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Though Hades 2 released into Early Access without a lot of features, the number of bosses in this early version of the game already dwarfs the number in the original Hades. In total, there are eight named bosses, each of which can either be encountered at the end of an area or in mini-boss rooms throughout both the Tartarus and Olympus routes both.
Hades 2: Worst Boons You Should Avoid
Of the more than a hundred possible boons or rewards in Hades 2, these are the worst boons that you should avoid for being useless or underwhelming.
These new Hades 2 bosses are nothing like those in the original game, and even the easiest bosses still require players to pay careful attention for telegraphed attacks and special moves. In general, the two end bosses are the hardest bosses in Hades 2, but that doesn't mean the others can't put up a fight and prevent Melinoë from reaching her goal.
This guide to the hardest boss fights in Hades 2 will be updated as the Early Access period progresses and when the full 1.0 version of the game releases.
8 Cerberus
A Good Boy Turned Infernal Beast
Cerberus was kind of a boss in the original Hades, but instead of fighting the guardian of the Underworld, Zagreus could simply bribe him with a Satyr Sack to get past. It's not quite so simple to get past Cerberus in Hades 2, as he has been corrupted by shades in the Fields of Mourning. To get to Tartarus, Melinoë hs to subdue this infernal version of our beloved boy.
Luckily, you don't actually kill Cerberus – upon defeat his model goes back to normal and he becomes friendly again, letting Melinoë past. And despite his intimidating size, his attacks are very easy to anticipate and avoid. Cerberus is arguably the easiest boss in Hades 2 in the early access as long as you are careful to get out of the way of his highly damaging AoEs.
7 Uh-Oh
The Return of the Tiny Vermin
Another boss that's technically returning from Hades, Uh-Oh is a Rat that's almost like a spiritual successor to the Tiny Vermin boss from the original. Uh-Oh sets off explosions around the boss arena, summons adds, gives itself armor, dashes around while attacking, and is one of the hardest bosses to catch and deal damage to.
Hades 2: Best Boons, Ranked
New and returning Gods in Hades 2 will offer Melinoë boons to help her accomplish her task – these are the best for any build.
Despite being a named boss, though, Uh-Oh doesn't have a huge HP bar. As long as you can continually deal damage to it, catch it in a corner, or set off environmental explosions while its trapped in your Cast, it doesn't take too long to defeat Uh-Oh.
6 Hecate
The Witch of the Crossroads
Hecate is both Melinoë's teacher, the de facto head honcho of the Crossroads, and the first major boss that players will come across. After descending through Erebus, Melinoë will be tested by Hecate in a one-on-one duel.
The first few times you fight Hecate it can seem overwhelming, but after a few runs her attack patterns and behaviors become relatively easy to anticipate. Keep dashing behind her when she casts, stay away from her AoEs, find the real Hecate when she summons copies of herself, and use Frinos as a companion to negate her third-phase Hex.
5 Charybdis
Scourge of the Rift of Thessaly
After ascending through the City of Ephyra and getting deep into the Rift of Thessaly, Melinoë may run into this named boss before getting to the other side to face Eris. Charybdis the Devouring is a leviathan squid-like creature that attacks with its tentacles and can cast explosive bolts that chase the player around.
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Hades 2 feature more Greek gods granting boons and buffs, and while not all of them are based solely on ancient myth, the vast majority are.
The boss arena for Charybdis is huge, and though there are definitely a lot of tentacles to avoid, its ranged projectiles are very easy to cheese. Just use any Ω Move to slow down time (with the time-slowing Arcana card enabled) and the projectiles will slow down while maintaining their remaining duration. These will explode over the water and completely negate the mechanic.
Its tentacles can be very annoying to deal with, though. Each one can either swing around in a circle or smash down and deal damage to the sides of the impact area. Take your time damaging the tentacles, slow down the projectiles with Omega Moves, and carefully stay out of the AoE areas to reliably beat this boss.
4 Scylla & The Sirens
The Scourge of the Seas
The first truly difficult boss on this list of the hardest Hades 2 bosses is Scylla and the Sirens, the Sirens being Roxy and Jetty. The three bosses take the form of a three-piece rock band, playing music as Melinoë tries to defeat them. As you take out each boss, their part drops from the song being played – an effect not unlike Raphael's final boss fight in Baldur's Gate 3.
This boss fight is one of the most stimulating in the game and a sure highlight of any Chronos run. But there's definitely a lot to keep track of, and the bosses can be deceptively powerful, especially if they become the Featured Artist in Phase 2.
Hades 2: Best Hephaestus Boons, Ranked
Hephaestus, God of the Forge, joins the Gods that Melinoe can receive aid from in Hades 2 – and his boons are strong indeed.
The best way to beat Scylla and the Sirens is to focus on the Drummer in both phases, as her AoE blasts are annoying to deal with and force you to move around the stage constantly. Once she is taken out, focus on the guitarist, then focus on Scylla herself. Do this in both phases – and use your Omega Cast at the very end to deal with adds – to beat this difficult boss.
3 Polyphemus
The Blind Cyclops Shepherd
Polyphemus, the famed Cyclops of The Odyssey, makes an appearance in Hades 2 as the first surface boss in Melinoë's way of reaching Olympus. Polyphemus doesn't really seem like he has it out for Melinoë in the same way as other bosses, but he's definitely not happy about her trampling through his field and disturbing his sheep.
Plus, he's always got room for a snack.
Polyphemus is an intimidating boss both in demeanor and mechanics. The main thing you need to look out for is his barrage of extremely powerful AoEs, attacks that never really seem to cease.
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There are a lot of useful items and new features in Hades 2 – these are the five you should focus on unlocking first.
e will send out shockwaves constantly, and if the radiating AoEs weren't enough to try to keep track of, he can also attempt to grab and eat Melinoë or grab a sheep to heal.
Be careful taking on Polyphemus at close range with the daggers or axe, and keep a constant eye on the ground to avoid the AoE shockwaves.
2 Chronos
The Titan of Time – With Instant Kill Moves
The "final" boss of the game is definitely one of the hardest boss fights in Hades 2. However, once you understand how to avoid his instant kill moves in Phase 2, Chronos is at least manageable.
Chronos is the main antagonist of Hades 2, and it's ultimately Melinoë's goal to defeat him to free her family and stop his assault on Olympus. Chronos' attacks are mercilessly fast, he can freeze Melinoë in place if she can't get out of the way fast enough, and he is in all ways one of the most difficult bosses in Hades 2 – you can't even pause during his fight.
But, in Phase 2, if you can successfully maneuver around the stage to avoid his instant-kill moves, it actually slows down a lot. If you can make it through Phase One, and can get into the safe zones of his two instant kill moves in Phase 2, Chronos can be reliably downed.
1 Eris
Goddess of Strife – With The Adamant Rail
Fighting Eris is a real toss-up, depending on your boons. She can either be a ridiculously hard boss that serves as the real capstone to the Hades 2 early access experience, or one of the easiest bosses in the game. If you don't have Hestia's Soot Sprint or Selene's Hex that slows time by 80%, be prepared for one of the hardest bosses in Hades 2.
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Hades (and now it's sequel as well) are two incredibly beloved roguelikes. And, of all the gods that appear in them, these are the best.
Eris wields the Adamant Rail, the gun-like weapon that was available for Zagreus to use in Hades. But in the hands of the Goddess of Strife, one can begin to understand why the Gods of Hades tried to lock it away forever. She fires constant projectiles, can suddenly blast you as she dashes forward, cover the map in explosive missiles, and has her own instant-kill move that's impossible to avoid if you aren't careful with the environment.
Eris is the hardest boss fight in Hades 2 because of how many attacks you have to avoid to even get a single hit in. Play carefully, spend more effort avoiding her attacks than dealing your own, and you will eventually pull through and nab a Golden Apple – and finish what's currently available in the early access.
