Boons in Hades 2 are divine blessings that shape each run, transforming Melinoë’s attacks, movement, and survival. Every god, primordial entity, or ally you meet along the way can alter your playstyle dramatically. Since every run randomizes available gods, knowing the full boon pool is crucial for strategy.
How Boons Work
- Acquisition: Found after clearing god-marked rooms or purchased from Charon.
- Duration: Only last until the end of the run.
- Slots: Each run has five core slots (Attack = Strike, Special = Flourish, Cast = Ring, Sprint = Rush, Magick = Gain). Only one Boon can occupy a slot at a time.
- Rarities:
- Standard: Common, Rare, Epic, Heroic.
- Special: Legendary, Duo, Infusion.
- Replacement: Gods may offer to replace an existing Core Boon. Replacement increases its rarity.
- Sacrifice Option: Some boons interact with “Sacrifice” mechanics, boosting rarity or swapping powers.
Every God’s Status Effect in Hades 2
| God/Entity | Primary Status Effects |
|---|---|
| Aphrodite | Weak, Charm |
| Apollo | Daze |
| Ares | Wounds |
| Demeter | Freeze, Gust |
| Hephaestus | Glow, Blast |
| Hera | Hitch |
| Hestia | Scorch |
| Poseidon | Knockback, Froth, Slip |
| Zeus | Blitz, Chain Lightning |
| Artemis | Critical Hit, Marked |
| Athena | Deflect |
| Dionysus | Hangover, Festive Fog |
| Chaos | Conditional penalties → delayed buffs |
| Hermes | Speed, mobility, evasion |
| Selene | Hexes (special Magick ultimates) |
| NPC Allies | Armor, duplication, curses, transformations |
Olympian Boons
Aphrodite
- Flutter Flourish – Special deals bonus close-range damage.
- Rapture Ring – Casts pull enemies in and inflict Weak.
- Heart Breaker – Spending Magick creates Heartthrobs.
- Flutter Strike – Attacks deal bonus close-range damage.
- Glamour Gain – Weak foes restore Magick.
- Shameless Attitude – Bonus damage at high HP.
- Secret Crush – Channel Magick to empower Attacks.
- Healthy Rebound – Heal when exiting rooms if above threshold HP.
- Life Affirmation – Increases Life Up rewards.
- Passion Dash – Dash blasts deal damage and inflict Weak.
- Broken Resolve – Weak is more potent.
- Sweet Surrender – Enemies with Weak take more damage.
- Infusion: Wispy Wiles – Gain Dodge chance with Air element.
- Legendary: Ecstatic Obsession – Random foes become Charmed.
- Duo Examples: Romantic Spark (Zeus), Soul Mate (Hera), Burning Desire (Hestia), Hearty Appetite (Demeter).
Apollo
- Nova Strike / Nova Flourish – Attacks or Specials gain larger AoE and bonus damage.
- Blinding Sprint – Faster Sprint, inflicts Daze.
- Light Smite – Take damage → foes take damage and get Dazed.
- Lucid Gain – Standing in Casts restores Magick.
- Extra Dose – Chance for Attacks to strike twice.
- Perfect Image – Deal more damage until you’re hit.
- Solar Ring – Cast explosion after it expires.
- Super Nova – Casts expand in size.
- Dazzling Display – Attacks may inflict Daze.
- Back Burner – Dazed foes take bonus backstab damage.
- Critical Miss – Dazed foes take damage when they miss.
- Legendary: Exceptional Talent – Omega Attack/Special fire twice.
- Infusion: Self Healing – Heal on damage taken with Fire boons.
- Duo Examples: Stellar Slam (Hephaestus), Sunny Disposition (Aphrodite), Glorious Disaster (Zeus).
Demeter
- Ice Strike / Ice Flourish – Attacks/Specials inflict Freeze.
- Tranquil Gain – Inactivity restores Magick.
- Frigid Sprint – Sprint leaves a damaging cyclone.
- Cold Storage – Freeze lasts longer.
- Arctic Ring – Casts freeze and deal recurring damage.
- Gale Force – Casts create cyclones.
- Local Climate – Omega Cast deals more damage, follows you.
- Plentiful Forage – Gather resources → increase max Life.
- Rare Crop – Boons start Common and upgrade over encounters.
- Weed Killer – Omega Attack deals more damage.
- Winter Coat – Enter rooms with a Magick shield.
- Infusion: Coarse Grit – Cap on damage taken per hit.
- Legendary: Winter Harvest – Freeze foes shatter at 10% HP.
- Duo Examples: Apocalyptic Storm (Zeus), Freezer Burn (Hestia), Natural Selection (Poseidon).
Hephaestus
- Volcanic Strike/Flourish – Attacks or Specials create periodic Blasts.
- Anvil Ring – Cast hits multiple times.
- Heavy Metal – Gain Armor, resist knockback.
- Fixed Gain – Take less damage, restore Magick when hit.
- Uncanny Fortitude – Life scales with Magick limit.
- Smithy Sprint – Sprint creates a damaging Blast.
- Molten Touch – Attacks deal more vs Armor.
- Mint Condition – Start encounters with temporary Impervious.
- Trusty Shield – Gain Armor on room entry.
- Infusion: Martial Art – More damage per Earth element.
- Legendary: Fine Tuning – Stronger Nocturnal Arm aspects.
- Duo Examples: Room Temperature (Demeter), Master Conductor (Zeus), Soft Caress (Aphrodite).
Hestia
- Flame Strike/Flourish – Attacks or Specials inflict Scorch.
- Smoulder Ring – Casts repeatedly inflict Scorch.
- Soot Sprint – Destroys projectiles, inflicts Scorch.
- Burnt Offering – Gain max Life & Magick but lose a boon.
- Controlled Burn – Omega Special fires extra projectile.
- Flammable Coating – Scorch deals more vs Armor.
- Fire Extinguisher – Consumes Scorch at high stacks for burst.
- Legendary: Pyro Technique – Scorch deals damage faster.
- Infusion: Slow Cooker – More damage per Fire boon.
- Duo Examples: Freezer Burn (Demeter), Phoenix Skin (Apollo), Burning Desire (Aphrodite).
Hera
- Sworn Strike/Flourish – Inflict Hitch on Attacks or Specials.
- Engagement Ring – Casts hit every spawning enemy.
- Nexus Sprint – Sprint spreads Hitch.
- Bridal Glow – Boons become Heroic then downgrade.
- Born Gain – Recover Magick after emptying bar.
- Nasty Comeback – Reflect Hitch damage when hit.
- Keen Intuition – Stronger Omega Moves at full Magick.
- Hereditary Bane – Hitch deals more damage, lasts longer.
- Dying Wish – Hitch spreads on death.
- Infusion: Proper Upbringing – Common boons gain rarity if Earth elements present.
- Legendary: Brace Face – Resist damage automatically with Magick.
- Duo Examples: Soul Mate (Aphrodite), Cherished Heirloom (Demeter), King’s Ransom (Zeus).
Poseidon
- Wave Strike/Flourish – Splash damage and knockback on Attacks/Specials.
- Geyser Ring – Cast detonates with knockback.
- Breaker Sprint – Sprint knocks enemies back, costs Magick.
- Flood Control – Reduces damage per hit.
- Ocean’s Bounty – More gold/reward value.
- Sunken Treasure – Instant gold and resources.
- Hydraulic Might – Bonus damage at encounter start.
- Infusion: Water Fitness – Gain max Life with Water boons.
- Legendary: King Tide – Larger Splash effects, bonus Guardian damage.
- Duo Examples: Seismic Hammer (Hephaestus), Natural Selection (Demeter), Scalding Vapor (Hestia).
Zeus
- Heaven Strike/Flourish – Attacks/Specials inflict Blitz.
- Storm Ring – Cast chains lightning.
- Divine Vengeance – Taking damage triggers bolts.
- Electric Overload – Blitz activations trigger chain lightning.
- Lightning Lance – Cast summons targeted lightning.
- Thunder Sprint – Sprint strikes nearby foes.
- Double Strike – Lightning can strike twice.
- Legendary: Shocking Loss – Chance to instantly kill new foes.
- Infusion: Air Quality – Damage floor bonus with Air boons.
- Duo Examples: Romantic Spark (Aphrodite), Glorious Disaster (Apollo), Apocalyptic Storm (Demeter).
Non-Standard Boons
Hermes
- Speed and utility buffs (Swift Strike, Swift Flourish).
- Defensive options (Greater Evasion, Nitro Boost).
- Gold boosts (Quick Buck).
- Infusion: Tall Order (elemental balance = damage bonus).
- Legendary: Close Call (extra Death Defiance).
Chaos
- Trade-offs: early penalties for long-term buffs.
- Examples:
- Fixated Strike: take Magick penalties → stronger Attacks.
- Paralyzing Chasm: suffer stun → stronger Casts.
- Atrophic Flourish: reduced Life → stronger Specials.
- Extremely varied, high-risk high-reward choices.
Selene (Hexes)
- Special ultimate-like effects fueled by Magick.
- Examples:
- Moon Water: Hex heals HP.
- Wolf Howl: Leap and crash AoE.
- Lunar Ray: Beam for massive damage.
- Phase Shift: Slows time.
- Dark Side: Transform into nightmare form.
NPC & Special Allies
- Artemis: Critical hit boons, seeking arrows.
- Athena: Deflect and defensive buffs.
- Dionysus: Hangover, Festive Fog, sustain.
- Hades: Anti-Chronos boons.
- Arachne: Armor-linked buffs.
- Narcissus: Resources, Death Defiance refills.
- Echo: Duplicates previous rewards.
- Medea: Curse effects.
- Circe: Transformation and Arcana synergies.
- Icarus: Power and Armor support.
See also: Hades 2 All Romance Options Explained (Full Character Guide)
Hades 2 thrives on its ever-changing synergy system. A Scorch-focused Hestia run plays differently when combined with Demeter’s Freeze (Freezer Burn) or Zeus’ Blitz (Thermal Dynamics). Add Chaos trade-offs or Selene’s Hexes, and no two runs are the same.
Mastering boons means mastering the Underworld. Whether you want fast-paced crit builds, attrition through fire and ice, or reckless lightning barrages, the gods give you the tools—you just need to use them wisely. Play Now!
