Summary
- Hades 2 introduces Melinoë with new Nocturnal Arms & Chaos Trials, elevating the challenges from the original game.
- The Chaos Trials offer varied difficulties, strategic weapon combinations, and unique boons from gods like Hera, Hephaestus, and Aphrodite.
- Players must navigate challenging trials like Precarity, Fury, and Doom using skill, luck, and clever use of Melinoë's abilities.
Supergiant Games has another hit on its hands with the Early Access version of Hades 2 -- a direct sequel to the first Hades. Instead of having Zagreus return, fans play as his sister Melinoë and she gets an entirely new set of Nocturnal Arms to play with and, ostensibly, rescue her family from the clutches of...also her family. Primordial Chaos is back, too, with a new look and the same curiosity from the first game.
Hades 2: All Romanceable Characters
The original Hades had such intriguing, unique romances. Hades 2 continues this tradition with its own twist on love for Melinoe.
The game introduces lots of new mechanics such as resource gathering, crafting, and steamy hot springs scenes. However, perhaps the most interesting addition is the Chaos Trials -- specific challenges Melinoë must overcome to gain rewards from Master Chaos themself. Each one uses a specific weapon, a specific keepsake (or none), and takes place in a particular region. The difficulty rating on each trial doesn't always indicate how hard it actually is for some players. So which challenges are the most difficult Chaos Trials in Hades 2?
This article contains spoilers for Hades 2 which is currently in Early Access. All information is subject to change pending the full release of the game.
15 Trial Of Origin
Difficulty Rating: 1/5
- Location: Erebus
- Weapon: Descura the Witch's Staff, Aspect of Melinoë
- Keepsake: None
- Boon: Primordial Chaos
Players can unlock these trials when they access the Pitch Black Stone in the same area as Nocturnal Arms. It shows the first Chaos Trial that has Melinoë traversing Erebus with naught but her starting equipment and a boon from Master Chaos. It's a fairly straightforward and short run as it is the very first trial the player can access.
Players progress through the first level as usual and even fight Hecate at the end. She will sometimes comment on the bizarreness of the situation, suggesting awareness of Master Chaos' tampering with the scenario. After beating Hecate, Melinoë returns to her room in The Crossroads with the challenge completed.
14 Trial Of Vengeance
Difficulty Rating: 1/5
- Location: City of Ephyra
- Weapon: Revaal the Argent Skull, Aspect of Melinoë
- Keepsake: Evil Eye
- Boon: Hera
This time, Melinoë bears Revaal to take down the Cyclops Polyphemus, along with the Evil Eye keepsake from Nemesis. This provides 20% bonus damage against the last foe who defeated the player. Melinoë can also gain boons from the Queen of Olympus throughout this trial, so she can do decent AoE damage over time.
Players shouldn't have a difficult time with this one as the Argent Skull allows Melinoë to be extremely mobile as a direct counter to the lumbering Cyclops. Be sure to optimize what Hera boons are available throughout the trial, as well making use of any Hermes fonts along the way.
13 Trial Of Labrys
Difficulty Rating: 1/5
- Location: Erebus
- Weapon: Zorephet the Moonstone Axe, Aspect of Melinoë
- Keepsake: Lion Fang
- Boon: Hephaestus
This Chaos Trial has Melinoë deal less damage the further she progresses into the trial. Herakles' keepsake the Lion Fang grants Melinoë 30% bonus damage that decays by 5% after each encounter. The Moonstone Axe, while powerful, makes Melinoë slower than other weapons, but it can also deflect projectiles and block.
Hades 2: Every Chaos Boon, Ranked
Chaos is an interesting character from Hades 2. The player can get some boons from them, at a price.
Players will need to rely on the Hephaestus boons for additional damage and protection. The boss fight against Hecate may prove more of a challenge as well, depending on how comfortable a player is with Zorephet.
12 Trial Of Flame
Difficulty Rating: 2/5
- Location: Fields of Mourning
- Weapon: Umbral Flames Ygnium, Aspect of Moros
- Keepsake: Everlasting Ember
- Boon: Hestia
Some players aren't fans of Ygnium, but Moros' aspect for it makes attacks stick around for 6 seconds. If Melinoë hits them with her Special in that time, it causes an explosion, which helps to clear out lots of enemies and does burst damage to solo enemies. Pair this with Hestia's damage over time and Melinoë's mobility to easily crush this trial and get some stardust.
11 Trial Of Vigor
Difficulty Rating: 2/5
- Location: Oceanus
- Weapon: Descura the Witch's Staff, Aspect of Momus
- Keepsake: Blackened Fleece
- Boon: Aphrodite
Medea's keepsake, the Blackened Fleece, pairs exceptionally well with the aspect of Momus. Melinoë will deal 20% bonus damage with her Omega moves after taking 250 points of damage. The Aspect of Momus, another son of Nyx, empowers Omega moves to fire in place up to 3 times until Mel uses them again. This effect can be extremely powerful with the right builds and play styles.
The only thing in this trial that doesn't have much synergy is certain boons from the Goddess of Love. They require the player to do damage up close -- something Descura isn't exactly good at doing.
10 Trial Of Gold
Difficulty Rating: 2/5
- Location: City of Ephyra
- Weapon: Lim & Oros the Sister Blades, Aspect of Pan
- Keepsake: Gold Purse
- Boon: None
Gold feels a bit easier to come by in Hades 2 than its predecessor, but Charon's keepsake bankrolls Mel with an additional 100 gold. Romping through Ephyra with Lim and Oros is easy enough, even if it makes the Polyphemus boss fight a bit more threatening.
Leverage Charon's coffers to boost health and Magick and be sure to let the Aspect of Pan do its work. Mel's Special attacks will seek foes standing in her Cast, as well as fire more blades after she channels.
9 Trial Of Salt
Difficulty Rating: 2/5
- Location: Oceanus
- Weapon: Lim & Oros the Sister Blades, Aspect of Melinoë
- Keepsake: None
- Boon: Poseidon
Friendly Uncle Poseidon helps Mel on this Chaos Trial as she wields the Sister Blades. This means blast damage, the Slip status effect, knockaway effects, Magick restoration, reward bonuses, and more.
Hades 2: Best Poseidon Boons, Ranked
Here's a rundown of the best Boons in Hades 2 that players can get from Poseidon, the water god.
The only problems players might encounter are avoiding damage from AoE enemies like Scylla's front attack, the death explosion from Hippos, spin attacks from Serpents, etc. Play it smart and Mel will emerge victorious.
8 Trial Of The Moon
Difficulty Rating: 2/5
- Location: Erebus
- Weapon: Zorephet the Moonstone Axe, Aspect of Charon
- Keepsake: Moon Beam
- Boon: None
The Titan Goddess Selene has a special bond with Melinoë, and she grants her a special power most nights -- a power the Moon Beam keepsake further augments. The keepsake provides an additional upgrade for Mel's Hex ability when she finds a Path of Stars. Unfortunately, players have to rely on luck and random generation as to which Hex they might get.
Some are extremely powerful such as Total Eclipse or provide healing like Moon Wate r while others, like Phase Shift, just slow things down for a bit. Depending on player builds, different abilities can be effective, so just go with the flow here and try not to take too many hits from Hecate at the end.
7 Trial Of Precarity
Difficulty Rating: 3/5
- Location: City of Ephyra
- Weapon: Revaal the Argent Skull, Aspect of Medea
- Keepsake: Experimental Hammer
- Boon: Apollo
Icarus' keepsake grants Mel a different weapon boon every 10 encounters, meaning that players must adjust their playstyle as they progress through the trial. These boons can do everything from prime Magick to grant additional offensive power to provide pomegranate slices and 10 healing every 5 encounters. This pairs decently well with Apollo boons and the unique status effect Daze, which imparts a 20% chance for a foe's attack not to deal damage.
Hades 2: All Nocturnal Arms (Weapons) & Tools
Take down Chronos with this complete list of weapons and tools in Hades 2.
Wielding Revaal also means that Mel has a lower chance of taking damage since she can maintain distance between her and her foes most of the time. Leverage Apollo's Perfect Image boon for an easier trial.
6 Trial Of Fury
Difficulty Rating: 3/5
- Location: Oceanus
- Weapon: Descura the Witch's Staff, Aspect of Circe
- Keepsake: Crystal Figurine
- Boon: Chaos, Apollo, Aphrodite, Selene
Circe's Crystal Figurine keepsake is one of the best in the game, as it activates a random Arcana card after Mel takes down a Guardian. However, it won't do much for her in the Chaos Trial since it takes place in one location: Oceanus. The Aspect of Circe grants Descura Serenity after Mel lands 21 attacks. This boosts Omega move damage and restores some of Mel's spent Magick.
Descura's Omega moves are fantastic for line damage, so take the time to line those up -- especially in the boss fight against Scylla and the Sirens. Leverage what boons are available and remember to stay mobile.