With the Olympic update for Hades 2 two new Gods finally return from the first game: Dionysus and Athena. In the original Hades, Athena was one of the best Gods for her multiple overpowered Boons, but in Hades 2, she returns as a Helper NPC, not a God who offers Boons throughout a run.
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As such, you can only encounter Athena on the Surface route, and she will only appear as a "Divine Intervention" at random in one of the rooms in the new Olympus location. Thankfully, despite only offering six boons, the best Athena boon in Hades is still on offer – indeed, Divine Dash returns alongside Athena.
6 Defensive Posture
Become Impervious When Taking Damage
After you take damage, become Impervious for 2 Sec.
Base Recharge Time: 13 seconds
Defensive Posture is a good Athena boon, but just like any effect that requires Melinoë to take damage, the power of this boon is tied to an inherently detrimental drawback. At a base recharge rate of every 13 seconds, it's not worth picking up over other Athena boons in Hades 2.
However, if you get an empowered version of Defensive Posture, it's worth considering. The Epic and Heroic rarities reduce this effect below 10 seconds, and because its effect lasts for two seconds, you will find yourself taking significantly less damage in damage-heavy fights like Prometheus and Chronos.
5 Phalanx Shot
Specials Can Deflect, Sometimes
Your Specials also launch a projectile ahead that can Deflect, rearming after 2 Sec.
Base Projectile Damage: 10
One of the most powerful effects granted by Athena in Hades was the Deflect ability, which let Zagreus send back all projectiles back to their caster whenever he Dashed. In Hades 2, this fan-favorite effect returns on several of Athena's boons. Phalanx Shot is arguably the weakest of the three Athena boons in Hades 2 that grant Deflect.
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It barely increases your Special damage, but every two seconds your Specials will Deflect all Projectiles they come into contact with. Pick up Phalanx Shot if your current weapon uses a slow Special that is easy to aim – the Black Coat and Sister Blades, for example, both launch several Specials at once, so it can be tough to correctly aim the Deflect where you want it to go.
4 Stalwart Stand
Prime An Enormous Amount Of Magick For Death Defiances
Gain +1 Death Defiance that replenishes in each Location, but you Prime Magick.
Base Magick Primed: 150
Death Defiances are literally life-savers in Hades 2, preventing Melinoë from going back to the Crossroads by refilling some of her Health upon death. Because it guarantees at least one Death Defiance in every Location, Stalwart Stand is among the best Athena boons in Hades 2 – if you can afford the enormous Magick Prime cost.
By default, this Boon requires you to Prime 150 Magick, which is an enormous amount even by the time you get to Olympus. If you have over 250 Magick, a really strong Magick regeneration Boon, or are not relying on Omega Casts, this Boon practically guarantees that you will make it to the end of your run.
3 Mental Block
Reliably Proc Deflect With Casts
Your Casts also deal a burst of damage and make you briefly Deflect.
Base Cast Damage: 60
The second-best way to generate Deflect with Hades 2 Athena boons is the Mental Block ability. By picking this boon, you will make your Casts deal a burst of damage and grant Melinoë the ability to Deflect for a few seconds.
The best part of this Athena boon is that you don't have to be standing in your Cast to Deflect – no matter her location, Melinoë can Deflect projectiles as soon as the Cast appears. You don't need to use the Omega Cast, either, but if you have the choice between this or Divine Dash, Divine Dash is still the better boon.
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2 Renewed Faith
Replenishes All Death Defiances & Enhances Them
Replenish all spent uses of Death Defiance now, and improved their potency.
Base Extra Health Restoration: 20%
By the time you reach Olympus and have made your way far enough through to meet Athena, you will likely have used most of your Death Defiances. Olympus is a tough zone in Hades 2, but the Renewed Faith Athena boon can give you the ability to push through to the final encounter against Prometheus.
Renewed Faith not only restores all of your depleted Death Defiance charges, it also makes your future Death Defiance uses replenish more Health (at a base 20% boosted Health restored on death). The only reason you shouldn't choose this Boon over others is if you haven't lost any Death Defiances, or if you get Divine Dash and would prefer to generate Deflect than gain more chances at beating the run.
1 Divine Dash
The Best Athena Boon (& Canonically Zagreus' Favorite)
Your Dash deals damage to surrounding foes where you end up, and can Deflect.
Base Dash Damage: 10
Between Renewed Faith and Divine Dash, it's a really close call when it comes to the best Athena boon Hades 2 players can pick. But because Renewed Faith is only useful if you have depleted your Death Defiances, Divine Dash is an incredibly strong choice no matter the current state of your run.
With this Athena boon, Melinoë can simply Dash (Evade) to Deflect every Projectile nearby back to their original caster. You don't have to aim a Special, and you don't have to wait four seconds for your Cast to replenish – Divine Dash lets Melinoë Deflect as often as possible, making it the best Athena boon in most situations.
Hades 2
- Released
- September 25, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Teen / Alcohol Reference, Blood, Mild Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Supergiant Games
- Franchise
- Hades
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PC
