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Similar to the challenging versions seen in previous games, Hades 2 introduces the Vow of Rivaries, which feature tougher battles against the Guardian bosses. Once you unlock this mode, you can face each boss in an enhanced, more difficult form to prove your skill and earn special recognition.
However, be aware that the Vow of Rivals requires defeating the Unrivaled versions of each boss in sequence. You can’t jump ahead or skip any fights. To unlock the opportunity to challenge the later bosses at their ultimate difficulty, you must master all the earlier Unrivaled forms.
How To Unlock The Vow Of Rivals
After completing several runs with the Testaments of Night active, Hecate will tell you during combat that you’re ready to attempt the Vow of Rivals. When you return to the Crossroads, you can add the Vow of Rivals (the first testament) to your list of testaments. Doing this makes the initial fights more intense.
There are four levels of the Vow of Rivals. The first one is free, but each subsequent level requires you to:
- Defeat both bosses in the previous tier
- Cast a spell at the Crossroads Cauldron to advance
Here’s the breakdown:
| Name | Bosses It Buffs | Incantation Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Vow of Rivals | Hecate and Polyphemus | N/A |
| Rivals of Depth and Sea | Scylla & Sirens and Eris | — |
| Rivals of Plain and Peak | Cerberus and Prometheus | — |
| Rivals of Old and Rot | Chronos and Typhon | 2 Z-Sand, 2 V-Lens, 1 Darkness |
All Vow Of Rivals Fights
The Vow of Rivals fights are much tougher, featuring reworked versions of earlier boss encounters. Many of these fights aren’t just about dealing more damage—they challenge your tactics through changes such as tighter arenas, new enemies, added status effects, and more dangerous attack patterns.
Note: You cannot choose which fight to face. To battle a later boss in the Unrivaled mode, all of the previous bosses must also be unlocked and completed in their Unrivaled form.
Polyphemus Rivals Fight
In this fight, Medea joins Polyphemus, making the arena smaller and more dangerous. Poison is now a weapon element, and her attacks leave zones of toxin. Polyphemus can be poisoned too, and his attacks inflict poison damage.
Arena features: The space is smaller and includes stone pillars that can be used for cover or trip you up. Polyphemus’s poison attacks can be avoided by damage or from pools placed along the arena edges.
Hecate Rivals Fight
Hecate summons doubles of herself throughout the fight, and these copies often stay on the field. She can enter a Dark Form, similar to Melinoe’s boon. She and her illusions attack simultaneously, adding complexity.
Arena features: The space has stone pillars that can block projectiles or be hazards. Hecate can transform into a powerful form, with new attack patterns, and her allies now have shields and tougher defenses.
Unrivaled Scylla & Sirens Fight
This fight adds Charybdis, who now takes on a more active role, and introduces a new arena with tentacles providing additional threats. Scylla has more moves, combining Siren’s song with Charybdis’s tentacle attacks.
Phase Three tensions: Expect swarming enemies and spinning attacks, with Scylla repeatedly launching ranged music note projectiles, making it a dynamic challenge.
Unrivaled Prometheus Fight
Prometheus’s Unrivaled form maintains his original chaotic moves but adds Heracles as an attacking companion. Heracles constantly attacks, making the fight more strategic.
Strategy tips: Focus on defeating Prometheus first, as his attack patterns are familiar and more predictable. Heracles, being slower, is easier to handle solo, allowing you to focus on taking down Prometheus efficiently.
Unrivaled Cerberus Fight
Cerberus’s arena shrinks for the first phase, emphasizing close-range combat. Expect to dodge his fast, powerful moves and damage his guard. In the second phase, he becomes more aggressive, with faster flamethrowers, more minion enemies, and new area attacks.
Tips: Use quick hit-and-run tactics, slow him down when possible, and consider Hestia’s Dash boon to mitigate fire damage from the magma.
Unrivaled Chronos Fight
This fight features many modifications, including ringed orbits and faster attack patterns. His second phase introduces a never-ending spinning clock and the summoning of mini-bosses.
Phase three: The arena appears like floating platforms in a void, but movement is fluid. Chronos attacks rapidly and conjures clones. In the final phase, he replaces Zeus with Chronos and fires more projectile attacks. Prioritize defeating monster eggs before they hatch to prevent additional enemies from spawning.
Typhon’s Unrivaled Fight
The ultimate challenge is Typhon, accompanied by Chronos, who is an invincible enemy firing attack patterns from his own initial phase. When Typhon’s second phase begins, Chronos replaces Zeus, unleashing more attacks and summoning minibosses.
Final phase mechanics: Typhon appears to be defeated but is revived when Chronos rewinds time. During this phase, Melinoe is transformed into a helpless child unable to attack but can dash to avoid damage. To escape, stay within a moving sigil; once it charges fully, Melinoe returns to normal and you can finish off Typhon.
Tip: Typhon’s final phase is weaker than earlier stages, so once Melinoe is free, unleash your strongest attacks to conclude the boss fight.
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