How To Unlock (& Use) All Boons In Hades 2

Collecting powerful boons from the Gods and Goddesses of Olympus and the realms beyond is essential to a deep run in Hades 2. Boons are offerings that can empower Melinoe with active or passive effects. Before diving into Erebus for another run, check out the boons available in Hades 2.

Boons in Hades 2 are crucial to understand, as the right boons can completely shift a player’s approach to the game. Boons impact every single part of gameplay, adding enhancements to basic attacks, Casts, Specials, and all Omega abilities. While all boons are beneficial in some way, some certainly are preferable. It’s important to understand how to get boons and how each works in Hades 2. Likely, as we progress down Hades 2's road map, more boons and even new Gods and Goddesses may be introduced.

Related Hades 2: How Melinoë Will Be Different Compared To Zagreus Hades 2 could play very differently with Melinoë in the lead position instead of Zagreus, with its reveal trailer showing off new weapons and powers.

How To Unlock Boons

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You can unlock boons through room rewards or from Charon’s store. The core gameplay loop in Hades 2 sees Melinoe fight from room to room until she reaches a boss, such as Headmistress Hecate or Scylla and the Sirens.

Each room offers a different reward bestowed upon Melinoe for completion. These rooms can contain important reagents, ability upgrades, empowered gear, or offerings from the Gods.

Before you enter a new room, you can infer which God or Goddess’ reward lies beyond the door. A symbol represents each God, Zeus being a lightning bolt, Aphrodite a hearty, Hestia a flame, and so on. Boons are completely randomized, ranging from Common to Epic and scaling in ability, damage, or effect. Overall, the rarer the boon, the better.

All Apollo Boons

Expand Melinoe's Attacks

Apollo's boons in Hades 2 empower Melinoe by increasing her attack damage or range, but also by inflicting the daze effect on enemies. Whenever afflicted by daze, enemies are much more likely to miss their attacks. Whenever paired with a fast build, such as the Sister Blades weapons that Melinoe can wield, this can be a powerful combination.

Boon Name Description Element Type Beach Ball Sprints create a watery sphere behind you that surges toward enemies and bursts. Aether Back Burner Foes that have been Dazed take more damage if struck from behind. (Dazed foes have a 20% chance to deal zero damage on attacks) Fire Blinding Sprint Melinoe’s spring is faster and inflicts a Daze effect on enemies. Fire Dazzling Display All attacks inflict Daze on enemies. Fire Extra Dose All attacks have the chance to hit twice. Fire

Boon Name Description Element Type Exceptional Talent Omega attacks and specials fire off twice but consume additional Magick. Air Lucid Gain Whenever standing in a cast, gradually restore Magick. Air Light Smite Whenever you take damage, you inflict Daze on all enemies. Fire Perfect Image In every encounter, you deal increased damage until you receive damage. Air Self Healing If you have at least three fire boons, you restore health whenever you receive damage. N/A Solar Ring After your Omega Cast ceases, it rapidly deals increased damage for two seconds. Fire Super Nova Casts continuously expand until it expires. Air

All Aphrodite Boons

Mark Foes With Weaken To Deal Increased Damage.

Aphrodite's boons primarily work to inflict enemies with a weakening effect. When under the Goddess's spell, enemies that are weakened deal less damage. Depending on the rarity of your Aprhodite boon, this can scale anywhere from 10% to 30%. Aphrodite's boons pair well with Apollo, since daze and weaken both work to eliminate the enemy's offensive actions.

Boon Name Description Element Type Broken Resolve All enemies afflicted by Weak effects take increased damage. (Weak effect causes afflicted enemies to deal 10% less damage.) Water Flutter Flourish Special attacks deal more damage. Water Flutter Strike Attacks deal more damage. Water Glamour Gain In every encounter, one foe always starts Weakened. You regenerate Magick whenever standing near Weakened foes. Air Heart Breaker Whenever you gain 30 Magick, summon a Hearththrob. This is an explosive projectile that forms around Melinoe and explodes after 20 seconds. Water Healthy Rebound Whenever you exit a room, restore 100% health if you have not lost too much. Water Life Affirmation Any max life rewards you find have a greater effect. Air

Boon Name Description Element Type Passion Dash Melinoe’s dashes create a blast at the start and end points. Afflicts nearby enemies with Weak status effect. Air Rapture Ring Your Cast drags in enemies and inflicts Weak status effect Air Secret Crush Whenever you enter a room, your Magick limit is reduced but adds additional power to attacks. Air Shameless Attitude When Melinoe has at least 80% health remaining, you deal increased damage. Air Wispy Wiles If you have at least 4 Air Boons, you can Dodge any damage. (Dodge automatically negates any damage you would have otherwise taken, even on a hit.) Air

All Artemis Boons

Get Additional Support & Critical Strike Abilities.

Artemis is a returning Goddess and Melinoe's sister, the new protagonist of Hades 2. Artemis is not like the other Gods or Goddesses, as she directly assists Melinoe in combat before bestowing her with a gift. Artemis provides additional damage by seeking arrows and marks foes, which makes getting critical hits off much more likely.

Boon Name Description Element Type Death Warrant A random foe becomes Marked. If the target takes Critical Damage, the mark moves onto another target. (Marked targets have a 30% chance of receiving critical damage from any attack.) Earth Easy Shot An arrow fires at any enemy struck by your Omega cast. Earth First Blood Foes with 80% health or armor take Critical Damage. Earth

Boon Name Description Element Type Lethal Snare Enemies trapped in your Cast take Critical Damage from attacks. Earth Silver Streak After dashing, your Omega abilities deal more damage for two seconds. Air Support Fire After your attack or special hits an enemy, a seeking arrow is fired. Air

All Demeter Boons In Hades 2

Freeze Your Enemies

Demeter is one of the new Gods introduced in Hades 2. Like Poseidon, Demeter focused on crowd control by temporarily freezing and slowing opponents. This makes attacks much easier to dodge. If you're looking for a slower playstyle, potentially with the Moonstone Axe, then you should be on the lookout for Demeter's boons.

Boon Name Description Element Type Arctic Ring Cast deal damage with an increased area-of-effect and inflict Freeze on nearby targets. (Freeze temporarily stops all targets for two seconds.) Water Cold Storage Freeze effects last for longer. Water Coarse Grit If you have at least six Earth Boons, then you take less damage per hit. Earth Cherish Heirloom All Keepsakes increase in strength during your run. Aether Frigid Sprint Sprints form a Cyclone that lingers at your endpoint. Water

Boon Name Description Element Type Gale Force Casts also create a Cyclone at the center. Water Ice Flourish Specials deal more damage and inflict the Freeze Status effect. Water Ice Strike Attacks deal more damage and inflict the Freeze status effect. Water Natural Selection Boons are more likely to be rare but exclude gold, Magick, and life rewards. Aether Plentiful Forage Receive one Mystery Seed every time you gather plants, seeds, mushrooms, or gain health. Earth Rare Crop After every Omega Cast use, it gets stronger. Consumes an additional 5 Magick. Earth Tranquil Gain When remaining idle for one second, Melinoe restores Magick. Earth Winter Coat Enter each room with a barrier that absorbs one instance of damage. Earth

All Hephaestus Boons In Hades 2

Shield Yourself & Deal Devastating Blows.

Hephaestus has one of the more unique effects in Hades 2. Vent is an affliction that deals delayed burst damage, which helps in quickly clearing out large portions of the battlefield. Due to this delay feature, encounters can take longer to clear with Hephaestus' boons, although it is satisfying to see enemy health bars disappear within seconds.

Aside from Vent, Hephaestus also provides plenty of boons that can supplement your health, Magick, and other boons.

Boon Name Description Element Type Anvil Ring Casts deal damage three total times in quick succession, but the area of effect is reduced. Earth Fixed Gain You take -10% damage and restore Magick whenever you receive damage Earth Furnace Blast Blast effects from other Hephaestus boons inflict a Vent status effect on foes. (Vent causes foes to take a burst of damage after five seconds.) Fire Heavy Metal Gain armor and immunity to knock-back effects. Earth Martial Art Attacks and special deals increase damage for each Earth boon you have. Earth

Boon Name Description Element Type Mint Condition At the beginning of each encounter, you are briefly immune to damage. Earth Molten Touch Attacks and Specials deal increased damage to armored foes. Fire Trusty Shield Whenever you enter a new room, Melinoe gains Prime 30 Magick to gain armor until you reach the next room. Earth Tough Trade If you receive damage while performing an attack or special, it deals increased damage. Fire Uncanny Fortitude Gain bonus max health points based on your Magick Limit. Earth Volcanic Flourish Specials have the chance to create a blast that deals 400 damage. Fire Volcanic Strike Attacks have the chance to create a blast that deals 200 damage. Fire

All Hera Boons In Hades 2

Empower your existing boons with Hera's unique gifts.

Hera boons are extremely rare in Hades 2, being among the least likely that you'll see from room-to-room. Her Hitch effect is undeniably effective in quickly clearing out rooms, and sharing damage between all afflicted targets. Hera is also useful in upgrading your existing boons, especially if you have taken other Earth element-type boons from Hera, Hephaestus, or similar deities.

Boon Name Description Element Type Bridal Glow All boons become Heroic. Earth Born Gain Whenever you reach your Magick Limit, Prime to restore all Magick up to a now-reduced limit. Earth Dying Wish Whenever Hitch-afflicted foes are slain, damage is given to all other Hitch-afflicted foes in the area. (Hitch-inflicted foes take 30% of the damage dealt to other hitch-afflicted foes) Earth Engagement Ring Casts last 200% longer and deal additional damage to every foe that enters the encounter. Earth Family Trade Sacrifice Boons now become stronger. Earth Hereditary Bane Your Hitch effects deal more damage and last an additional five seconds. Earth Keen Intuition Whenever you use Omega moves while you have max Magick, they deal more damage. Earth Nexus Sprint Sprints now inflict Hitch on nearby foes. This effect spreads to surrounding enemies Earth Nasty Comeback After you take damage, inflict your attack with Hitched and deal increased damage. Earth Proper Upbringing When you have at least three Earth Boons, all your common boons increase in rarity. Aether Queen’s Ransom Surrender all boons of Zeus. For each boon lost, raise the level for all Hera boons. Aether Sworn Flourish Specials deal more damage and inflict Hitch effect on foes. Earth Sworn Strike Attacks deal more damage and inflict Hitch effect Earth Uncommon Grace While none of your boons are common, deal more damage Earth

All Hermes Boones In Hades 2

Increase Melinoe's speed and agility with Hermes' boons.

As you might expect, this fleet-of-foot God works to increase Melinoe's mobility and attack speed. Boons such as Swift Strike can either offset slower weapons, or work to hasten quicker builds even further. Hermes also provides an incredibly valuable dodge ability.

With this, even when Melinoe would have taken damage on hit, she has the chance to completely negate any incoming damage. Although the percent chance is usually low, even at higher rarity, offsetting any damage is a massive benefit.

Boon Name Description Element Type Greater Evasion Whenever you are struck, you can Dodge any damage. (Dodge allows you to automatically negate any incoming damage, even on hit.) Air Hard Target Foes' ranged attacks are slowed. Air Mean Streak Each time you eliminate a foe, you deal increased damage for 30 seconds. Air Midnight Oil Whenever your Hex is prepared, you move and attack faster. Air Nitro Boost Your sprint is 20% faster and gives a barrier that provides brief immunity to damage. Fire Quick Buck Gold Crowns now come in greater amounts. Air Saved Breath Omega casts now cost less Magick. Earth Swift Flourish Specials are now faster. Earth Swift Strike Attacks are now faster. Earth Tall Order If you have at least two of each element type (Earth, Water, Air, and Fire), you deal more damage. Aether Witty Retort Your Hex requires less Magick. Earth

All Hestia Boons In Hades 2

The Goddess of Fire can leave a lasting impression on foes.

Hestia is one of the new Goddesses that made her way into Hades 2. The Goddess of the Flame deals the scorch status effect throughout various boons. This is a damage-over-time ability that will slowly burn away the enemy's health, even while you are not attacking.

Hestia's boons are particularly useful in boss fights, such as the early fights against either the Witch Headmistress Hecate or Scylla and the Sirens. If you are looking for a consistent source of supplemental damage, then be on the lookout for Hestia's flame.

Boon Name Description Element Type Burning Desire Up to 12 Shades appear in all encounters. If you sprint to the Shades, they can launch fire bolts at foes. Aether Burnt Offering Gain max health and max Magick, but surrend one boon selected by Hestia. Fire Controlled Burn Your Omega Special can also launch a fiery missile. Consumes an additional 10 Magick. Fire Fire Extinguisher Foes with at least 300 Scorch take another burst of damage. (Scorch deals an additional 40 damage every second.) Fire Flame Flourish Special attacks now inflict Scorch. Fire Flame Strike Attacks now inflict Scorch. Fire Flammable Coating Scorch now deals bonus damage to armored foes. Fire Glowing Coal Hold casts now shoot a fiery projectile that explodes and deals area-of-effect damage. Fire Hearth Gain -20% max life, but you rapidly resoter Magick. Fire Natural Gas Whenever Scorched foes are eliminated, the effect swaps to another, nearby foe. Fire Slow Cooker Attacks and specials gain extrda damage for every fire boon you have. Fire Smolder Ring Casts inflict Scorch on foes. Fire Soot Sprint Sprints now inflict Scorch on nearby foes and destroys any surrounding projectiles. Fire

All Poseidon Boons In Hades 2

The God of the Sea deals in knock-back and ranged attacks.

Poseidon's boons haven't changed since the original Hades game. The majority of Posedion's boons are concerned with controlling the battlefield through a knock-back effect and by increasing Melinoe's range. Whenever paired with the Witch's Staff, Melinoe can deal significant damage without needing to put herself in danger. Ocean's Bounty is also an excellent room if you need to farm up on any materials.

Boon Name Description Element Type Breaker Sprint Sprint deals additional damage on impact and knocks back enemies. Consumes five Magick per hit. Water Crashing Wave Knock-back effect slams foes into barriers and creates a watery blast. Water Double Up Minor Finds have the chance to double. Water Flood Control Whenever you start an encounter, you reduce Magick damage taken. Water Fluid Gain Your strikes ahve the chance to spawn a Spirit Bubble. Spirit Bubbles restore 20 Magick whenever touched. Water Geyser Ring Omega casts immediately detonate and inflict knock-back effect. Water Hydraulic Might At the beginning of every encounter, you attacks and specials are stronger for the first 10 seconds. Water Island Getaway Receive less damage from foes. Water Ocean's Bounty Minor Finds and Golden Crowns are more plentiful. Water Slippery Slope Splash effects from other Poseidan boons also deal Slip. Water Sunken Treasure Gain either Gold Crowns, Ashes, Healing, or Psyche. Water Water Fitness When you have at least four Water boons, gain increased max health. Water Wave Flourish Specials gain knock-back effect. Water Wave Strike Attacks gain kncok-back effect. Water

All Zeus Boons In Hades 2

Fire off damaging lightning bolts with the King of Olympians.

The King of Olympians' boons are all concerned with dealing with lightning damage. Zeus features some of the best cast features in the entire game, also with plenty of retribution effects that severely punish enemies for striking Melinoe. If you're looking for a powerful cast ability, then be sure to check behind Zeus's doors.

Boon Names Description Element Type Air Quality Whenever you have at least five Air boons, you deal increased damage. Air Apocalyptic Storm Blitz effect lasts longer and activates against all Blitz-afflicted enemies. (Blitz causes foes to be struck by lightning after Melinoe has received 120 damage.) Air Divine Vengeance Whenver you receive damage, foes are struck by lightning. There is a 50% chance for another lightning strike. Air Double Strike Lightning bolt effect have the chance to strike an additonal time. Air Electric Overload Whenever Blitz activates, a chain-lightning bolt strikes through foes. Air Heaven Flourish Specials inflict Blitz. Air Heaven Strike Attacks inflict Blitz. Air Iconic Gain Total Magick is reduced by 70%, but you restore Magick faster. Air King's Ransom Surrender all Hera boons. For each, raise the rarity level of your Zeus boons. Aether Lightning Lance Hold cast to throw a binding circle. All enemies trapped within are struck by lightning. Air Spirit Surge When you have 10 or less Magick, all foes are occassionally struck by lightning. Air Static Shock When starting an encounter, prime 50 Magick to make your strikes emit chain-lightning. Air Storm Ring Your Omega casts also cause lightning bolts to strike foes. Air Thunder Sprint Sprint causes any nearby foes to be struck by lightning. Consumes three Magick for every stuck foe. Air Toasting Fork Blitz effect deals damage even if it expires. Air