Gab Hernandez 
There are builds aplenty in Hades 2, and knowing the best Arcana cards is the key to optimizing every single one.
Melinoe plays very differently from her older brother Zagreus in Hades 2. New mechanics like Sprint and Magick add an extra dimension to combat. Meanwhile, the Nocturnal Arms give Melinoe a more tactical feel than her headstrong brother. As a result, Hades players may struggle to adjust to Melinoe’s flow. Despite the learning curve, Hades 2 offers some truly rewarding builds, primarily thanks to keepsakes and the Arcana cards.
The Arcana cards give Melinoe different strengths, from simple stat boosts to game-changing mechanical changes. While every Arcana card has its niche, some standouts would benefit almost every build, especially those who want to rush through a run. Once players have maxed out grasp in Hades 2, it’s time to optimize those Arcana builds.
What are the best Arcana cards in Hades 2?
Each Arcana card fulfills a certain niche for different builds and runs:
Speedruns
For speedruns, the most important factor is finding the best boons and moving as fast as possible. Make sure to pick up The Swift Runner, which makes Melinoe sprint faster and trigger dash immediately. Players will appreciate the extra speed in massive maps like the Fields of Asphodel and Tartarus.
The Champions, meanwhile, allows players to reroll boon choices a set number of times. Optimal builds make or break a run, and being able to manipulate boons makes The Champions the best Arcana for the job.
Survival
Safety nets mean more chances to finish runs, even after monumental mistakes. Eternity is core to practically every build because it gives Melinoe extra charges of Death’s Defiance. With how close to the bone some boss fights can get, every chance means one step closer to a finished run. Eternity is the best Arcana for survivability in Hades 2, by giving free second chances.
Strength increases Melinoe’s damage output and reduces damage taken when she has no more Death’s Defiance charges. For players on that last breath, Strength gives the player just enough toughness and power to beat that final boss.
Damage
The most skilled players will want to focus on damage above all else, as they rely on skills to make up for any other holes in their aggressive game plan. The Huntress significantly boosts damage dealt while the player has less than 100% Magick, which should be often for most players. Make generous use of Casts and Omega moves with this Arcana active.
Origination grants significant bonus damage against enemies with at least two curse effects applied to them. While entirely build-dependent, Origination can turn any player into a mob-clearing menace.
Farming
In some runs, the players just want to maximize their loot to make future runs much easier. The Boatman gives the player extra gold at the start of each night, meaning they can either activate builds or buy crucial resources in bulk immediately.
The Artificer lets the player turn a set number of minor finds into major finds. Paired with boons like Ocean’s Bounty, players can reap rewards very quickly in a run. Plus, it accelerates any build in the early game, especially when paired with The Boatman.
