Independent Hades II guideNot affiliated with Supergiant Games
Aspect build · Witch's Staff
You have the Ankh Scepter, which raises recruited Shades wherever you slay foes.
Choose the goal for this run. Every mode is a complete, aspect-specific build.
Set your ranks and pre-run tools here. Then choose Strongest or Safest for the combat decisions you make during the run.
Prepare what both goals share first. Each goal then lists only what changes.
If current Grasp cannot hold the full list, keep the cards that protect the main plan first, then add Persistence and Death before other support cards.
| Pick | Why | Limit | Fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| RakiFamiliar | Critical chance can improve every damage source without changing the combat sequence. | The random damage increase does not repair low Life, poor Magick recovery, or unsafe positioning. | |
| Night BloomHex | A raised enemy adds damage and draws attention without replacing Melinoe's actions. | The Hex needs an eligible slain enemy and is unreliable at the start of a room or in some boss fights. |
Use the opening region to secure the first preferred god and main Boon.
At the next keepsake cabinet, replace it after its god offer is consumed and its Rarify charge is spent. Switch earlier only when you intentionally abandon the unused Rarify benefit.Use the opening region to secure the first preferred god and main Boon.
At the next keepsake cabinet, replace it after its god offer is consumed and its Rarify charge is spent. Switch earlier only when you intentionally abandon the unused Rarify benefit.Each rank lists its forge cost and the exact value it gives this Aspect.
Focus the weakest controlled foe
Create the first Shade
Fight beside the Shade and direct Special toward its target
Focus the weakest controlled foe
The first two stages make the plan functional. The last is a power spike, not a reason to delay the run.
Secure Heaven Strike.
The carrying action now has its required Boon, so the basic sequence works without filling unrelated slots.Secure the main choices: Heaven Strike + Sworn Flourish.
Kills create additional pressure The named choices now reinforce the same sequence instead of competing for upgrades.Take Soulfilled Ankh if it appears.
This upgrades the action already carrying the plan. It improves the existing loop but is not required for the build to function.Attack, Special, Cast, Dash, and Gain stay in the shown order when offers compete. Open a slot to see its other proven fits and fallbacks.
| First choice | Fallbacks if the first choice does not appear | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Priority 1 · AttackBuild focus | ||
| Heaven Strike Your Attacks inflict Blitz. Other proven fitsSworn Strike Your Attacks deal more damage and inflict Hitch. This can fill the same attack role when its condition matches "Focus the weakest controlled foe". Keep the rest of the damage plan unchanged.Flame Strike Your Attacks inflict Scorch. This can fill the same attack role when its condition matches "Focus the weakest controlled foe". Keep the rest of the damage plan unchanged. | Wave Strike Your Attacks hit foes with a splash that knocks other foes away. Use this only when the preferred attack choice is unavailable. It preserves "Focus the weakest controlled foe" without changing the damage loop. | This is a breakpoint for "Focus the weakest controlled foe". It powers a move the damage plan already repeats instead of splitting upgrades across unrelated actions. |
| Priority 2 · SpecialBuild focus | ||
| Sworn Flourish Your Specials deal more damage and inflict Hitch. Other proven fitsNova Flourish Your Specials deal more damage in a larger area. This can fill the same special role when its condition matches "Fight beside the Shade and direct Special toward its target". Keep the rest of the damage plan unchanged. | Wave Flourish Your Specials hit foes with a splash that knocks other foes away. Use this only when the preferred special choice is unavailable. It preserves "Fight beside the Shade and direct Special toward its target" without changing the damage loop. | This is a breakpoint for "Fight beside the Shade and direct Special toward its target". It powers a move the damage plan already repeats instead of splitting upgrades across unrelated actions. |
| Priority 3 · GainSupporting slot | ||
| Born Gain Whenever you run out of Magick, Prime until the next location to restore all Magick. | Cardio Gain Whenever your Attack or Special deals damage, restore Magick. Use this if the preferred Gain choice does not appear. It keeps the complete five-slot package coherent without changing the plan's higher priorities. | This is the recommended Gain choice for the complete five-slot package. Take it after the higher-priority choices only when offers compete. |
| Priority 4 · CastSupporting slot | ||
| Arctic Ring Your Casts inflict Freeze and repeatedly deal damage to foes in the binding circle. | Smolder Ring Your Casts repeatedly inflict Scorch on foes in the binding circle. Use this if the preferred Cast choice does not appear. It keeps the complete five-slot package coherent without changing the plan's higher priorities. | This is the recommended Cast choice for the complete five-slot package. Take it after the higher-priority choices only when offers compete. |
| Priority 5 · DashSupporting slot | ||
| Blinding Rush Your Sprint is faster and inflicts Daze on surrounding foes. | Frigid Rush Your Sprint forms a Gust around you that lingers after you stop. Use this if the preferred Dash choice does not appear. It keeps the complete five-slot package coherent without changing the plan's higher priorities. | This is the recommended Dash choice for the complete five-slot package. Take it after the higher-priority choices only when offers compete. |
Finish the functional build first. Open Requirement to compare this plan with the other valid options.
Pairings this plan can reach without replacing its main actions.
Whenever you inflict Freeze on a foe with Scorch, deal damage and remove Scorch.
This plan can open the target with Arctic Ring + Flame Strike after its main actions are funded.
Do not chase this target before the main plan works, because an unseeded run may not offer every required god or Boon.
Whenever you Dodge or a foe misses because of Daze, restore some Life.
This plan can open the target with Blinding Rush + Flame Strike after its main actions are funded.
Do not chase this target before the main plan works, because an unseeded run may not offer every required god or Boon.
Your Blitz effects also inflict Scorch whenever they deal damage.
This plan can open the target with Heaven Strike + Smolder Ring after its main actions are funded.
Do not chase this target before the main plan works, because an unseeded run may not offer every required god or Boon.
Your Keepsakes are stronger this night (if possible).
This plan can open the target with Arctic Ring + Sworn Flourish after its main actions are funded.
Do not chase this target before the main plan works, because an unseeded run may not offer every required god or Boon.
Whenever you restore Magick during encounters, damage all Hitch-afflicted foes.
This plan can open the target with Sworn Flourish + Flame Strike after its main actions are funded.
Do not chase this target before the main plan works, because an unseeded run may not offer every required god or Boon.
Your Sprint creates a watery globe behind you, which surges ahead once you stop.
This plan can open the target with Blinding Rush + Wave Strike after its main actions are funded.
Do not chase this target before the main plan works, because an unseeded run may not offer every required god or Boon.
In each encounter, the first foe you slay returns to fight for you.
This plan can open the target with Born Gain + Blinding Rush after its main actions are funded.
Do not chase this target before the main plan works, because an unseeded run may not offer every required god or Boon.
Your Freeze effects also cause lightning bolts to repeatedly strike afflicted foes.
This plan can open the target with Heaven Strike + Arctic Ring after its main actions are funded.
Do not chase this target before the main plan works, because an unseeded run may not offer every required god or Boon.
While standing in a Gust, you randomly fire gales every 0.3 seconds.
This plan can open the target with Nova Flourish + Frigid Rush after its main actions are funded.
Do not chase this target before the main plan works, because an unseeded run may not offer every required god or Boon.
Give up all your boons of Hera. For each, raise level for all your boons of Zeus.
This plan can open the target with Born Gain + Heaven Strike after its main actions are funded.
Do not chase this target before the main plan works, because an unseeded run may not offer every required god or Boon.
Add these only after the five main slots are secure. The tiers are specific to strongest mode.
Your Attacks deal more damage to nearby foes.
This can support "Focus the weakest controlled foe", but it ranks behind the named strongest choices for that slot.Your Attacks deal more damage in a larger area.
This can support "Focus the weakest controlled foe", but it ranks behind the named strongest choices for that slot.Your Specials deal more damage and inflict Wounds.
This can support "Fight beside the Shade and direct Special toward its target", but it ranks behind the named strongest choices for that slot.Your Attacks deal more damage and inflict Wounds.
This can support "Focus the weakest controlled foe", but it ranks behind the named strongest choices for that slot.Your Specials deal more damage and inflict Freeze.
This can support "Fight beside the Shade and direct Special toward its target", but it ranks behind the named strongest choices for that slot.Your Attacks deal more damage and inflict Freeze.
This can support "Focus the weakest controlled foe", but it ranks behind the named strongest choices for that slot.Your Omega Special also launches a fireball, but uses +10 Magick.
This can support "Fight beside the Shade and direct Special toward its target", but it ranks behind the named strongest choices for that slot.Your Specials can cause a blast that deals 500 damage in the area.
This can support "Fight beside the Shade and direct Special toward its target", but it ranks behind the named strongest choices for that slot.Your Attacks can cause a blast that deals 400 damage in the area.
This can support "Focus the weakest controlled foe", but it ranks behind the named strongest choices for that slot.Your Omega moves are faster.
This can support "Fight beside the Shade and direct Special toward its target", but it ranks behind the named strongest choices for that slot.Your Attack, Special, and Cast are faster.
This can support "Focus the weakest controlled foe", but it ranks behind the named strongest choices for that slot.Your Specials inflict Scorch.
This can support "Fight beside the Shade and direct Special toward its target", but it ranks behind the named strongest choices for that slot.Your Specials inflict Blitz.
This can support "Fight beside the Shade and direct Special toward its target", but it ranks behind the named strongest choices for that slot.These improve the move already carrying the plan. They do not replace a missing main Boon.
Choose the main Boon and required Magick recovery before changing the weapon around a Hammer.
| Hammer | Change | Fit |
|---|---|---|
| Soulfilled Ankh | Your Attacks have +5 Power and hit a larger area. | |
| Mirrored Ankh | Your Omega Attack creates +1 damage field ahead of the first. | |
| Scarab Etchings | recruited Shades deal +50 damage and have a 75% chance to reappear after striking a foe. |
Your Specials also launch a projectile ahead that can Deflect, rearming after 2 seconds.
Requires you to have met Athena once before the current night.Grow in size, increase maximum Life by 15%, and deal 15% more damage with your Nocturnal Arm.
Circe can offer this choice.Your Attack boon gains 3 levels, but you Prime 35 Magick.
Requires Attack.Your Specials may deal Critical damage, but you Prime 40 Magick.
Artemis can offer this choice.Your Special boon gains 3 levels, but you Prime 35 Magick.
Requires Special.Foes in your Casts may take Critical damage from your Attacks.
Artemis can offer this choice.Each Attack hit randomly deals exactly 5, 55, or 555 damage.
Requires you to speak with Dionysus after the true ending.After you hit with your Attacks or Specials, fire a seeking arrow.
Artemis can offer this choice.The starting Keepsake is listed in Setup. These are the in-run swaps.
Use the extra Death Defiance after the main Boon is secured when ordinary rooms still threaten the run.
At the next keepsake cabinet, replace it after its Last Stand has triggered because the spent keepsake adds no second recovery. Equip it after the opening god is secured if room damage is consuming Death Defiance or maximum Life.Use the guardian-focused effect when the final encounter is the remaining route constraint.
At the next keepsake cabinet, replace it after its limited guardian effect has been consumed and another guardian remains. Equip it before the final region only when the run already survives normal rooms reliably.Use the normal Staff plan when a phase offers no susceptible foe to start the summon loop.
Routes with dense rooms favor the aspect more than sparse elite sequences.
Each rank lists its forge cost and the exact value it gives this Aspect.
Root and focus the weakest foe
Create the first Shade without entering the center of the group
Use ranged Special beside the Shade and repeat from safety
Root and focus the weakest foe
The first two stages make the plan functional. The last is a power spike, not a reason to delay the run.
Secure Ice Strike.
The carrying action now has its required Boon, so the basic sequence works without filling unrelated slots.Secure the main choices: Ice Strike + Arctic Ring + Nova Flourish.
Freeze makes the first kill safer before Shade pressure begins The named choices now reinforce the same sequence instead of competing for upgrades.Take Soulfilled Ankh if it appears.
This upgrades the action already carrying the plan. It improves the existing loop but is not required for the build to function.Attack, Special, Cast, Dash, and Gain stay in the shown order when offers compete. Open a slot to see its other proven fits and fallbacks.
| First choice | Fallbacks if the first choice does not appear | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Priority 1 · AttackBuild focus | ||
| Ice Strike Your Attacks deal more damage and inflict Freeze. | Nova Strike Your Attacks deal more damage in a larger area. Use this only when the preferred attack choice is unavailable. It preserves "Root and focus the weakest foe" without changing the reliability loop. | This is a breakpoint for "Root and focus the weakest foe". It powers a move the reliability plan already repeats instead of splitting upgrades across unrelated actions. |
| Priority 2 · CastBuild focus | ||
| Arctic Ring Your Casts inflict Freeze and repeatedly deal damage to foes in the binding circle. | Solar Ring Your Casts inflict Daze, and deal a burst of damage before they expire. Use this only when the preferred cast choice is unavailable. It preserves "Root and focus the weakest foe" without changing the reliability loop. | This is a breakpoint for "Root and focus the weakest foe". It powers a move the reliability plan already repeats instead of splitting upgrades across unrelated actions. |
| Priority 3 · SpecialBuild focus | ||
| Nova Flourish Your Specials deal more damage in a larger area. | Ice Flourish Your Specials deal more damage and inflict Freeze. Use this only when the preferred special choice is unavailable. It preserves "Use ranged Special beside the Shade and repeat from safety" without changing the reliability loop. | This is a breakpoint for "Use ranged Special beside the Shade and repeat from safety". It powers a move the reliability plan already repeats instead of splitting upgrades across unrelated actions. |
| Priority 4 · DashSupporting slot | ||
| Blinding Rush Your Sprint is faster and inflicts Daze on surrounding foes. | Frigid Rush Your Sprint forms a Gust around you that lingers after you stop. Use this if the preferred Dash choice does not appear. It keeps the complete five-slot package coherent without changing the plan's higher priorities. | This is the recommended Dash choice for the complete five-slot package. Take it after the higher-priority choices only when offers compete. |
| Priority 5 · GainSupporting slot | ||
| Born Gain Whenever you run out of Magick, Prime until the next location to restore all Magick. | Cardio Gain Whenever your Attack or Special deals damage, restore Magick. Use this if the preferred Gain choice does not appear. It keeps the complete five-slot package coherent without changing the plan's higher priorities. | This is the recommended Gain choice for the complete five-slot package. Take it after the higher-priority choices only when offers compete. |
Finish the functional build first. Open Requirement to compare this plan with the other valid options.
Pairings this plan can reach without replacing its main actions.
Whenever you Dodge or a foe misses because of Daze, restore some Life.
This plan can open the target with Blinding Rush + Cardio Gain after its main actions are funded.
Do not chase this target before the main plan works, because an unseeded run may not offer every required god or Boon.
Your Keepsakes are stronger this night (if possible).
This plan can open the target with Ice Strike + Born Gain after its main actions are funded.
Do not chase this target before the main plan works, because an unseeded run may not offer every required god or Boon.
In each encounter, the first foe you slay returns to fight for you.
This plan can open the target with Born Gain + Blinding Rush after its main actions are funded.
Do not chase this target before the main plan works, because an unseeded run may not offer every required god or Boon.
While standing in a Gust, you randomly fire gales every 0.3 seconds.
This plan can open the target with Nova Flourish + Frigid Rush after its main actions are funded.
Do not chase this target before the main plan works, because an unseeded run may not offer every required god or Boon.
Add these only after the five main slots are secure. The tiers are specific to safest mode.
Your Casts inflict Weak, and damage foes while dragging them toward the center.
This can support "Root and focus the weakest foe", but it ranks behind the named safest choices for that slot.Your Attacks deal more damage to nearby foes.
This can support "Root and focus the weakest foe", but it ranks behind the named safest choices for that slot.Your Casts expand in size until they expire.
This can support "Root and focus the weakest foe", but it ranks behind the named safest choices for that slot.After your Omega Cast expires, rapidly deal damage in the area for 2 seconds.
This can support "Root and focus the weakest foe", but it ranks behind the named safest choices for that slot.You can channel 30 additional Magick into your Omega Cast to repeatedly strike foes with lightning bolts.
This can support "Root and focus the weakest foe", but it ranks behind the named safest choices for that slot.Your Casts create a falling blade over each foe in the binding circle.
This can support "Root and focus the weakest foe", but it ranks behind the named safest choices for that slot.Your Omega Cast also creates a Blade Rift in the binding circle.
This can support "Root and focus the weakest foe", but it ranks behind the named safest choices for that slot.Your Specials deal more damage and inflict Wounds.
This can support "Use ranged Special beside the Shade and repeat from safety", but it ranks behind the named safest choices for that slot.Your Attacks deal more damage and inflict Wounds.
This can support "Root and focus the weakest foe", but it ranks behind the named safest choices for that slot.Hold Cast to aim where the binding circle appears. Foes within are struck by lightning.
This can support "Root and focus the weakest foe", but it ranks behind the named safest choices for that slot.Your Omega Cast deals more damage. If you are in the binding circle, the bonus is doubled.
This can support "Root and focus the weakest foe", but it ranks behind the named safest choices for that slot.Your Casts also create a Gust around the binding circle.
This can support "Root and focus the weakest foe", but it ranks behind the named safest choices for that slot.Hold Cast to aim a fireball that explodes on impact. The binding circle forms there.
This can support "Root and focus the weakest foe", but it ranks behind the named safest choices for that slot.Your Omega Special also launches a fireball, but uses +10 Magick.
This can support "Use ranged Special beside the Shade and repeat from safety", but it ranks behind the named safest choices for that slot.Your Casts deal damage 3 times in succession to foes in the binding circle.
This can support "Root and focus the weakest foe", but it ranks behind the named safest choices for that slot.Your Specials can cause a blast that deals 500 damage in the area.
This can support "Use ranged Special beside the Shade and repeat from safety", but it ranks behind the named safest choices for that slot.Your Attacks can cause a blast that deals 400 damage in the area.
This can support "Root and focus the weakest foe", but it ranks behind the named safest choices for that slot.Your Casts inflict Hitch and immediately deal damage based on foes in the binding circle.
This can support "Root and focus the weakest foe", but it ranks behind the named safest choices for that slot.Your Specials deal more damage and inflict Hitch.
This can support "Use ranged Special beside the Shade and repeat from safety", but it ranks behind the named safest choices for that slot.Your Attacks deal more damage and inflict Hitch.
This can support "Root and focus the weakest foe", but it ranks behind the named safest choices for that slot.You channel your Omega Cast faster, and your Casts deal damage and expire faster.
This can support "Root and focus the weakest foe", but it ranks behind the named safest choices for that slot.Your Omega moves are faster.
This can support "Use ranged Special beside the Shade and repeat from safety", but it ranks behind the named safest choices for that slot.Your Attack, Special, and Cast are faster.
This can support "Root and focus the weakest foe", but it ranks behind the named safest choices for that slot.Your Casts repeatedly inflict Scorch on foes in the binding circle.
This can support "Root and focus the weakest foe", but it ranks behind the named safest choices for that slot.Your Specials inflict Scorch.
This can support "Use ranged Special beside the Shade and repeat from safety", but it ranks behind the named safest choices for that slot.Your Attacks inflict Scorch.
This can support "Root and focus the weakest foe", but it ranks behind the named safest choices for that slot.Any boon effects that recharge over time recharge faster.
This can support "Root and focus the weakest foe", but it ranks behind the named safest choices for that slot.Your Casts also immediately hit foes with a powerful splash that inflicts Froth.
This can support "Root and focus the weakest foe", but it ranks behind the named safest choices for that slot.Your Omega Cast gains Power and knocks foes away.
This can support "Root and focus the weakest foe", but it ranks behind the named safest choices for that slot.Your Specials hit foes with a splash that knocks other foes away.
This can support "Use ranged Special beside the Shade and repeat from safety", but it ranks behind the named safest choices for that slot.Your Attacks hit foes with a splash that knocks other foes away.
This can support "Root and focus the weakest foe", but it ranks behind the named safest choices for that slot.Your Omega Cast is stronger and follows you, even as you start to channel it.
This can support "Root and focus the weakest foe", but it ranks behind the named safest choices for that slot.Your Casts damage any foes as they join the encounter, wherever they appear.
This can support "Root and focus the weakest foe", but it ranks behind the named safest choices for that slot.Your Casts cause lightning bolts to repeatedly strike 1 foe at a time in the binding circle.
This can support "Root and focus the weakest foe", but it ranks behind the named safest choices for that slot.Your Specials inflict Blitz.
This can support "Use ranged Special beside the Shade and repeat from safety", but it ranks behind the named safest choices for that slot.Your Attacks inflict Blitz.
This can support "Root and focus the weakest foe", but it ranks behind the named safest choices for that slot.These improve the move already carrying the plan. They do not replace a missing main Boon.
Choose the main Boon and required Magick recovery before changing the weapon around a Hammer.
| Hammer | Change | Fit |
|---|---|---|
| Soulfilled Ankh | Your Attacks have +5 Power and hit a larger area. | |
| Mirrored Ankh | Your Omega Attack creates +1 damage field ahead of the first. | |
| Scarab Etchings | recruited Shades deal +50 damage and have a 75% chance to reappear after striking a foe. |
Your Specials also launch a projectile ahead that can Deflect, rearming after 2 seconds.
Requires you to have met Athena once before the current night.Don an Outfit with 20 Armor that makes your Cast deal 100% more damage.
Requires you to meet Arachne once.Your Casts also blast the area after 4 seconds, dealing 500 damage to foes, but 20 to you.
Icarus can offer this choice.Hold Cast to lob a large explosive. The binding circle forms there.
Requires none of these boons in the current setup: Glowing Coal, Lightning Lance, Howling Soul, Hostile Environment.Grow in size, increase maximum Life by 15%, and deal 15% more damage with your Nocturnal Arm.
Circe can offer this choice.Your Attack boon gains 3 levels, but you Prime 35 Magick.
Requires Attack.Your Specials may deal Critical damage, but you Prime 40 Magick.
Artemis can offer this choice.Your Special boon gains 3 levels, but you Prime 35 Magick.
Requires Special.Your Casts launch a projectile that seeks foes. The binding circle forms where it hits.
Requires none of these boons in the current setup: Glowing Coal, Lightning Lance, Tipsy Shot, Hostile Environment.Foes in your Casts may take Critical damage from your Attacks.
Artemis can offer this choice.Your Casts also deal a burst of damage in the area and momentarily make you Deflect.
Athena can offer this choice.A piercing arrow fires toward any foe damaged by your Omega Cast.
Artemis can offer this choice.Each Attack hit randomly deals exactly 5, 55, or 555 damage.
Requires you to speak with Dionysus after the true ending.After you hit with your Attacks or Specials, fire a seeking arrow.
Artemis can offer this choice.The starting Keepsake is listed in Setup. These are the in-run swaps.
Use the extra Death Defiance after the main Boon is secured when ordinary rooms still threaten the run.
At the next keepsake cabinet, replace it after its Last Stand has triggered because the spent keepsake adds no second recovery. Equip it after the opening god is secured if room damage is consuming Death Defiance or maximum Life.Use the guardian-focused effect when the final encounter is the remaining route constraint.
At the next keepsake cabinet, replace it after its limited guardian effect has been consumed and another guardian remains. Equip it before the final region only when the run already survives normal rooms reliably.Use the rooted ranged Staff loop when no expendable foe can start the Shade cycle.
Prioritize rooms with controllable weaker foes rather than forcing the summon in elite openings.
Each rank lists its forge cost and the exact value it gives this Aspect.
