Character Skills

Character Skills Guide

Overview

In Hades, you play as Zagreus, the prince of the Underworld, who fights his way through the depths. All skills are based on your equipped Infernal Arm (weapon), its Aspect, and the Boons you collect from gods. This guide covers everything from basic moves to advanced synergies for every weapon aspect.

---

Core Skills (Zagreus Base)

These are the fundamental actions available regardless of weapon or boons.

#### Attack

• Default Input: Press the attack button (Y on Xbox, Triangle on PlayStation, X on Switch, Left Click on PC).


• Effect: A basic strike or shot specific to your weapon. Damage, range, and speed vary by weapon.


• Cooldown: None – can be chained into combos (up to 3–5 hits depending on weapon).


• Upgrades: Enhanced by boons (e.g., Divine Strike, Deadly Strike) and Daedalus Hammer upgrades (e.g., Explosive Return for Sword).


• Combos: Attack chains can be interrupted by Dashing. Combos often end with a slower but stronger final hit (e.g., Stygian Blade’s 3-hit combo).


• Synergies: Some boons trigger on attack hits (e.g., Zeus’s Lightning effects, Dionysus’s Hangover stacks).


• When to Use: Primary damage dealer for many builds. Use to clear trash mobs and build God Gauge.


#### Special

• Default Input: Press the special button (RB on Xbox, R1 on PlayStation, R on Switch, Right Click on PC).


• Effect: A unique weapon-specific secondary attack (e.g., shield throw, arrow volley, spin attack for spear).


• Cooldown: None, but may have animation lock or limited uses (e.g., Adamant Rail’s special has limited ammo before reload).


• Upgrades: Boosted by boons (e.g., Divine Flourish) and Daedalus Hammer upgrades (e.g., Chain Shot for Bow).


• Synergies: Often used for AoE damage, crowd control, or applying status effects. Some weapons (Shield) block during special.


• When to Use: Versatile – use for burst, poking, or setting up combos.


#### Cast

• Default Input: Press the cast button (LT on Xbox, L2 on PlayStation, L on Switch, F on PC).


• Effect: Fires a Bloodstone (base) or a projectil/effect granted by your Cast Boon (e.g., Athena’s Phalanx Shot, Dionysus’s Festive Fog).


• Cooldown: Bloodstones lodge in enemies or drop on the ground – you recover them by picking up or waiting. Maximum number of Bloodstones = 1 base, expandable via Chaos Boons and Well of Charon items (up to 5).


• Upgrades: Entirely replaced by Cast Boons. Some boons grant additional effects (e.g., Artemis casts home, Poseidon casts knockback).


• Synergies: Many builds revolve around cast damage (e.g., Hunting Blades duo boon). Cast can be used to trigger Privileged Status (two status effects) easily.


• When to Use: Fire at enemies when you have Bloodstones ready. Excellent for burst damage, especially with Duo Boons or Legendary Boons like Crystal Clarity.


#### Dash

• Default Input: Press the dash button (A on Xbox, X on PlayStation, B on Switch, Space on PC).


• Effect: Quick movement in a direction, providing invincibility frames (i-frames) for about 20-25 frames. Can be used to dodge attacks, reposition, or cancel attack animations.


• Cooldown: None, but cannot dash again until the current dash ends (about 0.3 second). Has a short recovery at the end.


• Upgrades: Dash Boons (e.g., Divine Dash from Athena) add damage, status effects, or area control. Also upgradeable with Hermes’s Greatest Reflex (additional dashes).


• Combos: Dash can be used mid-combo to cancel recovery frames – essential for safe offense. Dash-strike (attack+dash) is quicker than normal attack on some weapons.


• Synergies: Dash boons are extremely versatile. Athena’s Divine Dash reflects projectiles; Zeus’s Thunder Dash deals AoE lightning.


• When to Use: Constantly. Use to avoid damage, close distance, escape tight spots, and extend combos.


#### Call

• Default Input: Press the call button (RT on Xbox, R2 on PlayStation, ZL on Switch, Q on PC) when God Gauge is full.


• Effect: Unleashes the Divine Aid of your boon’s god (e.g., Poseidon’s Call causes huge waves, Artemis’s Call fires a massive arrow).


• Cooldown: God Gauge begins empty, gains pips (1-4) based on damage taken/dealt and certain boons. Once full, Call can be activated once; gauge resets to zero. Charge rate varies.


• Upgrades: Call boons improve damage and add effects. Some boons reduce gauge cost (e.g., Hermes’s Quick Reload) or allow partial activation (e.g., Zeus’s Call can be tapped for shorter burst).


• Synergies: Calls can be combined with other abilities. For example, use Artemis’s Call on a Boss for massive burst. Calls also benefit from Poms (level up).


• When to Use: Save for tough enemies, bosses, or clutches. Use at full gauge unless boon says otherwise (e.g., Zeus’s Call can be tapped repeatedly for continuous lightning).


---



Weapon Aspects & Unique Skills


Each of the six Infernal Arms has multiple Aspects that modify your Attack, Special, Cast, or Dash. Below are all aspects and their unique abilities.

#### 1. Stygian Blade


• Base: Attack - 3-hit combo, final hit heavier. Special - AoE spin attack around you.


• Aspect of Zagreus: +5~15% Attack/Special damage (upgrade via Titan Blood). No unique skill, just stat boost.


• Aspect of Nemesis: After Attack hits, next Special deals +50~150% bonus damage. Synergizes with high-crit builds (Artemis).


• Aspect of Poseidon: Cast becomes a projectile that can be launched repeatedly. When you recover Cast ammo (by touching it on ground), your next Attack or Special deals +50~150% bonus. Unique skill: Wave of the Soul – Press Cast to fire a wave that travels forward, can be manually aimed, and deals damage. Effectively replaces regular Cast. Cooldown: None per se, but uses Bloodstones. Best with Poseidon boons for knockback synergy.


• Aspect of Arthur: Turns Attack into a heavy, wide swing (slower but more range). Unique skill: Holy Slash – hold Attack to charge a devastating AOE strike that also creates a slow aura around you (reduces enemy speed). Special becomes a large, slow sword slam. Cooldown: Charge time ~1 second. Synergizes with slow boons (Aphrodite) and attack speed boosts.


Synergies: Nemesis favors crit builds. Poseidon works with cast/knockback builds. Arthur is a tanky, high-damage style.

#### 2. Heart-Seeking Bow


• Base: Attack - single arrow, hold to charge for longer range/damage. Special - volley of arrows upward that rain down.


• Aspect of Zagreus: +5~15% Attack/Special damage.


• Aspect of Chiron: After Special hits, subsequent Attack shots home in on that target (up to 4+ shots). Transforms attack into a rapid-fire power-shot. Unique passive: Pinpoint Volley – attack projectiles lock onto the last enemy hit by Special.


• Aspect of Hera: Your Cast lodges into the bow, allowing you to shoot it as an arrow. The cast effect triggers on enemy hit. Unique skill: Concussive Shot – fire a cast-infused arrow. Cooldown: None; uses Bloodstones. Best with cast builds (Dionysus Fog, Aphrodite Full Bounty).


• Aspect of Rama: Attack becomes a multishot (3 arrows per shot). Special creates a large, slow-moving blast that grows when enemies hit. Unique skill: Shared Suffering – enemies hit by the blast are linked, taking damage when you hit any of them. Synergizes with area damage and status effects.


Chiron is excellent for stacking statuses (e.g., Hangover with Dionysus on Special, Attack with Demeter for Chill). Hera dominates cast builds. Rama is great for crowd control.

#### 3. Shield of Chaos


• Base: Attack - Shield bash combo, final hit large shield slam. Special - throw the shield (boomerang) that returns. Hold attack to block (reduces damage).


• Aspect of Zagreus: +5~15% Attack/Special damage.


• Aspect of Chaos: After Bull Rush (hold attack to charge), you gain +20~40% damage on next 8 Attacks. Special becomes a spinning shield that circles you. Unique skill: Rush for Damage – Bull Rush now leaves behind a damaging rift. Cooldown: Bull Rush requires ~1 second charge. Good for aggressive play.


• Aspect of Zeus: Your Special becomes a rotating shield that orbits you, dealing continuous damage. Activating Special again (while orbit is active) sends it forward as a projectile, and it returns. Unique skill: Blitz Disc – press Special to throw shield; it stays active for several seconds. You can recall it early. No cooldown on recall. Synergizes with Zeus boons and status effects.


• Aspect of Beowulf: Your Cast becomes a Bloodstone shot that can be loaded into the shield. While loaded, Bull Rush adds 1~3 additional projectiles per Bloodstone loaded (up to 3). Unique skill: Maelstrom – after Bull Rush, release Cast to fire a spread of projectiles. Cooldown: Bull Rush. Best with cast buffs (e.g., Ice Wine).


Chaos is straightforward damage. Zeus provides great sustained DPS (especially with Athena on Attack for reflect). Beowulf is one of the highest burst damage builds using cast combos.

#### 4. Eternal Spear


• Base: Attack - thrust combo (up to 4 hits, final hit big). Special - spin attack with knockback. Hold Attack for extended range (piercing).


• Aspect of Zagreus: +5~15% Attack/Special damage.


• Aspect of Achilles: After hitting with Special (spin), the next 1~4 casts deal +50~150% bonus damage. Also increases dash range. Unique skill: Warrior's Rage – Spin attack now also boosts move speed. Cooldown: Spin attack takes ~1 second charge. Excellent for cast builds (e.g., Hunting Blades).


• Aspect of Hades: Special becomes a larger, slower spin with increased damage and knockback. Hitting enemies with Special or Attack reduces the charge time of your next Special by 50% (stacks up to 75%). Unique skill: Punisher – after charging Special, your next Attack is a guaranteed critical hit. Cooldown: Charge reduction mechanic.


• Aspect of Guan Yu: Reduces your max HP by 70% but greatly increases the damage and range of your charged Attack. Your Special no longer knocks back; instead, it throws a small bouncing spear that deals low damage. Unique skill: Dragon's Flourish – hold Attack to perform a wide sweeping slash that heals you for 2% of damage dealt. Also heals 1 HP per hit from your charged attack. High risk, high reward. Cooldown: None. Synergizes with attack speed and life recovery (e.g., Athena or Aphrodite boons).


Achilles is a top-tier cast weapon. Hades is crit-focused. Guan Yu requires careful play but can outheal damage with good positioning.

#### 5. Twin Fists of Malphon


• Base: Attack - rapid punch combo (up to 4 hits). Special - lunging uppercut. Dash - can trigger a special dash attack (fast).


• Aspect of Zagreus: +5~15% Attack/Special damage.


• Aspect of Talos: Your Special pulls enemies toward you (like a magnetic hook). Unique skill: Magnetic Cutter – press Special to strike from range and yank enemies in. Cooldown: ~1 second. Synergizes with area damage and melee builds.


• Aspect of Demeter: Attack hits lower enemy speed and stacks a debuff (up to 10 stacks, each reduces speed by 3%). At full stacks, enemies are stunned for a moment. Unique skill: Chill Touch – attacks apply a 4% slow per hit, capping at 40%. Great for control.


• Aspect of Gilgamesh: Attack becomes a 5-hit combo with increased range and knockback on final hit. Dash becomes a longer dash with damage reduction (20%). Special is a quick double uppercut. Unique skill: Hyper Sprint – holding dash makes you speed up and become damage resistant for a moment. Cooldown: None. Synergizes with dash boons and mobility.


Talos is excellent for grouping enemies. Demeter is a control machine. Gilgamesh is highly mobile and tanky.

#### 6. Adamant Rail


• Base: Attack - rapid fire bullets (automatic), overheats if fired too long (overheat meter). Special - lob a grenade that explodes after a delay (2 seconds). Reload button (trigger) refills magazine (base 12 shots).


• Aspect of Zagreus: +5~15% Attack/Special damage.


• Aspect of Eris: After reloading, your next 3~6 Attacks deal +40~100% bonus damage and create a damaging shockwave around you. Unique skill: Shockwave – bomb explosion also fires a shockwave. Cooldown: Reload takes ~1.5 seconds. Very high burst.


• Aspect of Hestia: Your Attack is a single powerful shot that consumes the entire magazine but deals massive damage (450 base + scaling). Special becomes a faster, weaker grenade. Unique skill: Last Shot – press Attack when magazine is empty to fire a high-damage rocket. Cooldown: Reload required. Synergizes with attack damage boons (Aphrodite, Artemis).


• Aspect of Lucifer: Your Attack fires a continuous beam that pierces enemies and doesn't overheat (uses ammunition differently). Special becomes a floating bomb that detonates when you attack near it (chain reaction). Unique skill: Beam of Light – hold Attack to sustain a laser beam that costs ammo slowly. Cooldown: None, but ammo management is key. Works well with Zeus boons (chain lightning) and Ares (Doom).

Eris is versatile and powerful. Hestia is a sniper playstyle. Lucifer is unique and requires specific boon support.

---

Daedalus Hammer Upgrades (Skill Modifications)

Daedalus Hammers appear 1-2 times per run (rarely 3) and drastically alter your weapon’s skills. Here are notable ones per weapon:

These upgrades often define your build strategy.

---

Boon Synergies & Recommended Builds

Below are suggested builds for each aspect, incorporating core skills and boon synergies. These are not exhaustive but give a solid foundation.

---

When to Use Each Skill – Tactical Summary

• Attack: Default. Use for DPS, status application, and building Call meter.


• Special: Use for burst or AoE. Many aspects rely on special for setup (Chiron, Achilles).


• Cast: Use for burst damage, especially with Duo Boons. Save for groups or bosses.


• Dash: Use always. Dodge attacks, reposition, cancel animations. Dash-strike is often faster than normal attack.


• Call: Use when facing dangerous enemies or bosses. Some calls (Poseidon) are great for clearing rooms, others (Artemis) for single-target.


• Dash-Strike: Quick attack just after dash – useful for hit-and-run.


• Reload (Rail): Essential for ammo management. Reload after emptying magazine to trigger Eris’s buff.


• Charge (Sword, Spear): Use for extra range or damage. Charge attacks can be interrupted – time carefully.


• Block (Shield): Hold attack to block most frontal damage. Use against projectiles or boss charges.

---

This guide covers every playable character (Zagreus with all weapon aspects) and their skills, including boon synergies and practical advice. Master your combos and dash timing to conquer the Underworld!