Hades 2 boons are a helping hand, extended from Mount Olympus by the gods and goddesses to help Melinoë on her quest to rescue her father and save the Underworld. As the daughter of Hades himself – and little sister to everyone’s favorite prince of the Underworld, Zagreus – Melinoë is tasked with freeing her father from the clutches of Chronos, the titan of time, before he wages war with Olympus.
So, quite understandably, the gods and goddesses on high are keen to help you out in this daunting task. Different boons can turn the tide on any run, and it pays to understand the gifts you’ll be receiving, so we’ve got all of the different boons listed and explained in this handy guide. If you’re after even more Hades 2 info, we have a full list of Hades 2 characters, and make sure you check out our guide on Hades 2 weapons so you can choose the best fighting style for you.
Here’s everything you need to know about all Hades 2 boons.
What are Hades 2 boons?
All Hades 2 boons from the gods and goddesses of Olympus are valuable to Melinoë’s task in some way, but the choicest picks depend entirely on what you want to get out of a certain run. No two runs are the same in Hades 2, and therefore you’re never guaranteed to get the same loadout as your last.
You can see what boons are coming up by the icons on each door at the end of an encounter. There are symbols to represent each god or goddess waiting for you, such as a flame icon for Hestia, or a lightning bolt icon for Zeus.
This is why it’s so important to understand all of the Hades 2 boons and what they can offer you, so you can make the best decisions when creating a build on the fly and add enhancements to your basic attacks, Special attacks, Casts, and Omega abilities. We’ve compiled a list of all of the available Hades 2 boons we’ve come across so far, but given the nature of the die-die-die again roguelike, we’re likely to come across new ones in the future – so keep your eyes peeled, as we’ll update this list with any new boons we find!
Hades 2 Apollo boons
Since Apollo is mostly known as the god of light and sun, he imbues his boons with a Daze effect, which causes enemies to occasionally miss their attacks on Melinoë. His boons pair well with a fast play style, so if you’re a fan of the Sister Blades, he’s a great pick to hack-and-slash your way through waves of bad guys.
Here are all of the Hades 2 Apollo boons:
| Apollo boons | Description |
| Beach Ball | Sprinting creates a watery ball that throws itself at enemies and bursts |
| Back Burner | Dazed enemies take more damage if you hit them from behind |
| Blinding Sprint | Sprint becomes faster and inflicts daze |
| Dazzling Display | Inflict daze on enemies |
| Extra Dose | Attacks have the chance to hit twice |
| Exceptional Talent | Special and omega attacks deploy twice but consume additional magick |
| Lucid Gain | Restore magick when standing in cast |
| Light Smite | Inflict daze on enemies when you take damage |
| Perfect Image | Deal increased damage until you receive damage |
| Self Healing | If you have three fire boons, you restore health when you take damage |
| Solar Ring | At the end of omega cast, it deals increased damage for two seconds |
| Super Nova | Casts continuously grow until it expires |
Hades 2 Aphrodite boons
Aphrodite is the goddess of love and her boons inflict the Weak status effect on enemies. Make your foes’ knees tremble and their attacks won’t inflict as much damage on you, so if you’re looking for a tankier build, this is the goddess to go for. She works well with Apollo, as both of their boons lessen incoming damage.
Here are all of the Hades 2 Aphrodite boons:
| Aphrodite boons | Description |
| Broken Resolve | Enemies affected by weak status take more damage |
| Flutter Flourish | Special attacks deal more damage |
| Flutter Strike | Attacks deal more damage |
| Glamour Gain | At the start of every encounter, one enemy starts weakened, and you regenerate magick when near weakened foes |
| Heart Breaker | Summon a Heartthrob, a projectile that forms around you and explodes after 20 seconds, whenever you gain 30 magick |
| Healthy Rebound | Restore 100% health when you exit an encounter, providing you haven’t lost too much (threshold decreases with each rarity) |
| Life Affirmation | Life rewards have a greater effect |
| Passion Dash | Dash creates a surface area of weak at the start and end |
| Rapture Ring | Cast pulls enemies in and inflicts weak |
| Secret Crush | Reduces magick limit at the beginning of each encounter, but attacks have additional power |
| Shameless Attitude | While at 80% health or above, you deal increased damage |
| Wispy Wiles | If you have four air boons, you can dodge any damage even if you get hit |
Hades 2 Artemis boons
Artemis is the goddess of the hunt, and where the other gods and goddesses like to wait until you’ve cleared an encounter before they offer their services, Artemis jumps straight into the fray with you. She marks foes – and takes some of them out with some pretty hefty arrows – and she still offers you a boon, as well as the reward for that encounter. Her Marked status effect can help with critical damage, so she’s a good all-rounder whatever weapon or play style you go for.
Here are all of the Hades 2 Artemis boons:
| Artemis boons | Description |
| Death Warrant | Marks a random enemy. If they take critical damage, the mark moves to another |
| Easy Shot | Artemis fires an arrow at any enemy within your omega cast |
| First Blood | Enemies with 80% health or armor take critical damage |
| Lethal Snare | Your attacks deal critical damage to enemies trapped in your cast |
| Silver Streak | Omega abilities deal more damage for two seconds after you dash |
| Support Fire | Artemis fires a seeking arrow at every enemy you hit with standard or special attacks |
Hades 2 Chaos boons
Considering they are the primordial embodiment of disorder and turmoil itself, Chaos boons operate a little differently than those bestowed by the gods. They curse Melinoë at first, so you have to work to overcome this in order to receive the blessing that awaits. With this in mind, there are a number of combos that Chaos can present to you. Below, we’ve listed out all of the curse effects as well as all of the blessing effects, so you can make an informed decision about whether they’re worth taking or not.
Here are all of the cursed effects that Chaos offers:
| Chaos cursed effects | Description |
| Maimed | Lose six health whenever you use attacks – lasts five encounters |
| Flayed | Lose three health whenever you use special attacks – lasts three encounters |
| Addled | Lose five health whenever you use cast – lasts five encounters |
| Gagged | Lose eight health whenever you use omega abilities – lasts four encounters |
| Excruciating | Take 21% more damage – lasts four encounters |
| Hobbled | Dash is slower and consumes four magick – lasts four encounters |
| Slothful | Sprint and mobility are 52% slower – lasts four encounters |
| Caustic | Whenever you kill an enemy, they threw an inferno bomb at you – lasts three encounters |
Here are all of the Hades 2 Chaos blessings:
| Chaos blessings | Description |
| Strike | Attacks deal 26% more damage |
| Flourish | Special attacks deal 56% more damage |
| Chasm | Casts deal 34% more damage |
| Celerity | Movement and sprint speed increases by 30% |
| Chant | Omega abilities deal 30% more damage for every boon you have with the void element stone |
| Revelation | Omega abilities are channeled 13% faster |
| Will | Restores 4.5 magick every second |
| Talent | When using related abilities, you consume 25% less magick |
| Soul | Gain 28 health |
| Blood | Restores fourth health when you exit a location |
| Mind | Gain 36 magick |
| Favor | Boons have a 50% chance to be rare or better |
| Discovery | 66% chance to find 100% resources |
| Affluence | Gold is worth 50% more |
| Creation | Gain one of each elemental stone |
| Legendary: Defiance | Gain one Death Defiance during your current run |
Hades 2 Demeter boons
Demeter is the goddess of the changing seasons and one of the newer additions to Hades 2. She helps Melinoë by freezing enemies and slowing them down, which means her boons are great for any kind of crowd-control build or play style. If you’re wielding the Moonstone Axe, a noticeably slower weapon, Demeter’s boons can offer you some much-needed space and time.
Here are all of the Hades 2 Demeter boons:
| Demeter boons | Description |
| Arctic Ring | Increases cast size and inflicts freeze on enemies |
| Cold Storage | Freeze effects last longer |
| Coarse Grit | If you have six earth boons, you take less damage |
| Cherish Heirloom | All keepsakes increase in effectiveness and strength |
| Frigid Spirit | Sprinting creates a cyclone that remains for a short period at the end |
| Gale Force | Casts create a cyclone |
| Ice Flourish | Special attacks deal more damage and inflict freeze |
| Ice Strike | Standard attacks deal more damage and inflict freeze |
| Natural Selection | You have a higher chance of obtaining rarer boons. This excludes life rewards, gold, and magick |
| Plentiful Forage | Get a mystery seed whenever you collect plants, mushrooms, seeds, or gain health |
| Rare Crop | Omega casts grant strength after each use, but take five points of additional magick |
| Tranquil Gain | You restore magick by standing still for one second |
| Winter Coat | Start each encounter with a shield that absorbs one attack |
Hades 2 Hephaestus boons
Hephaestus is the god of the forge and, being the wily innovator he is, has quite an interesting status effect to offer through his boons. Vent deals delayed burst damage to enemies, so if you know you’re going to come up against a lot of enemies at once, the residual damage can really come handy. It can be a slower play style, but still very effective.
Here are all of the Hades 2 Hephaestus boons:
| Hephaestus boons | Description |
| Anvil Ring | Cast area of effect decreases, but it deals rapid damage three times |
| Fixed Gain | Whenever you receive damage, take -10% less and restore Magick |
| Furnace Blast | Blast effects from other Hephaestus boons inflict vent |
| Heavy Metal | You become immune to knock-back effects and gain armor |
| Martial Art | Special and standard attacks increase in damage for each earth boon you currently have |
| Mint Condition | Become immune to damage for a short period at the start of each encounter |
| Molten Touch | Special and standard attacks deal higher damage to armored enemies |
| Trusty Shield | Swap 30 magick for armor until the next encounter |
| Tough Trade | If you receive damage during a special or standard attack, the attack deals increased damage |
| Uncanny Fortitude | Receive maximum health based on magick limit |
| Volcanic Flourish | Special attacks have a chance to form a blast that deals 400 damage |
| Volcanic Strike | Standard attacks have a chance to form a blast that deals 200 damage |
Hades 2 Hera boons
Given that she’s the literal Queen of Olympus and Zeus’ wife, Hera boons are pretty rare in Hades 2. Ruling the Mount means that she’s a busy lady, it’s understandable. When she does appear, Hera can aid Melinoë by offering the hitch effect, a knock-on status that chains damage between enemies. She can also help by upgrading your existing boons, particularly if you have other earth-type boons from the likes of Hephaestus.
Here are all of the Hades 2 Hera boons:
| Hera boons | Description |
| Bridal Glow | All currently equipped boons become heroic |
| Born Gain | Whenever your magick limit is depleted, you can prime to restore it in full at a reduced limit |
| Dying Wish | When you kill hitched foes, you damage all other hitched foes in the area |
| Engagement Ring | Casts last 200% longer and deal additional damage |
| Family Trade | Sacrifice boons become stronger |
| Hereditary Bane | Hitched effects deal more damage and last five seconds longer |
| Keen Intuition | Deal more damage with omega moves when you have maximum magick |
| Nexus Sprint | Sprint inflicts hitch on enemies, which then spreads to other enemies in the area |
| Nasty Comeback | Inflict your attack with hitch and deal more damage whenever you take damage yourself |
| Proper Upbringing | When you have three earth boons, all common boons increase in rarity |
| Queen’s Ransom | Sacrifice your Zeus boons to receive a rarity increase on your Hera boons |
| Sworn Flourish | Special attacks deal more damage and inflict hitch |
| Sworn Strike | Standard attacks deal more damage and inflict hitch |
| Uncommon Grace | If none of your boons are common, you deal more damage with all attacks |
Hades 2 Hermes boons
Hermes is fast as heck, and so it stands to reason that the basis of his boons increase your speed and agility in the height of battle. He is the god of swiftness, after all. If you’re working on a speedy run, Hermes’ boons can be super helpful, especially if you’re wielding weapons like the Sister Blades. Faster, faster, faster!
Here are all of the Hades 2 Hermes boons:
| Hermes boons | Description |
| Greater Evasion | You can dodge any incoming damage |
| Hard Target | Slows enemy ranged attacks |
| Mean Streak | Whenever you kill an enemy, you deal increased damage for 30 seconds |
| Midnight Oil | When you’ve prepared a hex, you move and attack faster |
| Nitro Boost | Sprint is 20% faster and provides brief immunity to incoming damage |
| Quick Buck | Find gold in larger amounts |
| Saved Breath | Omega casts cost less magick |
| Swift Flourish | Special attacks are faster |
| Swift Strike | Standard attacks are faster |
| Tall Order | If you have at least two boons of each main element (earth, air, fire, or water), you deal more damage |
| Witty Retort | Hex requires less magick |
Hades 2 Hestia boons
This sweet and spicy goddess is a new face to the franchise, and as the goddess of flame, offers some pretty hot boons. Her Scorch status does exactly what it says on the tin and burns enemies with damage-over-time, which can come in clutch when you’re battling big bosses that have a devastatingly long health bar.
Here are all of the Hades 2 Hestia boons:
| Hestia boons | Description |
| Burning Desire | 12 shades appear to help you in each encounter, launching fire bolts at enemies |
| Burnt Offering | Sacrifice one boon – at Hestia’s discretion – to gain maximum health and magick points |
| Controlled Burn | Omega special can launch a fire projectile, but consumes ten magick |
| Fire Extinguisher | Enemies with 300 scorch take burst damage |
| Flame Flourish | Special attacks inflict scorch |
| Flame Strike | Standard attacks inflict scorch |
| Flammable Coating | Scorch deals bonus damage to armor |
| Glowing Coal | Casts launch a fire projectile that explodes and deals AoE damage |
| Hearth Gain | Sacrifice 20% health points but quickly restore magick |
| Natural Gas | When you kill a scorched foe, the status effect transfers to a nearby enemy |
| Slow Cooker | Special and standard attacks have higher damage for every fire boon you have equipped |
| Smolder Ring | Cast inflicts scorch |
| Soot Sprint | Sprint inflicts scorch and destroys incoming projectiles |
Hades 2 Poseidon boons
Poseidon is the god of the sea and, much like the oceans themselves, is an unstoppable force. His boons remain much the same as the original game, specializing in knock-back effects and high damage. They can also serve to increase range, so if you’re looking to stay out of the fray as much as possible, equip the Witch’s Staff and take enemies out without them touching you.
Here are all the Hades 2 Poseidon boons:
| Poseidon boons | Description |
| Breaker Sprint | Sprint deals damage and knocks enemies back, but it consumes five magick with each hit |
| Crashing Wave | Throw enemies into barriers and create a blast of water with knock-back effects |
| Double Up | Minor finds can duplicate |
| Flood Control | Reduce magick damage taken at the start of each encounter |
| Fluid Gain | Attacks create a spirit bubble which restore 20 magick when you touch them |
| Geyser Ring | Omega casts detonate immediately and knock back enemies |
| Hydraulic Might | Special and standard attacks are stronger for the first ten seconds of each encounter |
| Island Getaway | Take less damage |
| Ocean’s Bounty | Minor finds, including gold, have higher quantities |
| Slippery Slope | Effects from other Poseidon boons inflict slip on enemies |
| Sunken Treasure | Receive gold, ashes, health, or psyche |
| Water Fitness | If you have at least four water boons, your max health increases |
| Wave Flourish | Special attacks get a knock-back effect |
| Wave Strike | Standard attacks get a knock-back effect |
Hades 2 Selene boons
Similar to Chaos, Selene’s boons work a little differently than those offered by the gods and goddesses of Olympus. Selene is the embodiment of the moon, and she offers a hex that is more of an ‘ultimate’ ability than a long-lasting boon. With that being said, the hex remains with you for your current run, and you can upgrade it on the Path of Stars. But it costs magick, so if you have a build that specializes in magick restoration, make sure to pick Selene for some extra fire – or moon – power.
Here are all of the Hades 2 Selene boons:
| Selene boons | Description |
| Phase Shift | Makes everything around you move 80% slower for five seconds – costs 150 magick |
| Twilight Curse | Hex launches a homing missile that morphs up to ten enemies – costs 140 magick |
| Lunar Ray | Emits a moonbeam that deals up to 1.2k damage over three seconds – costs 120 magick |
| Wolf Howl | Launch yourself into the air and deal 200 damage on impact – costs 80 magick |
| Moon Water | Restore 25 health – costs 70 magick, and has three charges during a run which reset when you drink from a fountain |
| Night Bloom | Bring a random enemy back to life to fight at your side for 12 seconds – costs 100 magick |
| Total Eclipse | Blast a targeted area for 1k damage for four seconds – costs 200 magick |
| Dark Side | Become totally impervious to all damage and receive new abilities for five seconds – costs 90 magick |
Hades 2 Zeus boons
Zeus is the King of Olympians and his boons focus on lightning damage – because of course they do. His boons can offer some devastating cast effects, and his blitz status effect strikes foes with lightning. He also appears a lot more than his spouse, Hera, because he’s probably lounging around on a thunder cloud and leaving the actual ruling of Olympus to her…
Here are all of the Hades 2 Zeus boons:
| Zeus boons | Description |
| Air Quality | If you have at least five air boons, deal increased damage |
| Apocalyptic Storm | Blitz effects last longer and activates against all afflicted foes |
| Divine Vengeance | Strikes enemies with lightning whenever you receive damage, with a 50% forecast of a second strike of lightning |
| Double Strike | Lightning effects have the chance to hit twice |
| Electric Overload | Chain-lightning hits foes whenever blitz status is active |
| Heaven Flourish | Special attacks inflict blitz |
| Heaven Strike | Standard attacks inflict blitz |
| Iconic Gain | Reduces magick by 70%, but it restores much faster |
| King’s Ransom | Sacrifice all Hera boons in exchange for rarity increase to all Zeus boons |
| Lightning Lance | Cast produces a binding circle which hits all enemies within its AoE with lightning |
| Spirit Surge | Occasionally strikes enemies with lightning if you have less than ten magick |
| Static Shock | Prime 50 magick at the start of every encounter to cause chain-lightning with every attack |
| Storm Ring | Omega casts produce lightning bolts that hit enemies |
| Thunder Sprint | Sprint strikes nearby enemies with lightning. Costs three magick for each enemy hit |
| Toasting Fork | Blitz effects deal damage even when expired |
Well, there you have it, that’s everything you need to know about all of the available Hades 2 boons. Like we said, this is a list of the boons we’ve found so far, so we’ll make sure to keep this list updated with any we might not have come across yet.
If you’re jumping back into Tartarus with the original game, we have a full list of Hades characters that you might encounter with Zagreus, or if you want to try your luck with similar games, check out our picks for the best games like Hades and the best roguelikes on Switch and mobile!