In the immersive world of Hades 2, Melinoe embarks on a perilous journey through the Underworld, where she encounters a variety of animal companions. These unique familiars not only join her in battle against the formidable Titan of Time, Chronos, but also assist in gathering resources and enhancing Melinoe’s abilities with passive buffs.
Players face a strategic choice, as they can only take one familiar with them on each descent into the Underworld or during their surface runs. It’s crucial to choose a companion that complements Melinoe’s current build and aids in efficiently collecting necessary materials.
Updated February 20, 2025, by Christopher Norman W: Supergiant Games rolls out the Warsong Update for Hades 2, introducing an exciting new Animal Familiar to the roster. In this guide, we’ll delve into how players can recruit Gale the Polecat and explore the unique perks they offer.
Unlocking Familiars in Hades 2
Simple Steps to Unlock Familiars
To unlock animal familiars, Melinoe must perform an Incantation at the Cauldron located in the Crossroads. Specifically, players need to obtain the Faith of Familiar Spirits incantation, which is earned by prioritizing gathering equipment and utilizing it on at least two occasions. After gathering these resources, Melinoe must defeat Hecate. Successfully completing this task will prompt a dialogue about familiars from Hecate prior to the battle.
Once back at the Crossroads, interact with the cauldron to access the incantation. To cast Faith of Familiar Spirits, you’ll require 2x Nectar and 1x Lotus Flower. Nectar can be located in rooms marked with its symbol or purchased from the Wretched Broker for 50 bones. Lotus Flowers are sporadically found throughout Oceanus. After casting the incantation, Melinoe receives a Witch’s Delight that can be given to an animal, allowing them to join her as a companion for future runs.
In Hades 2, players can choose from five distinct animal companions: Frinos, Toula, Raki, Hecuba, and Gale. Each familiar specializes in gathering different materials, meaning selecting the right companion will not only boost the likelihood of acquiring specific resources but will also eliminate the need to engage in mini-games for collection. For instance, having Toula present simplifies fishing, as she’ll automatically catch fish while Melinoe attempts the task.
How to Recruit Frinos the Frog in Hades 2
Loves to Eat Projectiles and Find Psyche
Frinos can initially be spotted near Melinoe’s tent. He not only enhances Melinoe’s maximum HP but is also adept at blocking projectiles, making him particularly advantageous during encounters with Hecate, as Frinos can consume the polymorphing curse.
| Bond Type | Rank 1 | Rank 2 | Rank 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soul Bond | Increases the bonus to find Lost Shades by 25%. | Adds another 25% bonus. | Increases bonus by an additional 25%. |
| Strength Bond | Frinos deals +10 damage when leaping onto foes. | Frinos deals +20 damage in total. | Frinos deals +30 damage in total. |
| Life Bond | While together, gain +10 Max Life. | Gains +20 Max Life in total. | Gains +30 Max Life in total. |
How to Recruit Toula the Cat in Hades 2
An Extra Life and More Fish
After casting the Woodsy Lifespring Incantation, Melinoe will find Toula in the fountain room of Erebus. Upon interaction, Toula will initially leave Erebus but will appear later on the Surface.
Start a surface run, defeat Polyphemus in Ephyra, and proceed to the Pier area. Before exiting, look for Toula at the far left side of the pier. Present her with a Witch’s Delight, and she will join Melinoe as a familiar.
| Bond Type | Rank 1 | Rank 2 | Rank 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Claw Bond | Gains +1 strike. | Gains +2 strikes in total. | Gains +3 strikes in total. |
| Heart Bond | Grants an additional Death Defiance and restores +10 health. | Restores +20 health in total. | Restores +30 health in total. |
| Soul Bond | Increases chance to find Fishing Spots by 15%. | Increases total by 40%. | Increases total by 65%. |
How to Recruit Raki the Raven in Hades 2
More Pecking, More Mining, and More Critical Hits
Raki makes her appearance in the fountain room of the Crossroads. After passing the fountain, look for a distinctive white raven near the left side before exiting. The first dialogue with Raki will cause her to vanish.
Later, during another Underworld run, make your way to the fountain room in Erebus, where you will find Raki again. After another interaction, Raki will disappear once more. On your next Underworld excursion, return to the fountain room to have the option of bonding with Raki by offering her a Witch’s Delight.
| Bond Type | Rank 1 | Rank 2 | Rank 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blood Bond | Gain a +1% chance for damage dealt to be Critical. | Increases to +2% Critical chance. | Increases to +3% Critical chance. |
| Stone Bond | +15% bonus to find Outcroppings. | Increases bonus to +40% chance. | Increases total to +65% chance. |
| Wing Bond | Raki pecks foes 25% more often. | Bonus increases to a 50% chance to peck enemies. | Bonus increases to a 75% chance to peck enemies. |
How to Recruit Hecuba the Hound in Hades 2
Bigger Magic Pool and Abundant Digging for Seeds
To recruit Hecuba, venture into the Underworld and locate Echo in the Fields of Mourning. Follow the path towards the exit, where Hecuba may be waiting. Be cautious; her black fur camouflages her against the floor.
After speaking with Hecuba, she will vanish. You need to keep leveling up your other familiars, so they are ready for Hecate when she has an exclamation mark above her head. Afterward, approach Hecate to unlock the “Shared Familiar Bonds“ability, allowing the recruitment of Hecuba and Gale.
Jump into another Underworld run to find Hecuba in the Fields of Mourning once again. This time, you’ll be able to offer her a Witch’s Delight, solidifying her place as Melinoe’s familiar.
| Bond Type | Rank 1 | Rank 2 | Rank 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spirit Bond | Gain +15 maximum Magic. | Increases digging spot finding by +25%. | Increases digging spot finding again by +25%. |
| Earth Bond | Increases digging bonus by 25%. | Increases digging bonus by +25% more. | Increases digging bonus by another +25%. |
| Guard Bond | Hecuba stuns surrounding enemies 15% more often. | Increases stunning chance. | Further increases stunning chance. |
How to Recruit Gale the Polecat in Hades 2
Enhanced Dodge Chance, Movement Speed, More Flora, and Extreme Scratching
To recruit Gale, ensure you have completed both the Faith of Familiar Spirits and Shared Familiar Bonds incantations. Players returning for the Warsong Update will likely have already completed these steps, as they are prerequisites for recruiting earlier familiars.
To find Gale the Polecat in Hades 2, initiate a surface run. Gale is located in the final chamber before you encounter Prometheus. Complete the City of Ephyra and the Rift of Thessaly, and navigate through the lower levels of Mount Olympus. Gale will be positioned close to the shop on the right side of the path just before reaching Prometheus.
Initially, we were unable to recruit Gale upon our first encounter. After speaking with him, he temporarily vanished. However, during our second interaction, we successfully recruited Gale after giving him a treat.
Gale excels at blocking incoming attacks and retaliates with scratch damage. He seems capable of blocking a certain number of attacks per battle, though the specifics remain unclear. We will continue to update this section with further insights into his mechanics as we progress.
Gale’s Upgrades:
| Veil Bond | Each rank boosts Dodge Chance % and Movement Speed. |
|---|---|
| Nature Bond | Each rank increases the odds of finding Flora. |
| Wild Bond | Gale inflicts greater scratch damage post-block with each rank. |
Upgrading Familiars in Hades 2
Crafting Magical Treats for Your Animal Companions
To enhance a familiar, players should approach it in the Crossroads. To upgrade the familiar currently with Melinoe, head to its designated area in the training zone and ask it to rest. Following that, present the familiar with a Witch’s Delight to elevate one of its abilities to the next tier.
To create more Witch’s Delight, utilize the Beast-Loved Morsel Alchemy recipe at the Cauldron. This recipe becomes available after Melinoe casts the Faith of Familiar Spirits incantation. A crucial ingredient is Star Dust, which can be acquired by casting the Abyssal Night Incantation available from Chaos at the Crossroads near the Pitch-Block Stone. Alternatively, Star Dust can be won through Chaos Trials or purchased for 600 Bones from the Broker.
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