When approaching the various god Boons in Hades 2, you’re presented with a tough choice. Not only do you need to consider which of the three options is best, but certain Boons are great with certain weapons and horrible on others. That’s why knowing which Boons you should always consider is helpful. Here are the best Boons for each god in Hades 2.
The best Boons to take for each god in Hades 2
Due to each god having so many Boons, we’re limiting it to three Boons each. You may not get any of these Boons when presented with the three options, but you should always consider them if they appear. We also won’t be including Chaos here, since their Boon list is massive and the choice depends heavily on your build and stats. With that in mind, let’s get started:
Apollo
- Lucid Gain: While standing in your Casts, gradually restore Magick.
- Extra Dose: Your Attack has a chance to hit two times.
- Nova Strike: Your Attacks deal more damage in a larger area.
Apollo is the god with the most utility-based boons, thus his options are more complementary than something to center a build around. Lucid Gain is always good as it’s a quick way to restore some Mana very quickly, while Extra Dose and Nova Strike are particularly good with melee weapons. I adore using Nova Strike with the Moonstone Axe, since it makes its Attack and Omega Attack gigantic.
Aphrodite
- Rupture Ring: Your Casts drag foes in and inflict Weak.
- Secret Crush: After you enter a Location, Prime 20 Magick to add Power to your Attack.
- Passion Dash: Your Dash blasts foes near where you start and end, and inflicts Weak.
Rupture Ring is an excellent choice since it’ll force enemies into one spot, setting you up to hit multiple enemies at once with a Special or Omega Attack. Secret Crush is raw damage for a little Primed Magick, while Passion Dash is an easy way to apply Weak if you aren’t playing a long-distance build.
Artemis
- Lethal Snare: Foes in your Casts may take Critical damage from your Attacks.
- Support Fire: After you hit with your Attacks or Specials, fire a seeking arrow.
- Death Warrant: A random foe occasionally becomes Marked. If it takes Critical damage, this repeats.
With some potent Crit abilities and extra sources of damage from Artemis, all of these options are incredible. Death Warrant is specifically great when fighting bosses, while Lethal Snare and Support Fire are just extra damage for doing what you likely already do. Who’s going to complain about that?
Demeter
- Ice Strike: Your Attacks deal more damage and inflict Freeze.
- Gale Force: Your Casts also create a Cyclone at the binding circle.
- Rare Crop: Your Boons become Common, then gain Rarity every 3 Encounters.
Ice Strike is excellent on various weapons, perhaps excluding the Argent Skull. It’s a potent source of Freeze that will lock your enemies in place and works against enemies with Armor who normally can’t be stun locked. Gale Force adds some extra utility since it slows down enemy projectiles. Meanwhile, if taken early, Rare Crop is a godlike Boon (pun very intended).
Hephaestus
- Heavy Metal: Gain some defense. Foes’ attacks cannot knock you away.
- Uncanny Fortitude: Gain bonus HP based on your Magick limit.
- Trusty Shield: After you enter a Location, Prime 30 Magick to gain armor until the next Location.
If you see Hephaestus, you’re best off going for anything providing you Life or Armor. His blast attacks can be powerful, but unless you can get their cooldowns lowered significantly, you’re better off going with options from other gods.
Hera
- Bridal Glow: Your Boons become Heroic, then lose Rarity every 5 Encounters.
- Sworn Strike: Your Attacks deal more damage and inflict Hitch.
- Proper Upbringing: While you have at least 3 Earth Boons, all your Common Boons gain rarity.
Hera doesn’t have too much to offer, though Bridal Glow is incredible when taken near the end of the run, as is Proper Upbringing. Sworn Strike isn’t bad even if outclassed, since Hitch can surprise you with its power.
Hermes
- Swift Strike: Your Attacks are faster.
- Quick Buck: You find Gold Crowns in greater quantities. Receive 100 Gold Crowns now, plus the bonus!
- Nitro Boost: Your Sprint is 20% faster and gives you a barrier that ignores instances of damage.
Swift Strike helps a ton with DPS no matter which Attack Boon you might have taken, while Nitro Boost is good as a disengage tool if a fight gets hairy. Quick Buck is always great since it means more money to snag free stuff from Charon.
Hestia
- Flame Strike: Your Attacks inflict Scorch.
- Glowing Coal: Hold Cast to aim a fiery projectile that explodes on impact. The binding circle forms there.
- Fire Extinguisher: Foes with at least 300 Scorch take a burst of damage that consumes the effect.
Hestia and the Sister Blades are a match made in Heaven, but her boons are still great with other fast-hitting weapons like the Staff or Umbral Flames. Combining Flame Strike and Fire Extinguisher is an incredible combo on these weapons, while Glowing Coal is a great ranged Cast.
Poseidon
- Geyser Ring: Your Cast immediately detonates, dealing damage and knocking foes away.
- Hydraulic Might: At the start of each Encounter, your Attacks and Specials are stronger for 10 seconds.
- Fluid Gain: After you strike foes with your Weapon, a Spirit Bubble may appear.
While Poseidon’s Attack and Special Boons leave much to be desired, some of his side Boons are excellent. Fluid Gain is one of the best Boons in the game due to how much Magick you can regenerate, Geyser Ring is a potent source of burst damage, and Hydraulic Might is wonderful for speeding encounters up.
Selene
- Moon Water: Your Hex restores 25 HP up to 3 times, which reset whenever you use Fountains.
- Wolf Howl: Your Hex makes you rise up then crash down in the target area for 200 damage.
- Total Eclipse: Your Hex blasts the target area for 1000 damage after 4 seconds.
While not technically Boons, we’re including Selene’s Hexes here as they’re just as important of a choice. Moon Water is arguably the best Hex in the game as it’s a great way to restore HP quickly, Wolf Howl is a nice bit of burst damage, and Total Eclipse is a tactical nuke wherever you point it. The rest of her options are either mediocre or downright bad.
Zeus
- Heaven Strike: Your Attack inflicts Blitz.
- Lightning Lance: Hold Cast to aim where the binding circle appears. Foes within are struck by lightning.
- Static Shock: After you enter a Location, Prime 50 magick to make your strikes emit chain-lightning.
Zeus is like Hades 2’s version of Ares, with bursts of damage a staple part of his Boons. You could take many of his Boons and manage just fine, but Heaven Strike combined with Lightning Lance and Static Shock is incredible. You’ll be wiping out crowds and bursting down enemies in no time.
