Hades 2 Arcana Cards: All Altar Cards and the Best Ones
Hades 2 Arcana Cards: All Altar Cards and the Best Ones
Learn how Arcana Cards work at the Altar of Ashes in Hades 2, what benefits they provide, which ones to unlock first to become stronger, and how to upgrade them.
Daniel González · Published: 8 Aug 2026, 23:31
One of the most interesting new features in Hades 2 is the Altar of Ashes, also known as the Arcana Altar. This system offers a series of powers and perks through Arcana Cards that you can unlock and upgrade as you progress, making Melinoë permanently stronger. In this section of our guide, we will explain exactly how this mechanic works, everything you need to know about it, how many Arcana Cards there are and which ones are the best to activate.
How does the Arcana Altar work?
The Altar of Ashes, also known as the Arcana Altar, is an upgrade system for Melinoë that you will find at the Crossroads from your very first visit. You will always pass it before reaching the Silver Pool and the training grounds, and its menu allows you to view the available Arcana Cards and their benefits.
The Altar contains a total of 25 Arcana Cards, which can be unlocked by spending Ash.
As you unlock new cards, the locked cards surrounding them will gradually be revealed.
Each card has a Grasp cost that must be paid to activate it.
Your maximum Grasp is initially limited to 10 points, but you can increase it by spending Psyche.
Basically, Arcana Cards provide Melinoë with permanent passive perks. In other words, these benefits will already be active from the beginning of each run, making her stronger and helping you progress more easily.
However, Arcana Cards must be activated for their effects to work, so you will need to carefully choose which ones you want to equip before each run and which ones you want to leave inactive.
All Arcana Cards and their effects
Below, we will show you every Arcana Card and power available to unlock and activate at the Altar of Ashes in Hades 2. This will allow you to check their effects, Grasp costs and the materials required to unlock them.
Arcana I - The Sorceress
Unlock requirement: Ash x1
Grasp required: 1 point
Effect: While you Channel your Omega Moves, everything moves slower for 2 seconds.
Arcana II - The Wayward Son
Unlock requirement: Ash x3
Grasp required: 1 point
Effect: After you exit a Location, restore 2 Life, or twice that amount if you have less than 30% Life.
Arcana III - The Huntress
Unlock requirement: Ash x10
Grasp required: 3 points
Effect: While you have less than 100% Magick, your Attack and Special deal +30% damage.
Arcana IV - Death
Unlock requirement: Ash x15
Grasp required: 3 points
Effect: Your Omega Moves have +3% chance to deal Critical damage.
Arcana V - The Messenger
Unlock requirement: Ash x20 and Pearl x1
Grasp required: 0 points (requires you to activate at least 3 Arcana Cards with the same Grasp cost)
Effect: Gain +6% chance to Dodge.
Arcana VI - The Furies
Unlock requirement: Ash x3
Grasp required: 2 points
Effect: Deal +20% damage to foes in your Casts.
Arcana VII - The Titan
Unlock requirement: Ash x7
Grasp required: 2 points
Effect: Gain +20 max Life and +20 max Magick.
Arcana VIII - The Unseen
Unlock requirement: Ash x20
Grasp required: 5 points
Effect: Restore 2 Magick every second.
Arcana IX - Night
Unlock requirement: Ash x25
Grasp required: 4 points
Effect: Your Hex charges up automatically as though you had used 2 Magick every second.
Arcana X - The Lovers
Unlock requirement: Ash x30
Grasp required: 2 points
Effect: In Guardian Encounters, you take no damage the first time you are hit.
Arcana XI - The Swift Runner
Unlock requirement: Ash x10
Grasp required: 1 point
Effect: Your Sprint is +20% faster.
Arcana XII - Eternity
Unlock requirement: Ash x20
Grasp required: 4 points
Effect: Set forth each night with 1 Death Defiance.
Arcana XIII - The Centaur
Unlock requirement: Ash x25 and Cinder x1
Grasp required: 0 points (requires you to activate Arcana Cards with Grasp costs ranging from 1 to 5)
Effect: Every 5 Locations, gain +3 max Life and +3 max Magick.
Arcana XIV - The Moon
Unlock requirement: Ash x30
Grasp required: 3 points
Effect: Your Omega Cast deals +50 base damage when it detonates.
Arcana XV - Strength
Unlock requirement: Ash x35
Grasp required: 5 points
Effect: While you have 30% Life or less, you deal +30% damage and take -30% damage.
Arcana XVI - The Fates
Unlock requirement: Ash x15
Grasp required: 3 points
Effect: Set forth each night with +1 Change of Fate. You can alter Location Rewards.
Arcana XVII - The Boatman
Unlock requirement: Ash x25
Grasp required: 5 points
Effect: Set forth each night with +200 Gold.
Arcana XVIII - Origination
Unlock requirement: Ash x30
Grasp required: 3 points
Effect: Deal +25% damage to foes afflicted with at least 2 Curses.
Arcana XIX - Excellence
Unlock requirement: Ash x30
Grasp required: 5 points
Effect: Any Boons you are offered have +30% chance to be improved to Rare.
Arcana XX - The Queen
Unlock requirement: Ash x40 and Tears x1
Grasp required: 0 points (requires you to activate no more than 2 Arcana Cards with the same Grasp cost)
Effect: Any Boons you are offered have +6% chance to be Duo Boons whenever possible.
Arcana XXI - The Seer
Unlock requirement: Ash x20 and Wool x1
Grasp required: 0 points (requires you to activate all surrounding Arcana Cards)
Effect: Set forth each night with +2 Change of Fate.
Arcana XXII - The Champions
Unlock requirement: Ash x30
Grasp required: 4 points
Effect: Set forth each night with +1 Change of Fate. You can alter Boons and certain Location Rewards.
Arcana XXIII - The Artificer
Unlock requirement: Ash x35
Grasp required: 6 points
Effect: Set forth each night with 1 chance to turn a Minor Find into a random Major Find.
Arcana XXIV - Divinity
Unlock requirement: Ash x40 and Golden Apple x1
Grasp required: 0 points (requires you to activate all 5 Arcana Cards in any other row)
Effect: Any Boons you are offered have +10% chance to be improved to Epic.
Arcana XXV - Judgement
Unlock requirement: Ash x50 and Zodiac Sand x1
Grasp required: 0 points (requires you to activate no more than 3 Arcana Cards)
Effect: After you defeat a Guardian, activate 3 random inactive Arcana Cards.
Which Arcana Cards should you unlock first?
Since there are so many different Arcana Cards to unlock at the Altar of Ashes and you can only activate a limited number at once, you are probably wondering which ones are the most useful and which you should purchase and activate during your first few hours.
Below, we recommend unlocking the following Arcana Cards first, in this order:
Arcana I - The Sorceress
Arcana II - The Wayward Son
Arcana VII - The Titan
Arcana III - The Huntress
Arcana XII - Eternity
Arcana VIII - The Unseen
Arcana XIV - The Moon
Arcana VI - The Furies
Bear in mind that this Arcana build is designed for when your maximum Grasp has reached at least 21 points.
In any case, you do not have to follow our recommendations to the letter. You can experiment with the Arcana Cards and choose the ones that best complement your playstyle, so feel free to try different combinations.
How do you upgrade Arcana Cards?
If you have not progressed far enough into the game, you may not know that Arcana Cards can be upgraded to make their effects even more beneficial for Melinoë. Here is what you need to know:
At a certain point in the story, after one of your battles against Headmistress Hecate, she will give you the "Consecration of Ashes" Cauldron Incantation.
This Incantation upgrades the Altar of Ashes and allows you to unlock the Arcana Cards' full potential, giving you access to the "Insight" system at the Altar.
Performing this Incantation requires the following Reagents: Ash x6, Cinder x1 and Fate Fabric x6.
After performing this Incantation, you will receive your first 3 Moon Dust. You can use this Reagent to increase the Rank of whichever Arcana Cards you prefer.
To do so, visit the Altar and select the Arcana Card you want to upgrade, then press the "Insight" button. Remember that each Arcana Card has its own Moon Dust requirements for increasing its Rank, and additional materials may also be needed for subsequent upgrades.
Upgrading Arcana Cards is a fantastic way to become stronger, so we recommend improving some of the best ones as soon as you have the opportunity. For example, you can upgrade "The Titan" to gain more maximum Life and maximum Magick, or "Eternity" to begin each night with more than one Death Defiance.
ALL the information about Hades 2 for PC, Switch 2, Switch, PS5 and Xbox Series X. Release date, latest news, reviews, screenshots, gameplay videos and much more.
Here’s how to unlock the three Gifts of the Veil that Schelemeus can give you at the Crossroads in Hades 2 by proving yourself the Champion of the Night.
Want to take on special combat challenges in Hades 2? Here’s how to unlock Chaos Trials through the Pitch-Black Stone, how they work and what rewards they offer.
Hypnos, Sleep Incarnate, is always asleep at the Crossroads in Hades 2, but you can actually wake him from his slumber. Here are all the steps you need to follow.
You can customize the Crossroads in Hades 2 with different decorations, cosmetic items and themes. Here’s how to do it and the requirements you need to meet.
Want to break the ward blocking the path to the Surface in Hades 2 but don’t know how? Here’s what you need to unlock it and survive the harsh conditions of this challenging region.
Here are the most common questions you may have while playing Hades 2, Supergiant Games’ action roguelike sequel. Find all the answers to the most frequently asked questions!
Here’s what you need to do in Hades 2 to reach the story’s true ending and see the credits roll. Find out how to defeat Chronos and Typhon once and for all!
In Hades 2, Melinoë can develop romantic relationships with a handful of characters. Here are all the romance options and the steps required to unlock them.
Here’s how to unlock the ability to change your Animal Familiars’ appearance in Hades 2, allowing you to give your companions a variety of different looks.
Hades 2 features several animals you can unlock as companions during your adventure to help you in battle. Here’s how to get them and everything you need to know.
The Crossroads Hot Springs are one of the most unusual activities you can unlock in Hades 2, allowing you to invite other characters to bathe with you. Here’s how!
Here’s the complete list of Cauldron Incantations at the Crossroads in Hades 2, including Alchemy Recipes, their required materials and everything they unlock.
To obtain plenty of plants in Hades 2, you’ll need to unlock the Garden and plant Seeds. Here’s how to do it and add more Soil Plots to maximize your harvests.
Hades 2 features numerous plants and seeds that you can grow and collect to perform important Incantations. Here’s a complete list and how to obtain each one.
Entropy is one of the most important Reagents in Hades 2 and is required to complete the main story. Here are all the steps you need to follow to obtain it.
Hades 2 features several resources known as Indulgences, which can be offered as gifts to the game’s various characters. Here’s a complete list, how to get them and what they’re used for.
The most powerful and useful divine Boons in Hades 2 are Legendary, but they are also extremely rare. Here’s how to get them and what benefits they offer.
