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Hades 2: Weapons & Aspects Guide for Underworld Survival

Last Updated: October 26, 2025

Melinoë wielding a weapon in Hades 2, battling through the Underworld.

The Underworld beckons once more, and in Supergiant Games' critically acclaimed sequel, Hades 2, the stakes are higher and the foes deadlier than ever. Now available in Early Access, the game plunges players into a relentless gauntlet as Melinoë, the Princess of the Underworld, on her quest to vanquish the Titan of Time, Chronos. Success demands not just skill but also strategic mastery of its intricate combat systems, and the foundational element of any successful run is your arsenal.

In a game where every attempt presents new challenges, the ability to adapt and unleash devastating power is paramount. This necessitates a deep understanding of the Nocturnal Arms at your disposal and, crucially, the various Aspects that augment their capabilities. This guide delves into these essential combat tools, detailing how to unlock and master every available weapon and Aspect—a fundamental requirement for survival against the countless, ever-evolving threats within Hades 2.

The Nocturnal Arms: Your Keys to the Gauntlet

Hades 2 thrusts players into a brutal, unforgiving world where defeat is a constant companion and progression is hard-earned. From the shadowy depths of Erebus to the flowing waters of Oceanus, Melinoë is met with a diverse array of mythological creatures and powerful Guardians designed to test her mettle. Your choice of weapon, or Nocturnal Arm, is the single most defining factor in determining the outcome of any given encounter.

True to its roguelike heritage, Hades 2 integrates its weapon system as a core pillar of its strategic depth. Each of the five currently available arms offers a distinct playstyle, requiring you to master its basic attacks, Omega moves, and unique special abilities, all while synergizing with boons from the Olympian gods. This intricate dance between weapon, ability, and divine blessing forms the bedrock of a successful run.

The five Nocturnal Arms available in Early Access are:

  • Witch's Staff: A balanced, magic-focused starter weapon.
  • Sister Blades: A fast, close-quarters dagger and sickle combo.
  • Umbral Flames: Twin torches that fire lingering, spirit-based projectiles.
  • Moonstone Axe: A heavy, slow-hitting weapon capable of massive area-of-effect damage.
  • Argent Skull: A high-risk, high-reward weapon that uses explosive skulls as ammunition.

Game-Changing Aspects: Forging Your Playstyle

Beyond the primary weapons themselves, Hades 2 reintroduces the beloved Aspect system, providing a deep layer of customization. These Aspects function as powerful modifications for each weapon, fundamentally altering their properties, attack patterns, or Omega abilities. This system ensures that even after mastering a weapon, there's a significant depth of discovery and strategy to pursue.

The strategic implications of Aspects are immense. They allow you to fine-tune your combat approach, adapting to specific enemy types, boss mechanics, or even personal play preferences. A player struggling with a particular Guardian might find their fortunes reversed by switching to a different Aspect, unlocking a synergy that previously eluded them.

Current Weapon Aspects in Early Access:

1. Witch's Staff (Descura)

  • Aspect of Melinoë: The default, balanced form. Omega Attacks and Specials fire projectiles that travel in a straight line for longer.
  • Aspect of Circe: Focuses on rapidly charging Omega moves. After landing 21 attacks or specials, you gain Serenity for a brief period, making your next Omega move charge instantly and fire faster.
  • Aspect of Momus: Turns your Omega Cast into a powerful bomb. Instead of deploying your Cast normally, you can place up to 3 blast zones that detonate for massive damage after a few seconds.

2. Sister Blades (Lim and Oros)

  • Aspect of Melinoë: The default form. A straightforward, fast-attacking moveset perfect for aggressive play.
  • Aspect of Artemis: Modifies your Special. Instead of a throwing knife, you perform a damaging dash-strike that can parry enemy attacks if timed correctly.
  • Aspect of Pan: Enhances your Special's homing ability. Your Special now seeks out foes in a wider arc, and your Omega Special fires even more blades.

3. Umbral Flames (Ygnium)

  • Aspect of Melinoë: The default form. Your fiery spirit projectiles linger on the ground, dealing continuous damage to enemies who stand in them.
  • Aspect of Moros: Alters your Special. It now creates a longer-lasting, stationary flame circle that can trap and damage multiple enemies.
  • Aspect of Eos: Your Special now fires a forward-moving, slow projectile that erupts multiple times as it travels, creating a moving wall of damage.

4. Moonstone Axe (Zorephet)

  • Aspect of Melinoë: The default form. A powerhouse of heavy hits and a wide-sweeping Omega Special.
  • Aspect of Charon: Modifies your Omega Cast. Instead of its normal effect, it fires a wide, damaging wave of frost that can strike multiple foes.
  • Aspect of Thanatos: Focuses on a high-risk, high-reward playstyle. Your Omega moves charge faster, but you take more damage while charging. However, landing the final hit of your Attack sequence grants you a temporary damage-absorbing barrier.

5. Argent Skull (Exagryph)

  • Aspect of Melinoë: The default form. You fire explosive skulls that must be retrieved after use, promoting a dynamic in-and-out combat style.
  • Aspect of Medea: Your Attack becomes a lunging strike, and your Special causes your explosive skulls to travel in a straight line, piercing through enemies and exploding on contact with walls.
  • Aspect of Persephone: Enhances your Omega moves by allowing you to generate "Glory," a damage bonus that accumulates by using your Omega Cast and is unleashed with your Omega Special.

The Path to Power: Unlocking Your Full Potential

The journey to unlock all Nocturnal Arms and their corresponding Aspects is an integral part of the game's progression loop. It's not a simple matter of finding them; rather, it involves gathering specific reagents and performing incantations at Hecate's cauldron in the Crossroads.

Unlocking Weapons:

After your first few runs, you can perform the "Night's Craftwork" incantation. This reveals the Nocturnal Arms locked in the Silver Pool. Each weapon requires a specific, and often rare, resource to unlock:

  • Witch's Staff: Unlocked by default.
  • Sister Blades: Requires 1 Silver.
  • Umbral Flames: Requires 3 Silver and 3 Cinder.
  • Moonstone Axe: Requires 15 Silver.
  • Argent Skull: Requires 2 Glassrock and 1 Bronze.

Unlocking Aspects:

To unlock Aspects, you must first perform the "Aspects of Night and Darkness" incantation, available after unlocking several Nocturnal Arms. After this, you can speak with specific characters while having a weapon equipped to learn about its Aspects. Unlocking them typically costs materials like Bronze and Nightmare, which can be earned by defeating regional Guardians.

Strategic Mastery: A Requirement for Survival

In the relentless world of Hades 2, where every decision carries weight, strategic mastery of your available tools is not optional—it's essential. The game's intricate design ensures that simply having powerful weapons isn't enough; you must learn to wield them effectively, understand their Aspects, and integrate them into a cohesive combat strategy with the boons you receive.

As Hades 2 continues its journey through Early Access, the system will undoubtedly expand with new Aspects, and possibly even new weapons. The current arsenal already offers countless hours of engaging gameplay, pushing players to refine their skills and adapt their approach with every run. The pursuit of every unlockable weapon and Aspect remains a central objective, offering new ways to tackle familiar threats and discover unforeseen synergies. Ultimately, conquering Chronos's domain means not just surviving, but thriving through complete command of this expansive and dynamic arsenal.