NeonHades2Hades II guideSearch the guide
NeonHades2Hades II guideSearch the guide

Independent Hades II guideNot affiliated with Supergiant Games

Detailed A-Z guide

The whole route at a glance

Start at the first card whose condition matches your save. Each card shows what matters now, what can wait, and every detailed chapter in that stage.

24 chapters6 observable stagesProgress is saved in this browser

Fast-track without skipping an unlock

Better-than-expected progress does not require replaying the guide from the top. Match the state of your save, scan that stage, and open only the chapter that answers the current blocker.

01
Chapters 1–2

Begin well

Learn one safe exchange, take the fixed Apollo offer, and bring home one permanent target.

Start here if

Your save opens in the first Erebus room with the Witch's Staff already equipped.

Move on when

The first night has ended and Melinoë has reached the Crossroads.

Wait on

Do not restart for a perfect reward. Ending the night still opens the Crossroads and advances the save.

Survive the opening

  1. Witch's StaffCast to hold ordinary enemies, Attack twice, then Sprint out.
  2. Nova StrikeChoose Nova Strike from the fixed Apollo offer.

Read the next door

  1. AshesChoose Ashes when Life is comfortable. They reveal permanent Arcana Cards.
  2. Centaur HeartChoose a Centaur Heart when ordinary rooms are already draining Life.
  3. MolyCollect one Moly by hand when it appears. Plants do not need a gathering tool.
02
Chapters 3–7

Build the foundation

Use the first return without the Cauldron, fund the second night, then open recipes and gathering tools on the second return.

Start here if

The first night has ended and this is your first visit to the Crossroads.

Move on when

The Cauldron and gathering tools are available, the next Arcana path is funded, and every desired recipe has a known cost or reveal condition.

Wait on

Do not wait for the Cauldron on the first return. After it opens, do not assume an absent Incantation needs more materials. Another reveal pass, event, or conversation may be required.

First return

  1. Marked conversations → Altar → Silver PoolUse the open systems. The Cauldron is still being purified during this visit.
  2. The SorceressActivate The Sorceress when 1 Ash is available.
  3. Begin the second nightLeaving this hub visit records the first run. The Cauldron opens on the following return.

Second night and return

  1. MolyCollect 1 Moly by hand for Night's Craftwork. Moly is not a reward-door choice.
  2. Night's CraftworkOn the second return, use the Cauldron and brew Night's Craftwork when the queue reveals it.
  3. Crescent PickAfter the Incantation opens the tool tab, buy the Crescent Pick for 1 Ash.

Permanent foundation

  1. Crescent PickTablet of Peace
    Mine Silver, then buy the Tablet of Peace to gather Psyche from Lost Shades.
  2. PersistenceReveal toward Persistence and Death, raising Grasp only for the planned active board.
  3. Fated InterventionBegin the Fated List chain. Later conversations continue it.
  4. Summoning of Mercantile FortuneOpen the Broker when its planned exchange solves a real shortage.
03
Chapters 8–11

Earn the first clear

Use one complete Staff plan, learn the early god gates, and repair the one encounter that ends the run.

Start here if

Ordinary rooms are manageable, but no route has been cleared yet.

Move on when

One route is cleared and its new conversations, recipes, and objectives have been checked.

Wait on

Do not replace the whole build after one guardian loss. Preserve the learned sequence and repair one cause.

Stable Staff build

  1. Nova FlourishUse Special and Omega Special as the main damage line.
  2. Lucid GainAdd Lucid Gain when repeated Omega Special drains Magick.
  3. Harmonic PhotonUse Harmonic Photon until its Apollo offer and Rarify charge are spent.

Open the early god pool

  1. ApolloDemeterPoseidon
    Apollo opens first. Demeter and Poseidon can follow him.
  2. HestiaAphrodite
    Hestia requires Demeter and Poseidon. Aphrodite requires all three.
  3. NemesisWhen Nemesis reaches the exits, choose promptly: she can take a door before you do.

Repair, do not restart

  1. Name the run-ending encounterChange one cause: Life, Magick, damage uptime, or unfamiliar attacks.
  2. Keep useful failed nightsResources, conversations, Keepsake use, and new objectives still advance.
  3. Process the first clearTalk, inspect new recipes and objectives, then choose the next route deliberately.
04
Chapters 12–16

Open the whole game

Open both routes, finish the god roster, and turn one aspect into a complete loadout.

Start here if

One route is cleared and the save is opening the second route and later permanent systems.

Move on when

Both routes and every permanent combat layer are available, and one complete build survives a missed ideal Boon.

Second route

  1. Permeation of Witching-WardsTreat early Surface visits as scouting and material collection.
  2. Unraveling a Fateful BondCure the ward before judging ordinary Surface endurance.
  3. Alternate for a named requirementLet the next recipe, material, conversation, or story gate choose the route.

Later gods

  1. ZeusZeus becomes eligible after three completed nights when his weather gate allows it.
  2. HephaestusHermes
    Both follow Zeus through separate gates. They are not a strict pairwise order.
  3. HeraAres
    Hera and Ares enter through later Surface progress.

Complete one aspect

  1. Weapon move → Boons → ArcanaStart with the move the aspect changes, then support that move.
  2. Hammers → Keepsakes → Familiar → HexGive every layer a job and every Keepsake switch a condition.
  3. Aspect of Melinoë · Witch's StaffBuild one reliable aspect before spreading rare Nightmare across alternatives.
05
Chapters 17–19

Finish the story

Follow the visible Underworld and Surface requirements, then the credits and epilogue chains.

Start here if

Both routes are open and the save now points to separate story requirements on each route.

Move on when

The credits and Fates epilogue have both played.

Wait on

Do not convert an absent story scene into a guessed run count. Check its linked route, conversation, relationship, and prophecy gates.

Two route keys

  1. Advance the Underworld requirementRepeat only when its current conversation or route objective calls for another clear.
  2. Disintegration of MonstrosityResolve the Surface blocker through its exact Incantation requirements.

Story follow-through

  1. Process every return conversationA missing scene can depend on another route event, relationship, or conversation.
  2. Death to ChronosFollow the newly revealed requirements through the credits.
  3. Golden AgeAfter the credits, follow the Fates chain until its epilogue is complete.
06
Chapters 20–24

Finish every remaining objective

Run independent cleanup tracks in parallel instead of pretending they form one strict sequence.

Start here if

The credits and epilogue are complete and the remaining work is finite challenge or collection cleanup.

Move on when

Every finite objective is complete or shows one exact unmet requirement. Everything else is explicitly optional or repeatable.

Challenges

  1. Bounties of the Infinite AbyssRead the Testament before selecting Fear and reserve Nightmare for the planned aspect.
  2. Abyssal InsightFinish fixed Chaos Trials before treating random trials as required completion.

Relationships and lists

  1. Empath's IntuitionCarry only the next gift a relationship can currently accept.
  2. Batch Fated List entriesGroup Boons, Hammers, systems, routes, and story entries into useful nights.

Finite collections

  1. Finish fixed endpoints firstCheck achievements, records, weapons, aspects, fish, plants, enemies, and encounters.
  2. Name the optional remainderSeparate repeatable prestige and resource sinks from unfinished finite progress.