Hades Boons and Synergies Guide
Master Hades with this guide to Duo synergies, top God boons, best weapon picks, Keepsakes, and Fated Authority tips.
Making your way through the Underworld in Hades quickly shows just how much of the game’s depth comes from the boons you pick up along the way. Each run offers a different array of powers from the Olympian gods, and figuring out which ones work well together can make the difference between a triumphant escape and another trip back to the House of Hades. There’s a surprising amount of strategy involved in choosing and combining boons—some effects naturally complement each other, while others can open up unique builds that turn Zagreus into a powerhouse. Knowing how to spot useful synergies can lead to more successful runs and a lot more variety, whether you’re trying out a new weapon or sticking to an old favorite.
Duo Boon Synergies
Duo boons in Hades aren’t just flashy team-ups between Olympians—they’re game changers that unlock the potential of your builds. Each duo boon only appears if you already have key prerequisites from two different gods, which makes planning your boon path both a challenge and a rewarding puzzle. Understanding the best duo boon combinations and how they affect your overall power can make your journeys through Tartarus much smoother.
What Are Duo Boons?
Duo boons are special upgrades offered by the gods, but unlike most boons that come from a single god, these require you to already possess specific boons from two different gods. When these requirements line up, you get offered a rare, extra-strong boon that mashes up two gods’ themes and abilities in a way you just don’t see elsewhere. They’re marked by a glowing border and have unique names. There are more than a dozen duo boons in the game, but you won’t see them unless you intentionally set yourself up.
How to Get Duo Boons
A duo boon will only be offered if all its listed prerequisites are met in your current run. For example, the “Deadly Reversal” duo requires both Athena’s “Divine Dash” and Artemis’s “Critical Chance” boons. Since most pacts only let you choose one boon per room, you have to plan ahead. Keep these tips in mind:
- Check the codex: Find duo prerequisites and plan early.
- Prioritize boons from gods with strong duo options.
- Don’t ignore Trial rooms: Encountering both gods in one room can help get both prerequisites faster.
- Remember rarity doesn’t increase chances: Duo boon rates aren’t affected by boon rarity, but various Pom (Pomegranate of Power) and boon-enhancing effects can make them stronger once you land them.
Standout Duo Boons and What They Do
Let’s break down some of the best duo boons in Hades. While there are many, a handful regularly help win runs and create cool builds.
Sea Storm (Poseidon + Zeus)
- What it Does: Your lightning effects deal more damage when knocking foes away.
- Good With: Poseidon knockback builds and Zeus’ chain lightning, especially when combined with Poseidon’s cast or attack.
- Why It’s Great: This one makes Poseidon’s normally scattered waves extra deadly. If you stack effects that spread Poseidon's knockback over a crowd, Zeus's lightning can ramp up quickly.
Heart Rend (Aphrodite + Artemis)
- What it Does: Your critical hits deal even more damage to weakened foes.
- Good With: Artemis’ attack or special (for crits) plus Aphrodite’s attack/special/cast (to inflict Weak).
- Why It’s Great: This duo turns already beefy critical hits into boss-killers. Weak effects are easy to slot into most weapon attacks, and crits from Artemis are frequent with the right boons.
Scintillating Feast (Dionysus + Zeus)
- What it Does: With Festive Fog (Dionysus’ call), it periodically strikes thunderbolts inside the fog.
- Good With: Dionysus’ cast and Zeus call or chain lightning.
- Why It’s Great: Festive Fog now not only slows and damages, but also zaps everyone inside. This is spectacular for area control during large encounters.
Merciful End (Ares + Athena)
- What it Does: Your attacks that can Deflect also trigger Ares’ Doom effect.
- Good With: Athena’s Deflect dash paired with Ares’ attack boon, especially on fast weapons.
- Why It’s Great: Dodge through attacks to stack Doom everywhere while staying safe with Deflect. Punchy on fists, sword, or shield.
Blizzard Shot (Demeter + Poseidon)
- What it Does: Demeter’s cast (Crystal Beam) now fires in a swirling pattern and pulls foes.
- Good With: Crystal Beam users, especially those stacking cast damage.
- Why It’s Great: The swirling makes Crystal Beam land way more hits, especially when you keep foes in place. Good for melting bosses.
Planning for Duo Boons: Tips for Success
Snagging a duo boon isn’t just luck; it’s about making smart choices early on:
- Favor gods who have the duo boon you want by equipping their keepsake at the start of a run.
- Pick up the prerequisite boons as soon as possible. For example, if you want Sea Storm, pick up Poseidon’s knockback boon first, then look for Zeus.
- Select boons that open up multiple duo options. A lot of attack/cast boons are prerequisites for more than one duo.
- Visit Chaos Gates, which can give boons with bonus rarity or better chances at finding gods.
Worthwhile Duos for Common Playstyles
Depending on your weapon or build, some duo boons are especially potent. Here’s a sample:
- Shield or Sword with Athena + Ares: Go for Merciful End.
- Bow with Aphrodite + Artemis: Heart Rend is incredible due to frequent weak procs and crits.
- Coronacht (Bow) with Zeus + Dionysus: Scintillating Feast is great for area coverage.
- Arthur Sword or Fists with Poseidon + Zeus: Sea Storm turns big knockback attacks into electric death.
Duo Boon Limitations
A few catches come with duo boons:
- You may not always be offered the second god’s boon. RNG means sometimes you have to pivot.
- Some duos are less effective on some weapons. Not all duos are worth hunting every time.
- Taking a duo boon blocks further standard boons in its slot—can limit future choices.
Conclusion
Duo boons add an extra layer of decision-making to every Hades run. Chasing the right combinations gives you tools for bigger damage, spell-like area effects, or game-changing defenses. The real trick is learning which prerequisites line up well with your preferred playstyle and weapons, and then stacking your odds by being thoughtful about which god rooms you enter. Nailing a powerful duo often means the difference between scraping by and feeling unstoppable in the Underworld.
God-Specific Boons
God boons serve as the backbone of most runs in Hades, shaping everything from your basic attack to the way you dodge and survive fights. Each Olympian offers a set of unique boons that push particular playstyles, build synergies, and change how your weapon or abilities function. Learning what each god brings to the table and how their signature boons work is essential for anyone looking to sharpen their game and squeeze out every advantage in the Underworld.
How God Boons Work
Whenever you spot a god’s symbol on a reward door, you can pick up one of their boons in that chamber. These boons affect one of your actions—Attack, Special, Cast, Dash, or Call—and fall into a few types: basic effect (changes how that action works), curse (afflicts enemies with a debuff), or support (grants a passive or utility effect). Boons come in several rarities: Common, Rare, Epic, and Heroic, with higher rarities providing bigger bonuses.
Each god’s pool contains boons that line up with certain playstyles, so knowing what's possible helps you pick the right reward and build out consistent strategies.
Zeus: Chain Lightning and Jolts
Core Theme: Lightning, chain attacks, instant damage Signature Effects: Many of Zeus’s boons add lightning strikes to your attacks, specials, or dashes, letting your hits fork out and shock extra enemies.
- Attack/Special: [Thunder Dash, Lightning Strike] Add chain lightning to basic moves.
- Cast: [Electric Shot] Launch a straight lightning bolt.
- Passive: [Static Discharge] Applies Jolted, making foes take damage when they attack.
- Call: [Zeus’ Aid] Fires multiple lightning bolts at random enemies.
Strengths: Spreads damage across groups, deals fast damage, works great with weapons that hit multiple targets (Shield, Bow, Rail). Best With: Anything multi-hit or weapons that struggle with crowd control.
Poseidon: Knockback and Wave Power
Core Theme: Pushback, area control, damage spikes Signature Effects: Poseidon’s boons add knockback effects and extra damage when you force enemies into walls or objects.
- Attack/Special: [Tempest Strike, Tempest Flourish] Push enemies away with each hit.
- Cast: [Flood Shot] Fires a powerful, wide shot with knockback.
- Passive: [Typhoon’s Fury] Increases damage from knockback.
- Dash: [Poseidon’s Dash] Leaves a splashing wave.
- Call: [Poseidon’s Aid] Sends out a big tidal wave, pushing and damaging enemies.
Strengths: Controls crowds, combos well with wall slam effects for bonus damage, pairs with gods like Aphrodite (for Weak) or Zeus (for extra burst). Best With: Weapons with big, slow hits—Sword, Shield, Fists, or big-hit Bow builds.
Aphrodite: Weak and Damage Mitigation
Core Theme: Debuff, survival, high damage Signature Effects: Aphrodite’s boons inflict Weak (reduces enemy damage), but also crank up damage numbers—her cast is one of the strongest single hits.
- Attack/Special: [Heartbreak Strike/Flourish] Even a scratch reduces enemy damage.
- Cast: [Heartbreak Shot] Loads a heavy, single-target damage shot.
- Passive: [Different League] Reduces all incoming damage.
- Dash: [Passion Dash] Applies Weak on dash.
- Call: [Aphrodite’s Aid] A big, charm-inducing beam—great for bosses.
Strengths: Excellent for new players, minimizes risk while ramping up offense. Best With: Single-hit weapons, crit builds, or runs focused on not getting overwhelmed in trades.
Artemis: Critical Hits and Precision
Core Theme: Critical chance, accuracy, single-target burst Signature Effects: Artemis boons boost crit chance, offering spikes of damage on lucky hits, and work best if you can trigger lots of attacks quickly.
- Attack/Special: [Deadly Strike/Flourish] Raises crit chance on hit.
- Cast: [True Shot] Homing cast for clean hits.
- Passive: [Pressure Points] Adds crit chance to all damage sources.
- Support: [Hunter Dash, Hunter’s Mark] Temporary crit boosts on dash or marking.
- Call: [Artemis’ Aid] Rains arrows for multi-hit crit chances.
Strengths: Top choice for Bow users, attack-speed builds, or anyone aiming to stack crit for burst damage. Best With: Anything with fast, repeated attacks—Twin Fists, Bow, or certain Sword aspects.
Athena: Deflect and Defense
Core Theme: Damage mitigation, projectile return, safety Signature Effects: Athena boons let you Deflect enemy projectiles (and many melee hits), making tricky runs way more manageable.
- Attack/Special: [Divine Strike/Flourish] Turn offense into defense with Deflect on attacks.
- Dash: [Divine Dash] Possibly the best dash in the game—turns a quick move into full projectile defense.
- Cast: [Phalanx Shot] Broad, piercing shield.
- Passive: [Holy Shield] Defensive barrier after taking damage.
- Call: [Athena’s Aid] Full invincibility and Deflect aura.
Strengths: Removes headaches from certain bosses and stages (Elysium), lets you focus on offense without worrying as much about dodging. Best With: Weapons that want to get up close, or high-difficulty Heat runs.
Ares: Doom and Damage Over Time
Core Theme: Damage-over-time, stacking effects, offense Signature Effects: Ares boons inflict Doom, a delayed burst of damage, on targets hit with your Attack/Special.
- Attack/Special: [Curse of Agony/Pain] Basic hits add the Doom curse.
- Cast: [Slicing Shot] Drops a blade rift for area damage.
- Dash: [Blade Dash] Leaves a blade rift in your wake.
- Passive: [Urge to Kill, Battle Rage] Bonus general damage from various sources.
- Call: [Ares’ Aid] Controlled, steerable blade rift.
Strengths: Fits weapons with quick follow-ups (to trigger Doom), stacks for chunky burst damage over time, powerful when combined with Athena’s Deflect or Artemis’ crit. Best With: Anything fast—Twin Fists, Spear, or builds mixing Deflect and Doom.
Dionysus: Poison – “Hangover” Damage
Core Theme: Damage over time, area denial, soft crowd control Signature Effects: Dionysus boons pepper enemies with Hangover (poison), causing damage to tick every half-second.
- Attack/Special: [Drunken Strike/Flourish] Lays Hangover on enemies.
- Cast: [Trippy Shot] Creates Festive Fog—slows and poisons anyone inside.
- Dash: [Drunken Dash] Applies Hangover.
- Passive: [Bad Influence, Numbing Sensation] Extra debuffs while enemies are poisoned.
- Call: [Dionysus’ Aid] Temporary invulnerability and poison bursts.
Strengths: Good for area control, pairs brilliantly with effects that multiply or spread status. Best With: Rapid-fire weapons or builds seeking guaranteed chip damage (e.g., Rail, Twin Fists).
Demeter: Chill and Slow
Core Theme: Crowd slow, control, stacking debuffs Signature Effects: Demeter brings Chill, slowing enemies and stacking for powerful effects if inflictions pile up.
- Attack/Special: [Frost Strike/Flourish] Applies Chill on hit.
- Cast: [Crystal Beam/Frost Blast] Options between slow, sustained damage (Beam) and quick bursts.
- Dash: [Frost Dash] Adds Chill to dashes.
- Passive: [Ravenous Will, Killing Freeze] Various bonuses while Chill is active.
- Call: [Demeter’s Aid] Damaging blizzard, heavy control.
Strengths: Crowd slows, synergies with boons that trigger or feed off Chill stacks, helps you kite dangerous enemies. Best With: Weapons that hit fast or repeatedly, or those that keep distance.
Picking God Boons to Match Your Playstyle
Choosing which god’s boon to focus on can shift the whole run. Here are some general tips:
- For beginners: Athena boons (especially Divine Dash), due to added safety.
- For speed and damage: Artemis or Zeus, for crit or chain lightning.
- For steady pressure: Dionysus or Ares, with poison or Doom.
- For area and crowd control: Poseidon or Demeter.
Consider your core weapon's style and what gaps you need to fill: more defense, raw output, effects for bosses, or just safety. Mixing and matching powers lets you experiment and keep each run fresh, while the right combination can break the Underworld wide open—sometimes all it takes is one new god boon to flip a run from “meh” to “unstoppable.”
Best Boons for Each Weapon
Picking god boons that pair well with your weapon is one of the fastest ways to take a run from “just okay” damage to wiping the floor with bosses. Each Infernal Arm has a kit that favors certain gods over others, and taking the right boons can warp your entire playstyle. Here’s a breakdown of the top boon choices for each main weapon (with notes for popular Aspects), so you can squeeze every bit out of your build.
Stygian Blade (Sword)
Key Boons
- Artemis Deadly Strike: High base crit chance scales hard with fast attack patterns, especially with the Nemesis Aspect’s crit bonuses.
- Athena Divine Dash: Deflects projectiles when you dash in for tight melee attacks; essential on harder floors.
- Aphrodite Attack: The big raw damage plus Weak means you can stay aggressive.
- Ares Attack: Applies Doom, which stacks well with the Sword’s multi-hit combos.
Top Combos
- Nemesis Aspect: Artemis for crit on Attack, Athena dash for survival.
- Poseidon "Knockback" Build: Poseidon on Special, Artemis on Attack (secondary); adds crowd control.
Eternal Spear (Varatha)
Key Boons
- Poseidon Special: Strong knockback and big base numbers, especially on the spin attacks.
- Zeus Attack/Special: Lightning procs line up with the fast, multi-target jabs.
- Athena Dash: Keeps you alive if you want to play close or kite.
- Ares Special: Doom on ranged throws, when playing Zagreus or Hades Aspects.
Top Combos
- Achilles Aspect: Artemis on Attack, Poseidon Special; enables dash-strike tech.
- Hades Aspect: Ares Special for Doom stacking, paired with Dionysus on Attack for sustained ticks.
Heart-Seeking Bow (Coronacht)
Key Boons
- Artemis Attack: The best-in-class for Bow; multiplies crits due to multi-shot (Chiron/Aspect).
- Zeus Special: Especially good on Chiron; chain lightning through volley shots.
- Aphrodite Attack: Big upfront damage stacks nicely with charged shots.
- Athena Dash: Necessary for dodging while charging shots.
Top Combos
- Chiron Aspect: Artemis everywhere—Attack and Special. Try for Hunter’s Mark and Pressure Points.
- Hera Aspect: Dionysus or Ares Cast for loaded shots, Artemis on Attack for follow-up crits.
Twin Fists (Malphon)
Key Boons
- Artemis Attack: Fast attacks trigger tons of crits, melting targets quickly.
- Ares Attack or Special: Inflict Doom at super-high speed (especially on Demeter Aspect for uppercuts).
- Dionysus Attack/Special: Stacks Hangover fast with the rapid flurry.
- Athena Dash: Critical for survival since you’ll be face-tanking hits.
Top Combos
- Demeter Aspect: Ares Special for repeated Doom uppercuts.
- Talos Aspect: Artemis on Attack, Ares on Special; yank foes into crit/doom storms.
Shield of Chaos (Aegis)
Key Boons
- Zeus Special: Turns your Shield Throws into chain-lightning tosses; wild on Beowulf or Zagreus Aspects.
- Athena Dash or Attack/Special: With Bull Rush/Magnetic Bull Rush for full frontal defense.
- Ares Special: Bumps Special damage with Doom.
- Aphrodite Special: Combo of burst and debuff (Weak) on throws.
Top Combos
- Chaos Aspect: Zeus Special for enemy-clearing throws, Athena Dash for bulletproofing.
- Beowulf Aspect: Dionysus or Ares Cast loaded on the flying shield.
Adamant Rail (Exagryph)
Key Boons
- Artemis Attack: Fast fire rate = tons of crits. Good on both base and Eris aspects.
- Dionysus Attack: Maximizes Hangover stacks.
- Demeter Attack: Constant Chill application slows threats.
- Poseidon Special: Rocket mode gains from knockback and splash effects.
- Zeus Special: Rockets filled with chain lightning.
Top Combos
- Eris Aspect: Artemis or Dionysus on Attack, Poseidon on Special. Buff self, crumple enemies.
- Hestia Aspect: Artemis on Attack for crit boosted single shots (with Reload).
Tips for Picking Boons by Weapon
- Prioritize your strength: Choose boons that supersize your weapon’s signature (fast hits for crit, big burst for special, etc.).
- Compensate for weakness: If a weapon lacks crowd control, add Poseidon or Demeter. If you’re fragile, look for Athena’s defensive boons.
- Aspect matters: Special Aspects sometimes flip which boons are best—always double check for big synergies.
- Reroll wisely: If you get a dud, remember to use God’s Pride/Favor or Mirror rerolls to chase those critical god powers.
Mix and match based on offerings and see what combos pop up—half the fun is stumbling onto chaos, but with these patterns, you’re way more likely to walk out of Hades alive.
Keepsake Guide
Keepsakes in Hades are equippable items you receive from the various characters you meet in the House of Hades. Every character offers a unique keepsake, giving a big range of bonuses—extra health, thicker defenses, boon upgrades, and even more control over which gods show up in your run. Using the right keepsake at the right time makes those tough encounters a lot less random.
Below, you’ll find a breakdown of how keepsakes work, what each one does, which are strongest for different goals, and strategies for swapping keepsakes at the chambers called Infernal Gates (the ones with the skull symbol after each major boss fight).
Keepsake Basics
Keepsakes are unlocked by giving nectar to characters you meet. Once you have one, you can equip it from the Keepsake Case before heading out or when you find an Infernal Gate between zones. You only get one keepsake at a time, but you can swap freely at those gates to adapt to what's coming.
Each keepsake earns experience as you clear encounters, leveling up from Rank 1 to Rank 3. Higher ranks boost their effects, so don’t be afraid to rotate through favorites to max them out.
All Keepsakes List (With Effects)
Below are the keepsakes from major characters and what they do:
Chthonic Gods
- Old Spiked Collar (Cerberus): +25/38/50 max health. Great for new players—to survive longer and have more mistakes.
- Myrmidon Bracer (Achilles): Reduce damage from the front by 20/25/30%. Helps for melee weapons and learning boss patterns.
- Distant Memory (Orpheus): Deal 10/15/20% bonus damage to distant foes. Strong with bow, rail, or cast builds.
Olympian Gods
- Thunder Signet (Zeus): Your next boon is from Zeus. Levels increase chance the boon is Rare or better.
- Eternal Rose (Aphrodite): Guarantees your next boon is from Aphrodite.
- Adamant Arrowhead (Artemis): Artemis offers the next boon.
- Owl Pendant (Athena): Athena shows up next.
- Conch Shell (Poseidon): Poseidon the next god up.
- Dio’s Cup (Dionysus): Get a Dionysus boon next.
- Blood-Filled Vial (Ares): Ares is coming.
- Frostbitten Horn (Demeter): Demeter is summoned.
(All Olympian keepsakes have the same basic function: guarantee the corresponding god comes up next and boosts the rarity of the boon as you level it up.)
Miscellaneous
- Lambent Plume (Hermes): Clear each chamber quickly for stacking bonus dodge and move speed (to 15% at max).
- Cosmic Egg (Chaos): Chaos Gates don’t damage you, and increase Chaos boons’ rarity with ranks. Take if you want to cheese risky runs or farm Chaos.
- Shattered Shackle (Sisyphus): At max, your attacks, specials, and casts deal 100% extra damage while you have no boons on them.
- Pierced Butterfly (Thanatos): Every room cleared without taking damage gives permanent stacking bonus attack/cast/special damage for the run. Perfect for skilled players or cast builds.
Boss/Resource Keepsakes
- Lucky Tooth (Skelly): Revive with 50/75/100 health once per run, then it breaks for the rest of that run. Strong safety net for learning fights.
- Bone Hourglass (Charon): Keeps any Well of Charon effects longer—super helpful for resource farming on specific runs.
- Pom Blossom (Persephone): Gives a free random boon upgrade after several chambers.
- Soul Shaker (Hypnos): Heal a bit after each chamber (but fades at high heat).
Keepsake Tiers: What’s Worth Using?
Top Tier Keepsakes (for Most Runs)
- Old Spiked Collar/Lucky Tooth: Boost max health or provide a free death—that extra bit of forgiveness is hard to drop.
- Olympian Keepsakes (Arrowhead/Thunder Signet/Owl Pendant, etc.): If you need to lock in a specific god for critical boons or duo boons, grab these at the start. Switch out once you have your build foundation.
- Lambent Plume: Provides a huge pile of speed and dodge if you can consistently clear rooms fast—great synergy with speedy weapons and high skill.
Situational/Endgame Keepsakes
- Pierced Butterfly: Go-to for cast or fast-clearing runs—stacks get wild if you never get hit.
- Cosmic Egg: Only worth it if banking on early Chaos gates and planning to stack Chaos boons.
- Bone Hourglass: Swapping to this before buying lots of Well of Charon buffs gives tons of value if you’re min-maxing.
- Distant Memory: When running a bow, rail, or cast build, the ranged damage bonus is very noticeable.
Niche Keepsakes
- Shattered Shackle: Not bad for extreme early game builds (no boons yet), but falls off as you power up.
- Pom Blossom: Great for "lazy upgrades" or when you aren't chasing a certain god or build route.
- Resource Keepsakes: Only worth if specifically farming for darkness, gemstones, etc.
Keepsake Swapping Strategy
Swapping keepsakes between floors is one of the most powerful strategies, especially as you get to know the game. After each big boss (Fury Sisters, Bone Hydra, Theseus/Asterius), you get an opportunity at an Infernal Gate (look for the skull).
Common swap strategy
- Tartarus: Start with an Olympian keepsake to guarantee your best god boons, or use Spiked Collar for early safety.
- Asphodel: Switch to Lucky Tooth for more survivability as things ramp up.
- Elysium: Pick Pierced Butterfly if you’re feeling confident (going for no-hit clears) or switch to Bone Hourglass if you see good Well of Charon offerings.
- Styx: Change to Spiked Collar, Lucky Tooth, or resource keepsake depending on if you’re gunning for the win or farming.
With practice, you'll get a feel for which keepsakes to bring and when, making the most of what the game offers. There’s almost never a bad time to slap on Spiked Collar or Lucky Tooth, but chasing specific god boons with Olympian keepsakes—especially to trigger duo/legendary boons—can make the difference on higher Heat.
Quick Tips for Maximizing Keepsakes
- Level them up: Rotate through keepsakes to get max rank, which boosts their effects permanently.
- Experiment: Don’t be afraid to try weird combos—sometimes a situational keepsake ends up perfect for a certain build.
- Synergize with Mirror/Aspects: Some keepsakes get much better with specific Mirror of Night upgrades or weapon Aspects. For example, speed-based builds love Lambent Plume.
- Flexible is best: Early, use what makes you survive longer. As you get stronger, feel free to play for high-score/leaderboard strats.
With these keepsake basics and strategies, you’ll have a flexible toolbox to take down any combination of gods and monsters the game throws at you.
Fated Authority Guide
Fated Authority stands out as one of the core Pact of Punishment modifiers (also called “Pacts” or “Heat”) in Hades, and understanding how it works can go a long way toward consistent, tailored runs. If you’re aiming for high-heat clears, want more control over your chamber rewards, or simply want a bit of help avoiding dud rooms, Fated Authority is your friend—if you know the limits.
Here’s everything you need to know about unlocking, upgrading, and using Fated Authority effectively.
What is Fated Authority?
Fated Authority is a special tool found in the House Contractor’s upgrades list. After unlocking the House Contractor early in your runs, you’ll be able to purchase Fated Authority using Gemstones. Once unlocked, Fated Authority lets you change (reroll) the main reward of a non-boss chamber before you enter it—perfect for when you just aren’t feeling that Darkness or Gemstone reward. You’re given a limited number of rerolls at a time.
Here’s the catch
- You start with one use per run, but can earn more with Ambrosia upgrades from the Contractor.
- Rerolling a room’s reward changes it to something else entirely. For example, a Darkness reward might reroll into Obols, a Boon, a Pom, Centaur Heart, or a Daedalus Hammer—basically, almost any reward except for a Charon Shop or Infernal Trove.
- This effect applies before entering the chamber, so you always know if you want to reroll.
How to Unlock and Upgrade Fated Authority
Getting access to Fated Authority isn’t difficult, but here’s a quick rundown:
Steps to Unlock
- Reach the House Contractor: Clear a handful of runs to open the House Contractor in Zagreus’ room.
- Buy “Fated Authority” (Top Level): Costs 20 Gemstones.
- Upgrade with Ambrosia: Under “Superior Fated Authority,” you can pay Ambrosia to increase your reroll count per run, up to a max of 4 at the highest tier. (Each upgrade costs 1 Ambrosia, total cost: 3 Ambrosia after initial unlock.)
Quick Tip
This is a permanent upgrade and works in every run—no swapping or equipping required.
How Fated Authority Changes Your Run
Rerolling Chamber Rewards
When you approach a door in Tartarus, Asphodel, Elysium, or Styx, the reward icon appears above it. If you don’t like what’s on offer, just hit the “Reroll” button (the game prompts you; usually right stick on controllers or the R key on PC). The room’s reward shuffles, with a new one appearing instantly.
Eligible rooms
- Any normal chamber (not shops, boss doors, mini-bosses, Erebus challenge rooms, or Sisyphus/Patroclus/Eurydice encounters).
- Works on gates with Boons, Daedalus Hammers, Centaur Hearts, Poms, Darkness, Nectar, Obols, keys, and gems.
Limitations & Strategy
- No Double Reroll: You can only reroll a given door’s reward once per available charge. If you want to reroll another door, it spends another Authority charge.
- No Guarantee of Desired Reward: It doesn’t guarantee the reward you want most, but the odds are solid for cycling out unwanted options.
- Valuable for Boon Chasing: Looking for a specific god’s Boon? Reroll useless stuff (like Darkness or Key rewards) for a good shot at another god gate.
- Resource Management: Limited charges mean careful planning: don’t waste Authority on Gemstone or Key gates you can live without. Save for times you’re fishing for critical boons (Duo/Legendary) or artifacts, especially Daedalus Hammers or Centaur Hearts.
Fated Authority vs. Fated Persuasion
You unlock both of these Reroll mechanics at the House Contractor. Where Authority rerolls chambers, Fated Persuasion rerolls choices—boon options, Well of Charon, Daedalus Hammer, fishing spots, and even Chaos Gates.
- Authority = Change the room’s REWARD
- Persuasion = Reroll what’s inside a choice screen
Players often debate which to pick first. Here’s a breakdown:
When to Prioritize Authority
- Early-game, when your main struggle is not having enough boons or Centaur Hearts.
- When aiming for builds that rely on finding specific rewards (like Duo Boons or Legendary Boons requiring several gods).
- If you consistently get bad room rewards or want faster progress unlocking Mirror upgrades.
When to Prioritize Persuasion
- Later-game, when you want control over which boons you get (example: rerolling a Hermes boon screen for something you actually want).
- For high-heat speedruns or min-maxing powerful builds.
Most players start with Authority, then supplement with Persuasion a little later as they unlock Ambrosia and care more about fine-tuning their builds.
Best Uses for Fated Authority
Here are practical ways to get the most from your Authority rerolls:
1. Fishing for Boons
If your build is missing a key god (e.g., need Athena for Divine Dash), reroll non-boon rooms every time. Example: You see Darkness, but Athena’s boon is missing—burn a reroll for another chance at her.
2. Finding Daedalus Hammers
If you miss the first Hammer and the next few chambers aren’t offering it, reroll. Critical for weapon builds that only shine with the right upgrades.
3. Tanking Up with Centaur Hearts
When you need more health before a boss, Authority can fish up that precious Centaur Heart and make all the difference.
4. Farming Resources
If your goal is resources (like Keys or Gems), reroll rooms that don’t help. This is especially useful during deep resource grinds.
Final Tips for Using Fated Authority
- Rerolls are limited! Save them for tough choices or when you’re missing a critical boon/component for your build.
- Once you’re used to the flow of the game, try pairing Authority with a keepsake for bonus reward control (e.g., Olympian keepsake to guarantee a god, Authority to ensure the room gives a Boon).
- Remember: You can’t reroll boss, shop, mini-boss, or fountain rooms. Always check before burning a charge.
- Upgrading Fated Authority early with Ambrosia pays off over time—each extra reroll adds flexibility.
Fated Authority makes demanding builds, resource farming, and clutch runs much easier, letting you swing the odds in your favor every time you don’t like what the game is offering. Learn when to hold your rerolls and when to hit the button, and you’ll see your win rate go up in no time.