Hades II

This section of the guide details the Boons system in Hades II, focusing on how they are presented and sorted. Boons are categorized by type: Attack, Special, Cast, Dash, and Call, in that order.

Attack and Special boons are further sorted by frequency of use (high, low, independent, situational) rather than by god. This categorization helps players understand how rapidly a boon's associated Attack or Special needs to be used to maximize its effect, considering factors like charge times or delays between uses.

Cast boons are simpler, split into 'Sticking Casts' and 'Non-Sticking Casts,' based on their battle mechanics and potential for boon synergies.

Dash boons have their own categories: the best dash, forward-acting, backward-acting, and situational.

The guide attempts to sort boons by usefulness within each category, acknowledging that the best choice depends on the player's weapon, other boons, and weapon upgrades.

Call boons are ranked, as they generally serve the same purpose (dealing damage), with one notable exception. Their synergies are less dependent on weapon choice.

TL;DR Boon Guidelines:

• Prioritize Attack and/or Special boons, as they are frequently used. The importance of Attack vs. Special depends on the weapon.
• A Common boon that synergizes well is better than a Rare or Epic boon that doesn't.
• Divine Dash is universally compatible with any build.
• The 'best' boons are generally offered by Aphrodite, Demeter, and Athena.
• Poseidon boons are considered less effective.

Hermes and Chaos boons are not detailed here, except for Hermes' Hyper Sprint, as they are not mutually exclusive with other gods' boons and their viability depends on various factors like Mirror of Night skills and other boons received. Chaos boons are generally recommended as they can stack with primary skill boons.

1) ATTACK BOONS

1A) High-Frequency Use

Demeter, Frost Strike

Details: +40% damage, applies Chill (slows enemies by 4% per stack, max 10 stacks).

Notes: Chill is highly effective for controlling enemies. Frost Strike offers significant damage and is a core boon for builds using the Aspect of Gilgamesh (Twin Fists) and Aspect of Zeus (Shield of Chaos with Pulverizing Blow). It is not viable only with the Heart-Seeking Bow using Flurry Shot.

Zeus, Lightning Strike

Details: Applies chain lightning, dealing 10 fixed damage.

Notes: Zeus's boons are generally better in standard encounters than boss fights. Lightning Strike's fixed damage is a good supplement for low base damage Attacks like those of the Adamant Rail and Twin Fists (non-Aspect of Gilgamesh). It is particularly useful for evasion-based Fists builds or speed runs where return damage is less of a concern. It is a top choice for the Fists' Aspect of Zagreus and most Aspects of the Adamant Rail (excluding Aspect of Hestia). While often a solid choice for fast Attacks, it's rarely the primary technique unless Splitting Bolt is acquired.

Dionysus, Drunken Strike – Hangover

Drunken Strike inflicts Hangover (4 damage / 0.5 seconds, for 4 Seconds) with a stack limit of 5. This boon is less effective with high-frequency attacks that surpass the stack limit or low-frequency attacks that could benefit more from immediate damage. While a hit-and-run dash strike tactic with Stygius might work early on, better weapons and boons are generally available.

Aphrodite, Heartbreak Strike – Weak

Heartbreak Strike offers a +50% damage increase and applies the Weak status effect. It is viable on most weapons, including the Heart-Seeking Bow, Stygian Blade, Eternal Spear, and Shield of Chaos. It is particularly favored for the Stygius Aspect of Arthur, Coronacht Aspect of Chiron, and Coronacht Aspect of Hera. The Weak effect reduces incoming damage by 30%, allowing for safer combat. Although considered “low-frequency” due to the inability to stack Weak multiple times on one enemy and its 3-second duration, its potency is enhanced by supplementary boons like Sweet Surrender and Broken Resolve. The Legendary boon Unhealthy Fixation can grant a 15% chance to Charm enemies, synergizing well with high-frequency attacks. Heartbreak Strike is viable on any weapon, but its suitability as the best boon depends on your build.

Ares, Curse of Agony – Doom

Curse of Agony deals 50 damage after 1 second. It is a viable option for the Heart-Seeking Bow (unless using Flurry Shot) for players prioritizing pure damage over Weak. However, it is difficult to justify on weapons with repeating or combination attacks due to poor stacking without supplementary boons. Its viability is mainly limited to the Bow and Shield of Chaos, where it competes with the superior Heartbreak Strike. Curse of Agony lacks the power to be a primary damage source against sturdy bosses and offers no other utility.

Artemis, Deadly Strike – +20% damage, 15% chance for critical hit

Deadly Strike provides a general damage increase and a 15% chance for a critical hit, with no stack limit concerns. While adequate for any weapon or circumstance, it lacks specialized benefits that can significantly alter your battle approach or address specific build weaknesses. It serves as a reliable fallback if other boon choices are incompatible with your current weapon.

Athena, Divine Strike – +40% damage, Deflects

Divine Strike offers a +40% damage bonus and deflects projectiles. While deflection is valuable, Divine Strike is not always the optimal way to achieve it. It is best suited for melee weapons with broad-sweeping attacks, making the Shield of Chaos a compatible choice for deflecting projectiles and knocking back melee enemies. It can also be used with Stygius and the Eternal Spear, particularly with its sweeping dash-strike. However, it is often a fourth-best option for many weapons. It is particularly viable on the Stygius hidden Aspect of Arthur and the Twin Fists hidden Aspect of Gilgamesh, allowing for safer close-quarters combat against projectiles.

Poseidon, Tempest Strike – +30% damage, Knockback

Tempest Strike provides a +30% damage bonus and applies Knockback. The guide expresses a general dislike for Poseidon boons, citing that knockback effects are not useful in boss fights, complicate aiming for ranged weapons, and push enemies out of melee range. The Wave Pounding boon can add extra boss damage to knockback attacks.

This section delves into the Special Boons available in Hades II, analyzing their effectiveness and synergy with various weapons and playstyles. We'll cover boons that excel with high-frequency use, low-frequency use, and those that are effective regardless of usage frequency.

High-Frequency Use Boons:

1. Zeus, Thunder Flourish: Deals 30 damage as a lightning bolt. This boon concentrates area-of-effect damage on primary targets and synergizes well with the Shield of Chaos, especially the Aspect of Zeus. It can also be effective on the Heart-Seeking Bow (Coronacht) for spreading damage in early-game encounters.
2. Demeter, Frost Flourish: Grants +60% damage and applies Chill. This boon spreads Chill across wide areas and is a core component of the Aspect of Chiron (Heart-Seeking Bow) combined with Aphrodite's Attack boon. It's highly effective against standard enemies and bosses, slowing them significantly. It's also a good alternative for most Heart-Seeking Bow or Shield of Chaos builds if Thunder Flourish is unavailable.
3. Dionysus, Drunken Flourish: Applies Hangover (5 damage / 0.5 seconds, for 4 seconds). The stack limit of 5 makes this boon less viable for high-frequency Special moves compared to Zeus and Demeter, as Hangover fits better in other slots with greater impact.

Low-Frequency Use Boons:

1. Aphrodite, Heartbreak Flourish: Provides +80% damage and applies Weak. This is an excellent choice for the Aspect of Gilgamesh (Twin Fists) to facilitate the Maim debuff. It's also reliable for the Adamant Rail and Stygius, offering significant damage and the useful Weak status effect. Weak is beneficial for most builds, especially when avoiding damage is a priority.
2. Ares, Curse of Pain: Applies Doom (60 damage after 1 second). This boon is a significant improvement over the Ares Attack boon, as it can spread Doom to multiple enemies. It's viable for most weapons, including Stygius, Eternal Spear, Shield of Chaos, Heart-Seeking Bow, Adamant Rail, and Twin Fists, though it's not always the optimal choice for every weapon aspect or upgrade. It can serve as a tolerable early-game strategy for spreading damage while evading enemies.

Frequency-Independent Boons:

1. Artemis, Deadly Flourish: Grants +40% damage with a 20% chance for a critical hit. Similar to Deadly Strike, this boon offers improved damage potential, though its critical hit chance might not always be the most impactful for Special moves compared to other boons.