Hades II is Supergiant Games' follow-up to their GOTY-winning roguelike, casting you as Melinoe, Zagreus's sister, on a quest to defeat Chronos the Titan of Time. The game introduces a magick system with Omega attacks, a crafting loop via gathering and incantations, and entirely new gods offering boons. Currently in Early Access, it already features dozens of hours of content across multiple surface and underworld regions. The combat is faster and more spell-focused than the original, with the Arcana card system replacing the Mirror of Night.
Your choice of equipment defines your damage output and playstyle. This guide ranks every major option, explains what makes each one strong, and tells you which builds they pair best with.
Equipment Rankings
| Equipment | Tier | Best For | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Witch's Staff | S | New players and magick-focused builds | Melinoe's starting weapon with balanced range and damage. |
| Sister Blades | A | Aggressive melee and on-hit effect builds | Dual daggers unlocked early via incantation. |
| Umbral Flames | A | Ranged playstyles and AoE damage builds | Paired torches that function as ranged weapons, lobbing fireballs with normal attacks. |
| Moonstone Axe | B | High-damage-per-hit and tank builds | A heavy axe with slow swings but massive damage per hit. |
| Argent Skull | B | Cast-focused and advanced players | A throwable skull that bounces between enemies. |
S-Tier: Witch's Staff
Melinoe's starting weapon with balanced range and damage. Its Omega special creates a lingering magick circle that damages enemies standing in it. The normal attack string ends with a wide sweep that hits multiple targets.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | S |
| Best For | New players and magick-focused builds |
| Key Mechanic | magick casting |
| Recommended Build | Witch's Staff |
How to get it: Available from mid-game onward. See our walkthrough for the exact progression point.
Best builds using Witch's Staff: Pairs naturally with Witch's Staff thanks to stat scaling synergies.
A-Tier: Sister Blades
Dual daggers unlocked early via incantation. They attack extremely fast and their Omega attack is a lunging dash-strike. The rapid hit rate makes them ideal for on-hit effect boons from Aphrodite or Zeus.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Aggressive melee and on-hit effect builds |
| Key Mechanic | arcana cards |
| Recommended Build | Sister Blades |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Sister Blades: Pairs naturally with Sister Blades thanks to stat scaling synergies.
A-Tier: Umbral Flames
Paired torches that function as ranged weapons, lobbing fireballs with normal attacks. The Omega special creates a large fire circle on the ground. Safest weapon due to natural range advantage.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Ranged playstyles and AoE damage builds |
| Key Mechanic | grasp system |
| Recommended Build | Umbral Flames |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Umbral Flames: Pairs naturally with Umbral Flames thanks to stat scaling synergies.
B-Tier: Moonstone Axe
A heavy axe with slow swings but massive damage per hit. Its Omega attack is a charged overhead slam. Blocking capability on the special makes it surprisingly defensive for a big weapon.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | High-damage-per-hit and tank builds |
| Key Mechanic | gathering and incantations |
| Recommended Build | Moonstone Axe |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Moonstone Axe: Pairs naturally with Moonstone Axe thanks to stat scaling synergies.
B-Tier: Argent Skull
A throwable skull that bounces between enemies. Normal casts throw it quickly while Omega cast charges a powerful explosive version. Requires learning ricochet angles but can hit backline enemies other weapons cannot reach.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Cast-focused and advanced players |
| Key Mechanic | boon combos |
| Recommended Build | Argent Skull |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Argent Skull: Pairs naturally with Argent Skull thanks to stat scaling synergies.
Equipment Progression Path
The order you should acquire equipment as you progress:
- Starting gear → Enough to clear Erebus
- Sister Blades → Your first real upgrade, available early
- Umbral Flames → Mid-game upgrade with good scaling
- Witch's Staff → Best-in-slot, aim for this by late game
- Upgrade to max → The power spike from max upgrades is enormous
Equipment Tips
- Always upgrade your primary equipment before diversifying — one strong option beats three mediocre ones.
- Match your equipment to your build's stat priorities for maximum scaling.
- Unlock the gathering tools incantation first — Silver Pick and Crescent Pick let you harvest resources during runs that fuel all other upgrades
- Check our tier list for how equipment rankings affect overall build effectiveness.
More Hades II Guides
- Hades II Hades II Overview
- Hades II Best Builds
- Hades II Tier List
- Hades II Walkthrough
- Hades II Beginner's Guide
- Hades II Tips & Tricks
- Hades II Combat Guide
- Hades II Boss Guide
- Hades II Maps & Locations
- Hades II Crafting Guide
- Hades II Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Hades II, check out these related guides:
- Risk of Rain 2 Weapons Guide — roguelike game with similar mechanics
- Hades Weapons Guide — roguelike game with similar mechanics
- Darkest Dungeon Weapons Guide — roguelike game with similar mechanics
