Alright everyone, gather ’round. I’ve been spending a good chunk of my time diving deep into Hades 2, just like many of you probably are. It’s got that same addictive loop as the first one, maybe even more so. Naturally, I started messing around with everything, trying to figure out what clicks.
One of the big things I focused on pretty early were those Daedalus Hammer upgrades. You know, those moments where you see that glowing anvil and your whole run can potentially change? Yeah, those. At first, I was just picking things that sounded powerful, kind of randomly, hoping for the best.
My Early Hammer Attempts
So, I started pretty clueless. Grabbed the Witch’s Staff mostly, because, well, it’s the first one. I’d see an upgrade like, maybe one that made the Omega Attack bigger, and think “Bigger is better, right?” Sometimes it worked, sometimes it just felt slow.
Then I moved onto the Sister Blades. Speed felt like the obvious way to go there. Anything that let me attack faster or dash-strike more? Sign me up. I had a few runs where I felt like a whirlwind, which was cool, but sometimes I felt like I wasn’t hitting hard enough, especially on bosses.
Starting to See Patterns
After a bunch of runs, dying, trying again (you know the drill), I started noticing some things. It wasn’t just about picking one strong upgrade, but how they worked together, and how they worked with the Boons I was getting from the Gods.
Here’s some stuff I found worked well for me:
- Witch’s Staff: I actually started leaning towards upgrades that boosted the basic Attack or Special, not just the Omega moves. There was one, I think it made the Special track enemies better? That felt really good for clearing crowded rooms without having to aim perfectly. Also, anything speeding up the basic shot helped keep distance.
- Sister Blades: Backstab damage boosts became my go-to if I saw them. Combined with attack speed increases, you can really melt enemies if you position right. The upgrade that lets you dash more after using your Special also felt super useful for staying mobile.
- Umbral Flames: These felt tricky at first. But then I got an upgrade that made the Omega Attack last longer, creating these big fire zones. Suddenly, controlling space became way easier. Combine that with Boons that add effects to the flames, like from Hestia or Demeter? Chef’s kiss. More projectiles for the basic attack was also a solid, reliable choice.
- Moonstone Axe: This thing is slow, so anything making the Attack or Special faster felt essential. The one that lets you charge the spin attack quicker? Yes, please. I also really liked an upgrade that made the Special pull enemies in before exploding. Great for grouping them up.
- Argent Skull: Ammo capacity felt like a big deal here. Getting an extra Skull or two made a huge difference in how long I could sustain damage. There was also one that made the Skull explode into more fragments on hit, which helped clear groups faster. It made the weapon feel less clunky, more explosive.
Putting It All Together
So now, when I see a Hammer, I don’t just grab the first shiny option. I pause. I think about the weapon I’m using. What are its weaknesses? What Boons do I have? Am I struggling with single targets or crowds?
For instance, if I’ve got a lot of Zeus boons on the Staff’s attack, maybe getting faster shots or multiple shots is better than powering up the Omega Special. If I’m using the Axe and heading towards a fast boss, maybe that faster swing speed upgrade is more valuable than a bigger Omega spin.
It’s all about synergy. A Hammer upgrade that works great in one run might be useless in another if your Boons don’t support it. It took me a while, and a lot of failed attempts, to really start thinking that way.
Final Thoughts (For Now)
Look, these are just my experiences. What I found “best” really depended on the situation and how I like to play. You might find completely different Hammer upgrades feel amazing for you, and that’s the beauty of this game. There’s so much to experiment with.
My main takeaway? Don’t be afraid to try weird combinations. Sometimes the upgrade that sounds less exciting on paper is the one that completely changes your run. Keep digging, keep experimenting, and see what powerful combos you stumble upon. That discovery process is half the fun, isn’t it?
