Hades 2,the action roguelike from Supergiant Games, has just received its second major update, introducing new content—including thefinal surface battle—alongside numerous improvements and balance changes.
Hades 2: The Warsong Update
After launching inSteam Early Accesslast May, Hades 2—the sequel to the acclaimed roguelike—has been steadily expanding. Following its first content update in October, theWarsong Updatehas now arrived, bringing significant enhancements and new additions.
This update introducesAres, the God of War, who offers anew set of Boonsfor Melinoë, including a specialDuo Boon with other gods. Players will also meetGale the Jineta, a newanimal companionthat improves dodging and can completely block damage in specific situations.
Thefinal stretch of the surface routehas been expanded withnew enemies, includingguardians and jailers, making the ascent to Olympus even more challenging. Additionally, theArcana systemhas been redesigned with new illustrations and enhanced abilities, providing greater strategic depth.
TheCrossroads Renewal Projecthas also been updated withmore points of interest and decorative elements, andArtemisnow occasionally appears there, offeringmusical accompaniment—and even the possibility of performing a duet with Melinoë.
As its name suggests, theWarsong Updatealso expands the game’s soundtrack. Thefinal battleandlast surface areafeature new music tracks, along with additional themes forIcarus and Echo. All of these tracks can be unlocked in theMusic Makerfor free listening.
Patch Notes
Highlights
·The Final Confrontation: Battle to the summit ofMount Olympusand discover what awaits…·New Olympian: Meet the god of war himself, and choose from his many Boons·New Familiar: Find one last animal companion to join your journey and aid you in battle·Revamped Boons: Gain many powerful new and improved blessings from various Olympians·Revamped Altar of Ashes: Activate several reworked effects, and each Card now has all-new artwork·Revamped Resource Gathering: Worry no more about which resources you can collect·Revamped Menus: Look for new and improved animations across many menu screens·Expanded Story: Discuss the final confrontation and more with many different characters
General Gameplay
· You no longer prioritizeGathering Toolsin the Training Grounds, though still can harvest any type of resource as long as you have unlocked each Tool; resource appearance rates adjusted as part of this·Psychecan no longer be found as a Location Reward;Bonesmay now be found sooner instead· All Guardians and Wardens with Guardian-style Life Bars now are resistant to the slowing effect of your Casts; previously this applied only to some of them· Any damage resistance effects you have no longer affect any Armor you have📢 Added a longer visual warning before taking damage from magma and fire effects· Adjusted requirements for certain key events early on; as a result, it should be possible to reach the surface earlier than before
Nocturnal Arms & Abilities
·Witch’s Staff: Attack sequence is faster and the final strike is stronger; Omega Attack is stronger; reworked Special is a fast powerful shot that pierces foes·Argent Skull: reworked Attack fires straight ahead; Omega Attack is stronger; Special now retrieves Shells in the surrounding area·Black Coat: increased Omega Attack damage; your Dash no longer cancels channeling your Omega Attack and causes you to perform the move right after
Altar of Ashes
· All Cards now have unique illustrations; swapped or adjusted themes of several Cards, noted below·Eternity: theme changed fromNight; reworked — now makes everything slower while you channel Omega moves; note this effect is no longer onSilver Wheel (Hecate)·The Messenger: reworked — your Casts briefly make you impervious and move faster·The Swift Runner: your Sprint now also makes you phase through foes·Night: reduced Grasp cost; theme changed fromDeath·The Wayward Son: no longer provides doubled recovery at low Life; base recovery improved·Death: theme changed fromEternity·Persistence: theme changed fromThe Titan·The Enchantress: theme changed fromThe Fates·The Fates: theme changed fromThe Seer·Graspupgrade costs re-scaled as part of changes to resource gathering
Oath of the Unseen
· Added newTestamentsfor the final confrontation·Vow of Shadow: adjusted various encounters with this📢Vow of Fangs: removed certain combinations of Perks that were unusually cruel…📢 Fear requirements for some Testaments re-scaled to reduce jumps in difficulty; reduced Fear requirements in some cases
Boons & Blessings
· AddedAres, with many of his own blessings, including a newDuowith each other primary Boon-giver·Zeus: hisBlitzCurse now activates at the end of the duration if not activated by dealing damage·Storm Ring (Zeus): slightly reduced rate of lightning strikes·Thunder Rush (Zeus): no longer requires Magick to strike foes with lightning; formerlyThunder Sprint·Electric Overload (Zeus): reworked — your chain-lightning effects are stronger and bounce to more foes·Toasting Fork (Zeus): cut from game; replaced with…·Arc Flash (Zeus):new!Your Omega Moves activate your Blitz effects and make them stronger·Romantic Spark (Zeus x Aphrodite): reduced damage bonus·Hera: the Queen of the Olympians now has Boons of all four elemental affinities, not solely Earth·Engagement Ring (Hera): reworked — now deals immediate damage for each foe in the binding circle·Bridal Glow (Hera): reworked — upgrades a random Boon to Heroic Rarity and gives it bonus Pom Lv.·Nasty Comeback (Hera): cut from game; replaced with…·Extended Family (Hera):new!Your Olympian damage is stronger for each Olympian you met this night·Proper Upbringing (Hera): increased activation requirement to include all four elements·Breaker Rush (Poseidon): reworked — whenever you Sprint, damage and knock away the first foe you run into; formerlyBreaker Sprint·Geyser Spout (Poseidon): reworked — your Omega Cast gains Power and knocks foes away·Buried Treasure (Poseidon): now also dropsBones, notAshesorPsyche; formerlyOcean’s Bounty·Flood Control (Poseidon): cut from game; replaced with…·High Surf (Poseidon):new!Hit surrounding foes with a splash as they strike, but prime some Magick·Phoenix Skin (Apollo x Hestia): cut from game; replaced with…·Warm Breeze (Apollo x Hestia):new!Whenever Dodge or Daze makes foes miss, restore some Life·Demeter:herGusteffects no longer destroy trees in Erebus or other such obstructions·Local Climate (Demeter): reworked — your Omega Cast is stronger; bonus doubled in the binding circle·Plentiful Forage (Demeter): now restores Life whenever you gather any resource·Rare Crop (Demeter): cut from game; replaced with…·Steady Growth (Demeter):new!Whenever you clear enough Encounters, a Boon gains Rarity·Secret Crush (Aphrodite): now also affects Omega Attack·Tough Gain (Hephaestus): reworked — whenever you take damage, shrug some off and restore Magick·Flash Fry (Hestia): no longer requires foes to have Scorch to explode when slain; no longer requires a Scorch-related Boon to be offered; formerlyNatural Gas·Burnt Offering (Hestia): reworked — gain max Magick whenever you collect Ashes, and gain some now·Mean Streak (Hermes): damage bonus no longer automatically ends after Encounters·Tall Order (Hermes): updated elemental requirement; slightly increased damage bonus·Travel Deal (Hermes):new!Your first purchase each Location costs less; another item appears after·Saved Breath (Hermes): cut from game; replaced with…·Winner’s Circle (Hermes):new!You channel your Casts faster and your Casts expire faster·Witty Retort (Hermes): cut from game; replaced with…·Hasty Retreat (Hermes):new!Gain more Dodge chance and move speed the more Boons you have·Greater Evasion (Hermes): cut from game; replaced with…·Stutter Step (Hermes):new!You can Dash more frequently·Midnight Oil (Hermes): cut from game; replaced with…·Success Rate (Hermes):new!Your chance-based effects are more likely to occur, except Dodge or Daze·Close Call (Hermes): cut from game; replaced with…·Paid Dues (Hermes):new Legendary!Whenever you take damage, you lose Gold before you lose Life·Mental Block (Athena): reduced duration of Impervious effect·Righteous Pike (Athena):new!Whenever you use enough Magick, several foes are struck by spears·Killing Stroke (Artemis):new!Your Specials may deal Critical damage, but you prime some Magick· TheMarkedCurses inflicted byArtemisandRaki the Ravennow will never choose the same target·Unseen Ire (Hades): the Dark effect and its damage bonus no longer expire after you strike📢Barren (Chaos): reduced Curse duration·Neurotic (Chaos): no longer slows your Dash but still makes it use Magick; formerlyHobbled·Life Savings (Narcissus): now givesLotusinstead ofDeathcaps·Wealth from the Dead (Medea): you now automatically absorb bonus Gold from slain foes on approach·Supply Drop (Icarus): slightly reduced frequency of drops, and provides one fewer Pom Slice· Adjusted names and elemental affinities of some Boons· Additional minor adjustments to some bonuses from Rarity andPoms of Power· Further clarifications to descriptions for various Boons· Other minor fixes and adjustments
Daedalus Hammer Upgrades
·Spiral Knives (Blades): cut from game; replaced with…·Hidden Knives (Blades):new!Specials are stronger and Omega Special fires more shots than usual·Fetching Array (Skull): Shells now also automatically return faster; removed penalty to total Shells·Looming Ignition (Skull): now also affects your Omega Attack; reaches full strength faster·Possessed Array (Skull): increased Magick cost·Rocket Bombard (Skull): cut from game since this effect is now innate; replaced with…·Boosted Ignition (Skull):new!After your Dash or Specials, your Attacks are faster and gain Power·Counter Barrage: now launches more rockets, more often· Adjusted names and descriptive text for several Daedalus Hammer upgrades
· Added a new Keepsake now thatAresdecided to show up, which you can gain in the customary way·Silver Wheel (Hecate): reworked — adds to your Magick limit for the rest of the night·Fig Leaf (Dionysus): now can only affect one Encounter per Region, but still works if you unequip it·Engraved Pin (Moros): now counts as a Death Defiance effect📢Evil Eye (Nemesis): now targetsPrometheusif his EagleAetosis the one to vanquish you
Animal Familiars
· :new!Grants Dodge chance and move speed, blocks damage a few times per Region📢Toula the Cat: attacks more times successively; falls asleep faster (so she can wake back up faster!)
Resources & Reagents
· Added several new collectable resources found around the final confrontation· RemovedDeathcapsfrom the game as part of broader changes to resources described further above
Well of Charon
📢Yarn of Ariadne: no longer consumed when meetingHades, on whom this has no effect
Shrine of Hermes
·Fresh Sustenance MAX: reduced Life recovery· Reduced chance of offering Minor Finds over other types of items
Foes & Dangers
· Added a variety of foes for the final surface Region, including new Wardens and a new Guardian·Prometheus: adjusted behaviors; reduced damage for several moves; now sometimes foresees and dodges attacks, yet overall should be somewhat less punishing than before·Aetos: reduced viciousness to some extent…·Sky-Dracon: slightly reduced tracking speed·Auto-Seeker: slightly reduced tracking speed·Eris: improved previews of her various attacks· :new!Warden added to theRift of Thessaly·Charybdis: adjusted Tentacle behaviors; reduced overall difficulty·Harpy Talon: slightly reduced radius of ranged attack·Stickler: reduced damage·Seesword: increased damage·Blasket: reduced damage·Infernal Beast: slightly increased Life·Scylla: slightly increased Life· :new!Warden added toOceanus·Lurker: gained a defensive back-step maneuver after getting hit·Headmistress Hecate: slightly increased Life·Root-Stalker: adjusted behavior of tail; grew a second one· Various other minor changes to foes and combat encounters
Special Encounters
📢 ReworkedHeraclescombat encounters — vanquish specially-marked foes for a bounty in Gold·Aetoswill no longer swoop in to attack more than once prior to facingPrometheus· Slightly increased appearance rate ofMoon MonumentsandUnseen Sigilson the surface· Slightly increased difficulty ofMoon Monumentfoes📢Moon Monumentsno longer offerPath of Starsrewards if your Hex is fully upgraded📢Athenamore consistently vanquishesRevenantsfrom theVow of Return (Oath)· Minor adjustments toArtemis,Heracles, andIcarusappearance rates on the surface route· TwoArachneCocoon encounters can no longer occur very close together in some cases·Family Disputes, formerly calledTrials of the Gods, now can includeAres; several Olympians put up more of a fight than before…
Level Design & Environments
· Added the final confrontation on the surface route and various new Locations within it· TheOlympusRegion has one fewer Location to traverse before the Guardian· Encounters in theRift of Thessalythat had too many waves (of foes) should now be more reasonable📢 Optional rooms inEphyrabecome more likely if you haven’t found many that night· Reduced damage of Lone Shades freed fromEphyra Pylons· You now must use the Fountain if you haven’t already done so prior to leaving theEphyramain square· Resources can appear in more places in theEphyramain square· Removed Bat Cage nearest to the initial entrance to theEphyramain square· Added another Location that can randomly appear inErebus· Added another Location that can randomly appear inOceanus· Added another Location that can randomly appear inEphyra· The final battle prior to the Guardian of each of Region should no longer get replaced by Fountain chambers or character encounters· Adjusted resource points in some Locations, especially those close enough to exits that you could leave by accident while trying to harvest· Various minor fixes and improvements to various Locations
Chaos Trials
📢 You now reappear before thePitch-Black Stoneupon returning from a Chaos Trial·Trial of Thunder:new!Zeus-themed Trial set inErebus·Trial of Glory:new!Hera-themed Trial set onOlympus·Trial of the Fall:new!Demeter-themed Trial set in theMourning Fields·Trial of Slaughter:new!Ares-themed Trial set inEphyra·Trial of Destiny:new!Chaos-themed Trial set onOlympus·Trial of Strife:new!Eris-themed Trial set inThessaly· Minor fixes and changes to several Trials
The Crossroads Renewal Project
· Updated Crossroads main grounds with new points of interest; the taverna now is easier to traverse· now sometimes provides musical accompaniment in the Crossroads· Added numerous new unlockable decorative items once theRenewal Projectis available· Some decorative items now unlocked from a new spot in the taverna· Various forms of wildlife now may appear throughout the Crossroads· Some groups of Shades in the Crossroads now have captions when you Salute them· Recently-pacified Shades that appear in the Training Grounds now have varying appearances· Melinoë will sometimes cover up the family portrait in her tent after brooding too much· Odysseus will sometimes offer resources you may need; can sometimes be found seated in the taverna· Eris will no longer litter in the midst of conversation with others· The witch attendants of Hecate now are absent when she is· Improved presentation around plants that can be harvested in the Garden· Supply Shipments no longer prompt you to interact as frequently· The moon now shows different phases in the Training Grounds vista scene
Cauldron Incantations
·Rage of the Elements:new!Lets you activate the statues onOlympusto defend you·Path to Desired Blessings:new!Lets you track requirements for Boons listed in theBook of Shadows·Acceptance of Another Fate:new!Salute the Oath of the Unseen to reset that night’s random events·Shuffling of Noted Ballads:new!Lets theMusic Makermake music choices for you if you wish·Deathly Fortune: now introduced later and no longer lets you exchange plants forBones(only fish…)·Psychic Slivers of Clarity: removed from the game as part of resource system changes·Bones of Arcane Wisdom: now makesBonesraise Magick limit rather than adding Armor; formerlyBones of Burnished Bronze
Fated List of Minor Prophecies
· :new!Rewards you for unlocking each of the Main Weapons· :new!Rewards you for choosing various Boons of Ares· :new!Rewards you for prevailing on the surface route· :new!Rewards you for clearing the surface route with each Main Weapon· :new!Rewards you for choosing all Legendary Boons; these are no longer included with each Olympian’s Boon prophecy
Book of Shadows
· Added new entries for various additions in this update· Updated relationship status display for relevant characters after the IncantationEmpath’s Intuition
Menus & UI
· UpdatedMain Menuto reflect thisMajor Update· Added art for all Arcana and adjusted layout in theAltar of Ashesscreen· Added animations for theCrossroads Cauldronscreen· Added animations for thePitch-Black Stonescreen· Added animations for theWretched Brokerscreen· Added animations for theFated Listscreen· Added animations for theInventoryscreen· Added art for theCrossroads Renewalscreen· Added art and adjusted layout for theMusic Makerscreen· Added art and adjusted layout for theArchived Triviascreen· Added art and adjusted layout for thePast Deedsscreen· Added art for theGifts of the Moonscreen· Added animations for info banners, such as when entering Locations or vanquishing Guardians· Added animations to theMain Menuand related sub-screens such as the Pause menu· Updated art and animations forBook of Shadowsprompts· Updated art and animations forFated Listprompts· Updated art and animations forIncantation Learnedand similar prompts· Updated look of many in-world status icons📢 You now can see yourChange of Fatecount when choosing Boons📢 You now can exchange resources forPrestigemore freely, with a new warning if you still need them📢 TheVictory Screennow has theming differences depending on which route you cleared· Improved feedback in theAltar of Ashesfor when you fully upgrade yourGrasp· Improved presentation when multiple Incantations are revealed at once in theCrossroads Cauldron· Improved text descriptions forAnimal Familiarupgrades· AdjustedGodhood Gainedpresentation after failing inGod Mode; the presentation no longer occurs once you reach the damage resistance limit· Damage numbers that come from environmental effects and traps now have a distinct color· Updated prompts on a number of menu screens· Various other fixes and improvements
Art & Visual FX
· Updated environment art in various places in the Crossroads· Updated the look of Shades in various Regions, including ones you can pacify with theTablet of Peace· Updated some visual FX for improved clarity in the heat of battle (this work is ongoing)· Updated visual FX forScalding Vapor (Poseidon x Hestia)· Updated visual FX for when foes with Armor are struck· Updated teleportation visual FX forAnimal Familiars,Artemis, and others· Updated some visual FX forUmbral Flames (Moros)· Updated presentation during narrative flashback sequences· Updated narrative background art inErebus· Added narrative background art forSelene· Added character animations forHermes· Added alternate portrait forMelinoë· Added alternate portrait forOdysseus· Adjusted portrait forZeus· Adjusted portrait forArtemis· Added death animations forCharybdisTentacles· Various other minor visual improvements
Voice & Narrative
· Added more than2,000 new voice lines, including new dialogue events for many characters· Added more narratedHomeroutcomes after a successful clear·Chronoswill give you a piece of his mind in more situations when leavingErebus· More characters react to resource-gathering and other interactions· Numerous minor adjustments to requirements and content for various events
Music & SFX
· Added new music pieces for the final confrontation and the lead-up to it· Added music theme forIcarus· Added music theme forEcho· Added a song from· Added unlockable versions of each of these to theMusic Maker· Added new victory music stingers for each of the two routes· Music from theMusic Makernow grows softer during dialogue events· Added new sound effects for theMain Menu· Added new sound effects for theCrossroads Cauldron· Added new sound effects for theWretched Broker· Updated sound effects for Staff Special· Updated sound effects for some foes and encounters· Other minor changes and improvements
📢God Mode Limit:new!You now can reduce the effect of God Mode if you wish
Miscellaneous
· UpdatedDevelopment Roadmapto reflect our progress and plans for the nextMajor Update· Clear times in thePast Deedsscreen for the Surface route have been reset now that it is extended· Adjusted presentation when Death Defiance effects activate· Adjusted presentation when leaving the Training Grounds for the night· Adjusted presentation when trying to attack while out-of-Shells with the Argent Skull· Some Wardens' Life Bars now follow their movements more closely· Improved timing of Polyphemus knockout sequence· Minor improvements to Charybdis fight intro· Improved presentation choosingBoon Boon Boon (Echo)· Added several Commendation messages that may appear on theVictory Screen· Added more error messaging we hope no one will ever see· UpdatedCreditswith several additional contributors· Updates and fixes to translations in all languages
· FixedRapture Ring (Aphrodite)not damaging foes at the edge of the binding circle· FixedMoon Monumentssometimes appearing unexpectedly if you had noHex of Selene· FixedIcarusmissing his targets unexpectedly (unless you’re his father and expect disappointment)· Fixed optional rooms inEphyracounting against Encounters needed to clearChaosCurses· Fixed unexpected delays prior to pre-fight dialogue againstHecate,Polyphemus, andEris📢 Fixed Gameplay Timer not pausing in some instances while pacifying Lost Shades📢 FixedMoonstone Axe (Thanatos)full-charge sound re-playing when entering new Locations· FixedNemesissometimes getting stuck wandering theMourning Fields· FixedEvil Eye (Nemesis)switching targets after clearingChaos Trials· FixedDual Moonshot (Daedalus - Staff)sounds not playing for each shot· Fixed foes playing hurt sound effects when taking damage to their Armor rather than their Life· Many other minor fixes
Quote of the Patch
‘All his fellow-immortals hate [Ares], from Zeus and Hera downwards, except Eris, and Aphrodite who nurses a perverse passion for him, and greedy Hades who welcomes the bold young fighting-men slain in cruel wars.’
AlthoughHades 2remains inearly access, Supergiant Games continues to refine the experience based oncommunity feedback. Looking ahead, they plan toadd more secrets, enhance Guardian battles, and expand the story, all in preparation for the final version—though a release date has yet to be announced.
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