Hades 2 introduces the mythical new zone, Mount Olympus, with the recent “Olympic Update.” Players can now explore the pantheon’s realm, meeting new deities, collecting clever new Keepsakes and Boons, and facing menacing bosses. Reaching Olympus isn’t an easy task, though. There is a lot of legwork involved and things to master.
This guide will walk you through each step to help you ascend to Olympus, starting from unlocking the Surface and dealing with its dreaded curse to battling your way through tough bosses. Fair warning: story spoilers are ahead, so read on only if you’re ready for them!
Step 1: Unlocking the Surface
Your journey to Olympus begins with unlocking the Surface. Initially, this area is sealed, so don’t be surprised if you can’t enter immediately. You must first meet Hermes on one of your outings, during which he informs you of the plight on the surface.
With this information, progress and talk to Hecate on two separate occasions. You only have to hear her initial dialogue; defeating her is unnecessary. Completing this step will initiate the quest to access the Cauldron in the Crossroads, where you can unlock the Permeation of Witching-Wards incantation.
This incantation is the key to breaking the barrier to the Surface, but first, you’ll need to gather a few essential items.
Although you need a few ingredients to craft this incantation at the Cauldron. Use the Forget-Me-Not option at the Cauldron to track this task and highlight the resources needed. Here’s what you need for the incantation:
- 3x Molly: You can find this yellow plant scattered throughout Erebus. It’s relatively common, so be on the lookout as you explore the area. You can pluck it with your bare hands, and no special tools are needed.
- 1x Cinder: This item is dropped exclusively by beating Headmistress Hecate. Can be acquired repeatedly with each defeat.
- 1x Shadow: This special material can only be crafted with the Shadow Extraction Alchemy from the Cauldron. For that, you need additional items:
- 30x Ash – A common room clearing reward. Can be purchased as well.
- 30x Psyche – Another standard room-clearing reward. It can also be purchased. Or you can mine from Lost Shades it using the Tablet of Peace gathering tool.
- 3x Fate Fabric – Awarded for completing assignments from the Fated List of Minor Prophecies, like the Witch of the Crossroads task provides 1 Fate Fabric. There are other ways to get it, too. The most common approach is to buy it from the Wrteched Broker for 60 Bones each.
Take these items back to the Cauldron and perform the Shadow Extraction Alchemy to get your hands on one piece of Shadow.
Once you’ve collected these items, perform the Permeation of Witching-Wards incantation. This spell removes the magical ward that blocked the Surface.
Step 2: Removing the Surface’s Curse
The Surface is now accessible, but surviving it is another story. When you finally visit the Surface, a curse begins sapping your HP. This curse makes exploring this new area nearly impossible without finding a way to counteract it.
To lift this health-draining curse, you’ll need to perform another incantation known as Unraveling a Fateful Bond. Like the Permeation of Witching-Wards, Unraveling a Fateful Bond requires some special materials and sub-steps.
Unlock Silver Spade
Before we begin the actual steps, you must unlock the Silver Spade. This special gathering tool will help you collect seeds from Digging Spots strewn around the world. The seeds are needed to grow plants in the garden at the hub, and the plants reward the unique materials needed for the coming incantation.
This tool is unlocked right after you complete the early Night’s Craftwork incantation at the Cauldron. You only need 1x Moly to conduct this incantation. This will unlock the Silver Pool at the Crossroads. From here you can choose to take the Silver Spade with you on your next runs.
Summon Moros at the Crossroads
Your next box to tick is to summon Moros, Doom Incarnate, who will appear at the Crossroads permanently after you follow a few specific steps.
Unlike other characters, Moros doesn’t just pop up randomly from the start. To meet him for the first time, you’ll need to perform the Fated Intervention Incantation. For this, you need the following items:
- 1x Silver – Choose the Crescent Pick gathering tool from the Crossroads and mine the Silver Nodes in Erebus.
- 2x Ashes
- 2x Moly
Once you have all the materials, complete the incantation at the Cauldron. With that done, you have to begin a run and die for Moros to appear at the Crossroads. When he finally shows, he hands you the Fated List of Minor Prophecies before he disappears back into the shadows.
You must summon him again, but this time, you must do so by fulfilling one of the prophecies. Select the Doom Harbinger prophecy from the Fated List, which will unlock a new Cauldron incantation, Doomed Beckoning. As with any Incantation, you need some materials to cast it:
- 3x Fated Fabric
- 1x Nightshade – Gathering Nightshade requires a bit more effort. First, use the Silver Spade to dig up Nightshade Seeds in Erebus. Then, perform the Flourishing Soil incantation to create two Soil Plots. Plant the Nightshade Seeds, complete a few runs or 5 Whiles, and return to collect your fully grown Nightshade.
Once you’ve got that sorted, perform the incantation at the Cauldron, and go on another run and you must die again. Moros will return to the Crossroads and this time, Melinoe invites him to join her at the Crossroads, and he’ll accept, making him a permanent resident at the hub right next to the Fated List.
Fulfilling the Unraveling a Fateful Bond Incantation
After the previous step is done, go to the Surface and then speak with Moros. Following this encounter, you’ll gain access to the Unraveling a Fateful Bond incantation, which allows you to survive on the Surface without the constant HP drain.
To perform the incantation, you’ll need the following materials:
- 2x Moss: Found on the Surface’s City of Ephyra. You’ll need to gather it quickly, as the curse drains your HP fast. You don’t have to explore the area much, just enough to collect Moss before the curse claims you. You might have to retry it a couple of times. It can be gathered by hand with no tools necessary.
- 2x Lotus: This material can be found in the Oceanus zone. It’s a commonly occurring plant, so it shouldn’t be too difficult to find. There is no need for any tools; can be plucked by hand.
- 2x Nightshade
- 2x Thalamus: Thalamus must also be cultivated, and you’ll need to find Origin Seeds from the Digging Spot in the Chaos realm to grow it. The chance of finding one is lower in this case, so get ready for a bit of a grind. Once you have the seeds, plant them in the Crossroads. They’ll yield the Thalamus you need after some time (7 Whiles).
After collecting all these materials, you can perform the Unraveling a Fateful Bond incantation at the Cauldron. This spell lifts the curse on the Surface, allowing you to explore the area without any HP drain and bringing you even closer to Olympus.
Step 3: Making Your Way to Olympus
With the Surface curse lifted, it’s time to journey to Olympus! To get there, you’ll need to pass through two intermediate levels: the City of Ephyra and the Rift of Thessaly.
City of Ephyra
The City of Ephyra is packed with rooms containing a pylon that you’ll need to destroy to open the gate blocking your path to the next level. Destroying a pylon summons spirits that chase after enemies, making the battles a bit easier for you.
There are a total of six pylons in the City of Ephyra that need to be destroyed before you can advance, so take the time to locate and destroy each one. There are more rooms than pylons; once you destroy them all, the rest will be locked. Make sure to explore all of them so that you don’t miss out on valuable goodies.
After you’ve taken out all six pylons, you’ll face Polyphemus, the Infamous Cyclops, in a boss battle. Polyphemus is powerful, so be ready for a challenging fight.
Rift of Thessaly
After the City of Ephyra, you’ll enter the Rift of Thessaly, a more straightforward but equally intense zone. Here, you’ll navigate through Poseidon’s fleet, pushing past enemies and obstacles until you reach the area’s boss, Eris, Strife Incarnate.
Eris is a formidable foe who moves quickly, so you’ll need to stay on the move to avoid her attacks. Due to her relentless nature, finding an opening to counterattack is harder to come by. Make sure you strike at the right time and weave powerful combos together to make the most out of those short windows.
Aside from Eris, there’s also a mini-boss named Charybdis in this zone. While Charybdis isn’t as tough as Eris, the fight is still challenging. After defeating both Polyphemus and Eris, you’ll unlock the path to Olympus.
Step 4: Exploring Olympus
You’ve finally made it to Mount Olympus, but the adventure doesn’t end here. Olympus is a full-fledged biome like the previous ones, filled with new characters, deities, and bosses to encounter. There’s a wealth of new Keepsakes, Boons, and rare materials to discover as well.
The deities you meet in Olympus can provide you with powerful Boons, which can significantly alter your gameplay and give you an edge in the brutal battles that await you at the end of the journey.
Among the new challenges in Olympus, you’ll face Prometheus, the Titan of Foresight. Prometheus is a demanding boss who will put your skills to the test. Be prepared to adapt your strategy as you learn his attack patterns and capitalize on any openings he leaves.
However, for now, Prometheus marks the furthest point you can reach in Olympus and Hades 2. Future updates to the game may expand this zone, revealing even more mysteries and powerful enemies to conquer.
Reaching Olympus in Hades 2 is no small feat. From unlocking the Surface to breaking curses and battling fierce bosses, every step brings you closer to the ultimate challenge. The path to Olympus is long and arduous, but with determination and a bit of labor, you can rise through the ranks of the Underworld and claim your place among the gods.