Hex tier list
These ranks compare safety, payoff, and how much a Hex interrupts the weapon plan. The best choice still depends on how the aspect spends Magick.
What do you want from the run?
Safest ranks the options that give a player the most room to recover from positioning, timing, and resource mistakes. The order combines each published tier judgment with how often the option is favored by the safer authored aspect plans. Within each tier, reading order runs from best to weakest.
TierS
Defining choice for this ranking goal2 ranked choices
S
- Phase Shift
Choose Phase Shift for a broadly safe Hex that preserves the current weapon sequence.
Slowing the encounter creates room to attack, reposition, or recover without replacing the build's normal actions.
It adds less immediate burst than a direct-damage Hex.
When to choose another: If lost Life, rather than unsafe attack windows, ends the run, choose Moon Water for direct healing.
- Moon Water
Choose Moon Water when health loss is the main reason runs end.
Direct healing repairs mistakes and its uses replenish at fountains.
It does not speed up rooms when the build already finishes with a large Life buffer.
When to choose another: If the run already finishes with Life to spare, choose Phase Shift for prevention or a direct-damage Hex for faster clears.
TierA
Strong choice with a clear tradeoff3 ranked choices
A
- Sky Fall
Choose Sky Fall when automatic pressure fits a mobile build.
Repeated strikes add damage while Melinoe continues moving and using the weapon.
Random target selection can spread damage in crowded rooms.
When to choose another: If damage must land immediately on one chosen area, choose Wolf Howl instead.
- Wolf Howl
Choose Wolf Howl for immediate area damage and repositioning.
The effect resolves quickly and works without a slain enemy, long channel, or delayed target.
Its close target area can be unsafe when the landing window is poorly timed.
When to choose another: If close-range landing is unsafe, choose Total Eclipse for a ranged delayed blast or Phase Shift for control.
- Dark Side
Choose Dark Side when invulnerability is more valuable than continuing the normal weapon loop.
The transformation creates a protected damage window during dangerous encounters.
Its separate abilities interrupt aspect-specific boon and weapon sequences.
When to choose another: If interrupting the weapon sequence costs more than the transformation gains, choose Phase Shift instead.
TierB
Useful when its conditions match4 ranked choices
B
- Total Eclipse
Choose Total Eclipse when a large delayed blast can be placed on a predictable target.
The large area rewards bosses and groups that remain inside the marked zone.
Mobile targets can leave before the fuse ends.
When to choose another: If targets leave the marked area before the blast, choose Wolf Howl for immediate damage.
- Night Bloom
Choose Night Bloom when encounters reliably provide a strong susceptible enemy to raise.
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.
When to choose another: If rooms do not provide a useful enemy to raise, choose Sky Fall for automatic pressure without a kill requirement.
- Lunar Ray
Choose Lunar Ray when the build can create a safe channeling window.
The beam can concentrate damage on a stationary or controlled target.
Channeling restricts movement and competes with the weapon's normal damage sequence.
When to choose another: If the encounter does not allow a long stationary channel, choose Wolf Howl for an aimed burst or Sky Fall for automatic pressure.
- Twilight Curse
Choose Twilight Curse for control in dense normal encounters.
The seeking projectile can disable several susceptible foes and reduce incoming pressure.
Bosses and other resistant targets remove much of its value.
When to choose another: If the route's main obstacle is immune to transformation, choose Phase Shift for control that also works during bosses.
TierS
Defining choice for this ranking goal2 ranked choices
S
- Lunar Ray
Choose Lunar Ray when the build can create a safe channeling window.
The beam can concentrate damage on a stationary or controlled target.
Channeling restricts movement and competes with the weapon's normal damage sequence.
When to choose another: If the encounter does not allow a long stationary channel, choose Wolf Howl for an aimed burst or Sky Fall for automatic pressure.
- Sky Fall
Choose Sky Fall when automatic pressure fits a mobile build.
Repeated strikes add damage while Melinoe continues moving and using the weapon.
Random target selection can spread damage in crowded rooms.
When to choose another: If damage must land immediately on one chosen area, choose Wolf Howl instead.
TierA
Strong choice with a clear tradeoff3 ranked choices
A
- Total Eclipse
Choose Total Eclipse when a large delayed blast can be placed on a predictable target.
The large area rewards bosses and groups that remain inside the marked zone.
Mobile targets can leave before the fuse ends.
When to choose another: If targets leave the marked area before the blast, choose Wolf Howl for immediate damage.
- Phase Shift
Choose Phase Shift for a broadly safe Hex that preserves the current weapon sequence.
Slowing the encounter creates room to attack, reposition, or recover without replacing the build's normal actions.
It adds less immediate burst than a direct-damage Hex.
When to choose another: If lost Life, rather than unsafe attack windows, ends the run, choose Moon Water for direct healing.
- Dark Side
Choose Dark Side when invulnerability is more valuable than continuing the normal weapon loop.
The transformation creates a protected damage window during dangerous encounters.
Its separate abilities interrupt aspect-specific boon and weapon sequences.
When to choose another: If interrupting the weapon sequence costs more than the transformation gains, choose Phase Shift instead.
TierB
Useful when its conditions match4 ranked choices
B
- Twilight Curse
Choose Twilight Curse for control in dense normal encounters.
The seeking projectile can disable several susceptible foes and reduce incoming pressure.
Bosses and other resistant targets remove much of its value.
When to choose another: If the route's main obstacle is immune to transformation, choose Phase Shift for control that also works during bosses.
- Wolf Howl
Choose Wolf Howl for immediate area damage and repositioning.
The effect resolves quickly and works without a slain enemy, long channel, or delayed target.
Its close target area can be unsafe when the landing window is poorly timed.
When to choose another: If close-range landing is unsafe, choose Total Eclipse for a ranged delayed blast or Phase Shift for control.
- Moon Water
Choose Moon Water when health loss is the main reason runs end.
Direct healing repairs mistakes and its uses replenish at fountains.
It does not speed up rooms when the build already finishes with a large Life buffer.
When to choose another: If the run already finishes with Life to spare, choose Phase Shift for prevention or a direct-damage Hex for faster clears.
- Night Bloom
Choose Night Bloom when encounters reliably provide a strong susceptible enemy to raise.
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.
When to choose another: If rooms do not provide a useful enemy to raise, choose Sky Fall for automatic pressure without a kill requirement.