Hades 2 Weapon Tier List & Unlock Guide

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Our Hades 2 weapon ranking shows which of the Nocturnal Arms we believe are best for Melinoe to carry into both the Underworld and the Surface. After more than 100 hours playing Hades 2, we’ve thoroughly tested each weapon—from the sharp Sister Blades and straightforward Witch’s Staff to the explosive Argent Skull and the missile-packed Black Coat exosuit—and ranked them from S to C-tier. Keep in mind, none of these weapons are outright bad; some are just more effective than others.

At the beginning of Hades 2, only the Witch’s Staff is available, so if you’re eager to try the top-tier weapons from the Silver Pool, you’ll need to complete many runs and gather a good amount of resources to unlock them. Alongside this ranking, I’ve included instructions on how to unlock each Nocturnal Arm.

Weapon upgrades are also possible through Hades 2 Aspects, so if you want to make your favorite weapons even stronger, be sure to check out the related guide!

Hades 2 Weapon Ranking

Since each weapon has multiple attack styles and combat techniques, it’s worth trying them all to see which suits your playstyle best. However, some weapons stand out as excellent choices to help you progress far in any run:

S-tier:

Sister Blades: Lim and Oros are our top picks because they’re easy to handle and can dish out massive damage when combined with the right Boons and sneaky Omega Attacks. The fast regular Attacks can stun-lock enemies efficiently, while the ranged Special and Omega Special are perfect for applying curses to groups of foes.

A-tier:

Black Coat: Xinth is highly adaptable, featuring solid melee and ranged options, explosive power, a defensive block, and increased movement speed, making it effective in most fights.
Argent Skull: Though it takes some practice due to its shell system, it can deliver high damage quickly at various ranges. Its Special and Omega Special are excellent for damage and quick movement through enemies.

B-tier:

Moonstone Axe: This heavy axe hits hard but is slow, especially when charging its powerful Omega moves. A cautious approach is needed when using it.
Witch’s Staff: As Melinoe’s starting weapon, it’s straightforward and beginner-friendly but doesn’t particularly excel in any area.

C-tier:

Umbral Flames: The Flames aren’t very impressive in their base form and only shine when continuously firing the Omega Attack. Otherwise, they can feel awkward and require a different play style.

How to Unlock All Hades 2 Weapons

Melinoe begins with the Witch’s Staff, but the other five weapons are unlocked at the Silver Pool in the Crossroads. You’ll need to gather and spend specific resources listed in each weapon’s entry, some of which are quite challenging to obtain. For example, the Black Coat and Argent Skull can only be unlocked after unlocking the Surface area, and they’re the last weapons to become available, requiring you to unlock all previous ones first.

Here are the resources needed to unlock each weapon and a brief note on how they work:

Witch’s Staff, Descura

Unlocked from the start.
Allows precise melee attacks with great reach and can cast a projectile that applies status effects. Its Omega moves can hit multiple enemies with line explosions and explosive projectiles.

Sister Blades, Lim and Oros

Unlock with 1 Silver mined in Erebus.
These dual weapons deliver fast close-range swings, stabs, and throws. The Omega Attack teleports Melinoe behind her target for easy backstabs, and both the Special and Omega Special can apply curses effectively.

Umbral Flames, Ygnium

Unlock with 1 Silver from Erebus.
These are dual torches that fire ghostly fireballs, with hold attacks turning fireballs into waves, and orbiting fires dealing damage while short-lived.

Moonstone Axe, Zorephet

Unlock with 15 Silver spent at the Silver Pool.
A slow but powerful axe with a quick overhead spin attack and a devastating Omega Special with ground shockwaves.

Argent Skull, Revaal

Unlock with 2 Adamant (mined in Olympus) and 2 Cinder (from Hecate fight).
A unique weapon that fires explosive shells needing retrieval; its Omega Attack and Special provide area damage and quick mobility options.

Black Coat, Xinth

Unlock with 2 Adamant and 2 Cinder.
An exosuit that boosts speed and delivers a powerful fist attack along with missile swarm specials that lock on during Omega mode. It also includes a shield while channeling the Omega Attack to guard against incoming damage.

Unlocking these weapons is just the beginning. You’ll eventually get access to Weapon Aspects, which can change how each weapon feels and boost Melinoe’s power significantly—making her capable of defeating the toughest bosses. For more detailed instructions, refer to the full guide linked at the top of this page.