Want to know all there is to know about Arcana Cards in Hades 2? Then you've come to the right place.
The sequel to Supergiant Games' massive 2020 indie hit is out in early access, with PC players (via Steam) getting to enjoy a brand-new adventure with Melinoe, this game's protagonist, who uses Arcana Cards to give herself a boost before venturing into the depths of the underworld.
In this guide, we'll give you the full list of Arcana Cards available, how to get each, and the best ones to bring in your runs. Before we dive in, we recommend you also check out how to get tears in Hades 2.
Best Hades 2 Arcana Cards
Before we give you the full list, we're going to assume you're somewhat familiar with them and are simply looking for recommendations regarding which ones to choose.
Considering you can take up to three or four depending on their cost early on, not counting those that require specific conditions to be met, these are our recommendations.
Do keep in mind these Arcana Cards can be upgraded, we'll have a guide breaking down the process so stay tuned for that one as well. You can also upgrade your grasp, letting you carry more and more as you progress through the game.
The Wayward Son
- Cost one (1) grasp: After you exit a location restore +2 HP or twice if you have 30% HP or less
For survivability, this is a great Arcana Card to have in your arsenal, especially for the cost.
While it may not seem like much, if you manage to finish a couple of encounters without getting hit or get lucky to find a fountain or NPC, that small healing will stack and before you know it, you'll have a decent gain in HP.
The Titan
- Cost two (2) grasp: Gain 20HP and 20 Magick
Not much to it other than giving you more wiggle room early on during your runs. That extra 20HP might give you the chance to skip a health increase and go for a boon instead.
Eternity
- Cost four (4) grasp: Set forth each night with one Death Defiance
If you've played the first Hades, then you know how important it is to have a Death Defiance on deck. If not, then allow us to put it bluntly - it's an extra life.
Initially, the Death Defiance will return you back to the fray with 40% HP and Magick, although during your runs you may find modifiers that add some interesting twists to this card. You can only use it one time per run.
One more thing - you can buy a Death Defiance restoration in Charon's Wells, not directly at his shop though. It costs 200 Gold, so we recommend you stack up on money if you spend your Death Defiance, also, get those Wells up and running as soon as you can.
Excellence
- Cost five (5) grasp: Any Boons you are offered have 30% chance to be improved to Rare
Investing in the Arcana may seem expensive, but it is definitely worth it. The boost your boons receive when going from Common to Rare is significant and not to be underestimated. With a 30% chance of the boons being Rare, it's a smart investment, especially when it's paired with an upgraded keepsake.
This combination can potentially kick off a run with an Epic boon, making it a valuable strategy.
The Furies
- Cost two (2) grasp: Deal 20% damage to foes in your Casts
Our final pick as best Arcana Cards to use in Hades 2 is a bit situational but might definitely help you if you're trying to go for a cast build. Unlike Hades 1, the cast in this game is always a portal that can be upgraded in a variety of ways, potentially becoming a key tool in your arsenal.
Adding a strong 20% attack boost to enemies within your cast is welcomed and you can pair this with The Moon card that adds an extra 50 DPS to your Omega casts on detonation.
An honourable mention to cards that cost 0 but require a specific condition named Awakening. These are the ones you need to keep in mind:
- The Centaur. Awakening: Activate cards that use one through five grasp. After five locations, you gain three HP and Magick
- The Queen. Awakening: Activate no more than two cards than use the same amount of grasp. Any Boons you are offered have a 6% chance of being a Duo (when possible)
All Hades 2 Arcana Cards
While those are our general recommendations, the fun of Hades 2 is experimenting with buildcrafting by yourself. So if you're early on in your journey, these are all Arcana Cards available in Hades 2 at the moment:
Card number | Name | How to unlock | Grasp cost | Ability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
I | The Sorceress | 1 Ash | 1 | While you Channel your Omega Moves, everything moves slower for 2 seconds. |
II | The Wayward Son | 4 Ashes | 1 | After you exit a Location, restore 2 health or twice that if you have no more than 30% health. |
III | The Huntress | 10 Ashes | 3 | While you have less than 100% Magick, your Attack and Special deal +30% damage. |
IV | Death | 13 Ashes | 3 | Your Omega Moves have a 3% chance to deal critical damage. |
V | The Messenger | 20 Ashes | 0 | You have a +6% chance to Dodge. |
VI | The Furies | 3 Ashes | 2 | Deal +20% damage to foes in your Casts. |
VII | The Titan | 7 Ashes | 2 | Gain +20 health and +20 Magick. |
VIII | The Unseen | 20 Ashes | 5 | Restore 2 Magick every 1 second. |
IX | Night | 25 Ashes | 4 | Your Hex also charges up automatically as you used 2 Magick every 1 second. |
X | The Lovers | 30 Ashes | 2 | In Guardian Encounters, you take 0 damage the first time you are hit. |
XI | The Swift Runner | 10 Ashes | 1 | Your Sprint is +20% faster. |
XII | Eternity | 20 Ashes | 4 | Set forth each night with 1 Death Defiance. |
XIII | The Centaur | 25 Ashes, 1 Cinder | 0 | After every 5 locations, gain +3 health and Magick. |
XIV | The Moon | 30 Ashes | 3 | Your Omega Cast has +50 power whenever it detonates. |
XV | Strength | 35 Ashes | 5 | While you have no more than 30% health, you take -30% damage and deal +30%. |
XVI | The Fates | 15 Ashes | 3 | Set forth each night with one Change of Fate. You can Alter Location Rewards. |
XVII | The Boatman | 25 Ashes | 5 | Set Forth each night with +200 Coins. |
XVIII | Origination | 30 Ashes | 3 | Deal +25% damage to foes afflicted with at least 2 Curse effects. |
XIX | Excellence | 35 Ashes | 5 | Any Boons you are offered have a +30% chance to be improved to Rare. |
XX | The Queen | 40 Ashes, 1 Tear | 0 | Any Boons you are offered have a +6% chance to be a Duo. |
XXI | The Seer | 20 Ashes, 1 Wool | 0 | Set forth each night with a +2 Change of Fate. |
XXII | The Champions | 30 Ashes | 4 | Set forth each night with 1 Change of Fate. You can alter Boons and certain other choices. |
XXIII | The Artificer | 20 Ashes | 6 | Set forth each night with 1 chance to turn any Minor Find into a random Major Find. |
XXIV | Divinity | 40 Ashes, 1 Golden Apple | 0 | Any Boons you are offered have a +10% chance to be improved to Epic. |
XXV | Judgement | 50 Ashes, 1 Zodiac Sand | 0 | After you vanquish a Guardian, activate 3 random inactive Arcana Cards. |
What are Arcana Cards in Hades 2?
In essence, Arcana Cards are special modifiers that can help you out during a run in Hades 2. As we've mentioned, most can be simple to understand and directly impact things like HP, Magick, and the amount of damage you can do or take.
Others are a bit more involved and only until you've become an experienced Hades 2 player you'll come to understand their importance, such as the Arcana Cards that focus on making your boons of a better quality.
And that's it. We have plenty of more content for you to enjoy, including our guide to help you pick the best weapons in Hades 2 and how to unlock weapon aspects.