Hades 2: How To Find (& Beat) Charybdis the Devouring (Boss Fight)

The sea monster Charybdis the Devouring appears as a mini-boss in Hades 2, which you can only beat by slowly chipping away at its health by attacking exposed limbs. This creature of classical mythology seeks to eat anything caught in its maw, which generates a whirlpool to suck in unfortunate sailors. You'll have to avoid becoming this boss' next snack by hitting it where it hurts to progress your run.

You encounter Charybdis within the Rift of Thessaly along your path to the Surface in Hades 2, which can only be unlocked when you cast the Permeation of Witching-Wards Incantation that opens this route. This alternate area is in the opposite direction from the Underworld path usually taken from the Crossroads. As you may expect, you have to fight your way through multiple rooms of enemies to reach the boss.

You have to use 1 Shadow, 3 Moly, and a Cinder in Hades 2 to cast the Incantation that breaks the seal to the Surface and reach the area where you can challenge Charybdis.

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Best Weapon Against Charybdis

Prioritize Heavy Single-Target Damage

The best weapon to use on Charybdis is the Moonstone Axe due to its extremely high damage that can tear through the boss' health bar in record time. With only 15 Silver, you can craft this powerful weapon to heavily strike Charybdis' body parts throughout the fight. This weapon is slow, but its attacks are powerful and release a small shockwave that can affect other targets in an Area of Effect (AoE) blast.

You want to approach this boss fight with simple but effective Aspects to your weapon that boost its damage numbers to the max. Apply temporary upgrades to a run that increases your attacking power to enhance the Axe even further in Hades 2. Doing this will allow you to destroy Charybdis fast, giving you the resources you need to deal with other enemies and bosses that show up in future areas during a Surface run.

Another weapon good against Charybdis is the Sister Blades, a fast melee weapon that trades some damage for speedy attacks and ranged daggers. Most ranged weapons available for Melinoë in Hades 2 struggle to apply damage quickly at times, sacrificing speed for a safe distance from enemies. These Blades can still function like the Axe, targeting Charybdis' many vulnerable limbs at close range.

Best Boons Against Charybdis

Use Passive Buffs To Exploit The Boss' Weaknesses

The gods, heroes, and other characters in Hades 2 with the strongest Boons against Charybdis seem to be Artemis, Aphrodite, and Zeus. Artemis can grant you favorable buffs that greatly increase your Critical Hit chances on single targets like the devouring monster boss. The Death Warrant Boon in particular can cause Charybdis to have a 30% higher chance to take Critical damage for a short period of time.

Aprhodite's Boons focus on dealing more damage to foes you are close to, emphasizing a strategy that Melinoë should use while fighting Charybdis. The goddess of love's buffs also improve your survivability, giving you more ways to last beyond the boss fight in Hades 2. Flutter Strike and Shameless Attitude are both excellent bonuses you can choose to give Melinoë a great advantage before challenging Charybdis.

The Boons of Zeus are fairly straightforward, allowing you to summon lightning bolts that create a secondary source of damage against the boss. Along with whatever weapon you picked for your run, you want to constantly apply pain to Charybdis' appendages scattered around the battlefield. Boons that affect a wide area or deal large single-target damage will work the best if you are struggling to combat the sea monster.

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How To Defeat Charybdis the Devouring

Pay Attention To What Every Tentacle Is Doing

Charybdis starts the boss fight by summoning five tentacles around a circular arena with narrow platforms you have to navigate. It can be difficult to Dodge or Sprint properly around the perimeter of the battlefield, so move carefully to avoid attacks within the limited space. At first, Charybdis will only use large AoE slam and wave attacks that can be easily dodged if you understand the restrictions of the environment.

Unlike Headmistress Hecate in Hades 2, there are multiple targets to pick from throughout this boss fight. Damaging each tentacle of Charybdis lowers the overall health of the sea monster.

Charybdis The Devouring Move List Attack Description How To Counter Tentacle Smash Charybdis' tentacles do an individual AoE slam attack into the ground, releasing a shockwave burst that deals damage. Dodge around the back of an individual tentacle, where there is a safe spot behind it. Red Orbs When Charybdis' health reachs 70%, it recalls every tentacle underwater and shoots a variety of red orb projectiles in every direction. Find spaces in between projectile orbs to avoid them, even as they break apart and turn into multiple, smaller orbs as they reach the edge of the arena. Tentacle Resummon Charybdis resummons all five tentacles in different spots on the battlefield. The AoE space where these appendages come back deals damage. Watch for the red circle charging on spots where each tentacle will resurface, then avoid those areas with a Dodge or by Sprinting. Arrow Rain After being recalled, Charybdis' tentacles can now fire a pink arrow where you are standing. A small, pink line forms on the ground where a tentacle's arrow is aimed. Wait until this line stops and Dodge out of the path it formed to avoid the projectile. Tentacle Whirlwind Charybdis will recall its tentacles again when it reaches 30% of its max health. When the tentacles return, they can use a spinning AoE melee strike that pushes you back if you get hit. This move only happens when you stay too close to a tentacle. Dodge as soon as you see it perform anything other than the Tentacle Smash attack.

As you can see in the above video by Trophygamers, you'll want to start attacking the two closest tentacles to you before slowly making your way in one direction toward the back of the arena. Eventually, the number of tentacles and attacks you have to worry about will recede, allowing you to easily beat Charybdis the Devouring in Hades 2 and claim your reward.

Source: Trophygamers/YouTube