Beginner’s Guide#

Control Basics#

Default PC Key Bindings#

Key	Function
W/A/S/D	Move
Left mouse button	Attack
Right mouse button	Cast throw
Q	Special
Space	Dash
Dash + hold	Sprint
F	Call
1	Health potion
2	Magick potion
G	Interact (fishing/doors)
Tab/I	Inventory
C	View boon list
B	Arcana screen
ESC	Pause menu

The Dual-Spell System Explained#

Action	Effect	Cost
Omega Attack	A powerful charged attack — differs per weapon	20–50 Magick
Omega Special	A powerful charged Special	20–40 Magick
Omega Cast	The Cast isn’t thrown — it orbits you, pulling in and holding enemies	30 Magick
Sprint	Hold after dashing — smashes through projectiles and slows time	Free

The core loop:

Regular attack (regain Magick) → fill your Magick bar → Omega Attack (burst) → back to regular attacks.

Regular attacks (restore Magick) → top up Magick → Omega Attack (burst) → repeat.

Magick management:

Regular attack hits restore Magick — roughly 2–5 points per hit
Magick caps at 100–200 — upgrades can raise it
When Magick runs dry, Omega moves are unavailable — regular attacks are your only regen

Incantations#

Unlocked at the cauldron in the Crossroads.

Highest-Priority Incantations#

Incantation	Materials	Effect	Priority
Path of Fate	Ashes ×1	Unlocks your first Arcana slot	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Momentum Forge	Ashes ×3	Unlocks weapon upgrades	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Silver Radiance	Silver ×5	Unlocks shop trading	⭐⭐⭐⭐
Natural Resonance	Moss ×3	Unlocks potion brewing	⭐⭐⭐⭐
Underworld Messenger	Ashes ×5 + Fabric ×3	Unlocks the skull weapon	⭐⭐⭐⭐
Animal Companion	Clay ×3 + Fabric ×3	Unlocks the owl familiar	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Arcana Expansion	Pearl ×1	+1 extra Arcana slot	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Arcana Expansion II	Pearl ×3	+1 more Arcana slot	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Arcana Expansion III	Pearl ×5	+1 more Arcana slot	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Crossroads Construction#

Structure	Function	Unlock condition
Cauldron	Unlocks incantations	Available from the start
Fate Loom	Unlocks Arcana cards	Via incantation
Weapon Altar	Upgrade weapons	Via incantation
Potion Station	Brew potions	Via incantation
Animal Den	Care for familiars	Via incantation
Training Dummy	Test builds	Via incantation

Your First Runs#

Run	Advice
Run 1	Learn the controls — wander freely — die once and take the lesson
Run 2	Focus on unlocking incantations — collect Ashes
Runs 3–5	Try different weapons — find one that clicks
Runs 5–10	Unlock and test the owl familiar + the Arcana system
Run 10+	Start assembling build combinations — take down your first boss

The Arcana System#

The Arcana system provides global passive buffs — unlock cards at the Crossroads and equip them before entering a run.

Card	Effect	Unlock materials
Fate	All drops +15%	Ashes ×2
Strength	Attack damage +25%	Ashes ×4
Guardian	Damage taken −15%	Ashes ×3 + Fabric ×1
Sorcery	Max Magick +25%	Ashes ×3 + Silver ×3
Wealth	Silver +30%	Silver ×10
Eternity	Shop prices −20%	Fabric ×3 + Silver ×5
Life	Max HP +50	Ashes ×5 + Moss ×2
Death	Omega damage +30%	Pearl ×1 + Fabric ×2
The Chariot	Dash damage +50%	Fabric ×3 + Silver ×5

Recommended loadout:

Strength (damage +25%)
Sorcery (Magick +25%)
Guardian (damage reduction)
Death (Omega damage)

Common Beginner Mistakes#

#	Mistake	The right approach
1	Only using regular attacks, never charging	Omega Attacks are your main burst — learn to charge
2	Letting Magick sit empty	Regular hits restore Magick — strike and retreat while it refills
3	Not collecting Ashes	Ashes are the most important upgrade resource — any enemy can drop them
4	Treating dash like the first game	The sequel’s dash has a slide — and sprinting smashes through bullets
5	Ignoring the second weapon slot	Weapon switching is a core mechanic — use it fully

Melinoë’s Abilities Explained#

Ability	Base effect	Omega effect
Attack	Fast combo — every hit restores Magick	Charged wide attack — costs a lot of Magick
Special	Weapon-specific skill — effects differ per weapon	Charged enhanced Special — bigger range and damage
Cast	Place or throw a Cast — damages enemies inside	Omega Cast — controls enemies + damage over time
Dash	Evasive move with brief invincibility frames, followed by a slide	— (no Omega version)
Sprint	Hold after a dash — keep running and smash through enemy projectiles	— (no Omega version)
Call	Use a god’s Call — needs charging, releases when full	Charged release — a more powerful Call effect

Opening Resource Collection#

Resource	How to get it	Priority use
Ashes	Kill regular enemies	Unlock Arcana slots — first priority
Fate Fabric	Boss drops	Unlock advanced Arcana upgrades
Silver	Room rewards / shop	Mid-game incantations
Clay	Dig spots	Unlock basic incantations (shop, forge)
Moss	Area gathering	Potion brewing — your lifeline
Pearls	Specific bosses	Unlock advanced Arcana — late-game core

Character Growth Path#

Stage	Goal	Advice
First 10 runs (learning)	Learn the controls + collect resources	Don’t chase a clear yet — focus on enemy attack patterns and Ashes
Runs 10–30 (growth)	Unlock key upgrades	Arcana slots first — every new slot is a huge power spike
Runs 30–50 (breakthrough)	First clear	Pick your comfiest weapon — stack Arcana slots — don’t challenge high Fear
Run 50+ (mastery)	Chase high Fear	Start using the Fear oath — raise difficulty step by step

Weapon Onboarding Advice#

Weapon	Difficulty	Recommended playstyle
Sister Blades	⭐⭐	Fast melee — for players who love high-speed combat
Moonstone Axe	⭐⭐⭐⭐	Heavy hits — demands anticipation and patience — veteran-oriented
Umbral Flames	⭐⭐⭐	Well-rounded — attack and defense in one — great for learning the game
Witch’s Staff	⭐⭐⭐	Mid-range — spell-oriented — requires Magick management
Argent Skull	⭐⭐⭐	Area attacks — strong vs. packs, weaker vs. bosses

FAQ#

Question	Answer
Main differences from Hades 1?	New weapon system, Magick replaces Rage, new gods (Hecate, Selene and more), and the Arcana system replaces the Mirror of Night
Full reset on death?	Most boons and run upgrades are lost, but permanent upgrades (Arcana, incantations, weapon aspects) stay
Best early choices?	Unlock Arcana slots first — every extra slot is a major power jump
Resource collection priority?	Ashes (Arcana slots) > Titan Blood (weapon aspects) > gold (shop upgrades) > other materials
Weapon unlock order?	Witch’s Staff (default) → Sister Blades → Umbral Flames → Moonstone Axe → Argent Skull → Black Coat

Recommended Beginner Builds#

Build	Weapon	Core boons	Playstyle	Difficulty
Lightning Blades	Sister Blades	Zeus (Attack) + Hermes (Dash)	High-speed melee + chain lightning	⭐⭐
Frost Flames	Umbral Flames	Demeter (Attack) + Athena (defense)	Chill control + safe blocking	⭐⭐
Flame Staff	Witch’s Staff	Hephaestus (Special) + Ares (Call)	Mid-range burn	⭐⭐⭐
Crit Axe	Moonstone Axe	Ares (Attack) + Aphrodite (Special)	Heavy-hit crit build	⭐⭐⭐

Opening Route Planning#

Before your first clear, follow a “secure the basics first, then speed up” route. Don’t rush your first three deaths — every death brings back resources, laying groundwork for the late game.

Stage	Goal	Key actions	Watch out
Before your first death	Learn the dual spells and dash	Practice dodging and Omega charging	Don’t chase kills — learn to evade first
After unlocking Arcana slots	Fill out 4 slots	Spend Ashes on slots and damage cards first	Slots are the strongest permanent upgrade
Reaching the second region	Settle your core boons	Stack effects around a single god	One focused element beats a flashy mix
First attempt at Chronos	Probe his mechanics	Note every phase’s moves	Failing is normal — the goal is reading his patterns

Recommended First-Clear Flow#

Pick the Sister Blades — simple controls, fast attack speed, high error tolerance.
Prioritize Zeus Attack and Hermes Dash boons to clear mobs quickly.
In every shop, buy health first, Arcana-related items second.
Before the third region, secure at least one high-rarity boon before challenging the boss.

Weapon Selection Advice#

Weapon	Role	Best for	Opening recommendation
Sister Blades	High-speed melee	Players who like in-your-face damage	Extremely high
Umbral Flames	Attack and defense in one	Rusty hands, players who take hits often	High
Witch’s Staff	Mid-range spells	Players who like kiting	Medium
Moonstone Axe	Heavy burst	Players who know the windups and want big single hits	Medium-low