Zagreus’ iconic starting weapon from the original Hades was a broadsword. It’s a common weapon to give heroes in games from roguelikes to good old-fashioned turn-based RPGs. Eventually, players could unlock other weapons for Zagreus, like a bow which added range to his attacks and made things a bit easier for some players unaccustomed to the roguelike challenge loop. Hades 2 gives the heroine, Melinoe, a ranged weapon right from the start, which is a staff that shoots magic. Melinoe is a witch, so giving her a magical weapon from the start makes sense.

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She does eventually get some other weapons too. Each weapon in the game has four attacks. There is the Basic attack and the Special attack, and both of these can be charged. Melinoe gets a fifth attack too, a Cast, but this attack does not change with the weapons she gets. It changes based on Boons acquired during a run in Hades 2. For example, Poseidon can channel watery waves to explode within the Cast ring. That’s everything players have to know about attack basics, so let’s get to the five weapons in the game and see how they stack up against each other.

5 Umbral Flames

Dual-Wielding The Power Of Fire

The Umbral Flames are two twin rods that look a little like batons set on fire. The name could be a fun nod to Bayonetta in her titular series, who was an Umbra Witch. These are mostly mid-range weapons that specialize in protecting Melinoe’s body. Their Basic attack will shoot out small bars of fire, and if players keep holding the attack button down, these fireballs will grow in size. This will use Melinoe's Magick energy, as all charged attacks do.

The Special attack will send a flame out, which will protect Melinoe but then quickly fade. If the Special is charged up, flames will surround Melinoe for a longer period. This charged effect is the best thing about the Umbral Flames, otherwise, they're a tricky weapon to use. Since the flames move in an arc, it can be hard to hit enemies with reasonable accuracy.

4 Witch’s Staff

Powering Up Melinoe’s Natural Magic Talents

The Witch’s Staff will be Melinoe’s starting weapon, which is different from Zagreus’ loadout from the first Hades. He had a sword, whereas Melinoe gets started with a ranged weapon. Like most magical rods in games, the Witch’s Staff will shoot out blasts of non-elemental magic for a Basic attack, which has a shorter range and acts more like a melee weapon.

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A strong beam will erupt when the basic attack is charged, giving it more range as well. Players can use the Special attack to fire a bigger blast of energy, and then the charged version will cover an even greater distance if aimed well. It’s an okay starting weapon, but things only get better from here.

3 Argent Skull

A Long-Ranged Grenade Launcher Using Bones

The Argent Skull is a strange weapon in that it is literally just a skull with a bunch of markings on it. The Basic attack will launch a skull forward, and it will explode as if it were a grenade or rocket in Call of Duty. The area of effect is decent, and the attack power is deadly too. Players will be equipped with three skulls, and they have to be recovered after launching them.

If those skulls go out of bounds, they will eventually return to Melinoe, so it’s not a big deal. The charged-up Basic attack for this will have the skulls act like a mortar, arcing the blast if players want a more precise attack. The Special attack is a dash forward, and the charged version will make this dash stronger, launching skulls out of the sides of the dash’s wake. Overall, this is a very powerful weapon with good range, and the only downside is the limited starting ammo that has to be retrieved.

2 Sister Blades

Blades That Give Melinoe The Best Of Both Worlds

The Sister Blades are the weapons used in the cover art for Hades 2, which is odd for the lore since Melinoe is a witch who starts the game using a staff. Cover oddities aside, these twin blades are great; one is a sickle while the other is a dagger. Their Basic attack pattern turns Melinoe into a bit of a rogue, and the charged version looks like an assassination attempt that will deal critical damage.

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This weapon's Special attack will have Melinoe throw her dagger at enemies, which gives the weapon an overall good balance between ranged and close-up attacks. The charged version will create a fan pattern of daggers that players can shoot at a group of enemies. If players use this charged Special up close, every phantom dagger will hit the target instead. It’s kind of like how shotguns are more effective in games in close-proximity.

1 Moonstone Axe

Close Range Power With A Defensive Twist

The Moonstone Axe just narrowly beats out the Sister Blades. The sheer power of this mighty axe makes up for the slow swinging speed of the Basic attack, and it's not as bad as similar axes in action games like Dark Souls. The charged attack of the Moonstone Axe can send Melinoe into a swinging arc like a deadly axe-based tornado.

The Special attack is interesting, because Melinoe will start to spin, creating a shield that will block most attacks. After the charging period, a large arc will burst forward sort of like dominoes falling into place. It's great for dealing with large onslaughts of enemies, along with getting those hefty boss health bars down quickly. The defensive spin is a nice bonus on top of the attack power of this weapon, which makes it the best weapon in Hades 2 as it stands right now.

Hades 2

Platform(s)

PC

Released

2023-00-00

Developer(s)

Supergiant Games

Genre(s)

Action , Roguelite

See at Official Site