How to Unlock All Hidden Aspects in Hades 2 (October 2025 Update)

How to Unlock All Hidden Aspects in Hades 2 (October 2025 Update)

Hidden weapon aspects represent some of the most powerful transformations available in Hades II. With the full 1.0 release in September 2025, all six hidden aspects are now available for players to unlock. These special weapon forms don't just boost stats—they fundamentally change how weapons operate, introducing new movesets and mechanics that can completely redefine your playstyle.

What Are Hidden Aspects in Hades 2?

Hidden aspects are the fourth and final form of each Nocturnal Arm weapon in Hades II. Unlike the three standard aspects you can unlock through regular progression, hidden aspects require special conditions, waking phrases from specific NPCs, and rare crafting materials.

Each hidden aspect alters a weapon's base moveset and adds special mechanics that feel like wielding an entirely new weapon. These transformations are permanent upgrades that remain unlocked once crafted, making them essential for mastering late-game content and high-fear runs.

Prerequisites: What You Need Before Starting

Before attempting to unlock any hidden aspect, you must meet these universal requirements:

Basic Requirements:

• All six Nocturnal Arms must be unlocked and acquired
• Complete the "Aspects of Night and Darkness" incantation
• Use each weapon in at least one run
• Unlock all three base aspects for the specific weapon
• Upgrade at least one aspect to maximum level (Rank V)

Important Restriction: You can only hold one waking phrase at a time. If you have an unused waking phrase, you cannot receive another until you forge that hidden aspect at the Silver Pool.

Step-by-Step: Unlocking the Aspects System

Step 1: Unlock All Six Nocturnal Arms

The six weapons in Hades II must all be unlocked at the Silver Pool using specific recipes:

1. Witch's Staff (Descura) - Available by default
2. Sister Blades (Lim and Oros) - Requires 1x Silver
3. Moonstone Axe (Zorephet) - Requires 15x Silver
4. Umbral Flames (Toula) - Requires 3x Silver and 3x Cinder
5. Argent Skull (Ekthema) - Unlocks after significant progression
6. Black Coat (Xinth) - Available after fighting Prometheus

Step 2: Cast "Aspects of Night and Darkness" Incantation

This incantation becomes available after defeating Hecate five times (once with each of the first four weapons). The recipe requires:

• 1x Nightshade (found in Flourishing Soil patches in Erebus using Silver Spade)
• 5x Bronze (mined on the Surface of Olympus)

Once cast, visit the Silver Pool to access the aspect upgrade system.

Step 3: Unlock and Upgrade Base Aspects

For each weapon, unlock all three standard aspects using materials like Psyche, Silver, and other resources. Then upgrade at least one aspect to Rank V using Nightmares (obtained from Testaments of Night, Fated List prophecies, or purchased from the Wretched Broker for 1,200 Bones each).

Complete Hidden Aspect Unlock Guide

1. Aspect of Anubis (Witch's Staff)

NPC: Circe (Rift of Thessaly) Forging Cost: 3x Glassrock and 15x Marble

Requirements:

• Meet Circe on her island in the Rift of Thessaly (Surface path)
• Complete other dialogue options with her first
• No other waking phrases in inventory

Effect: Channels psychic energy into devastating long-range attacks. The staff transforms into a powerful beam weapon that can hit multiple enemies in a line.

Best God Synergies: Apollo (precision damage), Hestia (burn damage over time), Zeus (chain lightning effects)

2. Aspect of Morrigan (Sister Blades)

NPC: Moros (Crossroads) Forging Cost: 15x Marble and 1x Shadow

Requirements:

• Speak with Moros at the Crossroads
• Cannot be your first hidden aspect (must unlock at least one other first)
• Cannot have just turned in a waking phrase in the same run
• No other waking phrases in inventory

Effect: Enables the Blood Triad ritual—land an Attack, Special, and Ω Move on a single target to inflict massive damage. Transforms the blades into crow-themed cutters with dark magic properties.

Best God Synergies: Aphrodite (close-range damage bonus), Artemis (critical strike chance), Demeter (freeze then backstab combos)

3. Aspect of Supay (Moonstone Axe)

NPC: Charon (encountered during runs) Forging Cost: 15x Iron and 5x Serpent Scales

Requirements:

• Encounter Charon during a run at a shop (not at the Crossroads)
• No other waking phrases in inventory
• Meet general hidden aspect requirements

Effect: Enhances Rush Boon damage with alternate moveset. Creates devastating area-of-effect attacks with each swing. The axe gains spectral properties that deal bonus damage to groups.

Best God Synergies: Hephaestus (explosive area damage), Poseidon (knockback and wall slams), Ares (doom stacking on multiple enemies)

4. Aspect of Hel (Argent Skull)

NPC: Medea (City of Ephyra) Forging Cost: 12x Adamant and 2x Snake-Reed

Requirements:

• Find Medea on the southern side of the City of Ephyra (Surface path)
• No guaranteed spawn—requires multiple Surface runs
• No other waking phrases in inventory

Effect: Transforms the skull into a burst-fire weapon similar to the Adamant Rail from the original Hades. Attack becomes rapid burst fire, further enhanced by Ω Special.

Best God Synergies: Zeus (rapid hits trigger more lightning), Dionysus (poison stacks quickly), Hephaestus (explosive rounds)

5. Aspect of Shiva (Black Coat)

NPC: Selene (encountered during runs) Forging Cost: 2x Void Lens and 4x Nightmares

Requirements:

• Encounter Selene during a run (NOT in shops or pre-boss reward chambers)
• Equip Selene's Keepsake to guarantee her appearance
• She won't show the usual exclamation mark indicator
• Only appears in regular chambers, not boon/pom reward rooms

Effect: Absorb Ω Special blasts to become Destructive. While Destructive, Ω Attacks deal significantly increased damage. This aspect rewards aggressive, calculated play.

Best God Synergies: Apollo (precision single-target damage), Artemis (critical damage amplification), Athena (deflect while destructive)

6. Aspect of Nergal (Umbral Flames)

NPC: Charon (encountered during runs) Forging Cost: 15x Iron and 5x Serpent Scales

Requirements:

• Encounter Charon at a shop during a run
• No other waking phrases in inventory
• Meet general hidden aspect requirements

Effect: Devil Sparks automatically, and Ω Attack and Ω Special enhance the auto-fire for several seconds. Creates a berserk-style attack pattern with increased fire rate and damage.

Best God Synergies: Zeus (constant lightning procs), Hestia (flame damage amplification), Hephaestus (explosive combinations)

Upgrading Hidden Aspects

Once unlocked, hidden aspects can be upgraded from Rank 1 to Rank 5 using Nightmares. Each upgrade significantly improves the aspect's unique bonuses:

Standard Upgrade Path:

• Rank 1 → Rank 2: 2x Nightmares
• Rank 2 → Rank 3: 2x Nightmares
• Rank 3 → Rank 4: 2x Nightmares
• Rank 4 → Rank 5: 2x Nightmares

Total per weapon: 8 Nightmares to max out

Bonus Level: With Hephaestus's Legendary Boon "Premium Service," you can push aspects to Level 6 for additional power.

Farming Nightmares Efficiently

Nightmares are the primary currency for upgrading hidden aspects. Obtain them through:

1. Testaments of Night - Complete Testament challenges for guaranteed Nightmares
2. Fated List Prophecies - Certain prophecies award Nightmares upon completion
3. Wretched Broker - Purchase for 1,200 Bones each
4. Guardian Boss Fights - Some bosses drop Nightmares on defeat

Pro Tip: Rotate your runs between (A) farming Bronze/Nightshade nodes, (B) Guardian fights for Nightmares, and (C) Testament runs for guaranteed drops.

Hidden Aspects Tier List (October 2025)

Based on current meta and community consensus:

S-Tier (Most Versatile):

• Aspect of Anubis (Staff) - Incredible range and damage
• Aspect of Nergal (Flames) - Consistent DPS with god synergies
• Aspect of Morrigan (Blades) - High burst damage potential

A-Tier (Strong with Right Build):

• Aspect of Shiva (Coat) - Excellent single-target damage
• Aspect of Supay (Axe) - Great for crowd control

B-Tier (Situational):

• Aspect of Hel (Skull) - Powerful but requires specific playstyle

Note: All aspects are viable for endgame content with proper god boon synergies. Tier rankings reflect general versatility rather than peak performance.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Holding Multiple Waking Phrases: You can only hold one waking phrase at a time. Forge your current hidden aspect before attempting to unlock another.

Ignoring Dialogue Trees: Some NPCs require multiple conversations before revealing waking phrases. Don't skip dialogue opportunities.

Wrong Encounter Locations: Certain NPCs only give waking phrases in specific locations (e.g., Selene won't provide hers in shops or pre-boss chambers).

Insufficient Materials: Farm required crafting materials before seeking waking phrases. Nothing's worse than getting a phrase you can't use immediately.

Neglecting Aspect Upgrades: Hidden aspects at Rank 1 are underwhelming. Invest Nightmares to unlock their full potential.

Optimal Unlock Order Strategy

Based on accessibility and difficulty, here's a recommended unlock order:

1. Aspect of Nergal (Flames) - Charon is easy to encounter during runs
2. Aspect of Supay (Axe) - Another Charon aspect, guaranteed shops
3. Aspect of Anubis (Staff) - Circe is accessible on Surface path
4. Aspect of Morrigan (Blades) - Moros at Crossroads (unlock second or later)
5. Aspect of Hel (Skull) - Medea requires Surface RNG
6. Aspect of Shiva (Coat) - Selene has the most restrictions

Advanced Tips for Hidden Aspect Mastery

Equip the Relevant Weapon: When hunting a specific waking phrase, equip that weapon during your run. Some players report faster unlock triggers this way.

Use Keepsakes Strategically: Equip Selene's Keepsake to force her appearance when hunting the Aspect of Shiva.

Complete Testament Chains: Testaments provide consistent Nightmare income for upgrades.

Experiment with God Combinations: Each hidden aspect has optimal god pairings. Test different boon combinations to find your preferred playstyle.

Plan Your Resource Routes: Map efficient farming routes for Adamant, Marble, Iron, and other rare materials needed for forging.

Show Your Hades II Mastery

As you unlock and master all six hidden aspects, celebrate your achievements with exclusive Hades merchandise! Our Hades collection at Cartpitol features premium apparel, collectibles, and accessories inspired by Melinoë's journey through the underworld.

Whether you're looking for stylish gear to wear during your gaming sessions or collectibles that capture the artistic beauty of Supergiant Games' design, our collection offers something for every Hades II enthusiast. Show your dedication to mastering the Nocturnal Arms with merchandise that reflects your passion for this incredible roguelike masterpiece.

Conclusion: Mastering the Hidden Aspects

Unlocking all six hidden aspects in Hades II represents a significant investment of time and resources, but the payoff transforms your arsenal completely. Each aspect offers unique playstyles that synergize differently with Olympian boons, allowing for countless build variations and strategies.

The key to success lies in understanding the requirements, farming resources efficiently, and experimenting with different god combinations to find what works best for your playstyle. Whether you prefer the long-range devastation of Anubis, the burst damage of Morrigan, or the auto-fire chaos of Nergal, these hidden aspects provide the tools needed to conquer even the highest fear levels.

With the full 1.0 release now available, all hidden aspects are accessible for dedicated players willing to put in the effort. Start with the easier unlocks like Nergal and Supay, build your Nightmare reserves, and systematically work through the remaining aspects as you master each weapon's unique mechanics.

Remember: patience and persistence are your greatest allies in Hades II. Every run brings you closer to unlocking these powerful transformations. May Hecate guide your path, and may your Nocturnal Arms strike true!