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.
Combat in Hades rewards knowledge over reflexes. Understanding how each mechanic works — and how they interact — is what turns a struggling player into a dominant one. New here? Start with our beginner's guide for the basics.
Core Combat Mechanics
1. boon selection
Olympian gods offer boons (abilities) after clearing rooms. Each god has a theme: Zeus adds chain lightning, Artemis adds critical hits, Aphrodite adds damage weakness, Ares adds damage-over-time, etc. Boons attach to your attack, special, cast, dash, or call. Combining two gods' boons can trigger Duo Boons — rare, powerful hybrid effects like Merciful End (Ares+Athena) that trigger Doom on deflected attacks.
Why it matters: This is the foundation of all combat. Everything else builds on this.
2. mirror upgrades
The Mirror of Night in Zagreus's bedroom provides permanent meta-progression upgrades purchased with Darkness currency. Key upgrades include Death Defiance (3 extra lives per run), Greater Reflex (extra dash), and Privileged Status (bonus damage to enemies with 2+ status effects). Each mirror talent has two options — the alternate options unlock later and enable different playstyles.
Why it matters: The most underrated mechanic. Players who master this early have a massive advantage.
3. weapon aspects
Each of the six weapons (called Infernal Arms) has four Aspects that fundamentally change how they play. For example, the Stygian Blade's Aspect of Nemesis adds +15% crit after special, while Aspect of Arthur transforms it into a massive slow sword with a 50-HP shield aura. Aspects are unlocked with Titan Blood from boss encounters.
Why it matters: Unlocks a new layer of gameplay depth once understood.
4. keepsake system
Keepsakes are equippable trinkets earned by giving Nectar to NPCs. Each keepsake provides a unique passive effect — Cerberus's Shattered Shackle adds damage in special-less rooms, while Zeus's Thunder Signet guarantees a Zeus boon at the next eligible door. You can swap keepsakes between regions, allowing strategic planning.
Why it matters: The tactical edge that separates average players from advanced ones.
5. relationship building
Giving Nectar and Ambrosia to NPCs advances relationship storylines with unique dialogue at each stage. Some relationships unlock powerful Companion summons — Megaera's companion deals 2500 damage on use. The story advances through dozens of runs, with dialogue trees that reference your specific gameplay choices and death circumstances.
Why it matters: The endgame optimization mechanic. Small improvements here compound into massive gains.
Mechanic Synergies
Understanding how mechanics interact is where real optimization happens:
boon selection + mirror upgrades
Olympian gods offer boons (abilities) after clearing rooms. When combined with mirror upgrades, the mirror of night in zagreus's bedroom provides permanent meta-progression upgrades purchased with darkness currency. This combination is the core of every effective build.
weapon aspects + keepsake system
Each of the six weapons (called Infernal Arms) has four Aspects that fundamentally change how they play. Paired with keepsake system, keepsakes are equippable trinkets earned by giving nectar to npcs. This is why the tier list favors builds that leverage both.
relationship building as a Multiplier
Giving Nectar and Ambrosia to NPCs advances relationship storylines with unique dialogue at each stage. Some relationships unlock powerful Companion summons — Megaera's companion deals 2500 damage on use. The story advances through dozens of runs, with dialogue trees that reference your specific gameplay choices and death circumstances. This system amplifies everything else — the better your relationship building optimization, the more your other mechanics pay off.
Combat by Build
Each build approaches combat differently:
Stygian Blade (A-Tier)
Combat approach: 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. Key equipment: Coronacht Primary mechanic: boon selection
The Stygian Blade has fast attacks and a powerful special that hits in an arc. Full setup in our builds guide.
Heart-Seeking Bow (A-Tier)
Combat approach: Tag enemies with one charged attack, then spam special to auto-home 4+ arrows on the tagged target. The Ares Doom procs stack devastatingly. Key equipment: Varatha Primary mechanic: mirror upgrades
Coronacht (the bow) excels at safe, ranged damage with charged power shots. Full setup in our builds guide.
Shield of Chaos (S-Tier)
Combat approach: Throw the shield and let it bounce between all enemies while blocking with bull rush. Add Zeus lightning for massive AoE clear speed. Key equipment: Aegis Primary mechanic: weapon aspects
Aegis (the shield) is the safest weapon because holding attack blocks all frontal damage. Full setup in our builds guide.
Adamant Rail (S-Tier)
Combat approach: 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. Key equipment: Exagryph Primary mechanic: keepsake system
Exagryph (the rail gun) is the most unique weapon — a machine gun with a grenade launcher special. Full setup in our builds guide.
Twin Fists of Malphon (A-Tier)
Combat approach: 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. Key equipment: Malphon Primary mechanic: relationship building
Malphon (the fists) have the fastest attack speed in the game, making them ideal for on-hit effects. Full setup in our builds guide.
Advanced Combat Techniques
Damage Optimization
- Match your equipment to your build's stat priorities
- Exploit boon selection for maximum damage windows
- Chain mirror upgrades and weapon aspects for combo damage
- Use keepsake system to create openings
Survivability
- Learn enemy patterns before committing to attacks
- Privileged Status from the Mirror (+40% damage to enemies with 2+ status effects) is the single strongest mirror upgrade. Build around applying two different status effects (e.g., Aphrodite Weak + Dionysus Hangover) to trigger it.
- Position using boon selection to control spacing
- Save defensive options for guaranteed survival, not comfort
Boss Combat
Bosses test your understanding of every mechanic. See our boss guide for fight-specific strategies.
- Phase awareness — Most bosses change behavior at health thresholds
- Patience over aggression — One extra hit per opening beats dying to greed
- Build preparation — Swap gear and equipment for specific fights when needed
Common Combat Mistakes
- Button mashing — Committed attacks have recovery frames. Mashing locks you into animations.
- Ignoring mirror upgrades — This mechanic exists for a reason. Players who use it take significantly less damage.
- Wrong equipment for the situation — Check our weapons guide for situational picks.
- Not learning from deaths — Every death teaches something. If you don't know why you died, you'll die the same way again.
- Overcommitting — Trading hits works in Tartarus but will get you killed in Surface.
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 Boss Guide
- Hades Maps & Locations
- Hades Crafting Guide
- Hades Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Hades, check out these related guides:
- Risk of Rain 2 Combat Guide — roguelike game with similar mechanics
- Darkest Dungeon Combat Guide — roguelike game with similar mechanics
- Dead Cells Combat Guide — roguelike game with similar mechanics
