Hades is the roguelike that converted people who hate roguelikes. Supergiant Games created a game where dying is genuinely fun because each death advances a rich story with fully voice-acted dialogue that changes based on how you died, what weapons you used, and which gods you interacted with. The gameplay loop sends Zagreus through four distinct regions of the Underworld, collecting boons (power-ups) from Olympian gods that synergize in wildly creative ways. Over 300 unique boon combinations mean every run feels different, and the weapon Aspect system adds another layer of build diversity. Even after your first successful escape, the Pact of Punishment adds escalating difficulty modifiers for hundreds of hours of replayability.
Choosing the right build shapes your entire experience. This guide breaks down every option — what they're good at, what they struggle with, and which one matches your playstyle. For optimized builds with full gear sets, see our builds guide.
Quick Comparison
| Build | Tier | Playstyle | Best Equipment | Beginner Friendly? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stygian Blade | A | Dash in, use special for the crit buff, then spam attacks on the boss. Artemis boons stack crit to 30%+ making your DPS extremely high. | Coronacht | Yes |
| Heart-Seeking Bow | A | Tag enemies with one charged attack, then spam special to auto-home 4+ arrows on the tagged target. The Ares Doom procs stack devastatingly. | Varatha | Yes |
| Shield of Chaos | S | Throw the shield and let it bounce between all enemies while blocking with bull rush. Add Zeus lightning for massive AoE clear speed. | Aegis | Moderate |
| Adamant Rail | S | Fire your special grenade, dash into the explosion to trigger Eris buff, then empty your magazine into the boss with +75% damage for 4 seconds. | Exagryph | Moderate |
| Twin Fists of Malphon | A | Pull enemies in with Talos special, then rapid-punch to stack Hangover. The fast attack speed means status effects apply faster than any other weapon. | Malphon | Yes |
New player? Start with Heart-Seeking Bow — see our beginner's guide for why.
Stygian Blade
The Stygian Blade has fast attacks and a powerful special that hits in an arc. Aspect of Nemesis adds +15% crit chance after using special, synergizing perfectly with Artemis crit boons. The blade is the most beginner-friendly weapon with good reach and quick recovery. Aspect of Arthur transforms it into a massive greatsword with a 50-HP aura but much slower attacks.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Playstyle | Dash in, use special for the crit buff, then spam attacks on the boss. Artemis boons stack crit to 30%+ making your DPS extremely high. |
| Best Equipment | Coronacht |
| Stat Priority | Critical chance, attack speed, base damage percentage |
| Core Gear | Aspect of Nemesis, Artemis Attack boon (Deadly Strike), Athena Dash (Divine Dash), Hermes Attack Speed |
| Key Mechanic | boon selection |
Strengths
- Highest overall performance across all content types
- Dash in, use special for the crit buff, then spam attacks on the boss. Artemis boons stack crit to 30%+ making your DPS extremely high.
- Pairs well with Coronacht
Weaknesses
- Popular choice, competition for resources
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
Recommended Progression
- Start in Tartarus to learn Stygian Blade-specific mechanics
- Focus on boon selection — it's this build's primary system
- Prioritize Coronacht as your first major upgrade
- See our full Stygian Blade build guide for the optimal gear progression
Heart-Seeking Bow
Coronacht (the bow) excels at safe, ranged damage with charged power shots. Aspect of Chiron causes your special to automatically target the last enemy hit by your attack, creating a reliable damage loop. Pair with Aphrodite attack for massive power shot damage and Ares special for stacking Doom on auto-target specials.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Playstyle | Tag enemies with one charged attack, then spam special to auto-home 4+ arrows on the tagged target. The Ares Doom procs stack devastatingly. |
| Best Equipment | Varatha |
| Stat Priority | Attack percentage damage, special hits, Doom damage |
| Core Gear | Aspect of Chiron, Aphrodite Attack (Heartbreak Strike), Ares Special (Curse of Pain), Athena Dash |
| Key Mechanic | mirror upgrades |
Strengths
- Most versatile — adapts to any situation
- Tag enemies with one charged attack, then spam special to auto-home 4+ arrows on the tagged target. The Ares Doom procs stack devastatingly.
- Pairs well with Varatha
Weaknesses
- Lower peak damage than S-tier options
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
Recommended Progression
- Start in Tartarus to learn Heart-Seeking Bow-specific mechanics
- Focus on mirror upgrades — it's this build's primary system
- Prioritize Varatha as your first major upgrade
- See our full Heart-Seeking Bow build guide for the optimal gear progression
Shield of Chaos
Aegis (the shield) is the safest weapon because holding attack blocks all frontal damage. Aspect of Zeus causes the thrown shield to bounce between enemies dealing continuous damage. Pair with Zeus attack boon to add chain lightning to every bounce. This build clears rooms by throwing the shield and watching it bounce-destroy everything.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | S |
| Playstyle | Throw the shield and let it bounce between all enemies while blocking with bull rush. Add Zeus lightning for massive AoE clear speed. |
| Best Equipment | Aegis |
| Stat Priority | Bonus bounces, lightning damage, attack speed |
| Core Gear | Aspect of Zeus, Zeus Attack (Lightning Strike), Poseidon Special (Tidal Dash alternative), Artemis Support Fire |
| Key Mechanic | weapon aspects |
Strengths
- Best survivability for learning hard content
- Throw the shield and let it bounce between all enemies while blocking with bull rush. Add Zeus lightning for massive AoE clear speed.
- Pairs well with Aegis
Weaknesses
- Slower progression speed
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
Recommended Progression
- Start in Tartarus to learn Shield of Chaos-specific mechanics
- Focus on weapon aspects — it's this build's primary system
- Prioritize Aegis as your first major upgrade
- See our full Shield of Chaos build guide for the optimal gear progression
Adamant Rail
Exagryph (the rail gun) is the most unique weapon — a machine gun with a grenade launcher special. Aspect of Eris gives +75% damage for 4 seconds after absorbing your own special blast. This means you fire a grenade at your feet, absorb the blast, then unload your entire magazine with a 75% damage buff. It melts bosses.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | S |
| Playstyle | Fire your special grenade, dash into the explosion to trigger Eris buff, then empty your magazine into the boss with +75% damage for 4 seconds. |
| Best Equipment | Exagryph |
| Stat Priority | Attack percentage, fire rate, special detonation timing |
| Core Gear | Aspect of Eris, Aphrodite Attack (Heartbreak Strike), Artemis Special (Deadly Flourish), Athena Dash |
| Key Mechanic | keepsake system |
Strengths
- Excellent in group and cooperative content
- Fire your special grenade, dash into the explosion to trigger Eris buff, then empty your magazine into the boss with +75% damage for 4 seconds.
- Pairs well with Exagryph
Weaknesses
- Less effective solo
- Requires deep game knowledge to use effectively
Recommended Progression
- Start in Tartarus to learn Adamant Rail-specific mechanics
- Focus on keepsake system — it's this build's primary system
- Prioritize Exagryph as your first major upgrade
- See our full Adamant Rail build guide for the optimal gear progression
Twin Fists of Malphon
Malphon (the fists) have the fastest attack speed in the game, making them ideal for on-hit effects. Aspect of Talos adds a magnetic special that pulls enemies toward you and deals bonus damage. Pair with Dionysus attack for stacking Hangover ticks — each fast punch applies a poison stack, and rapid punching builds 5 stacks almost instantly.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Playstyle | Pull enemies in with Talos special, then rapid-punch to stack Hangover. The fast attack speed means status effects apply faster than any other weapon. |
| Best Equipment | Malphon |
| Stat Priority | Attack speed, on-hit effects, status damage stacking |
| Core Gear | Aspect of Talos, Dionysus Attack (Drunken Strike), Athena Special (Divine Flourish), Hermes Attack Speed |
| Key Mechanic | relationship building |
Strengths
- Highest skill ceiling with unique mechanics
- Pull enemies in with Talos special, then rapid-punch to stack Hangover. The fast attack speed means status effects apply faster than any other weapon.
- Pairs well with Malphon
Weaknesses
- Steep learning curve, punishing mistakes
- Requires deep game knowledge to use effectively
Recommended Progression
- Start in Tartarus to learn Twin Fists of Malphon-specific mechanics
- Focus on relationship building — it's this build's primary system
- Prioritize Malphon as your first major upgrade
- See our full Twin Fists of Malphon build guide for the optimal gear progression
Which Build Should You Pick?
For Beginners
Heart-Seeking Bow is the clear winner. It's forgiving, teaches core mechanics, and remains competitive into endgame. Follow our beginner's guide for the best first-session experience.
For Maximum Performance
Stygian Blade is the top pick once you understand the game's mechanics. Pair it with Coronacht for the strongest overall setup.
For a Challenge
Twin Fists of Malphon offers the highest skill ceiling. It's punishing when misplayed but incredibly rewarding when mastered. Only recommended after you've completed the game with another build.
For Group Play
Adamant Rail shines in cooperative content with utility and team support capabilities.
More Hades Guides
- Hades Hades Overview
- Hades Best Builds
- Hades Tier List
- Hades Walkthrough
- Hades Beginner's Guide
- Hades Tips & Tricks
- Hades Weapons Guide
- Hades Combat Guide
- Hades Boss Guide
- Hades Maps & Locations
- Hades Crafting Guide
Similar Games
If you enjoy Hades, check out these related guides:
- Risk of Rain 2 Classes Guide — roguelike game with similar mechanics
- Darkest Dungeon Classes Guide — roguelike game with similar mechanics
- Dead Cells Classes Guide — roguelike game with similar mechanics
