All Boons Explained in Hades 2
Boons are one of the core systems that define your power in Hades 2. Granted by the Olympian gods, these divine blessings determine how Melinoë fights each night, changing her attacks, special moves, dashes, and passive abilities. Every run begins with a new set of Boons, forcing players to adapt and experiment with different godly combinations to survive the Underworld and the surface alike.
Unlike the Arcana cards, which provide long-term progression, Boons reset after each run. They form the heart of Hades 2’s roguelike loop, making every attempt unique. From Zeus’s lightning-charged attacks to Demeter’s freezing blasts, each god’s Boons introduce new effects and combat mechanics that can completely transform a weapon’s playstyle.
Mastering how Boons interact with your weapons, Hexes, and Arcana deck is key to building powerful runs and discovering the most effective combinations.
What are boons
Boons are divine gifts offered by the gods and other powerful beings throughout the world of Hades 2. Each Boon grants a unique upgrade that alters how you fight, move, or survive during a run. Unlike permanent systems such as Arcana, Boons reset at the end of each night, so every run begins with a fresh combination of powers.
At the start of each attempt, you’ll encounter a god or benefactor who offers you a choice of three Boons. Each one enhances one of your core actions — Attack, Special, Cast, or Dash — or provides a passive bonus that stays active throughout the run. You can only equip one Boon per active slot (for instance, only one Attack Boon), but you can stack multiple passives for additional effects.
Olympian Boons
Each Olympian god’s Boons reflect their domain and playstyle:
- Zeus – Adds lightning attacks that inflict Blitz, shocking enemies after they take damage.
- Poseidon – Creates knockback effects and area damage with splashing waves.
- Athena (Limited 1 encounter per run) – Grants defensive Deflect abilities that reflect projectiles.
- Ares – Inflicts the Wound curse, increasing the damage enemies take.
- Aphrodite – Applies Weak, reducing enemy attack damage and rewarding close-range combat.
- Artemis (Limited 1 encounter per run) – Increases critical hit chance and precision damage.
- Demeter – Freezes enemies with the Freeze curse, slowing or immobilizing them.
- Apollo – Uses radiant energy to Daze enemies, lowering their accuracy.
- Hephaestus – Adds explosive Blast effects and Armor-based bonuses.
- Hestia – Burns enemies over time with the Scorch curse.
- Hermes – Improves movement, attack speed, and dodge chance.
- Hera – Spreads damage through the Hitch curse, linking enemies together.
- Dionysus – Found on Mount Olympus and offers boons that inflict Hangover, generate Festive Fog, and boost survivability.
- Hades (Limited 1 encounter per run) – Encountered deep within Tartarus, he grants blessings that strengthen your resistance against Chronos and his forces.
Boons appear in four rarity tiers — Common, Rare, Epic, and Heroic — with higher tiers offering stronger versions of the same ability. Certain systems, such as Arcana cards or Hermes Boons, can increase rarity chances or reroll weaker options.
Other divine and mythical benefactors
Not all Boons come from Olympus. As you progress, other beings will offer unique blessings, items, or services that affect your run in different ways:
- Primordial Chaos – Grants powerful Boons that begin as curses. You sacrifice a small amount of health to enter the Realm of Chaos, endure several encounters under a penalty, and then receive a permanent bonus once the curse expires.
- Selene – The moon goddess grants Hexes, ultimate abilities that can be enhanced through the Path of Stars. Hexes consume Magick and can be fused with Olympian power for greater effects.
- Daedalus – The craftsman’s Hammer of Daedalus upgrades your weapon’s base properties, adding new attack types or increasing damage multipliers.
- Arachne – Offers silken garments that act as temporary Armor, providing both defense and secondary bonuses.
- Narcissus – Found in Oceanus, he provides one-time gifts that offer useful bonuses or recovery effects.
- Echo – Residing in the Fields of Strife, she can duplicate your most recent reward, effectively giving you a free repeat of a valuable Boon or item.
- Charon – The ferryman of the Underworld sells helpful items and Boons from Wells of Charon found throughout each region.
- Medea – Provides curse-based Boons that weaken enemies, deal damage over time, or reward you when foes are defeated. She may occasionally appear in the City of Ephyra at a dedicated location.
- Circe – Offers witchcraft- and transformation-themed Boons that can temporarily disable Vows, activate Arcana Cards, or even alter your size. She may occasionally appear in the Rift of Thessaly.
- Icarus – Grants Armor, boosts Power, and provides supportive supplies for the night. He may occasionally appear in the Rift of Thessaly or on Mount Olympus, assisting during encounters.
Together, these figures create a broad network of aid that extends beyond the Olympians. Whether through Hexes, Curses, or one-time gifts, their offerings deepen each run’s sense of variety and replayability.
What are the different types of boons
Boons in Hades 2 come in many forms, each tied to a different god or mythical benefactor. Some directly enhance your attacks and abilities, while others modify your weapon, grant long-term buffs, or alter gameplay in unique ways. Understanding the types of Boons available helps you plan effective builds and adapt to whatever blessings you encounter during a run.
1. Olympian Boons
These are the most common and core Boons in Hades 2. They are granted by the gods of Olympus and modify your core combat actions: Attack, Special, Cast, and Dash, or provide passive bonuses.
- You can only have one Boon for each active move type, but you can stack as many passive Boons as you like.
- Each Olympian’s Boons reflect their divine theme and introduce status effects like Blitz (Zeus), Freeze (Demeter), Weak (Aphrodite), and Wound (Ares).
- Boons appear in four rarity tiers — Common, Rare, Epic, and Heroic — with stronger effects at higher rarities.
2. Legendary Boons
Legendary Boons are rare, high-impact upgrades unique to each god. They provide special effects that can redefine your playstyle and are typically available only after acquiring several of that god’s standard Boons.
Example: Close Call (Hermes) adds a temporary Death Defiance that slows time, giving you a chance to recover before taking another hit.
3. Duo Boons
Duo Boons combine the powers of two gods to produce powerful synergistic effects. They only appear when you already possess compatible Boons from both gods.
Example: Sea Storm (Zeus + Poseidon) triggers lightning strikes whenever your knockback effects hit enemies.
Because they require specific pairings, Duo Boons reward players who build around god synergies instead of mixing Boons at random.
4. Infusion Boons
After unlocking the Divination of the Elements incantation, each Boon gains an elemental attribute. Infusion Boons activate once you collect enough Boons of the same element, granting bonus effects or stat improvements.
Example: Self Healing (Apollo) activates when you hold three Fire-type Boons, restoring health under certain conditions.
5. Chaos Boons
Primordial Chaos offers Boons that come with both an upside and a temporary curse. You sacrifice a portion of your health to enter the Realm of Chaos, where you must endure several encounters under a penalty before the curse transforms into a permanent benefit for the rest of the run.
Example: Fixed Creation locks your Magick temporarily but later increases its regeneration rate.
Chaos Boons are risky but can dramatically boost your damage, resource gain, or mobility once their negative effects expire.
6. Hexes and the Path of Stars
Granted by Selene, Hexes function as ultimate abilities powered by Magick. Each Hex has limited uses and can be upgraded through the Path of Stars, a system that adds enhancements like faster recharge, greater area coverage, or added elemental effects.
Example: Moon Water restores health and can store multiple uses that refill at Fountains.
Hexes can also merge with Olympian Boons to create Godsent Hexes, hybrid abilities that blend Selene’s moonlight powers with the traits of specific gods.
7. Daedalus Hammer Upgrades
The Hammer of Daedalus provides weapon-specific upgrades that alter your attack patterns, range, or power. These are not divine Boons but serve a similar purpose by shaping your combat approach.
Example: Mega Blaze increases the damage and area of your weapon’s standard attack, while Enduring Coil extends the duration of charged moves.
Daedalus upgrades are always worth taking, as they directly enhance your weapon’s potential regardless of Boon loadout.
8. Unique NPC Gifts
A few other mythical figures also offer blessings and items that function like temporary Boons:
- Arachne – Provides woven garments that act as Armor with additional bonuses.
- Narcissus – Grants one-time gifts, often related to recovery or resource gain.
- Echo – Duplicates your most recent reward, giving you a free repeat of a valuable item or Boon.
- Charon – Sells Boons and upgrades through the Wells of Charon located in each region.
Which Boons should I prioritize?
While every god in Hades 2 offers strong options depending on your build, certain Boons stand out for their reliability, versatility, and synergy with most weapons and Aspects. The following ten are among the best to prioritize in nearly any run.
1. Divine Dash (Athena)
Allows your Dash to Deflect projectiles and melee attacks, making you invulnerable during its animation. It’s one of the most universally powerful Boons in the game and works with every weapon.
2. Arctic Ring (Demeter)
Creates a circular area of frost that deals damage and inflicts Freeze. It’s excellent for crowd control and survivability, slowing projectiles and bosses alike while offering steady damage.
3. Sea Storm (Zeus + Poseidon)
A Duo Boon that causes knockback effects to also trigger lightning strikes. This combination offers massive area-of-effect damage and pairs especially well with Poseidon’s Attack or Special Boons.
4. Pressure Points (Artemis)
Gives all of your attacks and abilities a chance to critically hit. It’s a simple but highly effective damage boost that scales with both speed and multi-hit weapons.
5. Blinding Rush (Apollo)
Adds a flash of light to your Dash that Dazes enemies, reducing their chance to hit you. It’s a strong defensive and utility option that fits nearly any playstyle.
6. Grievous Blow (Ares)
Increases the chance for all attacks to deal double damage while the Wound curse is active. When combined with rapid attacks or area weapons, it creates a consistent damage spike.
7. Glamour Gain (Aphrodite)
Applies Weak to nearby enemies while increasing your close-range damage. It adds both safety and offensive power, and it synergizes with the Origination Arcana for higher damage potential.
8. Quick Recovery (Hermes)
Restores a portion of health after taking damage. This Boon softens chip damage and improves consistency in long fights without needing to rely on fountains.
9. Born Gain (Hera)
Instantly restores Magick during combat, allowing you to cast or use Omega moves more often. It’s a key sustain Boon for Magick-heavy builds or Hex users.
10. Flash Fry (Hestia)
Causes enemies hit by your attacks to ignite in chain reactions, dealing continuous Scorch damage to groups. It’s an efficient offensive Boon that excels against clusters of enemies.
How to build your Boon setup
Building a strong Boon setup in Hades 2 is about balance and synergy. Because each run resets your Boons, the goal isn’t to memorize one “best” build but to recognize combinations that complement your weapon, Arcana deck, and Hex.
1. Start with your weapon
Your weapon’s behavior determines what kind of Boons you should pursue.
- Fast weapons (like twin torches or daggers) benefit from Artemis’s critical damage, Zeus’s chain lightning, and Hermes’s speed boosts.
- Heavy weapons (like the axe) perform better with Aphrodite’s Weak, Ares’s Wound, or Hephaestus’s Blast to maximize big hits.
- Ranged weapons pair well with Demeter’s Freeze or Apollo’s Daze, both offering crowd control and safety from afar.
2. Stack compatible curses
Each god’s signature curse — Blitz, Freeze, Wound, Scorch, and so on — can interact to unlock Duo Boons. For example, combining Hephaestus and Demeter enables Room Temperature, where your Blast effects clear Freeze so enemies can be refrozen instantly. Building around compatible elements makes it easier to find these synergies mid-run.
3. Balance offense and defense
A common mistake is stacking only damage Boons and ignoring survivability. Divine Dash (Athena) and Weak (Aphrodite) remain top defensive picks. Pair them with at least one self-sustain effect, such as Quick Recovery (Hermes) or Moon Water (Selene’s Hex), to stay alive in longer fights.
4. Prioritize Duo Boons
When two gods appear together, always check for possible Duo Boons before making a choice. Many of the game’s most powerful builds rely on them, and they’re easier to trigger if you’ve focused on specific pairs rather than spreading across too many gods.
5. Use Keepsakes strategically
If you’re aiming for a particular build, Keepsakes help you guarantee a god’s appearance early in your run. For example:
- Equip Athena’s Owl Pendant to secure early Divine Dash.
- Use Demeter’s Frost Globe if you want to start with Freeze-related Boons.
- Swap Keepsakes between regions to attract new gods and expand your options.
Conclusion
Boons are the foundation of every successful run in Hades 2. They dictate your fighting style, influence your survivability, and define how your weapon and Hex evolve over the course of a night. Each god’s blessings introduce new mechanics — from Zeus’s lightning to Demeter’s freezing winds — and understanding how they interact is key to surviving deeper into the Underworld.
The best runs balance offense, defense, and synergy. Securing reliable core Boons such as Divine Dash, Arctic Ring, or Sea Storm early can carry you through most encounters, while carefully combining elemental curses unlocks powerful Duo Boons that multiply your damage output.
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Patrick Yu is a Senior Project Manager at Level Interactive and has 8 years of experience writing business, legal, lifestyle, gaming, and technology articles. He is a significant contributor to Acer Corner and is currently based in Taipei, Taiwan.
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