Cheats & Secrets

Cheats & Secrets

Hades does not feature traditional cheat codes, console commands, or unlock codes (e.g., entering a button sequence or typing a password). Supergiant Games designed the game to be learned through repeated runs, with all content unlockable through normal progression. However, the game is packed with developer-intended secrets, hidden features, Easter eggs, and exploit-safe hidden content. This guide covers every known secret, from hidden weapon aspects to secret dialogue, fishing spots, and the game’s most cryptic Easter eggs.

No Cheats, But These Are Better

If you’re looking for a way to make the game easier or bypass content, God Mode is the official accessibility aid (not a cheat – it’s a toggle in the settings). It grants increasing damage resistance each time you die. There is no penalty for using it, and you can toggle it on/off at any time. For a harder challenge, Hell Mode is available at the start of a new save file – it adds permanent Pact of Punishment conditions.

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1. Secret Weapon Aspects

Each of the six Infernal Arms has a hidden secret aspect that requires fulfilling specific criteria. These are among the most coveted secrets in the game.

Important: You must have at least 5 Titan Blood spent on other aspects of the same weapon before the secret aspect can be revealed.

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2. Secret Boss: >!Charon!<

If you attack Charon while he’s on his shop boat in the middle of a run, he will become hostile and fight you. This is a dangerous secret boss. Beating him grants a massive amount of gold and a rare item (a Legendary Boon or Duo Boon from your current region). To trigger it:

1. Enter a shop room (marked with a bag of coin icon on the map).
2. Stand next to Charon and press your attack button repeatedly until your weapon hits him.
3. He will roar, and the battle begins.

> Note: He hits very hard and uses area attacks. Use the pillars for cover. Victory rewards you with free items from the shop plus a special bag of gold. You can do this multiple times per save file, but it becomes harder if you anger him often.

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3. Hidden Fishing Spots

Fishing is a secret mechanic unlocked after you purchase the Rod of Fishing from the House Contractor for 1 Diamond. After that, during runs, you may see shimmering circles in water or lava pools. Cast your line (interact button) and wait for the bobber to fully submerge before pressing the button again to catch a fish. Different fish give rewards like gems, darkness, nectar, or even rare items. Fishing can also trigger unique dialogue with NPCs.

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4. The “True” Ending and Epilogue

After your first 10 successful escapes (clearing the final boss), the credits roll. But there is a true ending (epilogue) that requires:

• Reach maximum relationship hearts with Persephone (10 hearts, requires multiple visits after the final boss).


• Reach maximum relationship hearts with Hades (10 hearts, requires giving him Nectar and talking after each escape).


• Complete the “The Queen’s Plan” chain of events (triggered by giving Persephone an Ambrosia after she returns to the Underworld).


• After all that, a final scene with the Olympians and the House of Hades concludes the story. You’re shown a final image of the revived family.


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5. The Fated List of Minor Prophecies – A Book of Secrets



Unlocked after your first escape attempt by speaking to Nyx and purchasing the Fated List from the House Contractor for 1 Diamond. This book contains hidden prophecies that guide you to secret aspects, duo boons, legendary boons, and other hidden content. Completing prophecies rewards Ambrosia and Titan Blood. It effectively acts as an in-game hint system for secrets.

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6. Secret Keepsakes and Companions




• Pom Blossom (Keepsake from Persephone): Unlocked after gifting her Nectar and completing the main story. It levels up your boons randomly every few chambers.


• Sigil of the Dead (Keepsake from Hades): Unlocked after maxing relationship with Hades (requires Ambrosia). It boosts the Call gauge and grants a special Call effect.


• Companions (Summonables): These are secret items that let you call NPC friends during battle. Each requires a maxed relationship (10 hearts) with that character and an Ambrosia gift. Companions include:

- >!Companion Antos (Thanatos)!<
- >!Companion Battie (Megaera)!<
- >!Companion Rib (Skelly)!<
- >!Companion Shady (Sisyphus)!<
- >!Companion Fidi (Dusa)!<
- >!Companion Mort (Hypnos)!<
- >!Companion Lydie (Achilles)!<

Use these by pressing the Companion button (default: 1 on keyboard/hold L1 on controller) during combat. They have cooldowns and deal significant damage or provide buffs.

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7. Easter Eggs & Hidden References




• Skelly’s theme: The first training dummy has voice lines that reference other Supergiant games (e.g., “Transistor” and “Bastion”).


• Zagreus’s room: The painting in his room changes based on your relationships (e.g., a portrait of Megaera or Thanatos).


• Orpheus and Eurydice: If you reunite them by completing secondary quests, they will sing a duet in the House of Hades.


• The Chaos Gate: Rarely, a Chaos Gate may appear with the message “This gate is a lie” – it leads to a room that is empty but gives a free boon later.


• Developer Room: There is no official developer room, but the game’s files contain unused content (e.g., cut dialogue, early weapon designs). These are not accessible in normal play.


• “Hades” references in other media: Characters mention “the dog” (Cerberus) being fed, and Zagreus’s many deaths are acknowledged by Hypnos with increasing sarcasm.


• Secret achievement/trophy: “Is This What They Call a Hero?” – complete a run using only the Arthur aspect’s special attack (the aura).


• The “Extreme Measures” Pact: At high heat levels, each boss gains new, more difficult attack patterns. Some are secret variations (e.g., Theseus and Asterius with flaming chariots).


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8. Save File Manipulation (for PC users)



While not an intended cheat, you can back up, edit, or restore save files. The saves are located at:

• Windows: `%userprofile%\Documents\Saved Games\Hades`


• Steam: `%localappdata%\Hades` (sometimes)


Editing the save files directly (e.g., modifying currency amounts or unlocking items) is possible but unsupported and can break the game. Use only for backup purposes. The game uses a binary format; there are third-party editors, but they are not endorsed.

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9. Hidden Dialogue & Story Branches



Many secrets are hidden in dialogue trees. To see all lines:

• Give Nectar to every NPC until max hearts.


• Speak to NPCs after every successful run and after certain events (e.g., completing a prophecy or unlocking a weapon aspect).


• Talk to Achilles about Patroclus multiple times to unlock the “Companion Lydie” (their companion).


• Patroculus (in Elysium) will eventually offer a special boon (not a secret, but rare).


• Nyx will reveal that she is your true mother if you talk to her enough times after the main story.

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10. The “Show Your Work” Cheats (Developer-Documented)

Supergiant Games has stated that there are no hidden cheat codes in the game. However, they included a hidden dev comment in the code: you can view a text file in the game’s directory called “debug_log.txt” during development. This is not present in the retail version. Any cheat claims online (e.g., holding certain buttons at the title screen) are false.

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Summary of Legitimate Hidden Content

Remember: The real secrets of Hades are discovered through persistent exploration and relationship building. No shortcuts needed.