The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →In Hades, a failed escape attempt is not a wasted run: you return to the House of Hades with persistent upgrades to pursue and new story conversations to discover. Focus on learning enemy patterns, choosing upgrades that address your immediate needs, and using each attempt to understand the game’s combat rhythm.
1. Expect to try again
Hades is a rogue-like dungeon crawler built around repeated attempts to escape the Underworld. The gods, rewards, challenges, and story interactions you encounter can vary between runs, so your route and tools won’t be identical every time. Supergiant describes the game as designed to bring the thrills of rogue-like games to more players in its official FAQ.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Hades - Nintendo Switch | $59.47 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Hades Limited Edition (Nintendo Switch) | $62.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Hades II - Nintendo Switch™ 2 Edition | $49.94 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Hades II - Nintendo Switch™ 2 Edition (European Version) | $44.49 | Buy on Amazon |
When a run ends, you return to the House of Hades. Death can lead to new dialogue and regular ability upgrades, giving you reasons to try again even if you did not make it far. Treat early attempts as practice: watch how enemies telegraph attacks, learn when to dodge, and notice which rewards make your chosen approach more comfortable.
2. What should you upgrade first in Hades?
Use Darkness at the Mirror of Night to improve Zagreus between runs. There is no one required order; choose based on what is ending your attempts. The early options highlighted in PlayStation’s beginner tips cover three different needs:
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#1 Best Overall
- Battle out of hell in Hades, recipient of more than 50 Game of the Year awards
- Includes a download code for the Hades Original Soundtrack, by composer Darren Korb, best known for his work on developer Supergiant's past titles like Transistor and Bastion.
- Also includes a full-color 32-page character compendium booklet, featuring beautiful artwork of the game's colorful cast of gods, ghosts, and monsters, all by Supergiant's art director Jen Zee.
- Defy the god of the dead as you hack and slash out of the Underworld in this rogue-like dungeon crawler from the creators of Bastion and Transistor.
- As the immortal Prince of the Underworld, you'll wield the powers and mythic weapons of Olympus to break free from the clutches of the god of the dead himself.
| Upgrade | What it helps with | Consider it when… |
|---|---|---|
| Death Defiance | Lets you revive after being defeated. | You want another chance during a run. |
| Greater Reflex | Grants an extra dash. | You want more flexibility to move around attacks and reposition. |
| Thick Skin | Increases your starting health. | You want a larger health buffer from the start. |
These upgrades solve different problems. If you are struggling to avoid hits, extra movement may help; if you are surviving longer but getting worn down, more starting health or a revival may be more useful.
3. Use the extra dash to avoid damage
Greater Reflex’s extra dash can help you get out of danger, close distance, or reposition after an attack. Try to use movement deliberately rather than staying beside an enemy and attacking continuously. A dash is most useful when it gets you clear of an incoming hit or into a safer angle; learning enemy timing matters as much as having the extra movement.
Rank #2
- As the immortal Prince of the Underworld, you'll wield the powers and mythic weapons of Olympus to break free from the clutches of the god of the dead himself, while growing stronger and unravelling more of the story with each unique escape attempt.
- The Olympians have your back! Meet Zeus, Athena, Poseidon, and many more, and choose from their dozens of powerful Boons that enhance your abilities. There are thousands of viable character builds to discover as you go.
- A fully-voiced cast of colourful, larger-than-life characters is waiting to meet you! Grow your relationships with them, and experience thousands of unique story events as you learn about what's really at stake for this big, dysfunctional family.
- New surprises await each time you delve into the ever-shifting Underworld, whose guardian bosses will remember you. Use the powerful Mirror of Night to grow permanently stronger and give yourself a leg up the next time you run away from home.
- Permanent upgrades mean you don't have to be a god yourself to experience the exciting combat and gripping story. Though, if you happen to be one, crank up the challenge and get ready for some white-knuckle action that will put your well-practiced skills to the test.
4. Give Nectar thoughtfully
Giving Nectar to characters earns keepsakes, which provide concrete benefits when equipped. Two useful early examples are:
- Cerberus’s Old Spiked Collar: boosts base vitality.
- Skelly’s Lucky Tooth: provides one revival per run.
Think of them as different answers to a survival problem: the Collar gives you more health to work with, while the Tooth can bring you back after defeat. Pick the benefit that best fits your current needs.
Rank #3
- Battle beyond the Underworld using dark sorcery to take on the Titan of Time in this bewitching sequel to the award-winning rogue-like dungeon crawler.
5. Keep a keepsake equipped to improve it
A keepsake can become stronger through use. PlayStation’s beginner guide says keepsakes level up twice by completing encounters while they are equipped. If you want to improve one, leave it on through encounters rather than frequently swapping it out. You can also use different keepsakes to match the kind of help you want from a run.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.6. Remember to use your Cast
The Cast is easy to overlook when you are concentrating on attacks and dodges, but it adds another way to pressure enemies and can work with Boons. Some Mirror upgrades also interact with it: PlayStation notes that Boiling Blood increases damage against an enemy with your Cast embedded in them. Look for opportunities to use the Cast, especially when a boon or upgrade makes it part of your run’s plan.
Rank #4
- Battle beyond the Underworld to vanquish the Titan of Time as the Princess of the Dead in this bewitching sequel to the original rogue-like dungeon crawler. Hades II lets players explore a bigger, deeper mythic world with the full might of Olympus at their call in a story that reacts to their every setback and accomplishment.
7. Build around the Boons you find
Gods and Boons vary across runs, so you will not always be offered the same tools. Rather than forcing one build, look at what each option does for your playstyle and immediate need. PlayStation’s beginner guide gives these defensive-minded examples:
- Athena’s Deflect: offers a way to turn certain attacks aside.
- Dionysus’s After Party: restores health between chambers.
- Aphrodite’s damage reduction: can help you take less damage.
These are options, not a universal ranking. Consider whether a Boon helps you avoid hits, recover, or deal with enemies in a way that suits your current run.
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8. Know what you lose when a run ends
PlayStation’s tips distinguish between temporary run resources and persistent progression: Boons and Coins from the current attempt are lost on death, while Mirror of Night upgrades contribute to your continuing progress. That means a run can end without erasing everything you have worked toward. Make your choices in a run with its temporary rewards in mind, but don’t treat a defeat as losing all advancement.
9. Choose the difficulty that works for you
If you want more resilience, God Mode is available as an option. Supergiant says it makes Zagreus tougher against damage and grows more protective each time he dies; it is a way to adjust the experience, not a requirement. You can use it if you would rather focus on exploring the game and its story with more room to recover from mistakes.
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