Searching for the best weapons in Hades 2? To truly conquer the dark depths of Erebus and face off against Chronos, arming yourself with the perfect weapon for your combat style is essential. While new Nocturnal Arms can be forged at the Crossroads, deciding which ones are worth your precious raw materials can be a challenge.
Every weapon in Hades 2 offers unique advantages, but we’ve rigorously tested each one against the toughest bosses to bring you a definitive ranking. While even lower-tier weapons can become formidable with the right divine boons, starting with a top-tier choice significantly boosts your chances for a successful run in this compelling roguelike adventure. Our Hades 2 weapon tier list is designed to guide you to victory.
[Image: Melinoë wielding a Hades 2 weapon]
Hades 2 Weapons Tier List
Here’s our breakdown of all the Nocturnal Arms in Hades 2, ranked from the most formidable to the less optimal:
| Tier | Weapon |
| S | Argent Skull |
| A | Sister Blades |
| B | Witch’s Staff, Moonstone Axe |
| C | Black Coat, Umbral Flames |
Explore Melinoë’s Full Arsenal
Let’s dive deeper into each of Melinoë’s Nocturnal Arms, exploring their strengths, weaknesses, and ideal playstyles.
Argent Skull
The Argent Skull, known as Revaal, isn’t as intuitive as some other melee options, but its sheer power is undeniable. This explosive grenade launcher allows you to unleash devastating damage from a safe distance. While you do need to recover spent ammunition, its unique Special ability includes a forward dash, making ammo retrieval seamless. Prioritize upgrades that boost its ammunition capacity and expand the shockwave’s blast radius for maximum impact.
Sister Blades
Lim and Oros, or the Sister Blades, are a whirlwind of swift attacks, making them a top contender in Hades 2’s arsenal. Their incredible speed allows you to tear through weaker foes, complemented by a natural dodge-and-reposition mechanic perfect for precise backstabs. When facing large groups, maintain your mobility and use their Special attack to chip away at enemies from a safer range.
Witch’s Staff
Descura, the Witch’s Staff, serves as Melinoë’s initial weapon and is surprisingly effective. Similar to the Sister Blades, its basic attack is quick and delivers respectable damage. Its Special attack offers a longer-range option, making it a versatile choice for various combat scenarios. Given the Witch’s Staff’s impressive area-of-effect capabilities for a melee weapon, focus on boons that enhance crowd control and multi-target damage.
Moonstone Axe
Zorephet, the Moonstone Axe, is a formidable, heavy-hitting weapon that rewards patient and precise play. Its powerful, forward-focused attacks are exceptionally effective against large, single targets, while a built-in close-range area-of-effect (AoE) attack provides some crowd control. This weapon shines in the hands of players who master timing their strikes, but its slower pace can leave you vulnerable when swarmed by fast-moving enemies.
Black Coat
Xinth, the Black Coat, is Hades 2’s ultimate melee weapon, allowing Melinoë to fight bare-handed. It retains the powerful block ability previously associated with the Moonstone Axe during early access, enabling you to deflect close-range attacks and retaliate with a devastating charged blast. While offering immense potential, this weapon demands impeccable timing and a deep understanding of enemy attack patterns. A single misstep can lead to significant damage. It’s a high-risk, high-reward option that often relies heavily on supportive boons to truly shine.
Umbral Flames
Ygnium, or the Umbral Flames, is a unique weapon designed for Magick-focused players who prefer to engage from a distance. Its rapid-fire projectiles deliver modest individual damage but compensate with a high fire rate and extended range. Keep in mind that the Umbral Flames are exceptionally Magick-hungry, more so than any other weapon. However, the ability to attack while moving, combined with close-range options in its Special, offers excellent defensive capabilities against encroaching foes.
[Image: An overview of all Hades 2 weapons]
Unlocking New Nocturnal Arms
New weapons become available in the Training Grounds, a special area within the Crossroads. Simply approach the central altar at the Silver Pool to view a full list of available weapons and the precise materials needed to forge them.
Here’s a quick guide to unlock every weapon in Hades 2:
- Witch’s Staff: Melinoë’s starting weapon.
- Sister Blades: Requires 1 Silver.
- Umbral Flames: Requires 3 Silver, 3 Cinder.
- Moonstone Axe: Requires 15 Silver.
- Argent Skull: Requires 1 Bronze, 2 G-Rock.
- Black Coat: Requires 2 Cinder, 2 Adamant.
[Image: Melinoë contemplating various weapon aspects]
Optimizing with Hades 2 Weapon Aspects
Weapon aspects introduce specialized variations of your Nocturnal Arms, each designed to complement specific playstyles. The right aspect can dramatically transform a weapon, amplifying its strengths or shoring up its weaknesses, potentially elevating even lower-tier options to formidable status.
These are the recommended aspects for each Hades 2 weapon:
- Argent Skull: Aspect of Medea
- Sister Blades: Aspect of Morrigan
- Witch’s Staff: Aspect of Anubis
- Moonstone Axe: Aspect of Nergal
- Black Coat: Aspect of Nyx
- Umbral Flames: Aspect of Moros
While choosing the best Hades 2 weapons is crucial, remember to pair them with powerful Boons to unlock truly devastating synergies. Keep an eye out for essential resources like Hades 2 Bronze to unlock your preferred Nocturnal Arms, and gather Hades 2 Poppy to empower your incantations. For those seeking an ultimate test of skill, the Hades 2 Chaos Trials present a formidable challenge.