Hades Early Progression Guide: Mirror Upgrades and Key Priorities

To build a reliable foundation in early Hades runs, invest your initial Darkness directly into the Death Defiance talent at the Mirror of Night, use Chthonic Keys to unlock every available weapon, and save your gold for the final shop in the Temple of Styx. Permanent stat upgrades and weapon unlocks provide far greater long-term progress than short-term spending during individual runs.

Mirror of Night Talent Priorities

Your primary goal after returning to the House of Hades is converting gathered Darkness into permanent talents at the Mirror of Night.

1. Death Defiance: Purchase this talent first. It revives Zagreus with a portion of health upon death, giving you extra room to learn boss attack patterns and clear deeper chambers.
2. Chthonic Vitality: Upgrade this talent second. It restores a small amount of health whenever you exit a chamber, providing passive sustain across long encounters.
3. Second-Tier Unlocks: Use Chthonic Keys to open deeper talent tiers rather than hoarding them. If an investment is not working for your current playstyle, you can reset your Mirror of Night points at any time for the cost of 1 Chthonic Key.

Key Resource Allocations

Managing permanent currencies efficiently dictates how quickly you expand your combat options.

Do not hold onto Chthonic Keys early on. Unlocking every weapon variant immediately lets you test different combat styles—from close-range melee to ranged kiting—to determine which weapon best matches your reflexes.

Boon Selection and Combat Synergy

When choosing god Boons during a run, match the Boon type to your weapon's attack speed:

• Fast Attacks: Pair rapid-fire attacks with flat damage bonuses or status effects like Hangover or Jolted, which stack quickly to melt armored foes and bosses.
• Call Abilities: Always consider picking a god's Call ability when offered. A filled Call meter delivers massive burst damage or utility that can save a failing boss fight.
• God Trials: Enter dual-god chambers when available to experiment with deity synergies and expand your overall knowledge of available Boon combinations.

Managing Gold and Contractor Upgrades

Spend your Gems at the House Contractor to unlock the Fated List of Minor Prophecies. This contract acts as an achievement board, rewarding specific weapon choices and Boon combinations with bonus keys and currencies that speed up permanent progression.

During runs, avoid spending gold on small temporary buffs at the Well of Charon unless your health is critically low before a boss room. Saving your gold allows you to buy top-tier items and vital upgrades at the shop in Styx right before the final challenge.