In the roguelike game Hades, players navigate the treacherous Underworld, a realm teeming with foes, with the ultimate goal of escaping. Crafted with meticulous detail by Supergiant Games, Hades stands out for its compelling story, deep characters, and dynamic gameplay. Escaping the Underworld is no easy feat, but with the right strategy and knowledge, it becomes a thrilling challenge rather than an insurmountable obstacle. In this guide, we provide you with the top 10 tips to help you beat the Underworld in Hades, covering everything from weapon choice to divine boon selection.
Select Your Weapons Wisely
At the heart of your escape attempts in Hades are the six Infernal Arms available to you. Each weapon has unique abilities and playstyles, from the fast-hitting Twin Fists of Malphon to the long-ranged Heart-Seeking Bow. Experimenting with each weapon will help you understand their strengths and weaknesses. Mastering a weapon that complements your playstyle can significantly increase your chances of success. Remember, upgrading your preferred weapons using Titan Blood can unlock new abilities and make them even more powerful.
Understand and Utilize Boons
Divine boons are game-changers in Hades, offering significant enhancements to your abilities. These boons are granted by the gods of Olympus, each adding unique effects based on their domain. Prioritize boons that synergize with your weapon and playstyle. For instance, if you’re using the Bow, Artemis’ boons can increase your critical hit chances, while Ares' boons can add potent damage effects to your attacks. Learning which gods offer the most complementary boons for your strategy is crucial for progressing through the Underworld.
Master Dash Mechanics
The dash ability is one of your most valuable tools, offering both offense and defense capabilities. It allows you to quickly evade enemy attacks and reposition yourself strategically. Upgrades that enhance your dash, such as Hermes’ increased dash distance or Athena’s defensive boons that provide Dash Deflect, can be exceptionally beneficial. It’s important to practice dashing effectively, whether it’s through mobs to avoid damage or towards enemies to initiate attacks. Mastering the dash will significantly improve your survival.
Pay Attention to Mirror of Night Upgrades
Located in Zagreus’ room, the Mirror of Night offers powerful, persistent upgrades that affect every escape attempt. Ensuring you’re investing your Darkness into the right upgrades can make a huge difference. For beginners, focusing on increasing your health (with Chthonic Vitality) and adding extra dashes (with Greater Reflex) can be particularly effective. As you get more comfortable, consider experimenting with other upgrades to fit your preferred playstyle.
Befriend and Gift Nectar
Gift giving in Hades is a gesture of goodwill and a strategic move. By offering Nectar to various characters you meet, including gods and underworld denizens, you receive Keepsakes in return. Keepsakes are powerful artifacts that provide significant advantages, such as increased damage or resistance. You can switch Keepsakes between runs or even between levels to best suit the challenges ahead. Building relationships through Nectar can also unlock new story elements and rewards.
Optimize Your Room Clear Speed
Your ability to quickly and efficiently clear rooms influences not just your survival, but also your rewards. Fast clears can net you bonuses from Hermes, and maintaining a swift pace can help preserve health and avoid unnecessary damage. Optimize your approach to each room by identifying and prioritizing threatening enemies, using environmental hazards to your advantage, and deploying your most effective abilities. Keep an eye out for room layouts and enemy patterns; familiarity will increase your speed over time.
Leverage Environmental Hazards
The Underworld is a dangerous place, not just because of its inhabitants, but due to its numerous environmental hazards. Spikes, traps, and explosive barrels can be as deadly to your enemies as they are to you. Learning how to maneuver enemies into traps or lure them into hazardous areas can drastically reduce the time and effort needed to clear rooms. Using boons or abilities that push or pull enemies can aid in this strategy greatly.
Learn Enemy Patterns and Tells
Just as important as mastering your own abilities is learning the behaviors of your enemies. Each type of foe in the Underworld has specific attack patterns and tells that precede certain moves. By studying and recognizing these, you can anticipate attacks, making it easier to dodge, counter, or strategically position yourself. This knowledge is especially crucial when facing bosses, as it helps in preparing for their devastating attacks.
Take Advantage of Chaos Gates and Eurydice’s Boons
Chaos Gates and encounters with Eurydice offer high-risk, high-reward opportunities. Entering a Chaos Gate can grant you potent boons at the cost of temporary curses, while Eurydice can enhance the boons you currently possess or your upcoming rewards. These opportunities can significantly alter the course of your escape attempts, offering boosts that may just tip the scales in your favor. Weigh the risks carefully and choose offers that best complement your current strategy and progress.
Stay Calm and Analytical
Perhaps the most important tip for beating Hades is to keep a calm and analytical mindset. Roguelike games are designed with failure as a part of the learning process. Each escape attempt, successful or not, offers you valuable lessons and resources for improvement. Analyze what worked, what didn’t, and how you can adjust your strategy for the next attempt. Mastering the game demands patience and an openness to absorb lessons from your experiences.
Conquering the Underworld in Hades is a challenging but rewarding journey. By focusing on these ten tips, you’ll be better equipped to overcome the obstacles that stand in your way. Remember, the path to victory is not just about brute force but strategic thinking, adaptability, and continual growth. With every attempt, you’re one step closer to escaping the clutches of the Underworld and claiming your freedom.