Hades Maps & Locations Guide — Every Area Covered

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.

Hades features distinct areas with increasing difficulty. This guide covers every major location in progression order — what to do, what to get, and when to move on. For the step-by-step path, see our walkthrough.

Area Progression Order

Tartarus — Starting Area

The first region with relatively weak enemies but dangerous traps (spike floors, lava). Contains 14 chambers before the first boss: Megaera (or her sisters, depending on story progression). Focus on building your core boon loadout here. The Chaos Gates in Tartarus are worth entering for powerful Chaos boons.

What to Do Here

• Learn the basics of boon selection — this is where you practice without heavy punishment.
• Collect starting resources and your first equipment upgrade.
• Clear all main content before moving to Asphodel.
• If you're struggling, read our beginner's guide.

Asphodel — Early Game

A lava-flooded region with ranged enemies and magma hazards on the floor. Contains ~10 chambers before the Bone Hydra boss (Lernaean Bone Hydra). The Hydra is a DPS check — it spawns additional heads at 66% and 33% HP that must be killed. Asphodel is where bad builds start to struggle.

What to Do Here

• Focus on mastering mirror upgrades — it's critical from this point on.
• Farm for Varatha if you don't have it yet.
• Complete all objectives for maximum rewards.
• Prepare for the difficulty spike in Elysium.

Elysium — Mid Game

The hardest combat region with shielded enemies, armored exalted warriors, and the brutal mini-boss duo Theseus and Asterius. Shielded enemies require you to hit them from behind or use shield-piercing attacks. Theseus and Asterius fight together — kill Asterius first since Theseus calls in god attacks at 50% HP.

What to Do Here

• This is the main skill check. Bring an optimized build.
• Coronacht becomes accessible here — prioritize getting it.
• Master weapon aspects for the boss encounters.
• Check our boss guide if you get stuck.

Temple of Styx — Late Game

Five short tunnel branches, each ending with a satyr mini-boss that drops a sack. One random sack contains the item needed to progress to the final boss. The Tiny Vermin (poison rats) are the most annoying enemy in the game — they're small, fast, and apply poison. Bring area damage.

What to Do Here

• Full build optimization is expected by this point.
• Coronacht should be your primary, fully upgraded.
• relationship building mastery starts mattering here.
• Farm resources for the push into Surface.

Surface — Endgame

The final boss arena where you fight Hades himself in a two-phase battle. Phase 1 is manageable with spin attacks and skull projectiles. Phase 2 adds green vases that heal Hades if not destroyed, and his attacks become faster and harder-hitting. Death Defiance lives are often consumed here.

What to Do Here

• This is endgame. Best-in-slot gear and a perfected build are mandatory.
• See our boss guide for endgame fight strategies.
• The reward loop: clear content → upgrade → push harder content.
• Experiment with Twin Fists of Malphon for variety once you've mastered the meta.

Exploration Tips

1. Clear areas in order — Tartarus → Asphodel → Elysium → Temple of Styx → Surface. Skipping areas means missing resources you'll need later.
2. Check every corner — Hidden caches and secrets are often in non-obvious locations.
3. Match your equipment — Some areas favor different equipment types.
4. Read the walkthrough — Our walkthrough provides exact progression milestones for each area.
5. Don't rush — Clearing an area fully gives more resources than speedrunning two areas.

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 Crafting Guide
• Hades Classes & Characters

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