Chaos is back and taking a more hands-on approach in Melinoë’s adventure in Hades 2 compared to its involvement with Zagreus in the original game. The ominous Pitch-Black Stone hovers at Melinoë’s training grounds, presenting unique challenges that encourage her to tackle various realms with different setups.
The Trial of Humility is rated four out of five eyes in terms of difficulty, making it one of Chaos’s more formidable challenges. It resets you, tossing Melinoë back into Erebus to face Hecate without any starting gear or magic except for the Keepsake you hold and a simple stick.
What Is The Loadout?
Melinoë is armed with the Witch’s Staff for the trial—this is the very stick you begin the game with, and it’s essential for this challenge. Any upgrades made to the Witch’s Staff in the Training Grounds will carry over, allowing for quicker Omega moves, which is beneficial, but not a game-changer.
The staff features a melee attack, a ranged special, and larger, more powerful Omega moves. It’s straightforward and user-friendly. That said, you’ll start with minimal gear—no Arcana, no familiar, and no starting Boons—just like at the beginning of a new game.
To unlock Trials in the Pitch-Black Stone, you’ll need to gather the required components—weapon, aspect, keepsake—during your main run. Since the Trial of Humility resembles a new game, it’s accessible as soon as you activate the Pitch-Black Stone.
What Is The Best Keepsake?
The Keepsake you choose in the Training Grounds will carry over to the Trial of Humility, boosts included. The right selection can significantly impact your chances, so it’s a good idea to take your time choosing.
- Purest of Hope (Apollo): Your first Boon in this trial will always be Apollo’s, making the ability to enhance his blessings quite beneficial.
- Gold Purse (Charon): This is easily obtainable and useful for players attempting the trial early on. You’re likely to encounter Charon before facing a region’s boss, and the extra gold can help you secure anything from a Pom to a Boon or a healing item.
- Silken Sash (Arachne): In absence of Arcana cards, the Sash grants Armor that regenerates after each room, serving as a solid substitute for healing.
- Luckier Tooth (Schelemeus) or Engraved Pin (Moros): Both of these Keepsakes offer a form of Death Defiance or a similar benefit, helping you survive after losing all your Life.
What Are The Best Boons?
You’ll always begin with Apollo, which increases the likelihood of encountering him multiple times in Erebus. In the early stages of the Trial, focus on Boons that don’t rely on using magic since your resources are limited and there’s no way to replenish them.
- Nova Strike or Nova Flourish: Both of these enhance damage and area effects for your Attack and Special, respectively, making them excellent picks.
- Blinding Sprint: Increases your sprint speed and applies Daze, which can prevent enemies from inflicting damage. Many of Apollo’s later Boons synergize well with Daze effects, so securing one early is a smart choice.
- Lucid Gain: Restores magic when you remain in an area affected by a Cast once it expires, assisting with the challenge of not being able to regain magic.
Other gods will appear randomly, as in a typical run, so detailed planning isn’t possible. Any of the gods’ keepsakes can assist if you’re hunting for a specific deity. However, since the Trial of Humility only takes place in Erebus, focusing on immediate results over long-term strategies for Duo or Legendary Boons is advisable—short-term benefits will be sufficient here.
Other Boons
Regaining magic and health is the biggest hurdle in the Trial of Humility. Other Boons that can help with this are randomly found but can be quite common.
- Fixed Gain (Hephaestus): Restores magic when you take damage.
- Fluid Gain (Poseidon): Creates a Spirit Bubble that restores 20 magic.
- Hearth Gain (Hestia): Restores magic whenever you inflict damage using your Attack or Special.
- Uncanny Fortitude (Hephaestus): Enhances your maximum health based on your magic capacity.
What Are The Other Rewards?
First and foremost, it’s essential to increase your maximum magic. A shortage of magic significantly reduces your options and turns battles into a child’s game where players hit each other with sticks. Look for rooms that reward Soul Tonics, or if you possess the Psychic Slivers of Clarity incantation, seek out rooms that provide Psyche as rewards.
If you come across a Daedalus Hammer, almost any choice will be beneficial, but base your decision on the Boons you’ve been accumulating. The Witch’s Staff has unique upgrades that enhance performance in the Trial of Humility, which you should keep an eye out for.
- Rapid Thrasher or Rapid Moonshot: The Witch’s Staff can be quite slow, so enhancing the speed of your Attacks and Specials is always a wise move.
- Aetheric Moonburst: Your Omega Special gains a new Power Shot that deals an additional +50 percent damage and restores 20 magic. Our goal is to finish off foes swiftly while keeping our magic levels high!
- Vampiric Cataclysm: Killing an enemy with your Omega Attack restores five health. While using your Omega Attack requires careful consideration of your magic management, healing is scarce in the Trial of Humility, so take every opportunity you can find.
