Hades 2 Healing Guide: How To Increase Your Health

Hades 2 is a roguelike game, which means the survival of Melinoe, the main character, is of the utmost importance. You have to keep her in tip-top condition lest your run ends in abrupt failure. Here's our guide on how to increase your health in Hades 2.

Hades 2 guide: How to heal and increase your maximum health in Hades 2

Several methods allow you to heal in Hades 2. These can come from items/rewards, passives that trigger as you progress through a dungeon, and even some perks that have to be unlocked.

Note that almost all HP boons are temporary--meaning they're only active for the duration of your run. Once Melinoe dies and respawns at the Crossroads hub, her HP is reset to its default values.

A Centaur Heart appears as a blue, heart-shaped object with a symbol of a red trident/horns. This particular reward grants an increase to Melinoe's maximum HP (while also healing for that amount).

Snacks (i.e. French fries and hotdogs) can sometimes appear as part of Charon's wares. The Ferryman of the Dead sells these in exchange for Obols (i.e. gold coins). Snacks simply heal you in Hades 2; they don't increase your max HP.

Upon unlocking the Rise of Stygian Wells Incantation, a Well of Charon will appear randomly in some rooms. Interact with it to purchase a bunch of stuff, including the Life Essence.

Fountains of different designs are found at the end of each dungeon zone (i.e. after you defeat the boss in that level). Drinking from a fountain restores some lost HP.

Various Olympians grant you boons that truly change the way you play, usually related to the build you want to have as you continue to progress. One example is Hestia's Burnt Offering, which increases your maximum magick and health in Hades 2. However, Hestia will also require you to give up a particular boon in return. Meanwhile, Hephaestus' Uncanny Fortitude provides bonus health based on your maximum magick.

Perhaps one of the best ways to heal up is via a duo boon called Phoenix Skin, which comes from Apollo and Hestia. It requires you to give up 100 HP (which means you need to increase your max health through other means first). Sacrificing this amount grants a passive that regenerates +3 HP every second, as long as you haven't dealt or taken damage for a short period of time. Basically, you just need to run away from enemies for a while to activate the regen effect.

To learn about the ideal options for your build, you can go ahead and check our best boons/skills guide.

Gifts of the Moon are a particular buff from Selene, whom you'll encounter in some dungeon runs. These abilities can only be reactivated once Melinoe has spent a specific amount of magick, and they can also be upgraded.

A good example of something that affects your HP is Moon Water. When activated, it restores 25 HP up to three times. This is reset when you next use a fountain. You can learn more in our Selene/Path of Stars guide.

Primordial Chaos provides you with blessings, but you must first survive a random curse. This affliction lasts for several encounters before you can truly gain the benefits of each boon.

Two Chaos blessings help with healing and increasing your health in Hades 2:

• Soul - Grants an increase to your maximum HP.
• Blood - Restore HP when you exit a location.

Arcana Cards are unlocked by spending Ashes, though the number that can be activated per run is limited. This can be increased by spending another resource called Psyche.

Here are some examples of Arcana Cards that affect healing and maximum health in Hades 2:

• The Wayward Son - Restore +2 HP when you exit a location; restore +4 HP if you have less than 30% of your max HP remaining.
• The Titan - Gain +20 max HP and max magick.
• The Centaur - Every five locations/rooms you explore grants +3 HP and magick.
• Eternity - Gives you +1 Death's Defiance.
  • Note that Death's Defiance is triggered when Melinoe dies.
  • Instead of respawning back at the Crossroads, she'll automatically restore 40% of her maximum HP and magick.

There are other viable options for future runs, and you can learn about them in our best Arcana Cards guide.

The Incantation Cauldron uses different kinds of resources to concoct permanent bonuses, perks, or functions. One of these is called Woodsy Lifespring, which requires 3x Silver and 1x Moly. Once activated, a hidden glade will appear in the Erebus dungeon. Think of it as an extra fountain of sorts. As you progress, you unlock more Incantation spells that provide additional functions and features, such as fountains in various regions.

You're bound to encounter several characters who reside in dungeon rooms (i.e. denoted by a hand icon). One of them is the spider queen, Arachne, who lets you choose from various dresses. Here's what you need to know:

• Dresses have an armor value. If Melinoe gets hit by an attack, the armor value must first be depleted before her current health gets affected.
• The Emerald Dress adds +50 armor, and it also restores +2 HP when you exit a location.

Narcissus also resides in the underworld. If you meet him during your travels, you can choose from different kinds of gifts. One of these is called Heartfelt Condolences, and it nets you +50 HP and +10 Ashes.

The Daedalus Hammer provides upgrades depending on the type of weapon that you have equipped. If you have the Witch's Staff, then it's possible to come across the Vampiric Cataclysm upgrade. It restores +5 HP when you slay an enemy with your omega attack. It's basically quick-and-easy HP restoration while taking out your foes, though you do need a means of regenerating mana. In any case, you can learn more about Melinoe's gear pieces in our Nocturnal Arms weapons and aspects guide.

There are several Keepsakes that help with your survivability. Make sure you give at least one Nectar to certain allies to obtain these accessories. Note that having a Keepsake equipped and completing numerous encounters also boosts their respective effects:

• Dora: Ghost Onion - Whenever you exit a location, you fully restore HP. The amount restored has a certain limit for each run.
• Schelemeus: Luckier Tooth - When Melinoe perishes, she'll automatically restore HP instead.
• Moros: Engraved Pin - When Melinoe perishes, she'll instead become impervious for 10 seconds; restore +30 HP if no other enemies remain.
• Narcissus: Aromatic Phial - Fountains restore more HP; the next fountain makes a random common boon a rare one.

In any case, these are just some of the ways that you can heal and increase your health in Hades 2. If you're keen on doing your best to survive long and arduous treks, we suggest that you check out our beginner's guide. For those who want some extra lives, you can take a look at our Death Defiance guide.