facing Chronos, the Titan of Time, with a new arsenal of weapons, boons, and incantations.
The game maintains the fast-paced combat, branching narrative, and rewarding progression loop fans loved, while introducing expanded systems like crafting, spellcasting, and new Olympian allies. Whether you’re new to roguelikes or a veteran of the first game, mastering Hades II requires strategy, adaptability, and patience.
This guide will give you the tools to thrive, covering everything from combat basics to advanced progression strategies.
Getting Comfortable with Combat
At its core, Hades II is about surviving room after room of enemies. Every encounter demands sharp reflexes, awareness, and an understanding of your weapon’s moveset.
Take time to practice each weapon—some excel at range, while others reward close combat aggression. Understanding combos and attack speed is critical for survival. Dodging and timing remain your best defenses; careless button mashing will get you punished quickly.
Always remember: patience is key. Learn enemy patterns, attack when safe, and avoid unnecessary risks.
Mastering Weapons and Playstyles
Weapons in Hades II define your playstyle. Each Infernal Arm has multiple aspects and upgrades, offering very different approaches to combat.
Experiment early with every weapon. A spear might feel safer with reach, while fists provide devastating melee combos. No single weapon is universally best; the right one depends on your comfort and the boons you receive in a run.
As you progress, invest resources to unlock weapon aspects. These transform how your weapon behaves, opening up entirely new strategies. Don’t neglect this—weapon mastery is one of the biggest power boosts in the game.
Choosing and Combining Boons
The gods of Olympus again offer boons to power up your abilities. These blessings shape your runs dramatically, turning basic attacks into lightning strikes, poison clouds, or explosive finishers.
Prioritize boons that synergize. For example, pairing Artemis’s critical buffs with rapid attacks or combining Poseidon’s knockback with walls for bonus damage creates deadly combos. Avoid spreading upgrades too thin—focus on a few strong synergies instead of grabbing random boons.
Keep an eye out for Duo Boons, which require specific combinations from two gods. These are game-changing and can turn a decent run into an unstoppable one.
Learning Enemy Patterns
Every foe in Hades II has distinct attack patterns. Some enemies are aggressive and rush you, while others attack from range or summon reinforcements.
Observation is the first step. Watch how enemies move before committing to an attack. Rushing into unfamiliar foes often leads to unnecessary deaths. Use your mobility—dash, cast, and ranged options—to stay safe while dealing damage.
Bosses are the ultimate test of pattern recognition. Memorizing their phases and saving resources like Death Defiance or special attacks for clutch moments often makes the difference between victory and defeat.
Spellcasting and Incantations
Unlike Zagreus, Melinoë has access to spellcasting and incantations, which expand her tactical options. These can provide powerful offensive magic, defensive wards, or utility effects that change how you approach fights.
Managing mana is just as important as managing health. Don’t burn spells recklessly; instead, time them for maximum impact—like crowd control during swarms or burst damage on bosses.
As you progress, you’ll unlock more incantations through crafting. Experiment with different combinations until you find a style that complements your weapon and boons.
Resource Management and Crafting
Progress in Hades II is tied to resource collection and crafting. Materials found in the Underworld and surface realms are used to unlock upgrades, incantations, and permanent boosts.
Prioritize gathering key resources like Silver and Psyche early. These are essential for unlocking new systems and making your runs more manageable. Avoid spreading resources too thin; focus on unlocking tools that directly support your favorite playstyle.
Farming materials can feel grindy, but it’s central to long-term growth. Build routines around targeting specific items you need for upgrades.
Building Strong Relationships
The hallmark of the Hades series is its character-driven narrative. In Hades II, talking to NPCs, gifting them with Nectar, and completing side objectives unlocks new dialogue, keepsakes, and sometimes gameplay bonuses.
Don’t ignore social interactions. Keepsakes, in particular, can dramatically alter your run by guaranteeing boons from specific gods or enhancing survivability. Choosing the right keepsake before a difficult area can make all the difference.
Relationships also enrich the story, giving you deeper insight into Melinoë’s journey and the Olympians’ struggles.
Exploring Surface and Underworld Realms
Hades II expands beyond the Underworld, allowing players to explore new biomes on the surface. Each area has unique enemies, hazards, and rewards.
Adapt your playstyle depending on the environment. Surface realms may feature environmental dangers like cold or time-based challenges that force you to keep moving. These mechanics reward planning and resource awareness.
Exploration pays off. Hidden paths, side encounters, and resource nodes often provide the edge you need in later fights. Always weigh risk versus reward before pushing deeper.
Progression Between Runs
Like the first game, failure in Hades II is part of progression. Each run provides materials, knowledge, and experience to strengthen future attempts.
Use your downtime between runs wisely. Invest in permanent upgrades at the Crossroads, unlock new incantations, and experiment with weapons or keepsakes you haven’t tried. Even if you don’t advance in a run, progress still accumulates.
Patience is key. Instead of getting frustrated at repeated defeats, view each run as an opportunity to test strategies and gather resources.
Advanced Tips for Veterans
For players familiar with the first Hades or roguelikes in general, fine-tuning your approach separates good runs from great ones.
- Plan your boon path. Think ahead about which gods synergize and pick routes that maximize those chances.
- Use dash attacks and casts strategically—they often deal safe damage while keeping you mobile.
- Adapt to bad luck. If you don’t get your ideal boons, pivot into alternate builds instead of forcing synergy.
- Manage Death Defiance carefully. Don’t waste it on careless mistakes early—save it for bosses.
- Practice patience. Pushing for damage too quickly often leads to avoidable hits.
Veterans who stay flexible and think long-term will consistently make deeper runs.
Conclusion
Hades II is a masterful blend of fast-paced action, roguelike progression, and narrative depth. Success requires sharp combat skills, smart resource management, and adaptability in the face of unpredictable boons and enemies.
By mastering weapons, experimenting with spellcasting, building strong relationships, and investing in progression between runs, you’ll steadily grow stronger and edge closer to defeating Chronos. Whether you’re just starting out or chasing flawless runs, the journey is as rewarding as the destination.
