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Hades 2expects you to get better at the game as you make attempts each night to fulfil Melinoe’s destiny. Thankfully, you are able to power yourself up through various means using the resources you grab on your journey. One such method of self-improvement is the usage of the Altar in the Crossroads Training area.
This Altar grants access to various Arcana Cards, which are purchased using Ash, activated using Grasp, and then upgraded using Moon Dust and various other precious items. In short, cultivating and equipping the right Arcana Cards is a long process that requires much effort.
Hades 2 is currently in Early Access. As a result, the details below are likely to change over the course of development.
Arcana Basics
There are25 Arcana Cardsto unlock at theAltarat the Crossroads, though you will only have a small selection to begin with. As you unlock these cards, hidden cards on their sides will be revealed until you have a full five-by-five grid of cards.Unlocking these cards costs Ash, and sometimes other important resources.
Unlocking these cards is only the first step, however. You must then’activate' these cards. Cards have a ‘Grasp’ cost associated with them, and you may see your total pool of Grasp on the Arcana screen to the right. To increase your total Grasp pool, you’ll need to spendPsyche. The cost to increase your Grasp pool increases heavily as your pool expands.
Both Ash and Psyche can both be acquired during your nightly runs.
10
12
14
16
18
20
21
22
30
45
50
100
120
150
170
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
200
230
240
260
290
320
350
1,000
The final upgrade also coststhree Dark and three Shadow.
Every Arcana Card
The table below lists each card, its unlock costs, its position on the board, and how much it costs to activate.
50 Ash, 1 Zodiac Sand
0 Grasp
Many of these cards havezero Grasp requirements- instead, they havealternative requirementsbefore they are activated:
Activation Requirement
The Messenger
Active at least three cards that have the same Grasp requirement. Note that three cards of 0 cost do not count.
The Centaur
Activate at least one card of each Grasp cost from 1 through 5.
The Queen
Active no more than 2 cards that have the same Grasp cost.
Activate The Fates, The Boatman, and The Champions.
Activate no more than 3 cards total.
Arcana Upgrades
Once you reach a certain point in the game, after unlocking a fair amount of Arcana Cards, you will be given the Incantation recipe Consecration of Ashes, which requires six Ash, six Fate Fabrics, and one Cinder. This will unlock the ability to upgrade your Arcana Cards up to two times each, making them stronger.
The main resource required to upgrade cards isMoon Dust, which is acquired from Alchemy at the cauldron and from theWretched Broker, along with some Fated List rewards.
The table below listsevery Arcana Card’s effects, including the upgrades and the upgrade costs. The bolded text shows what changes after each upgrade.
3 Moon Dust, 6 Moly
The Wayward Son
After exiting a location, restore2/3/4life. Double that if you have less than 30% life remaining.
3 Moon Dust, 10 Silver
The Huntress
While you have less than 100% Magick, deal30%/40%/50%more Attack and Special damage.
5 Moon Dust, 10 Moss
Gain a6%/8%/10%chance to dodge. To Awaken, you must activate three cards of the same cost
Increase your Life and Magick totals by20/30/40each.
3 Moon Dust, 3 Wool
Eternity
You gain1/2/3Death Defiances, allowing you to restore 40% of your life upon death.
Gain3/4/5Life and Magick every 5 locations you complete.
5 Moon Dust, 8 Garlic
Strength
When you have less than 30% Life, your damage increases by30/40/50and you take30%/40%/50%less damage.
8 Moon Dust, 8 Iron
The Fates
Set forth with1/2/3Changes of Fate. Your Changes of Fate can alter Location Rewards.
Deal25%/38%/50%more damage to enemies with 2 or more curses.
5 Moon Dust, 3 Mandrake
Excellence
All Boons you are offered have a+30%/+40%/+50%chance of being improved to Rare quality.
6 Moon Dust, 6 Fate Fabric
Any Boons you are offered have a6%/8%/10%chance of being a Duo Boon.
4 Moon Dust, 12 Fate Fabric
The Seer
Set forth with2/3/4Changes of Fate. This does not alter what your Change of Fate can alter.
5 Moon Dust, 3 Zodiac Sand
The Champions
Set forth with1/2/3Changes of Fate. Your Changes of Fate can alter Boons.
10 Moon Dust, 9 Shaderoot
The Artificer
Each night, you have1/2/3chances to turn Minor finds into Major finds.
15 Moon Dust, 8 Poppy
Divinity
Any Boons you are offered have a10%/15%/20%chance to be improved to Epic rarity.
Judgment
After beating a boss, activates3/4/5random inactive Arcana cards
10 Moon Dust, 10 Fate Fabric, 2 Thalamus, 1 Zodiac Sand
20 Moon Dust, 25 Fate Fabric, 4 Thalamus, 3 Zodiac Sand
