10 Best Keepsakes In Hades 2

Keepsakes are important tools to help Melinoë through the various regions of the Underworld and Surface in Hades 2. Each Keepsake provides a unique and powerful buff that lasts for as long as you have the Keepsake equipped (with a couple of exceptions). They also represent your relationships with the gods and mythical beings you encounter.

When you give an NPC like Icarus, Nemesis, or Posideon their first Nectar, they'll give you a Keepsake in return, themed after their powers and personality. Keepsakes behave just as they did in Hades, and just like Hades, some Keepsakes are naturally stronger than others. If you're unsure who to give your first Nectar to, give it to characters with the best Keepsakes.

In the Early Access version of Hades 2, all Keepsakes appear as brass rings. The final designs and abilities of each Keepsake may change after full release.

Related How To Unlock (& Use) All Keepsakes In Hades 2 You can earn Keepsakes from different gods and important characters in Hades 2 as items that provide passive bonuses to help you on your next run.

10 Ghost Onion

Dora's Keepsake

Dora, the Listless Shade, is a shade that hangs around Melinoë's chambers, haunting about the Crossroads as a generally laid-back character. Her Keepsake, the Ghost Onion, is helpful for new players struggling to get through Erebus. If you equip the Ghost Onion before setting out, the Keepsake will restore your life when you exit a room. Depending on its level, the Ghost Onion can restore a maximum of 50, 75, or 100 Life throughout the run.

The Ghost Onion ranks lower than other Keepsakes due to its healing limitations. However, it is the perfect crutch for players still learning to manage Hades 2 and its barrage of attacks. Just remember that its power won't last forever.

9 Metallic Droplet

Hermes' Keepsake

While the gods are busy protecting Olympus from the forces of Chronos, they still have the time to send down some Boons to help Melinoë, just as they helped Zagreus on his mission long ago. While the variety of Boons in Hades 2 between all the gods is similar, each has a different approach to helping Melinoë. Marcuz-X on YouTube shows off the earliest introductions to the gods.

God/Goddess Domains Boon Style Aphrodite Love, Passion Weaken enemies, versatile Boon style Apollo The Sun, Music Stun enemies, improve damage Artemis The Moon, Hunting Join you in combat, long-distance attacks Demeter Harvest, The Seasons Crowd control, immobilize enemies Hephaestus The Forge, Volcanoes Defensive bonuses Hera Marriage, Family Spreading out damage and effectiveness Hermes Messages, Speed & dodge buffs Hestia Fire, The Hearth Restore full Magick & Life, damage over time Posideon The Ocean, Earthquakes Resource harvesting and knock-back effects Zeus The Sky, Thunder Chain lightning attacks, delayed damage

While each god has their perks, Hermes is one of the best gods to focus on due to his speed boosts. If there is any god you want to meet early on and appease, it would be Hermes. Like his Olympian counterparts, his Keepsake, the Metallic Droplet, increases your chances of finding his Boons while improving their quality.

If you're having trouble finding a god or want their Boons, equipping their Keepsake is the easiest way to continue gaining their favor. Unsure how good Hermes is? Check out his Boons below.

Boon Official Description Greater Evasion Whenever you are struck, you can Dodge any damage. Hard Target Foes' ranged attacks are slowed. Mean Streak Each time you slay a foe, deal more damage for the next 30 Sec. Midnight Oil While your Hex is ready, you move and strike faster. Nitro Boost Your Sprint is 20% faster and gives you a barrier that ignores instances of damage. Quick Buck You find Gold Crowns in greater quantities. Receive 100 Gold Crowns now, plus the bonus! Saved Breath Your Omega Cast uses less Magick. Swift Florish Your Specials are faster. Swift Strike Your Attacks are faster. Tall Order If you have at least two of each element type, you deal more damage. Witty Retort Your Hex requires using less Magick before it is ready.

8 Concave Stone

Echo's Keepsake

As Video Game News on YouTube shows above, Echo can only repeat snippets of what other people have just said. Despite her sad fate, she wants to help Melinoë and thus gives her a Concave Stone following her first Nectar.

When you pick up a new Boon during your run, there is a 25% chance of getting an additional Boon. Just as Echo copies the surrounding sounds, her Keepsake copies Boons. However, this effect only occurs once per night.

Echo is one of many NPCs in Early Access that do not have a complete design. While she has her 2D sprite for conversations, her 3D sprite is a stand-in depicting a tall, cloaked figure. This sprite is also used for 2D stand-ins, such as with Charon.

7 Silver Wheel

Hecate's Keepsake

Custom Image by Katarina Cimbaljevic

Sure, you may have to beat Headmistress Hecate in Hades 2 as the first main boss, but you're also her student and friend, and thus, she deserves to know you care for her with a bit of Nectar. Hecate's Keepsake is the Silver Wheel.

As the goddess of witchcraft, Hecate's Keepsake is intrinsically connected to Magick. With the Silver Wheel, you restore Magick after its use, quickly regaining it in just a few seconds.

Like the Ghost Onion, the Silver Wheel is limited to how much Magick will restore in a single night. However, if you need to get a lot of Magick back quickly, the Silver Wheel is an excellent choice for a Keepsake.

6 Silken Sash

Arachne's Keepsake

Arachne is the first spider in the world and a master weaver. She can be randomly found in Erebus, ready to offer a wide range of armor through her Silken Fineries shop. She is a rather adorable spider whose Keepsake, the Silken Sash, acts like a minor variation of her dresses.

The Silken Sash starts you out with +20 armor. When you successfully clear a room, you'll gain two more armor. The Silken Sash is a great way to ensure you have Arachne's blessing if you can't find her room and purchase one of her wares.

Outfit Perks Azure Dress Restore 5 Magick every second. +60 Armor. Emerald Dress Restore 2 Life whenever you exit a Location. +50 Armor. Lavender Dress Channel 40% faster. +30 Armor. Moonlight Dress Receive 5 Gold Crowns whenever you exit a Location. +20 Armor. Onyx Dress Receive one Fate Fabric immediately. +60 Armor. Scarlet Dress Casts deal +100% damage. +10 Armor.

5 Blackened Fleece

Medea's Keepsake

You won't be able to meet Medea until you reach the Surface in Hades 2, but she's worth meeting, as you can see in Video Games News' YouTube video. Medea offers an excellent Blackened Fleece if you manage to befriend her. The Blackened Fleece refers to the Golden Fleece, which Medea helped her former lover Jason acquire during his voyage on the Argonautica. However, Medea was later betrayed by Jason, hence the Keepsake's black dye.

The Blackened Fleece supplies a damage bonus to your Omega Moves after you take 250 damage during your run. This is excellent for players constantly getting hurt and even rewards your carelessness. You won't get this Keepsake for a while since Medea lurks in the City of Ephyra, but obtaining it is worth the trip.

4 Knuckle Bones

Odysseus' Keepsake

Odysseus, the star of the famous Odyssey, takes over Achilles' role from Hades as a Veteran Tactician, advising Melinoë and her allies on their war against Chronos.

He's one of a few NPCs you can invite to the Hot Springs with Bath Salts and is a consistent source of support. If you win his favor with Nectar, he'll give you Knuckle Bones, a perfect representation of his cunning, luck, and monster-fighting prowess.

The Knuckle Bones activate when you get to a boss battle like Eris or Scylla and the Sirens in Hades 2. Upon reaching the boss, they will immediately lose some of their health, with the percentage depending on the Knuckle Bones' Rank.

This Keepsake also reduces all damage taken by bosses by 15%. The Knuckle Bones could be the difference between returning to the Crossroads and getting to the next region.

Related Hades 2: How To Find (& Beat) Eris, Strife Incarnate (Boss Fight) Eris, Strife Incarnate, is a boss on the Surface in Hades 2 who stands in your path as a powerful opponent almost as difficult to beat as Chronos.

3 Transcendent Embryo

Chaos' Keepsake

While Chaos' new design has stirred up a bit of fan discourse, their curse-like Boons are still as popular as ever. When you venture into the realm of Chaos and speak to the rather apathetic god, you'll get a special type of Boon.

This Boon starts as a hindrance, making it harder for you to progress through the Underworld. Survive long enough, however, and the burden transforms into a wonderful and robust buff.

Chaos offers the Transcendent Embryo as a Keepsake when you first give them Nectar in Hades 2. Equipping Transcendent Embryo during your run will immediately give you a random Common Chaos Boon. Even better, if you don't like the Boon, you can replace it after every eight encounters. This can be a great perk to start a new run with, especially if you want the challenge Chaos and their Boons offer.

2 Aromatic Phial

Narcissus' Keepsake

Narcissus and his Aromatic Phial may not have official art in the Early Access version of Hades 2, but the effects of his Keepsake are generous, nonetheless. Narcissus is a famous Greek mortal whose self-obsession led him to stare into his reflection for so long that he eventually died.

His Keepsake fits his narcissism by playing with Fountains; the ever-useful resting spots randomly spawned into regions like Erebus and Oceanus.

With the Aromatic Phial, Fountains restore +20% more Life. Not only that but the next time you encounter a fountain, it will improve the quality of one of your Common Boons. If you want to use this Keepsake more, invest in LifeSpring Incantations at the Cauldron, which allows Fountains to spawn in various regions.

1 Luckier Tooth

Schelemeus' Keepsake

Skelly's had a significant upgrade since the last time players saw him (although some fans debate whether he is the same skeleton or not). Now known as Schelemeus the Training Master, he still offers a game-changing Keepsake, buffed and better than ever: the Luckier Tooth. For many players, the Luckier Tooth is an essential Keepsake for difficult boss battles, bringing them back for one last push.

Depending on the Luckier Tooth's Rank, when you fall to 0 Life, rather than dying, you'll restore a large chunk of Life and press on. This allows you to bounce back when you're shoved into a corner and give it your all before you must return to the Crossroads and try again. This life-restoring Keepsake is undoubtedly the best Keepsake in the Early Access version of Hades 2.

Video Credit: Marcuz-X/YouTube, Video Games News/YouTube, Video Games News/YouTube