Hades 2 Just Got Its First Update in Months (and It's a Big One)

If you’ve done everything you could in Hades 2 during its early access stage and have been taking a break from it, it’s time to hop back in. Hades 2 developer Supergiant Games just put out the biggest update yet for the Hades sequel which also happens to be the first one its gotten since July. It adds a totally new region to the game, another weapon, more Animal Familiars, and tons of different reworked or otherwise altered effects for items, weapons, and abilities. And like other Hades 2 updates before it, it’s all free to try now if you’ve opted into the early access purchase already.

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This is only the fourth update Hades 2 has gotten since it released in early access, and given that it’s basically the biggest one yet, its patch notes are quite extensive. It’s known as “The Olympic Update” by Supergiant and includes several fixes and additions which were directly requested by the Hades 2 community as well. Olympus is now a region itself in the game, and to get there, you can use the new weapon known as Xinth, the Black Coat, which is the final of the six Nocturnal Arms.

Supergiant also offered some insights into Hades 2 development in addition to the patch notes. With The Olympic Update now out, the next focus will be on what lies beyond Olympus, new boons to be added, and more enemy types.

“Early Access has already been an invaluable and eye-opening experience for our team as we continue working to complete this game,” Supergiant said about the new update and work on Hades 2. “As we move forward, we intend to keep making additions, changes, and improvements in an effort to create the biggest, most replayable, most feature-rich game we’ve made yet, and — most importantly — a worthy successor to the original Hades.”

Below are all the patch notes for Hades 2‘s massive Olympic Update that’s out now:

Nocturnal Arms & Abilities

Witch’s Staff: reworked Special is faster and bounces between foes
Sister Blades: reworked Special pierces foes and returns to you, potentially hitting foes more than once
Umbral Flames: Special projectiles spin left or right depending on your movement
Moonstone Axe: reworked Special is a rising slash that strikes several times, but no longer blocks foes
Black Coat: new! Guard and retaliate with mighty Attacks, letting none escape with seeking Specials
Your Dash is innately faster and more responsive
You now can more reliably Dash out of hit-stun effects from certain foes’ strikes
It should be easier to aim certain abilities using gamepad

Aspects of the Nocturnal Arms

Umbral Flames (Moros): re-scaled upgrades; slightly reduced fully-upgraded blast damage
Argent Skull (Medea): increased Attack & Special damage; improved upgrades; Shells now load faster
Black Coat: added its own three different unlockable, upgradeable Aspects

Crossroads Cauldron

Eyes of Night and Darkness: new! Makes Moon Monuments and Unseen Sigils sometimes appear in Locations, further described below
Earthly Fortune: new! Lets you recycle unneeded resources at the Wretched Broker, in exchange for Prestige, used for decorative items
Summoning of Musical Rhapsody: new! Required to summon the Music Maker, who lets you unlock different music to play in the Crossroads
Spreading of Ashes: new! Lets you save multiple Arcana arrangements in the Altar of Ashes
Favored of All Keepsakes: new! Lets you designate a Keepsake to auto-equip in the Training Grounds
Abyssal Reflections: new! Lets you re-attempt cleared Chaos Trials, and tracks your fastest times
Bravery of Familiar Spirits: new! Now required to upgrade your Animal Familiars
Arisen Troves: new! Makes Infernal Troves sometimes appear in Surface Locations
Surge of Desecrating Pools: new! Makes Pools of Purging appear between Underworld Regions
Frozen Lifespring: new! Makes a Fountain Chamber sometimes appear in the new Region
Adjusted requirements and costs of several Incantations
Melinoë and Hecate now will sometimes conclude Incantations in unison

Altar of Ashes

The Sorceress: reworked — makes Omega moves faster; prior effect now on Silver Wheel (Hecate)
The Swift Runner: no longer makes your Dash faster, since this effect now is innate
Death: added a new UI indicator for the effect
Strength: reworked; now provides a global damage boost, if you have no Death Defiance effects
Adjusted upgrade costs of various Cards
Improved contextual hints for upgrading Grasp
Clarified descriptive text for various Cards

Keepsakes

Each of the two new allies you can meet has a unique Keepsake you can gain in the customary way
Silver Wheel (Hecate): reworked — now slows everything around you while you channel Omega moves
Gold Purse (Charon): now affected by Gold-boosting Boons such as Affluence (Chaos)
Improved feedback and fixes for when certain Keepsakes expire for the night
Adjusted placements of some Keepsakes in the Display Case (to make room for the new ones!)
Clarified descriptive text for several Keepsakes

Boons & Blessings

Each of the two new allies you can meet has their own blessings to aid in your task
All Together (Hera): renamed from Elementary Particles; now her Legendary, no longer a Hestia Duo
Cherished Heirloom (Hera x Demeter): now also improves your current Keepsake, not just later ones
Spiteful Strength (Hera x Hephaestus): cut from game, though the effect can now be found in Wells of Charon in the new item Danaid Dagger
Brave Face (Hera x Hephaestus): this is now a Duo and no longer offered by Hera alone
Incandescent Aura (Hera x Hestia): new! Whenever you restore Magick, damage surrounding foes
Frosty Veneer: reduced effectiveness (the minimum damage you can take is now increased)
Ocean’s Bounty (Poseidon): Ash and Psyche rewards now are guaranteed; updated presentation
Plentiful Forage (Demeter): reduced Life gain
Snow Queen (Demeter): no longer blocks damage from Vow of Time (Oath)
Love Handles (Aphrodite x Hephaestus): raised effectiveness
Heart Breaker (Aphrodite): Heartthrobs now deal reduced damage and require more Magick to appear
Smithy Sprint (Hephaestus): cut from game; replaced with…
Stamp Rush (Hephaestus): new! After you Dash, occasionally create a blast around a nearby foe
Mint Condition (Hephaestus): reduced invulnerability duration
Grand Caldera (Hephaestus): fixed Heroic Rarity, which previously was not stronger than Epic
Crispy Coating (Hestia): cut from game; replaced with…
Hot Pot (Hestia): new! You have a chance to Dodge damage; this is doubled vs. Scorch-afflicted foes
Cinerary Circle (Hades): new! Whenever you use enough Magick, summon Soul Urns around you that deal area damage when destroyed
Last Gasp (Hades): bonus damage slightly reduced though now scales with number of Death Defiance effects used that night, not just how many you have missing
Pom Pom Pom (Echo): new! Double the Pom Lv. of your Boon with the highest Pom Lv.
Boon Boon Boon (Echo): now lets you choose one of three random Boons from the previous night
Adjusted names and descriptive text for several Boons
Other minor fixes and adjustments

Daedalus Hammer Upgrades

Added all-new upgrades for the new weapon
Hook Knives (Blades): cut from game, since this effect now is innate; replaced with…
Reaper Knives (Blades): new! Your Specials have bonus Power and deal damage in a wider area
Empowering Guard (Axe): cut from game; replaced with…
Siege Shredder (Axe): new! Your Special strikes farther ahead and deals bonus damage
Advancing Whirlwind (Axe): cut from game; replaced with…
Seething Marauder (Axe): new! Each of your Attacks also deals damage to surrounding foes
Adjusted names and descriptive text for several Daedalus Hammer upgrades

Hexes & Path of Stars

Overflow: new! While using Lunar Ray, deal damage in an area around you
Impact: new! Lunar Ray has bonus Power when it first deals damage each Encounter
Saturation: new! Using Moon Water also fires your Omega Cast immediately
Consequence: new! Whenever Total Eclipse strikes a guardian, your next use of it is partially charged
Eminence: now a Sublime-quality upgrade for Total Eclipse, and incurs a Magick cost increase
Tenacity: now a Sublime-quality upgrade for Wolf Howl, and incurs a Magick cost increase
Frenzy: now a Bright-quality upgrade for Wolf Howl, and no longer incurs a Magick cost increase
Adjusted several upgrades to use the condition After using your Hex this Encounter, instead of While your Hex is not ready
Clarified descriptive text for various Path of Stars upgrades

Well of Charon

Danaid Dagger: new! Your Attacks and Specials are stronger while not empowered by Boons; previously this effect was on the Boon Spiteful Strength (Hera x Hephaestus)
Sacrificial Hymn: new! Sacrifice Boons will be offered as soon as possible, and your next is stronger; previously this effect was on the Boon Family Trade (Hera)
Mist Veil: new! After you use Magick, restore it rapidly up to a limit; previously this effect was on the Keepsake Silver Wheel (Hecate)
Splintered Shield: new! Gain some Armor

Shrine of Hermes

Fresh Sustenance: new! Restores some Life
Fresh Sustenance MAX: new! Restores even more Life
Shield Charm: new! Gain some Armor
Aegis Charm: new! Gain even more Armor
Kiss of Styx: now also offered from the Shrine of Hermes (when you can use it)
Now more likely to offer a restorative item of some sort
Adjusted costs of various items

Foes & Dangers

Added a variety of foes to go with the all-new Region, including new Wardens and a new Guardian
Made various adjustments to foes on the Surface route now that it has a third Region
Chronos: reduced downtime between phases; other minor adjustments
Eris: various adjustments; in a surprisingly rational turn, she no longer is as prone to standing in flames
Infernal Beast: resurfaces sooner after the battle’s first phase; various minor adjustments
Polyphemus: no longer summons Elite foes; other minor adjustments
Charybdis: reduced number of phases; flails with increased intensity and reduced downtime
Headmistress Hecate: now loses invulnerability sooner after her Sisters of the Dead are vanquished
For certain ranged-attacking foes, fewer of them will fire at you all at once
Various other minor changes to foes and combat encounters

Special Encounters

Moon Monuments: new! These can appear after the Incantation Eyes of Night and Darkness, challenging you to vanquish a powerful Elite foe for a special reward
Unseen Sigils: new! These can appear after the Incantation Eyes of Night and Darkness, challenging you to vanquish a group of foes without taking a hit for a special reward
Reduced duration before Infernal Trove rewards may be collected
Nemesis will no longer appear in place of Echo after the first time; she is less quick about gruffly running through exits; she is less quick to purchase items from Charon
Adjusted Heracles combat encounter intensity; his first victim no longer appears as often near Location entrances; he now exits sooner afterwards; he now can sometimes appear in the new Region
Icarus is more effective against your common foes; he now can sometimes appear in the new Region
Boons of Hermes now may be offered among the options when you set forth each night
Chaos Gates may appear sooner than before on the Surface route after a certain point
Adjusted intensity of Trial of the Gods encounters on the Surface; no longer occur in smaller Locations

Animal Familiars

Raki the Raven: new! Pecks at foes and makes them vulnerable to Critical damage
Hecuba the Hound: new! Grants more Magick, stuns foes, and digs up useful items
You are no longer prevented from upgrading Familiars more than once a night if you have the resources
Improved presentation for various Familiar interactions
Toula no longer appears in Erebus before you bond with her, only somewhere farther away…
You can no longer upgrade Frinos in the area behind the tent, only in the Training Grounds
Adjusted names and descriptive text for various Familiar upgrades

Level Design & Environments

Added an all-new Region and the various new Locations within it
Added new Locations to several other Regions
A Pool of Purging now appears in the space before Tartarus
Fishing Points in various Locations are now easier to reach
Various minor fixes and improvements to various locations

Fated List of Minor Prophecies

Mistress of Battle: new! Rewards you for choosing various Boons of its namesake
Master of Revelry: new! Rewards you for choosing various Boons of its namesake
Mistress of the Hunt: new! Rewards you for choosing various Boons of Artemis
The Black Coat: new! Rewards you for choosing various Hammer upgrades for the new weapon
Home in the Crossroads: new! Rewards you for using Prestige to redecorate the Crossroads
Bared Fangs: new! Rewards you for vanquishing foes with each of the various Vow of Fangs perks from the Oath of the Unseen
Adjusted requirements and rewards for fulfilling certain Prophecies

Resources & Reagents

Added several new collectable resources, especially around the newly added Region
Darkness appears more frequently in Chaos; it now is offered sooner than before
Adjusted how much Gold can be found in Ephyra and the Rift of Thessaly
Additional minor adjustments to some resource appearance rates
Updated inventory hints and details for some resources

Oath of the Unseen

Vow of Panic: cut from game; replaced with…
Vow of Fangs: new! Elite foes also gain a variety of nasty perks
Vow of Suffering: cut from game; replaced with…
Vow of Shadows: new! Wardens also have shadow copies to make things tougher for you
Vow of Void (formerly Denial): now has multiple ranks, each reducing your Grasp limit
Vow of Hubris (formerly Arrogance): reduced Fear of second rank; reduced Magick primed per rank
Added new Testaments for the new weapon and Region
Updated menu layout with improved feedback and more contextual hints
Adjusted names and descriptive text for several Vows

Art & Visual FX

Added World Map presentation when moving between Regions in the Underworld or on the Surface
Added lots of new environment art, 3D models, animation, visual FX, and more for the new Region
Added dozens of decorative cosmetic options to the Crossroads, unlocked through a new system
Updated visual FX for Boons of Hephaestus
Updated portrait art for Charon
Updated portrait art for Echo, though Narcissus will have to wait; their 3D models are still placeholders
Updated portrait art for Medea
Updated portrait art for Circe; her 3D model and piggies are still placeholders
Updated portrait art for Hades
Updated portrait art, 3D model, and animations for Icarus
Updated 3D model for Hermes (though if you already saw him, you won’t see him again for now…)
Updated environment art outside the House of Hades
Updated visual FX for various foes in the Rift of Thessaly
Added icons for all the many different fish and fishlike things you can drag from the depths
Updated most remaining placeholder UI icons
Added new background artwork for dialogue scenes in Oceanus
Added more unique visual FX for some Aspects of the Nocturnal Arms
Some of the panoramic vista scenes near the entrance to each Region now are easier to spot
Updated look of Fountains in various Locations
Improved look of using Spectral Gates between ships in the Rift of Thessaly
Improved look of captain’s wheels falling apart on ships in the Rift of Thessaly
Added more animations for Odysseus
Various other minor visual improvements

Voice & Narrative

Added nearly 2,500 new voice lines, including new dialogue events for most characters
Added more narrated Homer outcomes after a successful clear
You can make a new attempt to rouse Hypnos from his endless slumber, after a certain point…
Expanded subplots about Narcissus & Echo, Arachne’s curse, and Dora’s past
Added Ambrosia gifting events for Dora and Hecate
Updated names and descriptions of various fish and other water-dwelling creatures you can catch
Melinoë now will identify nearby foes more often
Melinoë now no longer takes credit when Toula catches a fish or fishlike thing
More characters have more responses to resource interactions in their vicinity, such as fishing
You can no longer gift Nemesis or Heracles while they are shopping (they’re busy…)
Various fixes and improvements to various events

Music & SFX

Added several new music pieces to accompany the newly-added Region and all its splendors
You now can play most of the game’s instrumental music tracks in the Crossroads, once you unlock them after the Incantation Summoning of Musical Rhapsody
Added all-new sound effects for the new weapon, some Boons of Hephaestus, and more
Improved audio feedback for various other Boons, Aspects, interactions, and abilities
Updated sound effects for using Spectral Gates between ships in the Rift of Thessaly
Adjusted effect on Melinoë’s voice after choosing Circe’s Word of Smaller Stature or Greater Girth
Updated sound effect for picking up after Eris
Improvements to audio mix and other minor changes

Menus & UI

Updated Main Menu to reflect this Major Update
Updated how the contents of the Silver Pool are organized
Updated each weapon’s Aspects menu, splitting progress between Underworld and Surface routes
Updated Archived Trivia screen with more at-a-glance data and other improvements
Updated Past Deeds screen in various ways; Chaos Trials no longer count as losses; all Keepsakes used each night now are listed
As part of the above changes, clear times for the Surface route are reset now that it is extended
Longer subtitles now scroll automatically, leaving room for another subtitle when needed
Improved handling of cases when you have unusually many Boons and upgrades in the Boon Info menu
Rearranged Seeds and Plants in the Inventory menu
Added alternate icon for when you have sufficient resources tracked with a Forget-Me-Not
Added Location Reward preview icons when Vow of Forfeit (formerly Bitterness) will take effect
Added contextual tutorial about upgrading Animal Familiars and reviewing their upgrades
Improved feedback on some menus whose listings extend to additional pages
Reduced flashing when selling resources at the Wretched Broker
Removed extraneous Familiar UI from the right-hand side of the in-game HUD
Improved usability of Settings menu and its sub-menus
Reorganized some settings in the Gameplay and Accessibility menus
Improved scrolling in Recent Remarks and Credits menus
Various other fixes and improvements

Settings

Dash At Cursor: new! Alternate way to Dash using mouse-and-keyboard input
Auto-Sprint: new! Maintain your Sprint without having to press-and-hold
Reticle Magnetism: new! Fine-tune the degree to which aimed abilities stick to foes

Miscellaneous

A certain companion now helps you redecorate the Crossroads after a certain point
Ever-merciful Chronos no longer forcibly un-pauses the game during your fight, though will still let you know what he thinks in such situations
The Victory Screen now appears if you successfully clear the Surface route, not just the Underworld
Added Book of Shadows entries for new characters, foes, and more
Adjusted Book of Shadows relationship gauges and hints from Empath’s Intuition (Cauldron)
Improved presentation for starting, failing, and clearing Chaos Trials
At the Wretched Broker, you now can press-and-hold to rapidly sell or recycle
Adjusted placements of emotive animations on various character portraits
While brooding over the family portrait in the Crossroads, you may now snap out of it even sooner
Improved presentation when Nemesis and Heracles suddenly exit after their Encounters
If a Fishing Point is present, you now can fish prior to talking to Arachne or other characters
Adjusted presentation when Heracles or Icarus make an appearance
Schelemeus now can withstand more punishment before falling to pieces
Hecate now teaches how to access Aspects of the Nocturnal Arms in the Crossroads, not just the edge of Erebus, if you’ve been focused on the Surface route
Improved tutorials for some Hexes
Adjusted small visual continuity details in the Hades Flashback
Minor adjustments to default settings for Dead Zone and similar
Added compatibility and bookmarking for Steam’s Game Recording feature
Updated Credits, including dozens of musicians who contributed to our music for the new Region
Updated Development Roadmap to reflect our progress and plans for the next Major Update
Updates and fixes to translations in all languages
Improved error messaging we hope no one will ever see
Made further optimizations to save files

Hades 2 Just Got Its First Update in Months (and It’s a Big One)