Hades 2's Unseen Update brings a whole lot of new combat and gameplay features to the roguelike game. Alongside the long-anticipated addition of Nocturnal Arms' Hidden Aspects is the Oath of the Unseen's Vow of Rivals, which changes boss, or Guardian encounters, in fundamental ways. Hades 2 Guardians aren't just tougher. Guardian fights under the Vow of Rivals transform each encounter, requiring new strategies with new enemy movements to memorize.
The Vow of Rivals adds depth to the game's Guardian encounters, introduces new narrative layers, and reinforces the core of what makes roguelike games endlessly replayable. Including new combat and character insight that are tied to progression is a key feature of Hades 2, and the Vow of Rivals addresses both of these in one go.
Why Now is the Best Time to Play Hades 2
Hades 2's newest Warsong Update adds more content that brings fans closer to the endgame, so this is the perfect time to start now.
What is the Hades 2 Vow of Rivals?
The Vow of Rivals requires activation of the Oath of the Unseen, which appears after defeating Chronos for the first time. The Oath and its Vows are closely associated with Nyx, but Schelemeus appears to have some part in their use. Completing the Oaths and defeating the required Guardian with the correct weapon under the Testament of Night rewards Hades 2 players with Nightmare. Nightmare is a vital resource that Melinoe can use to upgrade the Nocturnal Arms through the Silver Pool.
Meanwhile, The Oath of Rivals changes Hades 2 in fundamental ways, including character dynamics and combat gameplay. Guardians under the Oath of Rivals are now equipped with enhanced move sets, support from their partner, and new patterns, making each rematch feel fresh and more dangerous compared to their original versions. Even once the early access content wall has been hit, players may continue completing runs to gather resources, and fundamentally changing the Guardians for late-game players is vital to keep gameplay engaging at this late stage.
The Vow of Rivals is organized into tiers, where players need to defeat the first Guardian of each route before being able to progress to the second Guardian under the Vow, and then the next. To defeat each Guardian, even the very first, requires either upgraded weapons or a very skilled player who has presumably defeated both the Surface and Underworld runs at least several times.
The Oath of Rivals Sets Hades 2 Apart From Hades
When the Vow of Rivals is activated for the first time, the first Guardian of the Surface and Underworld routes will either be joined by an NPC Melinoe knows, such as Medea joining Polyphemus on the Surface route, or another significant change to the environment. Medea supports Polyphemus by infusing his attacks with poison, as well as creating large pools of poison to appear on the ground. The combination of dodging Polyphemus' attacks, while being hyper-aware of the environmental dangers, changes this fight and makes it far more difficult than Polyphemus' vanilla encounter.
While Hades 2 is much bigger than its predecessor, with more Guardians and a variety of settings and combat options, players can still fall into the pattern of facing the same enemies repeatedly. This is by design, but can become tedious and predictable if encounters remain mostly the same, especially when characters meet their dialogue limit.
The new Rivalry system goes a long way to address this problem. Pairing up Hades 2's NPCs with the antagonistic Guardians under a lore-friendly mechanic is a great way to see new sides to the friendly NPCs, and the dynamics between the partners are entertaining to watch while complicating their relationship with Melinoe. Facing new attack types requires new strategies from players, forcing them to think on their feet, and changing the location, as is the case with some Guardians, makes for an entirely new experience.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 95 /100 Critics Rec: 98%
- Released
- September 25, 2025
- ESRB
- Teen / Alcohol Reference, Blood, Mild Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Supergiant Games
- Publisher(s)
- Supergiant Games
WHERE TO PLAY
Battle beyond the Underworld using dark sorcery to take on the Titan of Time in this bewitching sequel to the award-winning rogue-like dungeon crawler.
The first-ever sequel from Supergiant Games builds on the best aspects of the original god-like rogue-like dungeon crawler in an all-new, action-packed, endlessly replayable experience rooted in the Underworld of Greek myth and its deep connections to the dawn of witchcraft.
BATTLE BEYOND THE UNDERWORLD
As the immortal Princess of the Underworld, you'll explore a bigger, deeper mythic world, vanquishing the forces of the Titan of Time with the full might of Olympus behind you, in a sweeping story that continually unfolds through your every setback and accomplishment.
MASTER WITCHCRAFT AND DARK SORCERY
Infuse your legendary weapons of Night with ancient magick, so that none may stand in your way. Become stronger still with powerful Boons from more than a dozen Olympian gods, from Apollo to Zeus. There are nearly limitless ways to build your abilities.
MINGLE WITH (MORE) GODS, GHOSTS, AND MONSTERS
Meet a cast of dozens of fully-voiced, larger-than-life characters, including plenty of new faces and some old friends. Grow closer to them through a variety of new interactions, and experience countless unique story events based on how your journey unfolds.
EVERY RUN IS ITS OWN ADVENTURE
New locations, challenges, upgrade systems, and surprises await as you delve into the ever-shifting Underworld again and again. Reveal the mysteries of the Arcana Altar, tame witchy familiars, and gather reagents using Tools of the Unseen to get closer to your goal.
THE PERKS OF IMMORTALITY
Thanks to a variety of permanent upgrades and the return of God Mode, you don't have to be a god yourself to experience what Hades II has to offer. But if you happen to be one, you can brave escalating challenges for greater rewards, and prove just how divine you really are.
SIGNATURE SUPERGIANT STYLE
Rich, atmospheric presentation and storytelling fused with responsive action is the hallmark of Supergiant's titles. Vivid new hand-painted environments, even smoother real-time 3D characters, and an electrifying original score make this mythic world burst with life.
