Hades 2 Arcana Guide And The Best Arcana Cards To Use

In a roguelike game like Hades 2, you're expected to fail numerous times. However, you don't really have to start from scratch. That's because there are perks and power-ups that can help you with each successive run. Here's our guide on the best Arcana Cards in Hades 2. We also discuss how the whole feature works, and the resources that you need.

Hades 2 Arcana guide: The best Arcana Cards in Hades 2

There are 20 Arcana Cards in Hades 2. Once unlocked, you can keep some of them activated for future runs. This ensures that you have some bonuses to support Melinoe right from the beginning.

The Arcana screen can be accessed in Melinoe's room. Here's a quick summary:

• Most Arcana Cards require a resource called Ash before they're unlocked.
  
  • Obtaining a card also unlocks other cards that are adjacent to it.
  • While Ashes are often required, some high-level cards also need high-end materials, such as those that are dropped by bosses.
• Arcana Cards have a Grasp point value, which is the number in the upper-right portion of the card.
• There's a limit to the number of Grasp points that you have early in the game (seen in the right-hand section of the screen). This means you have to deactivate some Arcana Cards if you're above the limit.
• You can increase your maximum Grasp points by spending another resource called Psyche.

When talking about the best Arcana Cards in Hades 2, we also have to consider that they have basic/default effects. However, it's also possible to upgrade them further. This is done by completing an incantation called Consecration of Ashes (seen in the image above). It requires:

• 6x Ash - Obtained from various sources (mentioned in the next sections).
• 1x Cinder - Dropped by Hecate in Erebus.
• 6x Fate Fabric - Purchased from the Wretched Broker or ordered from Charon's Chest at the Crossroads.

Upon completing this incantation, you'll be able to upgrade Arcana Cards--select one, then press Enter (keyboard) or "X" (Xbox gamepad). Most upgrades require a new resource called Moon Dust. Later, though, you need materials that are harder to acquire, such as Star Dust.

The most common method of amassing resources needed for Arcana Cards is to delve deeper into the game's dungeons. Along the way, you might notice the following as part of random encounters:

• Resources like Ash (i.e. grey slime) and Psyche (i.e. green slime) that appear as potential rewards in rooms.
• Charon might also have these for sale when you stumble upon his shop.
• Certain characters and gods might have perks that provide these resources or a means of increasing yields.

The Wretched Broker in the Crossroads also sells these resources in exchange for Bones (i.e. a common currency you acquire as you defeat enemies and clear encounters). Examples include:

• 1x Ashes for 30x Bones.
• 5x Psyche for 30x Bones.
• 1x Fate Fabric for 60x Bones.
• 3x Moon Dust for 80x Bones.

After purchasing many items from Charon's shop, he'll appear at the Crossroads. Eventually, you'll gain access to Charon's Chest. This lets you order various materials in bulk. However, you need the following too:

• Obol Points - You earn these for every 1,000 obols/gold you spend when buying things from Charon in the dungeon.
• Encounter completions - Each batch of resources requires you to complete several rooms/encounters before they're delivered.

Here are the materials that you can obtain:

• 20x Ashes - Requires 1x Obol Point and 20x encounters.
• 80x Psyche - Requires 2x Obol Points and 40x encounters.
• 10x Fate Fabric - Requires 3x Obol Points and 60x encounters.

As mentioned earlier, Moon Dust and Star Dust are used to upgrade Arcana Cards. Moon Dust can be readily purchased from the Wretched Broker each time you visit the Crossroads. Later, though, you can check the cauldron's Alchemy tab to see the Moonlit Essence from Shadow recipe. It grants 5x Moon Dust and costs the following:

• 1x Cinder - Dropped by Hecate in Erebus.
• 1x Shadow - Crafted via the Shadow Extraction recipe; requires 30x Ashes, 30x Psyche, and 3x Fate Fabric.

Apart from this, there's also the Abyssal Insight incantation for the Star Dust item. It requires:

• 2x Moly - Gathered from Erebus.
• 2x Nightshade - Dig these up from dirt mounds in Erebus using the Silver Spade gathering tool. Then, plant them in your garden and complete encounters until they're ready to harvest.
• 2x Fate Fabric - Purchased from the Wretched Broker.
• 2x Pearl - Dropped by Scylla and the Sirens in Oceanus.

This unlocks the Chaos Trials activity, which can be accessed via the obelisk in Melinoe's room. The goal is to clear a region using a specific weapon/aspect, while also being mindful of limited resources.

Now that we're done talking about the basic mechanics and resources, it's time to discuss the best Arcana Cards in Hades 2. Below, you'll find a list of all the unlockable cards in the game, as well as their Grasp point value.

Those in bold and with an asterisk (*) are the ones that we suggest. Likewise, be reminded that some cards have zero (0) point value, but there's a special requirement before they can be activated automatically.

• The Sorceress (1)* - While channeling omega abilities, all enemies move slower for two seconds.
• The Wayward Son (1)* - Whenever you exit a location, restore +2 HP; you restore +4 HP if you have 30% HP or less.
• The Huntress (3)* - While you have less than 100% magick, your attacks and specials deal +30% more damage.
• Death (3) - Omega abilities have a +3% to deal critical damage.
• The Messenger (0) - You have a +6% chance to dodge. To automatically awaken this card, you must activate three cards that have the same Grasp point value.
• The Furies (2)* - Deal +20 damage to enemies in your cast.
• The Titan (2)* - Gain +30% HP and magick.
• The Unseen (5) - Restore +2 magick every one second.
• Night (4) - Your Selene Hex also charges up automatically as though you're spending +2 magick every one second.
• The Lovers (2) - Take no damage from the first hit when you're fighting a Guardian-type boss (i.e. main bosses).
• Swift Runner (1)* - Your sprint is +20% faster.
• Eternity (4)* - Start each run with +1 Death's Defiance (i.e. extra life that lets you restore a portion of your health and magick instead of perishing outright).
• The Centaur (0)* - For every five locations that you clear, you gain +3 HP and magick. To awaken this card automatically, you must activate cards that have Grasp point values from 1 to 5.
• The Moon (3) - Your omega cast has +50 power when it detonates.
• Strength (5) - While you have less than 30% HP, you take -30% damage and deal +30% damage in return.
• The Fates (3) - Start each run with +1 Reroll Dice that lets you alter location rewards.
• The Boatman (5) - Start each run with +200 obols/gold.
• Origination (3) - Deal +25% more damage to foes afflicted with at least two curses (i.e. debuffs).
• Excellence (5)* - All boons you're offered have a 30% chance to be a rare boon.
• The Queen (0)* - All boons you're offered have a 6% chance to be a duo boon when possible. To awaken this card automatically, you must activate no more than two cards that have the same Grasp point value.
• The Seer (0) - Start each run with +2 Reroll Dice. To awaken this card automatically, you must activate the three cards that surround it (i.e. Fates, Boatman, and Champions).
• The Champions (4)* - Start each run with +1 Reroll Dice that allows you to alter boons.
• The Artificer (6) - Start each run with one chance to turn any minor find into a random major find.
• Divinity (0) - Any boons you are offered have a 10% chance to become an epic. To awaken this automatically, you must activate all five cards in any row.
• Judgment (0)* - After defeating a Guardian-type boss, activate three random inactive Arcana Cards. To awaken this automatically, you must activate no more than three cards.

Our choices when it comes to the best Arcana Cards in Hades 2 are mostly based on increased survivability (i.e. Sorceress, Wayward Son, Titan, and Eternity), as well as higher damage output (i.e. Huntress and Furies). We also picked a few that help negate randomized rewards in a way (i.e. Excellence and Champions).

The Queen card, meanwhile, should get activated because of other cards with their point values. Lastly, we only recommend the Judgment card if you've already experienced going for deep runs/clears. With the three-card-activation requirement, you could probably just choose among those we suggested above.

That does it for our Hades 2 best Arcana Cards guide. We hope that you clear all the tough battles ahead.