Hades Keepsakes: Acquisition, Effects, and Optimization Guide
Master Hades Keepsakes with tips on unlocking, effects, upgrades, and strategies to pick the best for every run.
There’s a good chance that if you’ve spent any time brawling your way out of the Underworld in Hades, you’ve stumbled across a small but impactful piece of loot called a Keepsake. These little tokens, given by the denizens of the House of Hades and the gods themselves, can be real game-changers—altering the way runs unfold, sometimes in subtle ways and sometimes through dramatic boosts. With dozens of options to choose from and only a couple of slots available, figuring out which Keepsakes to collect, when to use them, and how to make the most of each one can be a real challenge. Understanding how they work can make all the difference between a doomed escape attempt and a victorious sprint to the surface.
Unlocking Keepsakes
Unlocking Keepsakes in Hades is all about forging relationships with the game’s sprawling cast of gods, shades, and other memorable characters. Instead of finding Keepsakes lying around or as random drops, you receive them as tokens of friendship—literally—by giving Nectar to these NPCs. Here’s what you need to know to start building up your Keepsake collection and maximize your options on future runs.
Giving Nectar: The Key to Keepsakes
Nectar is a golden-orange bottle, a rare currency found during runs, awarded for clearing certain rooms, or as a reward from the Wretched Broker. It’s your main barter tool for forming bonds with the folks hanging around the House of Hades (and those you meet elsewhere during your escapes). To unlock a Keepsake, you have to give one Nectar to an eligible character for the first time. No matter how frosty (or fiery) their personality, everyone you can give Nectar to will hand over a unique Keepsake the first time you offer them a bottle.
Here’s a quick breakdown:
- Select the Nectar from your inventory when you’re next to a giftable character.
- Press the appropriate button/key to give Nectar; you’ll get a brief conversation and, if it’s your first gift to that person, they’ll hand over their Keepsake.
- From there, you can keep gifting Nectar to deepen your relationship, but only the first gift earns you the Keepsake.
Who Can You Gift Nectar To?
Not everyone roaming the Underworld can receive Nectar, but the list is still generously long. It includes:
- Major Olympian gods: Zeus, Athena, Poseidon, Artemis, and the rest, each of whom you’ll meet as boons during escape attempts.
- House of Hades residents: Characters like Achilles, Nyx, Dusa, and of course Cerberus.
- Key Underworld bosses: Meg, Thanatos, Charon, and a few surprise characters deeper into the story.
Anytime you see a small gift icon next to a character during dialogue, that’s your cue that they can accept Nectar (at least until you’ve unlocked their Keepsake).
Finding Nectar
A bottleneck for unlocking Keepsakes is how much Nectar you actually have. Early in the game, Nectar is a limited resource, but you can earn more as you progress:
- Room rewards on your escape runs, typically marked with a small nectar bottle.
- Fulfilling prophecies from the Fated List of Minor Prophecies (accessible at the House Contractor).
- Trading with the Wretched Broker if you have spare currency.
- Occasionally as a reward for reaching certain ranks with the Mirror of Night.
Hint: Save your first few bottles for characters you interact with often, like Skelly or Nyx, to quickly pad out your options.
Keepsake Display Case: Equipping and Swapping
After you’ve earned your first Keepsake, you’ll unlock the Keepsake Display Case. This stands just before the weapon room in the House of Hades. Here’s how it works:
- You can equip a single Keepsake at the start of each run.
- You’ll unlock the option to switch Keepsakes between Underworld biomes as you progress (Clearing the first boss unlocks this).
- Keepsakes can be upgraded up to level 3, increasing their effects, simply by completing encounters while they're equipped.
Quick Tips for Collecting Keepsakes
- Prioritize gifting Nectar to Olympian gods early if you want more boons or specific build options. For example, Artemis’ Owl Pendant helps with god-specific boons.
- Some Keepsakes are especially helpful in tough areas, so spreading your gifts can widen your tactical options.
- If there’s a character you particularly like (or who gives you frequent runs), prioritize them—it’s both mechanically smart and fun for the narrative.
Summary
Unlocking Keepsakes fills out your tactical toolbox run by run. Give Nectar to new faces, check your display case often, and don’t hoard Nectar forever—those little bottles are made to be shared. Even your toughest runs get easier when you have the right Keepsake lined up from the start.
Understanding Keepsake Effects
Keepsakes aren't just trinkets for show—they’re the backbone of adapting your playstyle in Hades and tweaking how each escape attempt unfolds. Each Keepsake offers a unique effect that can radically shift strategies, boost survivability, or increase damage. Some give you pretty reliable benefits every run, while others are about luck or timing. Here’s how these effects work, what you can expect, and how to make smart choices to support your builds.
What Does Each Keepsake Do?
Every Keepsake grants a specific effect as long as you have it equipped, starting from the moment you enter the Underworld. A few dozen Keepsakes cover a range of needs—offense, defense, economy, or utility:
Olympian Keepsakes
- God-specific Keepsakes: When equipped, each Olympian’s Keepsake (like Artemis’ Owl Pendant or Zeus’ Thunder Signet) increases the chance that their boon will be the next one you find. At the highest level, it guarantees that god’s boon for your next boon, letting you tailor the start of your run for a particular playstyle.
- Strategic Use: If you’re hunting for specific duo boons or just want the safest early game with, say, Athena’s defensive options, these Keepsakes are a must.
House and Underworld Character Keepsakes
- Personal Keepsakes: These range from straight defensive buffs (like Cerberus’ Old Spiked Collar, giving extra health) to more utility-driven effects (Skelly’s Lucky Tooth revives you once per run). Some, like Dusa’s Harpy Feather Duster, even allow healing items to drop from urns.
- Boss and Special Character Keepsakes: Some bosses, after enough Nectar, offer Keepsakes that provide niche but clutch advantages, like invulnerability or bonus resources.
Special and Late-game Keepsakes
- Unique Mechanics: Characters deeper in the story, or with more specific conditions, hand out Keepsakes like the Broken Spearpoint (temporary invincibility after taking damage) or the Lambent Plume (bonus speed and dodge chance when clearing rooms quickly).
How Are Keepsake Effects Upgraded?
Keepsakes start at level 1. Each time you clear enough encounters (rooms with an enemy reward) with one equipped, it levels up, maxing out with 25 encounters for legendary effectiveness. Effects get a noticeable bump at each upgrade:
- Example: At level 1, Cerberus’ Old Spiked Collar gives +25 max health, but at level 3 it offers +50.
- Leveling Tip: Swap Keepsakes mid-run (after clearing each biome) to keep leveling them up, or stick with one for the biggest boost early on.
Categories of Keepsake Effects
Health and Safety
- Old Spiked Collar: Increases your maximum health, giving a nice buffer for new players or tougher foes.
- Lucky Tooth: Grants a one-time revive, acting as an extra life.
- These Keepsakes offer forgiveness as you’re learning bosses or experimenting with new builds.
Boon Control
- God Keepsakes: Force an encounter with a specific Olympian, stacking the deck in your favor for favorite boons, builds, or aiming for duo/legendary boons early.
- Companion Summons: Special Keepsakes that summon powerful allies to sweep enemies or distract bosses (unlocked via progressing certain character relationships).
Resource and Utility
- Pom Blossom: Slowly upgrades one random boon as you clear rooms.
- Cosmic Egg: Ensures Chaos Gates don’t hurt and always give a boon.
- Harpy Feather Duster: Lets you find healing items in breakable urns, particularly strong for sustain-focused or newer players.
Niche and Speedrunner Keepsakes
- Broken Spearpoint: Makes Zagreus invulnerable for a moment after he takes a hit—perfect for fights where chip damage adds up.
- Lambent Plume: The faster you clear each chamber, the higher your dodge and speed grow—handy for skilled players looking to finish runs quickly or avoid last-second hits.
Does Stacking and Synergy Matter?
You can equip only one Keepsake at a time (though you can swap between Underworld biomes), so most effects don’t stack directly. However, some Keepsakes do sync especially well with particular weapons, mirror perks, or build goals:
- Ex: Harpy Feather Duster for healing, paired with Aphrodite’s life-steal boons, makes Zagreus much harder to kill.
- Boons and Relics: God Keepsakes help secure starting boons for particular relics or duo boon combos, adding consistency.
Making the Most of Keepsake Effects
- Early Game: Defensive Keepsakes shine here—Old Spiked Collar and Lucky Tooth give the safety net you need as you learn enemy patterns.
- Mid to Late Game: Switch to offensive or utility Keepsakes once you’re comfortable with bosses, or target specific god boons with Olympian Keepsakes to sharpen your build.
- Boss Strategies: Consider swapping to a Keepsake that provides a revive, reduces incoming damage, or gives an edge against a boss’s attack pattern.
- Speed and Challenge Runs: Use Lambent Plume for time-based challenges or higher heat levels where quick clears are key.
Practical Examples
- First Run: Old Spiked Collar for max health.
- Struggling with Lernaean Hydra: Skelly’s Lucky Tooth for an extra life in case of surprise deaths.
- Going for Duo/Legenadary Boons: Artemis’ Owl Pendant or Poseidon’s Conch Shell.
- Farming Darkness or Gems: Keepsakes that boost drop rates or prize values.
Quick Reference Table: Common Keepsake Effects
| Keepsake | Effect Example | Max Level Bonus | |----------------------------|----------------------------------------|---------------------------| | Old Spiked Collar | +25/ 8/50 Max HP | +50 Max HP | | Lucky Tooth | Restore 50/75/100 HP on death | 1 revive, 100 HP | | Artemis’ Owl Pendant | Next Boon from Artemis (guaranteed L ) | Control boon source | | Harpy Feather Duster | 2%/ %/5% Urn heal item drop rate | 5% per urn | | Pom Blossom | Random boon levels up every 4/ /2 encounters | Faster upgrades | | Broken Spearpoint | 1.0s/1.5s/2.0s invincibility after hit | Longer invulnerability | | Cosmic Egg | Chaos gates are safe + always boon | Always bounty, no damage |
Conclusion
Choosing the right Keepsake isn’t just about stats—it’s about matching your keepsake to your current needs and favorite playstyle. Whether you’re new and struggling to survive, or hunting for the perfect set of boons, paying attention to Keepsake effects will ramp up your consistency and performance in Hades. Test out different options as you progress; you’ll quickly spot which pickups best support your favorite way to battle out of the Underworld.
Optimizing Keepsake Usage
Fine-tuning your Keepsake choices can make a tough run manageable or add that little bit of insurance to a risky new build. Getting the most from Keepsakes comes down to when and why you equip them—not just what each one does at face value.
Strategic Swaps: When to Change Keepsakes
Hades lets you swap Keepsakes at the start of each new biome. This feature exists for a reason: certain Keepsakes simply perform better at different stages of a run. The real power move is swapping to match your goals and the threats ahead.
Tartarus (First Biome)
- Best for Safety: Use Old Spiked Collar or Lucky Tooth if you’re still getting used to enemies or trying out a new weapon. That extra cushion is huge while you’re warming up.
- Early Build Focus: Olympian god Keepsakes work well here. Force an early boon from your favorite god (like Athena for Defense, Artemis for Crits) to kickstart your build.
Asphodel (Second Biome)
- Finding Healing: If you’re low on health, consider swapping to Harpy Feather Duster for potential healing urns.
- Offensive Options: If your build feels solid, shift to boons, Pom Blossom (for random upgrades), or Cosmic Egg (for a free Chaos room that always gives a boon).
Elysium and Beyond
- Prep for Bosses: Now’s the time to equip Lucky Tooth or Broken Spearpoint for those clutch moments.
- Go for Finishers: If you’re chasing a specific achievement (fast clear times, duo boons), now is when you pick up the Keepsake that best fits your target.
Targeting Boon Combos and Legendary Boons
A lot of Hades’s high-level play centers on getting specific god boons or combinations—sometimes duo or legendary effects that need precise setups. Keepsakes from the gods help here by “guaranteeing” your next boon room is from that god, letting you manipulate boon pools for:
- Synergy Setups: Want Demeter + Poseidon duo? Start with Demeter’s Frostbitten Horn, then swap to Poseidon’s Conch Shell.
- Rare Start Boons: Hitting Artemis early can open up powerful crit-focused builds, so grab her Owl Pendant.
- Back-to-Back Legendaries: With proper planning, you can push for rare late-game combos, especially if your earlier choices set up the right prerequisites.
Leveling Up Multiple Keepsakes
Don’t neglect Keepsake upgrades, especially if you’re working toward long-term power or achievements. Even if you don’t need a Keepsake’s effect every run, you’ll want to max them out eventually for completion’s sake and the stronger stats at level 3.
- Rotate Intentionally: Choose a lower-level Keepsake during easier sections of a run, or on heat levels you’ve already mastered, to rack up safe encounters.
- Focus Your Favorites: Once a Keepsake hits level 3, lean into it for challenging runs or when you want to speedrun an escape.
Keepsakes and Weapons: Best Pairs
Some Keepsakes shine with specific Infernal Arms (weapons):
- Long Range Weapons: Harpy Feather Duster is better with ranged options (Coronacht or Aspect of Lucifer) since you’ll smash more urns safely.
- Shield Users: Broken Spearpoint neutralizes the moments when you’re re-shielding or getting in close.
- High-Risk Melee: Lucky Tooth is popular with the Twin Fists or Sword where mistakes are more punishing.
Pacing and Personalization
No two runs are the same. Adapt your Keepsake plan on the fly:
- If Health Is Low: Don’t hesitate to switch mid-run, even if it means passing over the “perfect” boon.
- Speedrunners: Keepsakes like Lambent Plume reward confident play—use it only if you’re breezing through rooms and meeting the timer.
- Experimenters: Trying for a new weapon aspect unlock? Start defensive, switch to aggressive once confident.
Keepsake Usage Tips and Tricks
- Room Counting: Some Keepsakes upgrade or trigger after a set number of rooms—keep track to maximize effects (especially Pom Blossom and Lambent Plume).
- Swapping for Bosses: Before the Minotaur or Theseus, consider swapping to revive or invincibility Keepsakes.
- Chaos Gates: Bring Cosmic Egg early for free, safe trips in and out of Chaos rooms.
Summary
Optimizing your Keepsake usage in Hades is a game of timing, quick swapping, and knowing when to play it safe or push for power. Pay attention to your weapon of choice, your current blessings, and what’s just around the corner in your run. Mixing up Keepsakes keeps runs fresh—and could be the secret to finally escaping the Underworld.
Upgrading Keepsakes
Making your Keepsakes stronger is a big deal in Hades. Every Keepsake you earn starts at level 1, but they can be upgraded up to level 3 by using them during your runs. Each upgrade brings real improvements—either sturdier stats or better effects—so it’s worth leveling up the Keepsakes you use most often (or want to experiment with).
How Keepsake Upgrades Work
Whenever you equip a Keepsake, it gains experience for each chamber (room) you clear while wearing it. After a set number of clears, it automatically jumps to the next level. Here’s the breakdown:
- Level 1 ⇒ Level 2: Clear 25 chambers with the Keepsake equipped.
- Level 2 ⇒ Level 3 (Max): Clear another 50 chambers (75 total).
You don’t have to do this in a single run! Progress sticks between runs, so take Keepsakes into the Underworld as often as you like. Once it’s maxed, you’ll see a gold star on the Keepsake in your Codex.
What Upgrading Actually Changes
Not every Keepsake upgrades the same way. For most, the upgrade increases the raw numbers—like more health from Old Spiked Collar, more extra chance from Lucky Tooth, or higher rarity boosts from god Keepsakes. A few Keepsakes, like the Cosmic Egg, simply improve the effect’s usefulness (e.g., guaranteed rare Chaos boons at max level).
Here’s what you get at each tier (a few examples):
- Old Spiked Collar: +25 health at level 1, +50 at level 2, +75 at level 3.
- Lucky Tooth: +50 health revival at level 1, +75 at level 2, +100 at level 3.
- Olympian God Keepsakes (e.g., Athena’s Owl Pendant): Increases the chance for a higher rarity boon the more you upgrade.
- Harpy Feather Duster: Higher chance of finding healing items in urns, up to 10% at max.
Some Keepsakes, like the Evergreen Acorn or Broken Spearpoint, lower their cooldowns or improve their effect’s durability as you level up. Always check in the Keepsake menu to see what changes for the next tier.
Fast Tracking Keepsake XP
Raising Keepsake levels gets easier if you focus up. Decide which Keepsake you want to power up, then wear it and stick to it for as much of your run as possible. If you’re playing on lower heat (difficulty), you can run a Keepsake you rarely use and take it slow. In higher heat or tough runs, balance leveling with survival—a low-level Keepsake is much less important than a completed escape.
Not interested in a particular Keepsake’s effect but want max levels? Slip it on in early Tartarus, where the threat is lowest, swap to your old reliable later, and repeat in future runs. It might feel like a chore, but that gold-star satisfaction pays off, especially for the late-game challenges and achievement hunters.
Tips for Leveling Keepsakes Efficiently
- Use Worn Keepsakes in Early Biomes: Tartarus and early Asphodel are safe spots to wear Keepsakes you don’t love, just for XP.
- Switch When Needed: Don’t hesitate to swap out an underpowered Keepsake after a few rooms if the run gets hairy.
- Track Your Progress: The Keepsakes menu in the Codex shows stars—one for each level. Keep an eye on it and rotate Keepsakes as they cap out.
- Keep an All-Rounder Handy: Some Keepsakes are always good (Lucky Tooth, Old Spiked Collar). If leveling something new gets risky, swap back to these.
- Remember Chamber Count: Changing Keepsakes at every fountain room is a great way to “spread the love” between several ones you’re still leveling.
Why Max Out All Your Keepsakes?
Beyond bragging rights, there’s a practical reason: hitting level 3 on every Keepsake brings you closer to full completion in Hades. Some late-game objectives look for fully leveled Keepsakes, and a few hidden achievements (and Prophecy Board entries) depend on it. More than that, a full arsenal of max-level trinkets lets you customize runs for absolutely any scenario, from speedruns to high-heat clears.
Max-level Keepsakes can turn shaky runs into victories, especially as you take on greater Heat, chase achievements, or just want to try off-beat weapons and boons. So the next time you’re facing Tartarus for the twentieth time, throw on a Keepsake you never use—you might be surprised how much difference a few chamber clears and a fresh upgrade will make.
Upgrading each Keepsake is a small effort that pays off in the long run—making your journey out of the Underworld just a bit smoother, and maybe a lot more stylish.
Choosing the Right Keepsake for Each Run
Picking the best Keepsake in Hades can mean the difference between a smooth run and a frustrating loss just before the final boss. There are a lot of options, and the choice depends on your weapon, playstyle, and even what kind of run you’re after—whether it’s your very first escape attempt, a high-heat challenge, or just experimenting with new builds. This section breaks down how to match the right Keepsake to each phase of your run, plus why swapping Keepsakes at every Fountain Chamber can stack the odds in your favor.
The Early Game: Surviving Tartarus
The beginning of every run, Tartarus, is often the most dangerous, especially because you’re starting from scratch, and your build isn’t settled yet. The goal here: stay alive and set up your foundation for the rest of the journey.
Best Keepsakes for Tartarus
- Old Spiked Collar: A flat health boost is a classic pick. Especially good for beginners—more hit points rarely hurt.
- Lucky Tooth: Revives you with bonus health on death. It’s a safety net, perfect if you’re still learning enemy patterns.
- God Keepsakes (e.g., Athena’s Owl Pendant): If you know there’s a specific boon you want to build around, grabbing it right off the bat is a safe way to avoid RNG heartbreak.
- Cosmic Egg: Ideal if you want to visit Chaos Gates early. It shields you from Chaos Gate damage and guarantees rare boons once leveled.
- Harpy Feather Duster: If you’re running a build that needs health regen or chipped away at urns for healing, this helps keep you on your feet.
- Black Shawl: More damage when enemies are at full health and from behind. A strong pick for certain weapons and aggressive players.
Stick to defensive or “setup” Keepsakes when you’re less sure about your survival or want to push for certain boons early.
Mid-Run: Asphodel and Elysium—Time to Optimize
By now, you’ve got the beginnings of a build. Keepsake swapping becomes important here. Fountain Chambers (found before each biome’s boss) let you freely change which trinket you’re using, making it smart to adapt as you go.
Smart Swaps at Fountains
- Against Bosses: Before heading into a boss room (especially Lernie, Theseus, or the Minotaur), consider swapping to:
- Evergreen Acorn: Negates the first few hits from bosses—exceptional if you’re still learning attacks.
- Broken Spearpoint: Periodically gives you short immunity after getting hit, which helps with those arena-style Elysium fights.
- Bone Hourglass: If your run has great Wells of Charon purchases, level it up for longer-lasting buffs.
- For Boon Chasing: If you’re missing a vital god boon or duo, switch to that god’s Keepsake (like Zeus’ Thunder Signet). It helps chase down missing links in your build.
- For Healing: Between health, defense, or a “panic button” (like Lucky Tooth), consider your current HP and how tough things have been.
- For Shop-centered Runs: Use the Black Shawl or the Lambent Plume (for speedy runs) to maximize your rewards.
Weapon-Specific Picks
Fast weapons (Twin Fists, Rail, Sword) often benefit from Lambent Plume for dodge and speed-based bonuses, while more methodical setups (Bow, Spear, Shield) might prefer the steady security of Old Spiked Collar or God Keepsakes to hunt for boons.
If you’re rocking a cast-heavy build, Distant Memory (increased damage from afar) works wonders in open arenas. For those who get up close (like with fists), a Black Shawl or Adamant Arrowhead (Artemis) might be better.
Late Game and Styx: Stay Alive or Go All In
Once you reach the Temple of Styx, the finish line is pretty close. Enemies hit much harder, and Hades himself waits at the end. The focus shifts to survival or shoring up your build’s final elements.
Last-Minute Keepsake Choices
- Lucky Tooth: If you swapped it out earlier, this is your last chance for a free revive.
- Evergreen Acorn: Top-tier for Hades or Theseus fights—those invulnerable hits can save a run.
- Skull Earring: If your health is low going into a big fight, this turns danger into bonus damage.
- God Keepsakes: Still missing that perfect boon, call, or duo? If you’ve given yourself “one last try” at a god, grab their Keepsake now.
- Pierced Butterfly: If you aced every room without damage until now, the extra damage boost makes Hades melt—but it’s high risk, high reward.
How to Decide: Adapting, Not Overplanning
Don’t lock your run into a single Keepsake. Being able to swap at each Fountain Chamber means you can tailor your survival, offense, and punishing power right before things get rough. If you’re stuck, here’s a cheat sheet based on three popular playstyles:
1. First-Time Escape Artist
- Early: Old Spiked Collar or Lucky Tooth (more health/revives).
- Mid: Evergreen Acorn (training wheels for bosses).
- Late: Lucky Tooth again, just in case.
2. Speedrunner or Skilled Player
- Early: Cosmic Egg for Chaos, then Lambent Plume (for bonus dodge, speed).
- Mid: God Keepsakes to fill out vital boons, or Black Shawl for extra damage.
- Late: Pierced Butterfly or God Keepsake if hunting for specific effects.
3. Experimental/Boons Chasing
- Early: God Keepsake of intended build.
- Mid: Any God Keepsake still missing (duos/synergies).
- Late: Evergreen Acorn or Lucky Tooth as fallback.
Tips for Making Your Keepsake Choices Count
- Keep an Eye on Your Build: Your needs change if you’re short on defense, lacking damage, or missing a key god.
- Don't Forget to Swap: The game prompts you before bosses/fountains—use this to your advantage!
- Experiment: Some Keepsakes may surprise you in specific situations or with certain weapons.
- Synergize: Think of Keepsake + Boon combos, like Artemis Keepsake for crit-focused builds, or Ares for blade rift stacking.
Conclusion
Choosing the right Keepsake in Hades means thinking ahead and being ready to switch gears when the run demands it. Start safe, adapt as you go, and don’t be afraid to test oddball setups—sometimes they’re the key to your next victory. Keepsakes aren’t just accessories—they’re run-defining tools that give you the edge in one of Hades’ many unpredictable escape attempts.