Arcana cards are a fresh mechanic in Hades 2 that lets players apply powerful bonuses. This guide collects all Arcana cards in one place and highlights the strongest picks to consider first.
Hades 2 Guides
Access to most Arcana cards requires Ashes to unlock and the cards vary in rarity. If a player wants to reveal more cards at once, they should upgrade the Grasp meter using Psyche. Both resources can be gathered in Erebus or found within the Wrecthed Broker’s shop.
This guide provides a complete list of Arcana cards available in Hades 2, recommendations for the best choices, and tips for improving them.
All arcana cards
As of this writing there are 25 Arcana cards in Hades 2. To reveal a card, the card next to it on the grid must be unlocked first. For example, unlocking a card in the third row requires the card above it in the second row to be unlocked.
Most cards require Ashes to open and Grip to equip. The grip meter is shown by Melinoe’s portrait in the top right corner of the map screen and can be upgraded with Will.
There is a capture fee associated with each card. Players can mix and match Arcana cards used across runs.
The following Arcana cards are available in Hades 2:
Me – The Sorceress. When charging Omega moves, everything around slows for 2 seconds.
II – The Wayward Son. When leaving a location, health is restored by 2. The restoration doubles if health is under 30%.
III – The Huntress. If Magicka is below 100%, normal and special attacks deal +30% damage.
IV – Death. Omega moves gain a +3% chance to crit.
V – The Messenger. With a +6% chance you dodge enemy attacks. Card Power: Play at least 3 cards that cost the same magicka.
VI – The Furies. You deal +20% damage to enemies trapped in sigils.
VII – The Titan. Grants +20 health and +20 magic.
VIII – The Invisible. Restores 2 Magickas once per second.
IX – Night. Spells charge automatically as if expending 2 magicka per second.
X – The Lovers. At the start of each battle with the guardian, you avoid damage from enemy attacks once.
XI – The Fast Runner. You move +20% faster.
XII – Eternity. Each night grants additional Death Rebuffs.
XIII – The Centaur. After completing 5 locations, health and magic increase by +3. Card Power: Play cards that cost 1 to 5 magicka.
XIV – The Moon. Omega Sigil gains +50 units after each explosion.
XV – Power. If health remains at or below 30%, take -30% damage and deal +30% damage.
XVI – Moira (Fate). Each night grants +1 power over fate and location rewards can be changed.
XVII – The Skipper. Each night yields +200 coins.
XVIII – Origin. Deal +25% damage to enemies hit at least twice.
XIX – Excellence. Gifts found have a +30% chance of upgrading to rare.
XX – The Queen. +6% chance to find duplicate gifts among offered gifts. Card Power: Do not play more than 2 cards that cost the same magicka.
XXI – The Seer. Each night grants +2 power over fate. Card Power: Play all adjacent cards.
XXII – The Champions. Each night grants +1 power over fate. You can change gifts and some rewards.
XXIII – The Craftsman. Convert any small reward into a major reward once per night.
XXIV – Divinity. Gifts found have a +10% chance of upgrading to Epic. Card Power: Play all 5 cards in a row except this one.
XXV – Justice. Defeating a Guardian places up to 3 random inactive Arcana. Card Power: Do not play more than 3 cards.
The best Arcana cards
Most maps, particularly in the early hours of Hades 2, require Ashes to be unlocked first. As the game world opens, players may need rarer materials dropped by bosses.
Each card has its own requirements. By default a player starts with 10 grabs that fill a slot, which can be expanded using chasm, another commonly found material. If the run starts feeling tougher, it could be time to expand knowledge so more maps can be used.
The unseen
For an early start, investing in The unseen is wise. It grants magical regeneration. It restores 2 magicka per second, providing a steady stream of magic for continued Omega Special Attacks.
The Titan
Unblocking The Titan adds +20 health and +20 magic. The Titan is straightforward but nearly essential. As the run progresses, enemies may shave off large chunks of health in a single strike. While health and magic can rise through items from Charon and others, having this edge from the beginning pays off.
The Huntress
This is a strong card that should not be overlooked. No matter how often magic is used, it will almost certainly trigger a damage boost. Depending on playstyle, it helps to remember to perform at least one magical attack in every battle so the boost is utilized. If magic boosts come from gifts, monitor total magicka to use it when it refills to 100%.
As players advance to the fourth and fifth rows, Eternity becomes a crucial card. It grants a Death Challenge, effectively a second life. After defeat, it revives with 40% health and magic. This is valuable for early boss encounters. It can be upgraded twice to handle up to three Death Challenges simultaneously.
The messenger
Unlocking requires no effort. Instead, activate at least three cards that share the same grip. Cards from the Sorceress, the Prodigal Son, and the Swift Runner can trigger this synergy. A dodge chance, even a small one, can turn the tide. Several items can boost this percentage further.
The boatswain
With extra grip, The boatswain becomes an attractive option. Starting with 200 gold gives a strong early advantage, allowing a player to focus on different rooms during runs. Those who prioritize gold rewards over locations will feel a meaningful impact from this arcana. Defeating enemies yields more gold, so chances are some coins will be on hand when visiting Charon’s shop.
The unseen
Fans of magic will appreciate The unseen. Restoring 2 magic points per second may seem small, but it adds up continuously. Some gifts mirror this effect, so plan around these boosts.
Power
Power should not be treated as a general nudge toward aggression. When a player does initiate attacks, this arcana acts as a safety net, mitigating hits and bolstering durability. It helps in surviving tough battles more than once.
How to Improve Arcana Cards
Upgrading cards requires progressing the main story enough to unlock the Consecration of Ashes spell. This update changes the Altar and reveals upgraded versions of the cards.
Moon Dust insights fuel upgrades. Moon Dust can be bought from the Wretched Broker or earned from Charon in exchange for Obal Points. Those points accumulate as players spend coins in the broker shop or earn in Hecate’s Cauldron with Cinder and Shadow.
Other guides
Source: VG Times