Hades 2 has now been available for a week, not counting its early access period. As a day-one early access player, I deliberately limited my playtime leading up to the full release to keep some surprises intact. Even with extensive experience, I wouldn’t confidently declare it a superior game to its predecessor, but it’s no shock that it’s currently one of the year’s top-rated titles. My opinion, however, might just shift, as the game’s first hotfix specifically targets my most disliked adversary: the Phantom.
This mini-boss, found in the Fields of Mourning, is incredibly frustrating. It constantly teleports around, and its melee attacks chip away at your vital health, negating all the careful damage you’ve managed to inflict.
I always try to avoid confronting the Phantom, but the situation becomes even worse if you rely on summoned allies. Some players enjoy navigating Hades 2 by using hexes that allow them to call companions to their aid. Given the game’s roguelike nature, you’ll need to enhance these allies with boons as you progress, but typically, they serve as a valuable addition to your combat arsenal.
However, when facing the Phantom, these summoned friends proved to be more of a liability than an advantage, as the mini-boss could drain their life just as easily as yours. This turned an otherwise unremarkable mini-boss into my ultimate arch-nemesis, providing ample reason to bypass the fight whenever possible.
Thankfully, Hades 2’s inaugural hotfix since its full launch has addressed this issue. Likely a bug, this adjustment makes the Phantom encounter considerably more manageable for players who favor summoner builds. The patch also resolves problems with the Gorgon Amulet, addresses script errors related to Hecate, and fixes a rare bug that could lead to an incorrect ending for the Chronos fight. I personally hadn’t encountered the Chronos bug, but I can only imagine how frustrating that would have been.
Hades 2 is currently available on Steam. You can review the complete patch notes for this hotfix here.
If these updates inspire you to embark on another run, ensure you’re well-prepared with the best Hades 2 boons and familiar with the Hades 2 Gods you’ll be relying on this time.
Discovered a particularly overpowered combination? Share your strategies and compare notes with fellow readers and staff in our community Discord server!