11 Best Gods To Meet First In Hades 2, Ranked

As you play through Hades 2, you're bound to come across rooms which make you pick between two different gods, or a path that takes you toward some gods but not others. When faced with these decisions, which gods or goddesses do you choose to stand behind? Which deities give you the best tools to defeat Chronos?

The best Boons in Hades 2 are scattered among the gods, but you don't get to choose which Boons a god offers, only which god you speak with. As such, it is important to strategize during your runs and determine the best path forward with the options thrown at you. Every god has their value and is worth a visit, but you'll want to appease some more than the rest.

Related How To Unlock (& Use) All Boons In Hades 2 Boons are an integral part of Hades 2 that can massively impact gameplay. The right boons can make a descent through the Underworld a cakewalk.

11 Chaos, Primordial Originator

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It's hard to compare Chaos to the other gods and goddesses because they behave differently from everyone else, existing in their own dimension and caring little for what's actually happening in Olympus and the Underworld. Their realm is an important seed location in Hades 2, and their involvement makes each run interesting, but despite the strong effects of their Boons, Chaos is not the sort of god you want to meet every run.

In order to meet Chaos, rather than going through a door with their sigil on it, you'll need to find a Chaos Gate; a golden circle with two colorful eyes. You'll need to pay a bit of Life to enter the realm of Chaos, but that's the price for an exciting challenge.

Chaos' Boons, Explained

Just as Chaos' attitude is drastically different from the passionate and highly involved gods and goddesses of Olympus, so too are their Boons different. When you first choose a Boon of Chaos, you'll be struck with a handicap. This could be reduced Life, punishments for certain actions, fewer opportunities, and more. This handicap clings to you for a set amount of time or until you complete a certain amount of actions, such as collecting enough Boons or going through enough Locations.

Once you complete the Boons requirement, the handicap will fall off and be replaced with an excellent upgrade, such as speed boosts or improved Magick consumption. These improvements are excellent, but the price to unlock them may trip up inexperienced players. As such, if you aren't ready to pay the price, it is better to give Chaos some room and meet them when your skills have grown.

10 Poseidon, God Of The Sea

Poseidon returns in Hades 2, just as enthusiastic to help Melinoë as he was to help Zagreus long ago. Melinoë's uncle is a lively sort with a few strong Boons in his kit, depending on how you want to handle your runs. Still, unless you need to give yourself some room from the teeming masses or desperately need a resource, when given the choice, it's better to skip Poseidon for one of Melinoë's other relatives.

Poseidon's Boons, Explained

Each of the Olympians has a special Curse you can inflict on enemies, if you have one of their combat Boons. Poseidon's Curse is called Slip. Slip opens enemies up to more damage and makes it easier to knock them away, similar to how Poseidon's Boons behaved in Hades. This effect can be useful in crowded combat situations, but if you rely on your melee weapons, it can trip you up.

Poseidon also has a number of resource related Boons. These Boons help you collect more Gold Crowns or Minor Finds. Poseidon's biggest resource Boons include Double Up, Ocean's Bounty, and Sunken Treasure. It's worth picking those up if you run into Poseidon on your runs, but if there is another god around, it's better to seek their aid first.

9 Hestia, Goddess Of Flame

Hestia is one of the new gods to appear in Hades 2 (replacing gods like Ares, Dionysus, and Athena). She is the goddess of fire and the hearth and frequently swaps her seat among the twelve main Olympians with Dionysus in Greek mythology. Her Curse is the main focus of all her Boons, making her less adaptable or effective than other gods and goddesses, but if you like her Curse, then you'll like visiting Hestia.

Hestia's Boons, Explained

Scorch, Hestia's signature Curse, is all about DoT (damage over time). Enemies with Scorch take 40 damage every second, making this an excellent curse for widdling away at enemy Life. Almost all of Hestia's Boons are about inflicting Scorch and spreading its effects. As such, Hestia can feel a bit one-note to some.

All that being said, Hestia's Boons are great for defeating Hecate in Hades 2 and are useful to pick up while exploring Erebus. Scorch damage lets you slide past Hecate's shield in her second phase, so if you're struggling to defeat the goddess of witchcraft, pay Hestia a visit. The goddess of flame is better ignored in later regions, however.

One of Hestia's best Boons is Burnt Offering. This Boon restores your Max Life and Max Magick, helping you out of a tricky spot. However, Hestia will remove one of your current Boons at random, so pick this Boon at your own risk.

8 Zeus, King Of The Olympians

Zeus, as king of the gods and the second of Melinoë's uncles, takes a vested interest in Melinoë and her quest to kill the Titan of Time. Being the god of lightning, all of Zeus' Boons are lightning-themed and connected to the element of Air (which plays into Infusion Boons and a few minor mechanics). Zeus faces a similar issue to Hestia in that he is largely focused on his special chain lightning effect and thus lacks the same versatility as his children and siblings.

Zeus' Boons, Explained

Zeus' Boons are split between two effects; his Curse, Blitz, and chain lightning. Blitz focuses on delayed damage, striking affected enemies with lightning after they take 120 damage. This delayed damage can frustrate many players and is overall inferior to Zeus' chain lightning. Chain lightning sparks between multiple enemies, acting as a useful area of effect attack. When calling for Zeus' aid, it is better to pick his chain lightning Boons than his Blitz Boons.

Boon Description Air Quality You deal increased damage if you have five Air Boons equipped. Apocalyptic Storm Blitz lasts longer and is more effective. Divine Vengeance When you take damage, the enemy that hit you is struck by lightning with a 50% chance of being struck a second time. Double Strike Lightning bolts have a chance to strike again. Electric Overload When Blitz activates, it also activates chain lightning. Heaven Flourish Specials inflict Blitz. Heaven Strike Attacks inflict Blitz. Iconic Gain You'll gradually regain Magick, but your Max Magick is reduced to 70%. King's Ransom Raise the rarity level of your current Zeus Boons based on how many Hera Boons you have. Surrender all Hera Boons. Lightning Lance Foes caught within your binding circle are struck by lightning. Spirit Surge When you're down to 10 Magick or less, your enemies will occasionally be struck by lightning. Static Shock Prime 50 Magick at the start of a fight so that your strikes create chain lightning. Storm Ring Omega Casts cause lightning to repeatedly strike one enemy at a time. Thunder Sprint Sprinting causes nearby enemies to be struck by lightning. This effect costs 3 Magick each. Toasting Fork Blitz will always deal damage, even if the effect expires before you deal 120 damage.

7 Apollo, God Of Light

The Sun God himself joins his sister as one of Melinoë's allies, ready to grace the Underworld with this dazzling presence. Apollo is an offensive god, but he has more adaptability in his Boons than Hestia or Zeus. In fact, unlike them, his Curse is not about dealing more damage to foes, but rather weakening them under the blinding light of the sun. In some ways, this both helps and hinders Apollo's rank among the gods.

Apollo's Boons, Explained

Daze (Apollo's Curse) is designed to make enemy attacks less effective. When an enemy with Daze hits Melinoë, there is a 20% chance that the attack won't deal any damage. This Curse is great against hard-hitting enemies like Polyphemus in Hades 2, but it is entirely based on RNG, leaving Melinoë vulnerable at random moments. It's better to pick up this Curse through Boons like Blinding Sprint or Light Smite rather than having it as one of your main Curses.

Make sure you pick up some defensive Boons from gods like Hephaestus if you want to collect a lot of Apollo Boons, as lacking them may leave you open to more damage.

Apollo focuses more on generally boosting damage than playing with Daze. His Boons increase AoE and all-in-all damage. Considering many of the gods ranked above Apollo are more defensive or utility-oriented, Apollo is a solid pick if you need good offensive Boons. Just remember to grab some offensive Boons from other gods to make that AoE and damage boost more effective.

6 Hera, Queen Of The Olympians

In Hades, you could only encounter Demeter on your runs once you first breached the surface, although you did not have to defeat Hades. In Hades 2, Hera takes Demeter's position as the latecomer to the party. In order to earn Hera's favor and her Boons, you'll need to reach the surface in Hades 2. While she takes a while to meet, she has some excellent Boons.

Hera's Boons, Explained

Hera's Curse, Hitch, makes afflicted enemies take 30% of the damage dealt to other nearby afflicted enemies. While this curse is ineffective against bosses, it's an amazing Curse for crowd control. Many of her Boons provide drastic improvements, such as strengthening other Boons and providing great damage bonuses. She may not carry you through boss battles, but you'll want to pick out some of her best Boons for the long quest through every region of the Underworld and Surface.

Boon Description Born Again When you run out of Magick, Prime to fully restore your Magick, albeit to a reduced limit. Bridal Glow All Boons are temporarily Heroic. Cherished Heirloom Most Keepsakes are stronger during this run. Dying Wish When Hitch-afflicted enemies die, deal damage to all other Hitch-afflicted enemies. Engagement Ring Casts take twice as long but deal damage to everyone in the fight. Family Trade Sacrifice Boons are stronger. Hereditary Bane Hitch deals more damage and lasts for five more seconds. Keen Intuition If you use Omega Moves at 100% Magick, deal more damage. Nasty Comeback After you take damage, the enemy that hit you takes Hitch and you deal more damage. Nexus Sprint You can Sprint past enemies and inflict them with Hitch, passing it onto more enemies nearby. Proper Upbringing Boost the rarity of your Common Boons if you have at least three Earth Boons. Queen's Ransom Trade in all of your Zeus Boons and upgrade the rarity of your Hera Boons by each Zeus Boon lost. Sworn Flourish Specials deal more damage and inflict Hitch. Sworn Strike Attacks deal more damage and inflict Hitch. Uncommon Grace Deal more damage if you don't have any Common Boons.

5 Demeter, Goddess Of Seasons

Demeter becomes a more consistent presence in Hades 2, seeking revenge for the harm bestowed on her daughter by Chronos and his army. She cares deeply for her granddaughter, and thus sends the deadly chill of winter coursing through the Underworld at Melinoë's command. Demeter makes it easy to keep control of the battlefield.

Demeter's Boons, Explained

Demeter's Curse, known as Freeze, literally freezes enemies in their place for two seconds, leaving them open for a wide barrage of attacks. The Curse does not last long, and you won't be able to reapply it for ten seconds, but it may give you enough time to collect yourself and prepare your next attack.

Technically, Demeter behaves similarly to Hestia, in that both have Boons that largely focus on their Curses, but Demeter's Curse is stronger and more immediate than Hestia's Scorch. Demeter has a few Boons that help her absorb damage. She even has a Boon called Plentiful Forage, which restores Max Life after you pick up a plant or seed like Moly in Hades 2. This is a great Boon to grab regardless of your chosen build.

4 Hephaestus, God Of The Forge

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Hephaestus has taken time away from the forge to help his cousin Melinoë, supplying his skills at the forge to keep the young nymph safe. Hephaestus is the greatest god to contact if you need defensive Boons, as his gifts almost entirely focus on blocking damage. He's almost a mirror of Apollo, as his Curse is the opposite of the rest of his Boons as well.

Hephaestus' Boons, Explained

Hephaestus brings some offense to the table with his Curse, Vent, which acts as a more effective variation of Zeus' Blitz Curse. Vent involves delayed burst damage which triggers five seconds after the enemy is afflicted. So long as the Curse is not reset by reapplying Vent, this is a great way to hit them where it hurts as you ready your defenses with Hephaestus' help.

Speaking of defense, that is where Hephaestus' Boons truly shine. With the right Boons, you can reduce incoming damage, get armor, or even become Impervious for a while! The main downside to Hephaestus and his Boons is that, thanks to his focus on defense, it's hard to base your run on Hephaestus Boons alone. Luckily, you can slide in Hephaestus Boons alongside whatever Boons you collect due to their incredible versatility.

3 Artemis, Goddess Of The Hunt

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Artemis is back and better than ever in Hades 2. In fact, in this game, Artemis actually appears in person to help in a fight, similar to Thanatos in Hades. Once the fight is over, Artemis will offer you some of her Boons. This makes it harder to get in contact with this Moon Sister, but if you're lucky enough to get her aid, make sure to grab one of her strongest Boons, which neatly slide into most builds.

Artemis' Boons, Explained

Artemis is famous for her archery skill in Greek mythology. As such, her Boons allow for more long-range combat and incredible critical damage. Critical damage doubles damage dealt, making it a highly valuable weapon in the fight against Chronos. Artemis increases your chance of dealing critical damage through her Marked Curse, wherein affected enemies have a 30% chance of taking critical damage.

Artemis' Boons are great for fighting Charybdis in Hades 2, especially Boons like Death Warrant (randomly giving an enemy Marked) or Support Fire (allowing for a secondary attack following your Specials and attacks). She doesn't have many Boons in the Early Access version of Hades 2, but this is sure to change as time goes on, making Artemis an even better goddess to ask for assistance.

2 Aphrodite, Goddess Of Love

Aphrodite is a shockingly versatile goddess with a range of Boons so diverse and well-fitted that you can craft an entire run solely around her Boons. Her Curse is defensive while her Boons are wonderfully offensive in a brutal twist of the joys and pains found in love and passion. You'd be a fool to ignore the power of Aphrodite.

Aphrodite's Boons, Explained

Just as love weakens the strongest soldier, Aphrodite can make your foes Weak and reduce the damage they deal by at least 10%. Many of her Boons not only inflict Weak, but encourage more damage and even restore a bit of Life on occasion. Thanks to this wide range of Boons, it's easy to challenge yourself on any given run to only grab Aphrodite's gifts.

Boon Description Broken Resolve Weak produces a stronger effect. Flutter Flourish Specials deal more damage. Flutter Strike Attacks deal more damage. Glamour Gain One foe in a fight always starts out Weak. You gain back Magick by being near Weak enemies. Healthy Rebound You can restore 100% Life after leaving a location, provided you didn't lose too much. Heart Breaker Create a Heartthrob after using 30 Magick. Life Affirmation Max Life rewards have a greater effect. Passion Dash Dashing creates blasts where you start and end while also inflicting Weak. Rapture Ring Casts inflict Weak and pull in enemies. Secret Crush Prime 20 Magick to add Power to your attack after entering a new location. Shameless Attitude You deal more damage when you have at least 80% Life. Wispy Wiles You can Dodge any sort of damage if you have at least four Air Boons.

1 Hermes, God Of Swiftness

Hermes rises above his fellow gods as the most important god to meet in any given run. Hermes' Boons are all about saving; saving time, saving Magick, saving your life. Each of the messenger god's Boons can make Melinoë faster and more efficient at whatever strategy she wants to implement. Hermes' Boons are as adaptable as the god himself and should be included in every build.

Hermes' Boons, Explained

Unlike the other Olympians, Hermes does not have a Curse, likely because he is a jack of all trades and prefers to play the wingman to Melinoë's offense. He can make her Specials, attacks, and Sprints faster with some Boons while reducing required Magick with others, giving Melinoë more bang for her buck. If you come across Hermes, prioritize his speed boosts over Magick reduction, as they could be the key to landing the final blow against a boss or dodging a fatal blow.

In regards to dodging, one of Hermes' strongest Boons is Greater Evasion, which allows you to Dodge all damage. This is a major buff that can help you survive powerful attacks. Don't worry if it doesn't pop up, however. With a little bit of Hermes on your side supporting your other favorite gods and their Boons, you are sure to overcome any challenge Hades 2 throws your way.