Unveiling the Arsenal: A Comprehensive Guide to Unlocking All Nocturnal Arms and Aspects in Hades 2

The Underworld’s fight for survival continues in Hades 2, placing the fate of the cosmos in the hands of Melinoë, Princess of the Underworld. To stand against the formidable Titan of Time, Chronos, and the legions of monsters, you must master the Nocturnal Arms, the divine weapons forged in the Silver Pool. This in-depth guide provides a clear pathway for players to unlock all weapons and their game-changing Aspects, essential for maximizing your build potential and securing a successful run against the most difficult challenges.

Weapon Unlocks: Acquiring All Nocturnal Arms

Melinoë begins her journey with the Witch’s Staff, but a total of six (in Early Access) powerful weapons can be crafted at the Silver Pool in the Crossroads. Each weapon, known as a Nocturnal Arm, offers a distinct playstyle, from close-quarters combat to long-range magickal barrages. Unlocking them requires gathering specific resources from the various Underworld and Surface regions. Prioritizing the Crescent Pick, Silver Spade, and Rod of Fishing gathering tools early on is critical for resource acquisition.

• Witch’s Staff (Descura):Unlock Requirement: Available by default.

  A well-rounded weapon, combining melee strikes with ranged Magick projectiles. Its default form is a staple for new players.

• Sister Blades (Lim and Oros):Unlock Requirement: 1x Silver (Mined in Erebus with the Crescent Pick).

  Dual daggers specializing in swift, high-speed strikes and devastating backstab damage, rewarding aggressive, mobile playstyles.

• Umbral Flames (Ygnium):Unlock Requirement: 3x Silver (Erebus) and 3x Cinder (Dropped by Hecate, the first boss).

  A set of torches that fires continuous Magick projectiles, excelling at ranged damage and utilizing DoT (Damage over Time) effects like Scorch.

• Moonstone Axe (Zorephet):Unlock Requirement: 15x Silver (Erebus).

  A slow but incredibly powerful melee weapon, focused on wide, sweeping attacks and a high-damage Omega Attack, perfect for high-impact builds.

• Argent Skull (Revaal):Unlock Requirement: 2x Glassrock (Mined in the Fields of Mourning) and 1x Bronze (Mined in Ephyra on the Surface).

  A high-risk, high-reward weapon that fires explosive shells, utilizing a unique ammo system that requires retrieval. Unlocking the Surface (Ephyra) via Incantations is a prerequisite.

• Black Coat (Xinth):Unlock Requirement: 2x Cinder (Hecate) and 2x Adamant (Mined in Mount Olympus on the Surface).

  The final currently available Nocturnal Arm, a powerful exoskeleton that offers a mix of melee punches, a forward shield for blocking, and homing missile Specials. Requires substantial progress into the Surface areas.

Aspects of Night and Darkness: The Key to Customization

Weapons truly begin to shine once you unlock their Aspects—alternate forms that fundamentally change the weapon’s mechanics and playstyle. The path to unlocking Aspects is a multi-step process that hinges on a critical Incantation.

Step 1: The Aspects of Night and Darkness Incantation

You must first prove your mastery of the available Nocturnal Arms. The general consensus is that you need to have crafted and used the first four weapons (Witch’s Staff, Sister Blades, Umbral Flames, and Moonstone Axe) at least once. After meeting this condition, and potentially defeating Hecate with them, she will eventually grant you the recipe for the Aspects of Night and Darkness Incantation, which you cast at the Cauldron in the Crossroads.

• Incantation Cost: 5x Bronze and 1x Nightshade.
• Bronze: Mined on the Surface in Ephyra.
• Nightshade: Grown from Nightshade Seeds, which are dug up in Erebus using the Silver Spade and then planted in the Crossroads plots.

Step 2: Unlocking and Upgrading Individual Aspects

Once the Incantation is complete, you can interact with the Silver Pool to view and unlock the various Aspects for each of your Nocturnal Arms. Each weapon has a default Aspect (Aspect of Melinoë) and two additional standard Aspects that require different high CPC keywords resources to unlock. These resources, such as Glassrock, Tears, Pearl, and Golden Apple, are found in later regions of the Underworld and Surface.

Witch’s Staff (Descura) Aspects

• Aspect of Melinoë (Default): Channels your Omega Moves faster.
• Aspect of Circe: 5x Silver, 5x Lotus. Grants Serenity after a number of Attacks/Specials, providing rapid Magick restoration and faster Omega Moves.
• Aspect of Momus: 2x Limestone, 1x Pearl. Allows you to absorb your Omega Special at low health to restore life.

Sister Blades (Lim and Oros) Aspects

• Aspect of Melinoë (Default): Attacks and Specials deal bonus Backstab damage.
• Aspect of Artemis: 15x Silver, 1x Glassrock. Your channeled Omega Attack has a chance to Parry and then Riposte with high Critical Chance.
• Aspect of Pan: 1x Wool, 2x Shaderot. Specials seek foes within your Casts and fire more blades after channeling the Omega Special.

Umbral Flames (Ygnium) Aspects

• Aspect of Melinoë (Default): Flames from your Omega Special burn longer.
• Aspect of Moros: 2x Bronze, 2x Tears. Your Attacks linger for a duration and explode if struck by your Specials, creating massive Area of Effect (AoE) damage.
• Aspect of Eos: 2x Driftwood, 2x Golden Apple. Attacks grow stronger over time and return to you when you Sprint.

Moonstone Axe (Zorephet) Aspects

• Aspect of Melinoë (Default): Recover faster after using Attacks and Specials.
• Aspect of Charon: 5x Pearl, 1x Obol Points. Your Cast lasts longer and erupts like a powerful Omega Cast if struck by your Omega Special.
• Aspect of Thanatos: 3x Glassrock, 1x Darkness. Hitting with Omega Moves increases your Critical Chance until you take damage.

Argent Skull (Revaal) Aspects

• Aspect of Melinoë (Default): Attacks gain more Power for each Shell fired and not yet retrieved.
• Aspect of Medea: 4x Iron, 1x Nightshade. Attacks stay in place and explode after a delay or upon hitting with your Special, enabling massive burst damage.
• Aspect of Persephone: 1x Moss, 5x Poppy. Damage dealt generates Glory, which extends and enhances your Omega Special, allowing for sustained high-damage output.

Black Coat (Xinth) Aspects

(Note: Due to the dynamic nature of Early Access, the names and precise costs of all Black Coat Aspects are subject to change. Consult in-game for the latest details.)

• Aspect of Melinoë (Default): Improves Attack and Sprint Speed.
• Aspect of Selene: Requires Silver and Moon Dust. Grants access to a powerful starting Hex.
• Aspect of Nyx: Requires Flux and Darkness. Enhances your Omega moves to produce ‘Nightspawn,’ increasing damage.

Each Aspect can be further upgraded up to Rank 5 using specific resources, such as Nightmare and other high-rarity materials, significantly boosting their unique effects. This deep customization ensures that the meta remains fresh and constantly evolving, urging players to experiment with different combinations of Aspects, Boons, and Arcana Cards to find the most Overpowered builds in Hades 2.