Of all the new systems in Hades 2, one of the most impactful and customizable is the Arcana cards system. Replacing the Mirror of Night from the original Hades, the Arcana system lets Melinoë equip a variety of interchangeable bonuses and new passives, like extra starting Life, Magicka regeneration, and extra Death Defiances.
Hades 2: All Incantations, Alchemy, & Cauldron Recipes
A complete list of all incantations currently available in Hades 2.
Though some players may have felt initially underwhelmed by the Arcana system, as it turns out, there's a lot more to it. But before that, you'll need to find out how to get Moon Dust to take full advantage of your Arcana powers in Hades 2.
What Is Moon Dust Used For?
A Unique Upgrade Currency Unlocked In The Mid-Game
Moon Dust is an item that players can use to upgrade Arcana cards in Hades 2. Once the system has been unlocked, players can press X/Square (or your equivalent input) on the Arcana menu to access the Insights screen. Here, you can spend Moon Dust on Arcana upgrades.
Each Arcana card can be upgraded twice, increasing the normal stats or bonuses significantly with each boost.
For a few examples, the first upgrade for the Sorceress (marked with the Roman numeral I) will grant three seconds of slowed time during Ω Moves instead of the default two, then the second upgrade grants four seconds. The Eternity Arcana (marked with the Roman numeral XII) grants an extra Death Defiance per upgrade to a maximum of three.
Each of the Arcana cards requires a different amount of Moon Dust to be upgraded, and the second upgrade costs more than the first for each. Low-Grasp Arcana cards tend to require less Moon Dust to upgrade than high-Grasp Arcana cards.
Hades 2: What To Unlock First
There are a lot of useful items and new features in Hades 2 – these are the five you should focus on unlocking first.
All in all, players will need to prioritize collecting lots of Moon Dust to upgrade the Arcana deck to its fullest potential. Thankfully, there are a few different ways to acquire this important currency.
How To Get Moon Dust
Moon Dust can be earned in three main ways: through Incantations, by purchasing it from the Broker, or by using Charon's rewards system at the Crossroads (or sometimes in his shop near the final boss).
To unlock and access Moon Dust in the first place, though, you must complete the Consecration of Ashes Incantation. This Incantation unlocks after you have unlocked enough Arcana cards and upgraded your Grasp several times, though players are not sure of the exact numbers for either of these prerequisites.
Best Boons in Hades 2, Ranked
New and returning Gods in Hades 2 will offer Melinoë boons to help her accomplish her task – these are the best Boons for any build.
To complete this Incantation, you need 6x Ash, 1x Cinder, and 6x Fate Fabric. This grants Melinoë the ability to upgrade her Arcana deck (and grants 3 Moon Dust just for completing it) and opens up initial sources of Moon Dust in Hades 2.
The Broker Sells Moon Dust
The first and most reliable source of Moon Dust is from none other than the Wretched Broker. After completing the Consecration of Ashes Incantation, the Broker at the Crossroads will sell Moon Dust en masse for 80 Bones each.
Look for this new item at the bottom of the main item list at the Broker. You can buy as many Moon Dust as you have the Bones for.
Getting Moon Dust from Charon
Charon will sell Moon Dust in two locations: his end-of-the-game store, and Charon's Gold Rewards Shop at the Crossroads.
- At the end of every run, when you come across Charon before the final boss, he will offer a total of five items, usually enhanced versions of his normal wares. There is a low chance for 3x Moon Dust to be available for 1000 Gold.
- At the Crossroads, in exchange for 4x Obol Points (which are normally earned at a rate of one for every 1000 Gold spent in Charon's shop), you can get 4x Moon Dust from the Gold Rewards Shop, on the dock just to the left of the Broker.
Hades 2: Best Keepsakes, Ranked
Players can collect Keepsakes by befriending NPCs in Hades 2, which will grant them different bonuses. These are the best ones in the game.
Moon Dust Incantations & Other Sources
There are two Incantations that Melinoë can cast to create Moon Dust. These are called Moonlit Essence from Shadow and Moonlit Essence from Stars. These Incantations are Alchemy Incantations and can be cast over and over again as long as you have the materials.
- Moonlit Essence from Shadow: Convert 1x Cinder and 1x Shadow into 5x Moon Dust
- Moonlit Essence from Stars: Convert 1x Star Dust into 3x Moon Dust
Additionally, one final method to get Moon Dust in Hades 2 is to complete some Fated List of Minor Prophecies tasks. Specifically, the "Natural Talent" prophecy, and the "Whim of Chaos" prophecy, which reward 6x Moon Dust and 10x Moon Dust respectively.
Hades 2
- Released
- September 25, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Supergiant Games
- Franchise
- Hades
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PC
