Summary
Zagreus from the first game and Melinoe fromHades 2are two completely different characters gameplay-wise and how they act. Melinoe is a witch, so a lot of her combat skills are magic-based as if she were something like a Necromancer in theDiabloseries. Besides her magical rod and combos in battle, Melinoe can also operate a large cauldron back at the home location.
By adding materials to the pot, players can unlock things that will progress the story or new ways to beef up Melinoe’s powers. These upgrades are calledIncantations InHades 2,and these are just a few of the best so far in the game’s Early Access build.
8Night’s Craftwork
Create Tools To Gather Materials
One of the new mechanics in the game allows players to mine for certain materials. Gathering most resources requires tools that can be unlocked via the Night’s Craftwork Incantation. Players can then craft these tools, like the Shovel, to use in a dungeon.Hades 2’s Shovel will dig up seeds, and another Incantation, Flourishing Soil, will create plots of land to shove these seeds into at The Crossroads. There are about as many tools as there are weapons, so players should unlock them all as quickly as possible.
7Aspects Of Night And Darkness
Gain Ways To Upgrade Weapons
Players will begin the game with the Witch’s Staff weapon and then they can build the other four after that. Aspects of Night and Darkness is an Incantation that will allow players to upgrade these five weapons in several ways. These upgrades are called Aspects, and they can change the functionality of weapons, just like in the firstHades. An upgrade to the Moonstone Axe, for example, can reduce cooldowns. Players should choose one or two weapons to master at first and then prioritize those upgrades.
6Rise Of Stygian Wells
Unlock Extra Ways To Get Boons On Runs
When players go on runs, they will come across gods and goddesses inHades 2who will grant them Boons. These are temporary abilities or boosts in power that will delete themselves after death. Players can also buy upgrades via Charon at his shop for Gold.
Rise of Stygian Wells is an Incantation that will randomly set up mini-shops in locations for Charon’s wares. They can range from healing Melinoe to granting her other ungodly types of Boons.
5Summoning Of Mercantile Fortune
Unlock One Of The Best Shops At The Crossroads
There are a lot of returning characters inHades 2, even though their designs may have changed. A character that looks the same is the Wretched Broker, who resided within the halls of the Underworld in the first game. He will set up shop in the HQ for Hades 2 as well, The Crossroads, after players use the Summoning of Mercantile Fortune Incantation. The Wretched Broker will give players important upgrade items, like Ash, through the trading of Bones. Players should also gain the Floral Fortune Incantation to make this exchange more fruitful.
4Faith Of Familiar Spirits
Gain An Animal Friend To Boost Stats
The first game had pet-like Keepsakes but the sequel has full-on animal companions via Familiars. Players can gain their first one after using the Faith of Familiar Spirits Incantation, which may take a while to unlock. The aforementioned first Familiar should be obvious, Frinos, Melinoe’s faithful frog that greets her after every death. Bringing Frinos on runs will increase Melinoe’s HP by 10 and Frinos can also satiate one Shade in the dungeons. It won’t help much in better, but those two things alone make Frinos worthwhile.
3Kindred Keepsakes
Switch Out Keepsakes Between Floors
Like the first game, players can give Nectar to NPCs back at HQ or in dungeons. These NPCs will then give Melinoe a Keepsake, which is kind of like an accessory in an RPG. To do this, players must first use the Kindred Keepsakes Incantation.
One example can be seen withPoseidon inHades 2. He will give his niece the Vivid Sea Keepsake, which will increase the rarity of Poseidon’s Boons, but that is on the lower tier of Keepsakes.
2Fated Intervention
Gain A New Ally
The Fated Intervention Incantation is kind of necessary to keepHades 2’s story going. Players will find out that Chronos wants to find The Fates for some unknown reason. Fated Intervention will seemingly fail for Melinoe but she will see Doom, aka Moros, in a vision. Players can then use the Doomed Beckoning Incantation and then Moros will be stationed at The Crossroads. He will be an interesting companion to bond with, leading to more answers about the, well, fate of The Fates.
1Permeation Of Witching-Wards
Travel Toward Olympus
One of the biggest differences between this game and the original is that Melinoe can go to the surface for an extended period. First, players have to use the Permeation of Witching-Wards Incantation to unlock the gate to the surface. LikeZagreus inHades, Melinoecannot last long on the surface, making this unlock seemingly pointless. However, the Unraveling a Fateful Bond Incantation will give Melinoe unlimited time on the surface, thus leading to two new areas to explore. This part of the game is unfinished, though, so after a point, players will have to return to The Crossroads.
