Task Search
Checklists
While Melinoe has been tasked with single-handedly bringing down Chronos, she doesn’t have to go it alone, in terms of moral support, anyway. The Crossroads is filled with comrades that Melinoe either already knows or meets throughout her journey, whom she can get to know quite well. In this Hades 2 guide, we will go over everything there is to know about cultivating relationships in the Crossroads.
Is There Romance in Hades 2?
While ‘romance’ might be a strong word to describe these relationships, at least at this point in the game’s development, they are still an interesting and fun way to spend time between runs. Each character has several ‘hearts’ you can earn with them until you eventually reach the highest form of friendship. The number of hearts varies between characters. Some only offer five hearts, while others offer up to eleven.
Hades 2 is still in early access, and you are currently unable to unlock the highest heart. The heart remains locked with a message that reads, ‘X wants nothing more from you now. Maybe in the future...’ This does insinuate that your relationships may be able to reach new heights in the future, but what those new heights will entail is unknown.
How to Romance in Hades 2
Bonding with someone in Hades 2 always begins with a gift of Nectar. This not only kickstarts your relationship with that person but also earns you that individual’s Keepsake. Keepsakes are small gifts or trinkets from characters in the game that can be equipped before a run and offer some sort of helpful effect, like boosting your attack power or giving you another Death Defiance. There are plenty of Keepsakes to collect, so even if you don’t care for relationship mechanics in general, giving at least one Nectar to everyone in Hades 2 is highly recommended.
Giving someone their first Nectar earns your first heart with them. But to see the rest, you will need to cast the Empath’s Intuition incantation at the Cauldron at the Crossroads. This Incantation requires 1x Fate Fabric and 3x Myrtle and unlocks the ability to see relationships in the Book of Shadows. It is possible to continue growing your relationships without this book, but sometimes, certain activities unlock your next heart, and there isn’t a reliable way to check what these events may be without the book.
There are three activities that you can invite people to in Hades 2. You can invite people to go to the Tavern with you, fish at the Pier with you, or even soak in the Hot Pools with you. Each of these activities has to be unlocked at the Cauldron by casting the Rite of River Fording, Rite of Vapor-Cleansing, and Rite of Social Solidarity Incantations. See what they involve below:
- Rite of River Fording: 4x Driftwood, 2x Cattail.
- Rite of Vapor-Cleansing: 2x Moly, 2x Lotus, 2x Nightshade.
- Rite of Social Solidarity: 2x Nectar, 2x Garlic
Casting these Incantations opens the Tavern, Pier, and Hot Pools, respectively, but you can’t simply use them whenever you want. You can only invite someone to each of these places by giving them an item as a gift. If you want to take someone to the Hot Pools, give them Bath Salts. If you want to invite them fishing, give them the Twin Lures. If you want to go to the Tavern, gift them Ambrosia. All three items, plus Nectar, can be purchased from the Wretched Broker at the Crossroads.
If you invite someone on any of these excursions with you but they aren’t open to that invitation, they will politely decline. You can check if they are ready by taking a look at their hearts in the Book. If there is an empty heart with a Twin Lure, Bath Salt, or Ambrosia icon inside it, They will accept your offer. You can also see what activity each individual would like to do next by checking the text on their character page. If an empty heart has no icon, a gift of Nectar is all you need to fill it.
Relationships take time to grow in Hades 2, just like they do in real life. You can only use the facilities once per day. So, if you’re anxious to take someone out on another date, go for a run in the Underworld, and they will be ready for another excursion when you’re back.
All Romanceable Characters in Hades 2
There are six eligible heart-throbs in Hades 2 that you can forge a relationship with in Hades 2, romantic or otherwise. Most of these characters are accessible via the Crossroads very early on, but one will join you there much later. In the table below, we have a list of all six romanceable characters in Hades 2.
| Hades 2 Romanceable Characters | ||
|---|---|---|
| Hecate | Nemesis | Eris |
| Moros | Odysseus | Dora |
Hecate
Hecate is a tall, strong witch who wears a large, pointed hat with a scarf covering the bottom portion of her face. Her midriff is exposed in her outfit, showing her impressive set of abs, and she wears a billowing cloak that compliments the rest of her mysterious and mystical outfit well.
Hecate's left arm is also of interest and is covered completely by a metallic glove that reaches above the elbow, ending somewhere under her cape. It is unclear whether this is just a fashion choice or whether it is somehow connected to Melinoë's glowing left arm.
Eris
Eris is the Embodiment of Strife and a returning character from the first Hades game. She is a small yet powerful warrior with bright, colorful outfit, pitch black wings, a pixie cut, and a large canon-like gun over her shoulder called Adamant Rail. Adamant Rail is a legendary weapon used to slay Titans who have betrayed the Gods.
Eris may be short, but she is by no means weak. She is incredibly powerful and puts her unique gun to good use in a fast-paced boss battle in Olympus. Eris is the Guardian of the Rift of Thessaly, the ship area between Olympus and the City of Ephyra on the surface.
Dora
Dora is a small, greenish ghost with long teal-colored hair and a confusing disposition. She seems to have two personalities, one being scathing and almost demonic, while the other seems friendly enough. Dora switches between these two facets of her personality rapidly and at random, making every conversation with her interesting.
Nemesis
Nemesis is a tall, broad, and powerful warrior dressed in a suit of armor with red accents and a nest of long, black hair. Her weapon of choice is a sword, and she also holds a shield inscribed with Runes on her left arm.
Nemesis is a brooding character whose jealousy over not being the one to take Melinoë's place on her mission is abundantly clear. She is often cold, calculating, and somewhat rude. Unlike Melinoë, Nemesis is confident in her power and abilities to crush Chronos.
Nemesis largely follows her own agenda, and frequently leaves her post to visit the Underworld and attempt Melinoë's task. If you bump into her down there she will challenge you to a duel where whoever gets the highest number of kills wins Gold Crowns. Occasionally she offers a healing item or something to help Melinoë, but this doesn't happen often.
Odysseus
In Greek mythology, Odysseus was the mastermind behind the Trojan Horse. In Hades 2, he is a Veteran Tactician located in the Crossroads. Speak to Odysseus to get advice on certain bosses or foes you are struggling against. Odysseus claims to have fought them all before and identified the best way to take them down.
Odysseus wears a blue tunic with a brown, checkered layer on top. He also wears a large, rust-colored cape and carries a belt laden with scrolls containing information regarding all of the enemies he has felled and gathered intel on, no doubt.
Moros
Moros is a towering and majestic figure dressed in armor made out of skulls and a long, needle-like sword on his right side. His skin is a light grey color, and he has a long waterfall of white hair draped over a pair of antlers protruding from his head.
Moros is welcomed to the Crossroads early on in the game after Melinoë appeals to the Three Fates at the Incantations Cauldron. He comes bearing a gift in the form of the Fated List of Minor Prophecies. This serves as a mini-quest log where you are given tasks to fulfill in exchange for rewards.