While last month`s “Unseen Update” was widely anticipated as the grand finale for Hades 2 Early Access, Supergiant Games, ever the maestros of surprise, had one more crescendo planned. Patch 11 has arrived, and it`s less a minor tweak and more a comprehensive overhaul, meticulously crafted with player feedback to refine the already compelling journey through the Underworld.
This “actual final patch” — one might cautiously call it that without inviting further celestial interventions — sets the stage for the highly anticipated 1.0 launch. Its primary objective? To empower players, ease certain tribulations, and meticulously sweep away the last vestiges of early access imperfections. Let`s delve into the changes that aim to make Melinoë`s quest against Chronos more dynamic and, dare we say, slightly less soul-crushing.
A Boost for the Boundless Spirit: Player Empowerment
Players are getting a noticeable leg up in their perilous descent. Many of Melinoë`s arsenal of weapons, the divine boons she receives, and her innate abilities have seen significant buffs. This includes increases to damage output, expanded ranges, or improved utility, making combat more fluid and effective. Some abilities are simply easier to wield, reducing the cognitive load in frantic skirmishes.
Nocturnal Arms & Aspects Refined:
- The **Umbral Flames** now boast a larger Special projectile and swifter orbit, while its Melinoë Aspect enjoys an increased Critical damage chance. The Eos Aspect no longer cancels other Special projectiles, and its Daybreaker projectile now tracks targets with improved precision.
- The **Moonstone Axe** receives a welcome boost to its Attack sequence damage, making each swing more impactful. For those wielding the Thanatos Aspect, its Critical chance ramps up faster and reaches a higher ceiling.
- The **Black Coat** offers improved responsiveness for blocking while channeling its Omega Attack. The Shiva Aspect`s Omega Special has been reworked to bounce multiple times in the target area, though its Destructive damage bonus has been adjusted to compensate.
- Notably, the **Umbral Flames (Supay)** underwent a significant rework. Its Special now creates a second projectile, Attack timings and Omega Attack are revised, and shots no longer stagger foes. A small price to pay for what promises to be a more versatile tool.
Divine Interventions: Boons & Blessings
The Olympians and other powerful entities have re-evaluated their gifts. While many boons receive power-ups, some have been carefully rebalanced, and a few even replaced entirely. This ensures strategic depth remains, preventing any single build from becoming overwhelmingly dominant.
- Zeus`s Storm Ring and Arc Flash both see increased damage, electrifying your encounters.
- Poseidon`s Tidal Ring and High Surf have their damage and area of effect slightly reined in, a gentle nudge back to equilibrium.
- Apollo`s Solar Ring gains increased damage, further illuminating your path.
- Hephaestus`s fiery influence means increased damage for his Blast effects and a better Glow bonus from Rarity. His Tough Gain boon now activates even when protected by Hermes`s Paid Dues, and Molten Touch inflicts more damage to Armor, scaling better with **Poms of Power**.
- Hestia`s Heat Rush sees a minor reduction in its damage trail duration.
- In a rather intriguing development, certain dual boons have been replaced:
- Golden Rule (Hera x Poseidon) is out, replaced by **Ripple Effect**, allowing your effects from Hera`s Fine Line and Poseidon`s Ocean Swell a chance to fire twice.
- Seismic Hammer (Poseidon x Hephaestus) makes way for **Seismic Servo**, which accelerates the recharge rate of any Boon effects that recharge over time.
- Room Temperature (Demeter x Hephaestus) is swapped for **Cryo Pounder**, ensuring your Hephaestus blasts deal more damage to Freeze-afflicted foes.
- Other adjustments include increased bonus damage for Rude Awakening (Apollo x Hephaestus), a wider timing window for Chain Reaction (Hephaestus x Hestia), and a reduced Gold discount for Hermes`s Travel Deal.
New Tools & Tricks: Daedalus Hammers & Hexes
The legendary Daedalus Hammers and the mystic Path of Stars have also received attention, further diversifying Melinoë`s combat options.
- Most Hexes now have a reduced start-up time, making them faster to deploy in the heat of battle.
- Godsent upgrades from the Path of Stars can now appear on subsequent uses, allowing for more strategic long-term planning.
- Confluence (Night Bloom) now makes your raised servants appear directly in your Casts, which is certainly a more direct approach than waiting for a sprint.
- **Helheim Charge (Skull)** now fires your Omega Attack an additional time in succession, doubling down on the devastation.
Companion & Keepsake Adjustments
Even Melinoë`s loyal companions and cherished mementos have been fine-tuned for optimal performance.
- **Toula the Cat**, already a fan favorite, enjoys improved bonuses from Familiar Bonds, increased innate movement speed, better pounce accuracy, and a longer active time between naps. Furthermore, she`s less prone to getting stuck on environmental obstacles – a quality-of-life improvement for both cat and player.
- The **Ghost Onion`s** restorative effect is no longer diminished by the **Vow of Scars (Oath)**, a welcome reprieve for those challenging themselves.
- The **Crystal Figurine** now activates an additional random Arcana Card, adding a dash of unpredictability and potential power.
A Kinder Underworld? Foes & Dangers
Perhaps the most unexpected turn in this update is the subtle, yet significant, shift in enemy behavior and composition. While the Underworld remains a perilous place, some encounters have been made marginally less punishing, ensuring a smoother progression without sacrificing the core challenge.
- Encounters on Olympus and with Icarus now feature slightly fewer foes, offering a bit more breathing room.
- Bosses like Typhon and Prometheus have seen adjustments to their attack speeds and tracking, making their formidable assaults more manageable.
- Even the fearsome **Unrivaled Cerberus** will no longer simultaneously drop magma on top of his other attacks, and **Unrivaled Scylla`s** guest artist now fires fewer projectiles. Small mercies, indeed.
- Numerous individual foes across various regions, from **Master-Slicer (Erebus)** to **Shamblers** and **Harpies**, have received slight reductions in life, attack frequency, or movement speed, or have had frustrating abilities removed or altered. This suggests a careful calibration to ensure challenge stems from skillful play rather than overwhelming numbers or tricky mechanics.
Behind the Scenes: Quality of Life & Bug Fixes
Beyond the direct gameplay changes, a significant portion of this patch is dedicated to polish, ensuring a smoother and more robust experience. After all, what`s a grand finale without a clean stage?
- Crucially, players can no longer tragically lose all their Life while waiting for Athena to arrive or in the fleeting moment between clearing a Chaos Trial and being returned by Chaos. A true hero`s death should be dramatic, not a clerical error.
- Your raised servants will now display damage numbers when their strikes connect, providing satisfying visual feedback.
- The **Book of Shadows** has improved sorting for Path of Stars upgrades, and in-game menus are more navigable with gamepad controls.
- Visual effects have been further adjusted for improved clarity in combat, and audio feedback for Power Shot effects is now more distinct.
- Naturally, a multitude of bug fixes address various interactions, rare soft locks, and unexpected behaviors, ensuring the Underworld operates as intended. This includes fixing issues where bosses like Typhon could become impervious indefinitely or Scylla getting stuck in walls – clearly, even monstrous deities need to learn their spatial reasoning.
A Crucial Note Before 1.0: Resource Conversion
Perhaps the most critical announcement for dedicated players comes in the form of a pre-1.0 heads-up: any **Zodiac Sand** or **Void Lens** resources you have when the 1.0 launch update loads will automatically be converted to **Prestige**. While Supergiant assures players they are welcome to continue earning these, this conversion signifies a significant shift in the game`s long-term economy and progression. It`s a clear signal that the underlying systems are solidifying for the full release, meaning players should consider their current resource hoarding strategies.
Anticipation Builds for the Full Release
With this comprehensive patch, Hades 2 Early Access reaches its intended apex. The adjustments collectively paint a picture of a game that is more balanced, more responsive, and ultimately, more forgiving in its difficulty spikes, while still retaining the challenging roguelike core that fans adore. The stage is truly set for Melinoë`s full story to unfold, and players worldwide eagerly await the final curtain rise on Hades 2 version 1.0.
Callum Darby