It's not just the gods of Ancient Greece who are eager to help Zagreus escape from Hell in the story of Hades. The closer Zagreus gets to escape, the more gods he discovers on his travels, and they also lend him their power in a variety of ways.
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These gifts are given in several forms, one of them being the Aspects of the Infernal Arms. These are special powers for each of Zagreus' mythical weapons, and some of them can only be unlocked with the magic of Titan Blood. Others become available simply after interacting with the weapon, which players can find in a display case next to their sparring buddy, Skelly.
Updated June 3, 2024, by Kristy Ambrose: Hades continues to win hearts and minds years after its initial release, with a resurgence in the game years later thanks to the release of a sequel. Hades 2 is now officially available after much anticipation, and there's another family mystery to be solved - this time, by the main character Melinoe, a powerful dark witch who appears to be Zagreus' sister. Players are still obsessing over the finer details of Zagreus and his escape from Hades in the first game. For those who are planning on one more escape run before indulging in Hades 2, here are a few more of the best weapon Aspects that are worth going through the Underworld to find.
Several of the following Aspects can be applied to more than one weapon, even several, and can be upgraded after being unlocked. Results vary depending on Zagreus' choices, and the following are the ideal pairings of Infernal Arms and Aspects.
17 Aspect Of Chaos
Aegis, The Shield Of Chaos
- After Bull Rush, the next Special attack throws multiple shields.
Bull Rush is a great ability anyway, allowing Zagreus to use the Aegus as both a shield and a weapon. The Aspect of Chaos can also be used with the bow or the Adamant Rail, and the Aspect gives the already overpowered shield a handy ranged ability. Players can use one Titan Blood while interacting with the weapon display case to unlock this Hades weapon Aspect.
It takes some patience to get this build to the maximum level, but it's still fun at lower levels, and it features some impressive damage output along with a few solid defensive capabilities. Combine it with Boons from Dionysus or Posieden, which often slow enemies, and Boons from Ares, which offer more damage, and it becomes even better.
16 Aspect Of Demeter
Twin Fists Of Malphon
- Buffs attack damage after 12 hits.
Bond with grandma through the power of this Aspect, which builds on previous talents with some extra damage-dealing abilities. The Aspect of Demeter build that goes with the Twin Fists of Malphon, although this addition comes later in the game, as the cost is a high one.
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After collecting the 16 Titan Blood needed to unlock this weapon Aspect, making this one of the most expensive Aspects, whatever Special Ability Zagreus is using gets a generous damage buff after twelve hits. For example, if the Special is Magnetic Cutter, an ability that comes with the Aspect of Talos, the player can pull more enemies towards them and do even more damage.
15 Aspect Of Achilles
Varatha, The Eternal Spear
- Raging Rush, used to Dash to the spear, damages enemies in one's path. The next four Attacks or Casts are stronger.
There aren't many other Aspects that are inspired by and named after a mortal hero as opposed to a god, and that's not all that makes this one unique. Anyone working on a Varatha: The Eternal Spear build is going to want the Aspect of Achilles. One vial of Titan blood is required to unlock it.
This is one of the best Aspects in Hades and gives the players two advantages. Retrieve the spear after using it for a Special attack with a new ability called Raging Rush. Stack that on the generous 150% attack buff after using the Rush ability, and the attack is a fearsome one.
14 Aspect Of Zeus
Aegis, The Shield Of Chaos
- Push enemies away while waves of cold water knock them down and afflict them with Chill.
This Aspect is also associated with the Aegis, the favorite weapon of Zeus in ancient history. Athena also recognizes this weapon if she meets Zagreus as he's carrying it. It also has a similar power in that it throws the shield in a ranged shot that deals an enhanced amount of damage. The player needs to use two Titan bloods to unlock the Aspect of Zeus.
This Aspect goes nicely with Boons from Poseidon and Demeter, which function well as crowd control. Use the power of the sea to push enemies away while the shield mows them down, or freeze them in place with the power of winter and shatter what's left of them.
13 Aspect Of Arthur
Stygius, The Stygian Blade
- Adds 50% to Zagreus' life total and grants him a 40% damage reduction bonus.
This is one of the best Aspects in Hades, and it's famous for the amount of extra damage that it lends to this already infamous blade, along with the handy healing and defense abilities. The Aspect of Arthur adds 50% to Zagreus' life total and grants him a 40% damage reduction bonus.
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Revealing this hidden aspect is a quest itself. It requires three Titan Blood, that the Aspect of Guan Yu is unlocked with the spear, and a timely conversation with Nyx. One of the best things about an Aspect of Arthur is that it blends well with any God's boon. Use Dionysus or Aphrodite to slow enemies down, call on Hermes to speed up the slower attacks, or ask Zeus or Ares to grant the sword the power to do even more damage.
12 Aspect Of Rama
Coronacht, The Heart-Seeking Bow
- Makes regular attacks more deadly and grants the Shared Suffering ability
Rama is a Hindu deity that doesn't appear as a deity in the game, which favors the gods of the Greek pantheon, but even those not familiar with the lore of this god know he's often pictured holding a bow. This Aspect is for the Heart-Seeking Bow, and it's one of the secret abilities that can only be obtained after discovering the weapon's waking phrase and charging it with three vials of Titan Blood.
Not only does this Aspect give the single, regular attack a much higher amount of damage, but it also comes with an ability called Shared Suffering, which damages characters within a certain area. Combine this with a ranged boon-like Deadly Strike, courtesy of Artemis, and players can lay waste with one of the best ranged Aspects in the game.
11 Aspect Of Hades
Varatha, The Eternal Spear
- Improves the Spin Attack to Punishing Sweep, which improves the radius of the attack along with both the initial damage and DoT.
Varatha has a few interesting stories to tell, along with some compelling challenges when it comes to its specific weapon Aspects. Every one of the Infernal Arms has an AoE option, and the Aspect of Hades not only improves the damage of Varatha's Spin Attack, but it also lengthens its reach and gives it a damage-over-time effect that lasts 10 seconds.
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The Apect of Hades only takes two Titan Blood to unlock, which sounds easy, but the trick is that the Aspect of Zagreus and the Aspect of Achilles have to be unlocked first, and the price for those is one Titan Blood each. Players can spend up to 16 Titan Blood on this Aspect and bring its bonus damage up from 30% to 150%.
10 Aspect Of Gilgamesh
The Twin Fists of Malphon
- Grants the use of the Claws of Enkidu, whose Dash-Upper attack can Maim enemies.
This is the Aspect that takes Beast Form to a whole new level. The Twin Fists of Malphon recall a primeval time that predates weapons and maybe even the gods themselves. It takes three Titan Blood to unlock this Aspect, along with the Aspect of Guan Yu, and finally, a fight with Asterius the Minotaur while the weapon is equipped.
Combine the Twin Fists with the Aspect of Gilgamesh to speed up the attacks and special abilities, and when Zagreus meets a God that offers any kind of Dash Boon, make sure he takes it. Examples would be the Drunken Dash of Dionysus or Ares' Blade Dash.
9 Aspect Of Talos
The Twin Fists Of Malphon
- Grants the magnetic Cutter Ability, which pulls in enemies and damages them.
Talos is a name that drops a lot in Hades, and the player gets a sense of the importance of this character even if they never appear. Unlocked with a single Titan Blood, the Aspect of Talos is intended to be used with the Twin Fists of Malphon, and it's one of the best weapon aspects in Hades.
The Fists are melee weapons, so part of the challenge with this weapon is getting into range. The Aspect of Talos gives Zagreus the Magnetic Cutter ability, which is used to draw enemies toward the player and buff up their damage-dealing abilities.
8 Aspect Of Poseidon
Stygius, The Stygian Blade
- Dislodges bloodstones earlier to recharge the Cast ability sooner.
The Aspect of Poseidon is a versatile casting-related aspect that can be applied to the Stygian Blade, and it is one of the best weapon aspects. When Zagreus uses his Cast Ability, he uses a precious bloodstone, and this can't be retrieved until the enemy that absorbed the attack is killed. However, this Aspect allows Zagreus to retrieve the bloodstone sooner by dislodging it, so his Cast can be used again.
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Artemis has a Boon called Exit Wounds, which does extra damage when a bloodstone is extracted from an enemy in this way. Equip the Adamant Arrowhead, the Keepsake of Artemis, so it'll be easier for her to find Zagreus and grant him this Boon. Unlocking the Aspect of Poseidon requires two Titan Blood.
7 Aspect Of Lucifer
Exagryph, The Adamant Rail
- Grants the ability of Igneus Eden, which launches the Hellfire attack.
One of the hidden Aspects of the Adamant Rail, the abilities associated with Lucifer are all about dealing damage. Of course, the source of that damage is exploding fire, in this case, a special ability called Hellfire, which gives the Adamant Rail a bigger and more lethal bombardment strike.
Add even more damage to this build with Ares' Blade Rift Boon or virtually anything from Zeus, which often includes dealing extra lightning damage. Unlock the Aspect of Lucifer with three Titan Blood, the Aspect of Guan Yu, and a conversation with Zeus while the weapon is equipped.
6 Aspect Of Hestia
Exagryph, The Adamant Rail
- Manually reload to Empower one's next shot.
Despite being one of the most common Greek gods, Hestia doesn't appear in the game, and most players wouldn't know her anyway. As the goddess of the home and hearth, many of the ancients knew her well, but modern people have a better understanding of the warring and dramatic gods that appear in legends.
The power of Hestia's fire is used with the Adamant Rail, and it costs two vials of Titan blood to unlock. Any ranged Boons work well with the Aspect of Hestia, making it one of the best weapon Aspects in Hades. Players might want to keep an eye out for Artemis, who specializes in ranged abilities, but Ares and his damage buffs are also a nice match.
5 Aspect Of Zagreus
Stygius, The Stygian Blade
- Improve Zagreus' movement and attack speed by 15%.
This ability is available for several weapons and only takes one Titan Blood to unlock any of them since they belong to the main character. Players can use this ability with the sword Styguis to boost Zagreus' movement speed by 15%, and that includes his attacks. It might not be the best weapon aspect in the game, but it's one of the first the player gets.
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Hermes can speed players up even more if they happen to meet him and equip the Lambent Plume Keepsake to ensure that he shows up. This gives this fast build an even better edge, and when combined with a Boon focused on dealing extra damage, it turns the protagonist into a sleek and speedy killing machine.
4 Aspect Of Nemesis
Stygius, The Stygian Blade
- Three seconds after using the Special Ability, any follow-up attack has an increased chance to deal critical damage.
Shine up the Stygian Blade and add the Aspect of Nemesis to its build with 15 Titan Blood. The price is steep for what looks like a simple ability, but it's wise to grab anything that gives Zagreus a bonus critical chance. Another incentive is that Nemesis also stacks well with other Aspects and certain Attacks.
For three seconds after Zagreus uses his Special Ability, his Attack has a chance to deal critical damage. This includes the Strike, Combo, Dash-Strike, and Nova-Strike Actions, along with whatever damage or crowd-control Ability the Special does. Once Zagreus gets the Aspect of Arthur and gains additional Attacks like Hallowed Ground, he can also do some better AoE damage using this Aspect.
3 Aspect Of Guan Yu
Varatha, The Eternal Spear
- Grants the Frost Fair Blade ability, which improves AoE damage but reduces the player's life meter.
Tied to Varatha, the Eternal Spear, the Aspect of Guan Yu gives the protagonist the Frost Fair Blade, a powerful spin attack that provides this spear with some much-needed AoE damage. It's also a versatile Hades weapon Aspect and works with a variety of Boon combinations, but it reduces Zagreus' life meter by 70%. For an extra challenge, players should escape from the Underworld with this Aspect unlocked and fulfill one of the Prophecies.
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Zagreus has to unlock this Aspect to unlock other hidden aspects of other weapons. It's a fairly complicated process that involves purchasing specific items from the House Contractor, talking to Achilles, equipping the spear at a certain time, and finally paying three Titan Blood.
2 Aspect Of Beowulf
Aegis, The Shield of Chaos
- Adds the Cast Ability Naegling's Board, keeping Zagreus from being interrupted during combat and giving him a 30% reduction in damage.
The Aspect of Beowulf is an integral part of many end-game builds that utilize the Aegis and aim to maximize Zagreus' overall power. This Aspect gives the player a nice defensive edge with the Cast Ability called Naegling's Board, which keeps their actions from being interrupted during combat and gives them a 30% reduction in damage.
It only takes three Titan Blood to unlock this Aspect, but the player must have invested five Titan Blood into the Aegis already. With a solid defense setup, the Boons, upgrades, and other enhancements Zagreus finds can focus on damage with this Hades weapon Aspect. That's where the other Cast Ability, Dragon Rush, gets a whopping 100% bonus from the Aspect of Beowulf, ensuring it is OP enough to clear the whole floor.
1 Aspect Of Chiron
Coronacht, The Heart-Seeking Bow
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- Improved ranged damage and an auto-target feature.
Coronacht, the Heart-Seeking Bow, is a weapon intended for ranged damage almost exclusively. This handy Aspect gives the bow the ability to target the last enemy that it hit, basically giving it an auto-target. Now, the player has one less mechanic to worry about, and it only takes one Titan Blood to unlock the Aspect of Chiron.
Thanks to the improved range and damage it offers, almost any build works using this Aspect as a foundation. A Boon that slows enemies down and allows Zagreus to kill them faster is an ideal combination, and Boons that improve ranged damage or movement speed would also work well.
Hades
- Platform(s)
- PS4 , PS5 , Xbox One , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S , Switch , PC
- Released
- September 17, 2020
- Developer(s)
- Supergiant Games
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG , Roguelite
