Summary
Hades 2might feel like a whole different game with its new story direction, expanded mechanics, and characters, but it’s still keeping the Keepsakes from the first game. Keepsakes appear as rings with letter tags and are gifted in exchange for Melinoegiving certain characters the gift of Nectar.
These Keepsakes can be of excellent help when it comes to the combat element of Hades 2 and serve as additional perks on top of your Boons and Arcana Cards. Below are some of the Keepsakes you may want to consider, so be sure to note who you should save your Nectar for.
Hades 2 is in Early Access so any information is subject to change as its development progresses.
10Any God Boon Keepsake
The Olympian Keepsakes
Try giving the gift of Nectar to any of the gods and goddesses of Olympus who bestow you with Boons, and you’ll most likely be rewarded with the same default Keepsakes for each one. Some include Beautiful Mirror from Aphrodite, Vivid Sea from Poseidon, and Adamant Shard from Hephaestus.
These all entail an increase in the chances of their Boons appearing in a run and giving you the opportunity to Rarify them from the get-go. It’s ultimately your choice which one of these Keepsakes you prefer, as you might come to find out you’re fond of one particular Olympian’s Boon offerings over all the rest and want to ensure you hear from them and acquire the Boons you desire.
9Gold Purse
Charon Keepsake
When exploring further and further in Hades 2 and unlocking more and more Incantations, Arcana Cards, or tools and weapons, you’ll need a heap of resourceslike Ash, Silver, Limestone, Fate Fabric, Lotus, or Nightshade. Part of the resource system in Hades 2 also relies on coins, which can be used for purchasing goods in Charon’s shop.
Charon will give you the Gold Purse Keepsake, which starts you off already with a sum of 100 coins in Melinoe’s pocket. Whether you’re in need of health, a weapon upgrade, or want a shot at another Boon before a new area, Charon has the goods, you’ll just have to pay up. The bonus of 100 to 150 coins (when upgraded) can mean getting all of the above versus having to make a tough decision about where to put your money.
8Evil Eye
Nemesis Keepsake
Nemesis is Retribution Incarnate, the goddess of revenge, so it’s only just that her Keepsake’s ability stays thematically accurate to her character.That taste for revengeis precisely what you get with Evil Eye, which lets you deal up to an additional 30 percent damage on the last enemy that ended your run.
It’s a Keepsake as petty as Nemesis, and can be of benefit depending on exactly who the last enemy was to “vanquish you.” If it’s a boss like Hecate, it’s worth it, but if it’s a minor foeor mini-boss like Shadow-Spillers or Root-Stalkers, you may want to avoid this one. Luckily, there’s a tracker on the description of Evil Eye that tells you the last enemy that dealt you a defeat.
7Knuckle Bones
Odysseus Keepsake
Since Odysseus too had his moment fighting Scylla and Charybdis in the Greek epic,and she appears as a boss in the Oceanus region, he’s got something of use to Melinoe. With the Knuckle Bones Keepsake, you can take 15 percent less damage from a boss (called a Guardian in the lore of Hades) and Guardians will automatically lose a chunk of their health, starting with five percent.
The percentage stats may seem minor, but they can turn the tide of a boss fight, especially if the amount of damage you take is lessened by even a little bit. It’s not a bad Keepsake and still of great aid, but probably not the most exciting one you want to equip.
6Silver Wheel
Hecate Keepsake
Being the Witch of the Crossroads and the Greek goddess of sorcery, you probably expected Hecate to gift you a Keepsake tied to Melinoe’s magick. What she has to offer is the Silver Wheel Keepsake, which basically actsas a replacement for an Arcana Cardor Boon that would replenish your magick every couple of seconds, three with this one to be exact.
Casting and using magick is an essential part of the gameplay in Hades 2, even so much so that you’ll have to use a lot of it to activate certain Boons. Although there is an initial limit of 1000 Magick restoration points per run, it’s still an added boost and can free up an Arcana Card slot for something more crucial there. You can always go for Boons that replenish your magick as well, since Silver Wheel eventually runs out.
5White Antler
Artemis Keepsake
Artemis can sometimes show up as an ally in battle, and when she’s not there, she still wants to make sure you’ll have a better time surviving the deadly areas of the Underworld. As she’s the goddess of the hunt, her Keepsake is named the White Antler, a sort of rabbit’s foot good luck charm when your health has significantly decreased.
If your bar is at 30 or below, White Antler will allow you the chance of dealing critical damage to enemies to increase by 20 percent (even higher when upgraded), so they may be cleared faster and (hopefully) not drain any more of your life. While it may not be the most exciting Keepsake tied to your health meter, it can still make a difference.
4Engraved Pin
Moros Keepsake
For being impending doom personified, Moros has a pretty hopeful Keepsake that can really save your skin in combat. If your health falls to zero, and you’re at death’s door, you’ll become impervious for ten seconds, which makes you immune from taking any damage.
Your reward for taking advantage of being in an impervious state and killing all remaining enemies will be to gain back 30 health points and continue the game. It’s nice to have Doom Incarnate on your side after all.
3Silken Sash
Arachne Keepsake
Most often, games would have you be terrified of spiders, but don’t hesitate to approach Arachne in her chamber rooms throughout Hades 2. In fact, give her a gift and she’ll give you a worthwhile Keepsake called Silken Sash, keeping with the theme of her silken fineries.
Arachne is one of the sources for acquiring armor with the various outfits she has for you, and her Keepsake allows that armor to remain with you for a little longer in your run. If you already have armor, even if it’s depleted all the way down to just one point, you’ll get an extra two added to your armor in every new location.
2Luckier Tooth
Schelemeus Keepsake
Schelemeus is back as the weapons mentorand Underworld training dummy for Melinoe at the Crossroads. While you might think his Keepsake would be tied to something combat or weapon-related, you’d be surprised that he gives you one of the most important Keepsakes that give you a second chance at staying in the fight in the arenas of Hades 2.
Luckier Tooth is essentially like having an extra Eternity Arcana Card equipped, which grants the Death Defiance ability. If your health bar reaches zero, you’ll be automatically revived and have 51 health points restored. It’s Skelly’s lucky charm, and it can mean the difference between losing a boss fight or winning one to continue progressing in the game.
1Ghost Onion
Dora Keepsake
Dora is a true friend of Melinoe’s and worthy of the song ‘You’ve Got a Friend in Me’ with her Keepsake.Being a talking Shade spirit in the Underworld, her Keepsake is Ghost Onion. What it does is allow you to regain full health when entering a new area, though there’s a set limit to how much health it can restore in one run.
Health is precious in Hades 2, and you’re often at the mercy of having enough coin to buy a Centaur Heart or food from Charon, stumble upon a Centaur Heart room or healing fountain, or Boons like Selene’s Moon Water. Ghost Onion will do the trick and ease some of those anxieties about being low on health before heading into the next area, but keep in mind the lower you are, the faster the Keepsake will stop working.
