Unlike its predecessor, Hades 2 presents a remarkably balanced roster of Olympian gods, though some deities clearly outshine others when it comes to helping Melinoë survive her deadly runs.
Here’s the definitive ranking of every god’s boons, from the disappointingly weak to the devastatingly powerful.
The Bottom Tier: Ares Falls Short
It’s ironic, but the god of war just doesn’t pack enough punch in Hades 2. He’s the last god you unlock, so you’d think they saved something amazing for him. Instead, he ends up being the weakest link in the roster.
His main issue is simple: his damage numbers are too low. His common boons for your attack or special only give a 20% boost, maxing out at 50% for the heroic version. Compare that to someone like Demeter, who starts at 35% and goes up to 75%. For the god of war, that’s pretty underwhelming.
His special status effect, Wounds, isn’t much better. It adds a flat 50 damage, but then goes on cooldown for 3 seconds. Sure, it helps with the Origination mechanic, but so does almost every other status effect—and they usually do it better.
The rest of his kit forces you to chase down blood orbs for a temporary speed and damage boost. Even with the right duo boon letting you keep some of that bonus between rooms, it never feels as strong as what other gods give you for free.
His legendary boon just makes the orbs come to you, which is a nice convenience, but it doesn’t feel like a game-changer.
Demeter: C-Tier
Demeter sits just above Ares, mainly because her Chill effect is genuinely useful. Freezing enemies for a couple of seconds can save your life in a big crowd, which already puts her ahead of Ares.
Her damage percentages are also better, so she can work in a straightforward attack build. But a lot of her other boons feel too situational. One that heals you when you forage for resources, for example, is a far cry from its version in the first Hades—it doesn’t increase your max health here, so it’s more of a last-ditch option than a smart pick.
What saves her from being average is an incredible legendary boon: when frozen enemies drop below 10% health, they die instantly. Against the big end-game bosses, that’s like erasing thousands of points of damage you’d otherwise have to deal. That one boon almost pushes her into the next tier, but the rest of her kit holds her back.
Apollo: Reliable, But Not a Must-Have
Apollo is a solid B-tier pick. His Daze status effect is his main draw, giving you a chance to dodge incoming attacks, which is fantastic for staying alive. His damage boosts are also decent—certainly better than what you get from Ares.
Some of his boons are real standouts. Supernova makes your cast huge, which is great for clearing rooms. Prominence Flare hits like a truck, and his duo boon with Hestia that heals you when you dodge can save a run that’s on the brink.
But his kit feels a little messy. His attack boon, for example, only has a chance to apply Daze, while his dash and cast boons apply it every time.
This makes the attack version feel pointless—why would you use it when you can just dash through an enemy to daze them more reliably? If they combined a couple of his situational boons, he’d feel much smoother to play.
Hermes: The Money Man
Hermes is a strange case. His boons don’t feel as powerful as they did in the first game. You get things like slightly faster special attacks or an extra dash, but the bonuses can be so small you barely notice them in the heat of battle.
So why is he in B-tier? Pure economics.
Hermes is your best friend for making money. He constantly offers you straight-up gold or boons that generate more cash as you go. If you find him early, you can snowball that wealth into game-changing items and upgrades at Charon’s shop. He might not win you a fight directly, but the extra resources he provides can absolutely win you the run.
Aphrodite: Powerful and Versatile
Aphrodite easily earns an A-tier spot. Her main tool is the Weak status effect, which makes enemies hit 30% softer. That’s a massive defensive boost on its own, and it only gets better. One of her best boons makes your mana recovery also inflict Weak on nearby foes, giving you constant protection.
Her damage bonuses for close-range attacks are some of the highest in the game, making her perfect for melee weapons. If you’re using something ranged, her duo boon with Poseidon solves that by sucking enemies in close to you.
So why isn’t she in the top S-tier?
Two reasons. First, her attacks and specials don’t apply a status effect on their own, so you need another boon to trigger the powerful Origination mechanic. Second, a lot of her duo boons focus on a move called Heart Rob, which often just isn’t as good as taking more direct damage options from other gods.
Hestia: A Reliable Anchor
Hestia is a solid A-tier god who really shines at keeping you alive. While her Blast effect doesn’t add a percentage damage boost, she more than makes up for it with her incredible defensive tools.
She’s the best source of Armor in the game, which acts like temporary bonus health that can block any single hit. This lets you pull off cheesy strategies, like standing in an attack you’d normally have to dodge.
Her other boons make you tankier while you recover magic, encouraging a playstyle where you can absorb a hit to power up. She’s the perfect pick if you’re still learning enemy patterns or just want a really safe, resilient run.
Poseidon: The Resource King
Poseidon is another A-tier standout, but less for raw power and more for how much he accelerates your overall progress. His real claim to fame is his resource generation. Boons that give you extra Ashes, Psyche, or Bones can effectively triple your haul from a run, fast-tracking your Mirror upgrades.
In combat, he’s no slouch. His Splash damage is great on fast weapons, and his Froth status is just a better version of Ares’ Wounds. One of his revenge boons can even trivialize certain annoying enemies.
He also has fantastic duo boon potential with gods like Zeus and Apollo. For a new save file, finding Poseidon early is one of the best things that can happen to you.
Hestia: Scorching S-Tier God
This is the other, more offensive Hestia, and she’s easily S-tier. Her whole game revolves around the Scorch status effect, which absolutely melts enemies when you build for it. She works best with fast-hitting weapons to stack Scorch quickly.
Her power skyrockets with the right duo boons. Pairing her with Demeter or Aphrodite can make Scorch deal nearly 3,000 damage in a single burst.
Another boon lets your magic recovery also deal damage, which is incredible for room clear. Her only weak spot is her legendary boon, which you often get so late that you don’t really need it.
Hera: The Ultimate Wingwoman
Hera is a mid-S-tier god because she makes every build better. Her Hitch status effect is okay, but her real value is in her support boons. She can increase the rarity of your other boons, add extra levels to them, or provide a straight percentage damage boost that multiplies with your existing bonuses.
Her duo boons are almost all winners. She can help you make a money-based build with Poseidon, or add damage to your magic recovery with Hestia.
Her legendary boon is absurdly good, giving you four free elemental boons from other gods. She’s never a bad choice, no matter what you’re running.
Zeus: The Undisputed Champion
Zeus is the king of S-tier and arguably the strongest god in the game. He’s perfectly balanced for both single-target damage and crowd control, and he works with absolutely any weapon or playstyle.
What makes him broken is how his boons all work together. Each lightning boon you pick makes your other lightning boons better, creating a cycle of exponential damage.
He also has amazing duo boons with almost everyone (except, hilariously, his wife Hera). Whether you’re facing a mob or a boss, Zeus has the perfect tool for the job.
Building Your Divine Arsenal
These rankings are a great guide, but the real fun of Hades 2 is experimenting. Your personal style matters a lot—if you love slow, heavy weapons, you might value different boons than a dagger main.
While Zeus, Hera, and Hestia offer the most consistent power, don’t be afraid to try something weird. You might just discover a killer combo that works perfectly for you.
