By the time you’ve carved your way through the early stages of Hades 2, the game stops holding your hand. Enemies hit harder, the arenas get busier, and one small mistake can ruin an otherwise perfect run. That’s the beauty — and the cruelty — of Supergiant’s roguelite sequel.
If you’re reaching the later stages of the Underworld or Olympus and struggling to close out runs, this guide’s for you. After dozens of attempts (and way too many visits to the River of Styx), I’ve pieced together an endgame build that balances speed, survival, and raw damage — a setup that can carry you to victory even in the most chaotic encounters.
The Philosophy Behind the Build
Every Hades 2 build thrives on synergy — the right mix of weapon choice, Arcana bonuses, and divine boons. But there’s a catch: luck is always in play. You can’t predict which blessings or upgrades will show up mid-run. That’s why this guide focuses on a flexible core — a foundation that works across multiple RNG scenarios while staying adaptable enough to pivot when needed.
Weapon — Xinth, the Black Coat (Aspect of Melinoë)
Let’s start with the backbone of the run. Xinth, the Black Coat in its Aspect of Melinoë form is a beast when properly leveled. At Rank V, it boosts your attack and sprint speed by 20%, turning Melinoë into a blur of death.
Its Special attack — a rocket-like barrage that locks onto enemies — pairs perfectly with fast repositioning. The result? Constant mobility, relentless pressure, and very few opportunities for foes to pin you down. Combine that with a charged dash-strike, and you’ll shred groups before they even get their bearings.
Arcana Cards — Building for Momentum
With 29 out of 30 Grasp, this configuration has proven deadly consistent. It stacks mobility, resilience, and a touch of risk-reward aggression:
- The Sorceress: Faster charged attacks — essential for the Black Coat’s pace.
- The Huntress: Extra damage when your Magick isn’t full, encouraging an aggressive rhythm.
- The Furies: More power against enemies caught in your cast — perfect for zone control.
- Persistence & The Centaur: Core survivability buffs for HP and Magick across long runs.
- The Swift Runner: Sprint through enemies like a knife through butter.
- Death & The Lovers: Reliable safety nets for boss fights and tough rooms.
- Excellence + Divinity: Boosts the rarity and quality of your boons — a must for late-game optimization.
The synergy here is speed and recovery — move fast, hit hard, and bounce back before death has time to gloat.
Boons — The Godly Core
Boons are where your build either flourishes or falls apart. Since RNG is cruel, it’s best to know which ones define the meta endgame loop.
Start with Aphrodite’s Weak effect — the cornerstone of this setup. Pair it with Glamour Gain or Sweet Surrender to keep enemies constantly debuffed and vulnerable.
If luck smiles on you:
- Flutter Flourish (Aphrodite): Boosts your rocket Special — ideal for close skirmishes.
- Sworn Flourish (Hera or Hecate): Chains enemies together for devastating group damage.
- Nitro Boost (Hermes): More sprint speed and a damage-negating barrier — simple, effective, life-saving.
- Heavy Metal (Hephaestus): Converts shield into bonus attack damage.
- Mutual Destruction (Ares): 200% damage when your health dips — perfect for risk-takers.
- Vital Signs (Apollo): Critical chance against healthy enemies.
- Divine Vengeance (Zeus): Punish anything that dares to hit you.
Each of these fits into the same aggressive loop — push forward, inflict Weak or other debuffs, and never give enemies the breathing room to retaliate.
Keepsakes — Tools for Survival and Momentum
Keepsakes are the glue that hold a run together. The ones below can swing your odds dramatically if equipped strategically:
- Beautiful Mirror: Guarantees early Aphrodite synergy for a strong start.
- Silken Sash: Adds shield and scales it over time — ideal if you’re running Hephaestus boons.
- Knuckle Bones: Cuts boss HP and damage intake; great for late-stage fights.
- Evil Eye: Reserve this for Typhon — your “one more shot” lifeline during the final confrontation.
Think of Keepsakes as insurance policies. They won’t carry a bad run, but they’ll elevate a great one into something unstoppable.
Familiar — Gale, the Polecat Protector
No contest here: Gale is the MVP companion. She blocks incoming hits up to three times per region, deals counter damage, and buffs dodge and speed.
In essence, Gale acts as your emergency button. When you misstep or overcommit during a hectic phase, she saves your run without costing momentum. The 30-second cooldown feels generous once you’ve mastered pacing.
Strategy — How to Seal the Deal
The secret to this build isn’t just stats — it’s tempo. Stay aggressive, keep moving, and don’t hoard Magick. The faster you flow from one room to the next, the more the game rewards your confidence.
Use your dash-strike to weave in and out of combat. Hold attack charges to block damage and punish at the same time. Rotate boons that reward proactive play — Weak, Freeze, or Scorch — and make Aphrodite your foundation every time.
And if all else fails? Don’t be ashamed to enable God Mode. It doesn’t trivialize the game — it simply reduces incoming damage incrementally after each death, giving you breathing room to experiment and learn.
Final Thoughts
The endgame of Hades 2 is a brutal test of adaptation and reflexes. But with this build, you can turn chaos into choreography — carving through the Underworld’s toughest trials with precision and flair.
No build guarantees victory, but this one gets you close enough that the difference comes down to instinct — and that’s exactly how Hades 2 should feel.