Hades II has an impressive amount of exploration. While you’re mainly exploring the Underworld to get to Tartarus and defeat Chronos, the surface world is right at the beginning. As it taunts you to be open with it’s ward, it surprisingly can be opened very easily. However, when you reach the top, Melinoë loses health very quickly and can’t survive there for long. Thus, this guides aims to help players not only reach the top, but also survive there so you’re able to continue to explore.
Can’t get enough Hades? Check out these guides:
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Unsealing the Ward
Unlocking the surface is possibly the easiest thing to do, but requires you to gather items which will certainly take time. The first thing that needs done is that you need to meet Hermes and meet the first boss. You don’t have to defeat them to get the incantation to unlock the ward, but will need to beat them once to get to the surface. The next time you die, you’ll need to get the Permeation of Witching-Wards from the cauldron. Once this is done, you’re able to go up the stairs and get to the surface!
The biggest block for immediate access to the surface world is the items needed for the incantation. You’ll need 1 Cinder, 1 Shadow, and 1 Moly. Starting from the easiest, Moly is scattered around Erebus and can be picked up from the ground without any special tools. The cinder is dropped from the first boss in Erebus after you defeat them, if you’ve already used it for something else, fret not, as the boss should drop more cinder with each defeat. Last, but not least, the Shadow ingredient. While it’s not the hardest, it is certainly the most time consuming of the three. The Shadow recipe is from Chaos, so be sure to take the Chaos Gates when they appear! For every shadow you want to make, you’ll need 30 Ash, 30 Psyche, and 3 Fate Fabric.
All of these items can be gathered from exploring the Underworld, through the broker, or Obol Points. It mostly depends on what you want to do. However, the easiest and cheapest way to get the three Fate Fabrics is by using Obol Points, but it will take 60 Whiles for it to arrive. In other words, you’ll need to clear 60 rooms or pass time by using the Hot Springs or the Taverna in order for the Fate Fabrics to arrive. Finally when you have everything in hand, you can brew your Shadow. This will take another 12 Whiles meaning to clear another 12 rooms or pass time by using the Hot Springs or Taverna.
Once it’s brewed, you’re able to head to the surface. Keep in mind that the enemies are tougher so come with your best weapon.
The path on the left leads further into the Underworld. The sealed path on the right leads to the surface.
Surviving on the Surface
Once on the surface, Melinoë will occasionally take some damage and will eventually get sent back to the Crossroads. This means we’ll need to get another incantation to actually be able to explore the surface. You’ll want to speak to Chaos once more to learn of the incantation, so be sure to drop down any of their portals you see to get the Unraveling a Fateful Bond. You’ll need 2 Moss, 2 Night Shade, 2 Lotus, and 2 Thalamus.
Starting with the moss, it can be found in the City of Ephyra, which happens to be on the surface. This means you’ll need to hunt for it while under the effect the curse. Night shade is a bit easier to find. However, you’ll need the silver spade which you can get for 10 silver. After you use silver spade, you’ll see Night Shade seeds, which means you need to plant them in the garden. If you don’t have the garden plots unlocked, this requires another incantation that only cost 1 moly flower. This will give you two plots of soil to work with, which can be expanded later. After that’s done, you can plant the seeds, and will have to clear a few rooms before they’ll fully grown.
Lotus, the third item, can be found in the second level Oceanus. It’s a random event rather than a spawn, so it might take a few tries of going through the second location. However, unlike other gathering materials, the lotus doesn’t need a tool. Melinoë can gather it with her hands, so you’re free to take whatever item you want if you’re farming something else.
Lastly, to get Thalamus you’ll need to be on the lookout for gates to the Chaos’ Realm. You’ll need the silver spade and to descend into one of the Chaos Gates. When you get there, you’ll want to look for a digging spot, which will not be guaranteed. After speaking to Chaos about this incantation again, they’ll give you an origin seed which is what you’ll be looking for to plant in the garden spots.
Finally, when you get everything you need to do the incantation, it will take several more room clears for it to be done. Then you’re able to continue to explore and unlock the rest of the surface.
To start exploring the surface world, you’ll need to complete several gates.
