Animal Familiars in Hades 2: How to Unlock Them, Abilities and Upgrades

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In the first Hades, players could unlock companion pets that served as allies during its challenging battles. This mechanic returns in the direct sequel, Hades 2, in the form of Animal Familiars. Didn't know they existed? Want to find out how to unlock them, how many are available or what abilities each one offers? Pay attention, because this section of our guide covers everything you need to know about Animal Familiars, including how to upgrade each companion.

How do you unlock Animal Familiars?

To unlock Animal Familiars in Hades 2, you must first progress far enough through the story to obtain a Cauldron Incantation at the Crossroads that allows you to recruit these companion animals by offering them a particular type of gift.

Cauldron Incantations generally become available as you reach increasingly distant points in your mission each night and perform the Incantations that appear along the way. However, the Incantation that allows you to recruit Animal Familiars has a very specific requirement before it becomes available at the Cauldron, and you can easily miss it if you do not know what to do.

These are the steps you need to follow:

• First, perform the "Night's Craftwork" Incantation at the Cauldron so you can craft Gathering Tools at the Silver Pool.
• Next, you must unlock the Tablet of Peace at the Silver Pool and equip it.
• Once you have done that, begin a night and advance through the Locations until you find a Lost Shade that you can compel.
• You must compel at least two Lost Shades, either during the same night or on separate nights.
• After that, you must complete a second run with the Tablet of Peace and reach the battle against Headmistress Hecate in Erebus.
• If you have followed these steps, Hecate should unlock the Cauldron Incantation called "Faith of Familiar Spirits", which allows you to recruit Animal Familiars.

Equipping the Tablet of Peace during at least two runs appears to be the main requirement for Hecate to give you the Animal Familiar Incantation. If you do not do this, Hecate may never mention Animal Familiars, no matter how many runs you complete or how far you progress.

As we were able to confirm during our own playthrough, Hecate gave us the Animal Familiar Incantation after we equipped the Tablet of Peace during two separate attempts. You will know you have done it correctly because the Headmistress will deliver a line of dialogue about bringing a companion to help you the next time you fight her.

After unlocking the Animal Familiar Incantation at the Cauldron, you must still perform it using Nectar x2 and Lotus x1 to receive your first Witch's Delight. This is a special gift that you can offer to an Animal Familiar to recruit it using the "Bond" option. Further down, we explain where to find each companion.

Finally, remember that after recruiting your first Animal Familiar, the "Beast-Loved Morsel" Alchemy Recipe will also appear at the Cauldron. This recipe allows you to produce another two Witch's Delights whenever you need more.

All Animal Familiars and their abilities

Hades 2 features up to five Animal Familiars that can be recruited using Witch's Delights. However, bear in mind that you can only bring one companion on each run. After recruiting an Animal Familiar, it will appear at the Crossroads near the Silver Pool, the Keepsake cabinet and the Training Grounds, allowing you to choose which one will travel with you. Your chosen Familiar will accompany you throughout the entire run, and you do not need to worry about it dying, as enemies cannot attack it.

Below, we show you all the available companions, where to find each one and the abilities and benefits they provide:

Frinos

Frinos is a green, toad-like amphibian who can always be found in Melinoë's tent whenever you return to the Crossroads after a run.

Once you have Witch's Delights in your inventory, you can approach Frinos and offer him one to unlock him as a companion. He will then move to the area near the Keepsake cabinet, where you can invite him to follow you, although he will also continue appearing in Melinoë's tent.

These are Frinos's main features:

• He hops around and intercepts enemy projectiles that would otherwise hit you.
• Additional max Life +10%.
• Helps compel Lost Shades by performing the same action as the Tablet of Peace.

Frinos upgrades:

These are the three attributes or perks that you can upgrade for Frinos:

• Life Bond: while together, you gain +10 max Life.
• Soul Bond: while together, Lost Shades are 25% more likely to appear.
• Drive Bond: Frinos deals +10 damage when leaping at enemies.

Toula

Toula is a tabby cat who can be found in two different Locations. To encounter her for the first time, you must perform the "Woodsy Lifespring" Cauldron Incantation, which causes her to appear in the glade in Erebus where you can find a Fountain and restore Life. After you unlock the surface and can survive there, you will find Toula in the first Location of the Rift of Thessaly. She will be resting at the far end of the dock, just before you continue towards the ships.

Bear in mind that before this friendly cat can appear on the surface and accept a Witch's Delight, you must first interact with her in the Erebus Fountain chamber. If she still does not appear at the Rift afterwards, you may also need to equip the Rod of Fishing and catch a few fish during that night before encountering her.

These are Toula's main features:

• If you Sprint near her, she pounces on the nearest enemy and deals 99 damage.
• Additional Death Defiance +1.
• Helps with fishing by performing the same action as the Rod of Fishing.

Toula upgrades:

These are the three attributes or perks that you can upgrade for Toula:

• Heart Bond: after using the additional Death Defiance granted by Toula, you restore +10 Life.
• Sense Bond: while together, Fishing Points are 25% more likely to appear.
• Claw Bond: Toula attacks +1 additional time before losing interest.

Raki

Raki is a white-feathered raven who can be found in the Fountain chamber in Erebus, after you have unlocked it using the relevant Cauldron Incantation and encountered Toula there for the first time. On subsequent visits to this chamber, look carefully before leaving through one of the exits. Raki is small and can easily be overlooked, but you will see him to the left of the doors:

The first time you find Raki in this chamber, you will only be able to interact with him. However, the second time you encounter him in the Fountain chamber, you can offer him a Witch's Delight so that he joins your team.

These are Raki's main features:

• He occasionally pecks enemies, dealing 5 damage and inflicting Mark.
• Innate Critical Chance +1%.
• Helps with mining by performing the same action as the Crescent Pick.

Raki upgrades:

These are the three attributes or perks that you can upgrade for Raki:

• Vision Bond: while together, the chance for any damage you deal to be Critical increases by +1%.
• Stone Bond: while together, Outcroppings are 25% more likely to appear.
• Wing Bond: Raki pecks enemies 25% more frequently.

Hecuba

Hecuba is a dark-furred hound who can be found in the Fields of Mourning, in the same chamber as Echo, but only after you have recruited Frinos, Toula and Raki. Once you have recruited these other Familiars and upgraded at least one of them, you must wait for Headmistress Hecate to allow you to recruit Hecuba as well. Speak to the Headmistress whenever you return to the Crossroads until she grants you the "Shared Familiar Bonds" permission.

Once you have her permission, you will be able to recruit Hecuba. To find her, advance through the Fields of Mourning until you reach the same special chamber where Echo appears, shortly before the battle against the Guardian of this Region.

You will clearly see Hecuba slightly ahead of Echo, positioned in the center of the area where the chamber's exits are located. She is difficult to miss. However, she is not guaranteed to appear every time. If you already have Hecate's permission, Hecuba will eventually show up here. The first time you interact with her, however, you will not yet be able to offer her a Witch's Delight. You must encounter her a second time before you can give her one.

These are Hecuba's main features:

• She occasionally stuns enemies for 1 second and digs up Healing or Magick.
• Additional max Magick +15.
• Helps with digging by performing the same action as the Silver Spade.

Hecuba upgrades:

These are the three attributes or perks that you can upgrade for Hecuba:

• Spirit Bond: while together, you gain +15 max Magick.
• Earth Bond: while together, Digging Spots are 25% more likely to appear.
• Guard Bond: Hecuba stuns nearby enemies 15% more frequently.

Gale

Gale is a brown-furred polecat who can be found on Mount Olympus, inside the shop chamber that always appears immediately before the battle against Prometheus. You will see the small animal on the other side of the shop's items, very close to a pool of water:

For Gale to appear here, you must already have obtained the "Shared Familiar Bonds" permission during your playthrough. This means you must previously have recruited Frinos, Toula and Raki, as well as upgraded at least one of them.

The first time you encounter Gale at this location on Mount Olympus, you will only be able to pet her. However, the second time you encounter her here, you can offer her a Witch's Delight to unlock her as a new Animal Familiar at the Crossroads.

These are Gale's main features:

• She protects you and deals 250 damage every 30 seconds, up to three times per Region.
• Dodge Chance and Move Speed +3%.
• Chance of additional resources +10%. This increases the likelihood of Flora appearing and allows Gale to gather it.

Gale upgrades:

These are the three attributes or perks that you can upgrade for Gale:

• Veil Bond: while together, you gain +3% Move Speed and Dodge Chance.
• Nature Bond: while together, Flora is 10% more likely to appear.
• Wild Bond: Gale deals 250 damage when scratching enemies in retaliation.

How do you upgrade Animal Familiars?

Animal Familiars can be upgraded to increase their benefits and make them even more useful.

• First, you must perform the "Bravery of Familiar Spirits" Cauldron Incantation, which eventually becomes available after recruiting the Animal Familiars. It requires Wool x1 and Wheat x3.
• After performing it, you can offer additional Witch's Delights to each recruited Familiar to upgrade one of its perks.
• Remember that you can produce more of these gifts using the "Beast-Loved Morsel" Alchemy Recipe.
• The recipe requires Lotus x2, which is gathered by hand in Oceanus, and Star Dust x1, which is earned by completing Chaos Trials at the Pitch-Black Stone. The Stone itself is unlocked using the "Abyssal Insight" Incantation.
• Each Alchemy Recipe of this type takes 14 Whiles to complete.

Once you have Witch's Delights, approach the Animal Familiars beside the Silver Pool and offer them this gift using the "Strengthen Bond" option. This opens an upgrade menu where you can choose between three different improvements for the companion. You can repeat this process as often as necessary to maximize every Familiar's benefits, up to three upgrade ranks for each perk. Just remember that every upgrade costs one Witch's Delight.