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Arcana Cards in Hades 2 are buffs that are provided to Melinoe at the start of every run. Here’s a definitive guide on them.
Hades 2 has a new buff system that helps Melinoe improve every subsequent run. You’ll receive the cards early in the game, as it is an essential mechanic that will help you progress in every run. This guide will teach you how to obtain and farm them, as well as highlight some cards that should always be at the top of your Arcana loadout decks.
How To Get Arcana Cards in Hades 2
The Arcana Cards in Hades 2 can be found in the training grounds through Melinoe’s Altar of Ashes. These cards are lent to her by her tutor, Hecate. They are the essential progression mechanic that makes you stronger every time you finish a run. You start with 9 cards, and adjacent cards become available for unlocking. Getting Arcana Cards is easy, as the 25 cards can be unlocked using a resource known as Ashes.
However, Melinoe has a limit to how many she can equip in a single run through Grasp. Grasp is the limiter of Arcana Cards, and it can also be increased as you progress further, up to 30. You start with 10 Grasp, which can be increased to 29 using the reagent Psyche. To obtain the final Grasp, you will need 500 Psyche, 2 Shadow, and 2 Darkness resources.
The Arcana Deck limit for now is six and can be freely changed during runs to fit her Aspect. However, certain cards have requirements (Awakening) that can only be activated once the conditions are fulfilled. All the awakenings are mentioned on the cards that have them.
How To Upgrade Your Arcana Cards
Arcana Cards can be upgraded with the Consecration of Ashes incantation. However, upgrading takes resources such as Moondust and materials dropped by bosses or mobs (Moly, Cinder, Wool, etc.). Circe’s offering, Lapis Lazuli Insight, can also upgrade a random card every night. There are currently four tiers of upgrades: Normal, Rare, Epic, and Heroic. Upgrading your card does not change the Grasp cost, meaning your resources are fairly exchanged.
The Consecration of Ashes incantation takes 6x Ash, 6x Fate Fabric, and 1x Cinder to cast.
The stronger the card, the higher-level materials are required to upgrade it, as they will power up Melinoe incrementally compared to Zagreus in Hades 1.
Farming Arcana Upgrade Resources
Farming resources like Ash and Psyche is mainly done by completing dungeons with the resources mentioned, or through Charon’s Shop. Sometimes, you might also meet certain Gods who will increase their yields or just give some of the resources.
The Wretched Broker in the Crossroads also sells the resources necessary to upgrade your Arcana Cards in exchange for bones.
In the later half of the game, Charon will come to the Crossroads. You can order items in bulk from him, making it less tedious to keep farming runs. However, you will require Obol Points (1 for every 1000 Obols spent at the shop) and must complete a number of Encounters before they are delivered.
Star Dust is a rare resource required to upgrade a few Arcana Cards. This resource is mainly farmed through Chaos Trials (one for every trial) and by purchasing it directly from the Wretched Broker. It will be required in the mid to late phase of Hades 2.
Best Arcana Cards in Hades 2
As Hades 2 provides more gameplay freedom, the cards mentioned below are generally better for every Aspect, unless you want to focus on dealing only one source of damage:
- The Sorceress: Your Ω moves are 30% faster. Useful to unlock other better cards early on, as well as buffing your Ω moves.
- The Wayward Son: Provides 5 HP once you exit a location. Good for early game runs.
- The Furies: Deals 30% more damage to enemies in your Casts. Damage increase is always good, especially since you’ll have to use Casts throughout the game.
- Persistence: You receive +40 Health and Magic. It’s a direct buff to Melinoe that will feel good until you perfect your movement mechanics. However, it can also be equipped until the end as a safer alternative.
- Death Defiance: Provides +3 Death Defiance. Very good for runs as it gives you three extra lives. However, it can be replaced with Strength later if you think you can play without extra lives.
- Origination: Deal 50% more damage (all sources) to enemies with at least two curses from different Olympians. This one is recommended to be equipped and unlocked as fast as possible. The damage increase will carry you until the end of the game.
- The Fates: Provides +4 rolls, but you have to activate all surrounding cards to awaken it. Gives the player more freedom of choice in a rogue-like.
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