Hades 2 Door Symbols Explained: Meanings and Rewards

Hades 2 features a rather unusual roguelike gameplay mechanic that veterans of the first game will already know inside out, but which may confuse newcomers: the symbols displayed over doors and the rewards associated with them.

• Whenever you set out to explore the Underworld or the Surface, you will travel through different chambers connected by doors.
• You will often have two or three doors to choose from, and their symbols indicate the different rewards or challenges waiting on the other side.
• It is important to learn what every symbol means in advance so you can plan your next move and steer each run in the direction that best suits you.

To clear up any doubts, we have prepared this section of our guide, where we show you every door symbol and explain its associated reward or meaning.

God Boon door symbols

Most chamber doors in Hades 2 display symbols associated with different gods. These will reward you with an encounter with the corresponding deity, allowing you to receive one of their Boons, which grant new powers or improve your abilities.

These are all the doors bearing the symbols of gods:

Symbol	Associated reward
Aphrodite	You can choose one of Aphrodite’s Boons
Apollo	You can choose one of Apollo’s Boons
Ares	You can choose one of Ares’ Boons
Chaos	You can choose one of Chaos’ Boons Grants access to the realm of Chaos, where unique collectible resources may appear You must sacrifice some of your current Life to enter
Demeter	You can choose one of Demeter’s Boons
Hephaestus	You can choose one of Hephaestus’ Boons
Hera	You can choose one of Hera’s Boons
Hermes	You can choose one of Hermes’ Boons
Hestia	You can choose one of Hestia’s Boons
Daedalus Hammer	You can choose one Daedalus Hammer upgrade
Poseidon	You can choose one of Poseidon’s Boons
Selene	You can choose a Hex from Selene
Zeus	You can choose one of Zeus’ Boons

Remember that you may also encounter a door displaying two symbols at once, each representing a different god. This means that the chamber contains a Trial of the Gods. You must first choose a Boon from one of the two gods. The god you reject will take offence and unleash various environmental attacks throughout the chamber while you fight its enemies. If you survive, you will also be able to claim a Boon from the offended god, allowing you to obtain two Boons in a single chamber.

Upgrade door symbols

Some doors in Hades 2 display symbols associated with various upgrades for Melinoë rather than with specific gods. These are as follows:

Symbol	Associated reward
Centaur Heart	Grants a +25 Max Life upgrade for the current night
Soul Tonic	Grants a +30 Max Magick upgrade for the current night
Gold Crowns	Adds 100 Gold Crowns to your funds for the current night
Pom of Power	Grants a Pom of Power that increases the level of one of your current Boons by +1 for the current night

Resource and material door symbols

Since Hades 2 contains many different resources and materials, some chambers offer rewards of this type after you defeat all their enemies. You will not receive a Boon from a god or an upgrade for Melinoë, but you will obtain resources that may prove useful for your long-term progression when you return to the Crossroads.

These are the meanings of the door symbols associated with resources:

Symbol	Associated reward
Ashes	Adds +5 Ashes to your inventory Ashes can be used to unlock Arcana Cards
Bones	Adds +50 Bones to your inventory Bones can be used as currency at the Wretched Broker
Psyche	Adds +10 Psyche to your inventory Psyche can be used to increase Melinoë’s Grasp
Nectar	Adds +1 Nectar to your inventory Nectar can be given to characters to obtain Keepsakes
Cinder	Adds +1 Cinder to your inventory This resource is obtained by defeating the Guardian Headmistress Hecate in Erebus
Pearl	Adds +1 Pearl to your inventory This resource is obtained by defeating the Guardian Scylla and the Sirens in Oceanus
Tears	Adds +1 Tears to your inventory This resource is obtained by defeating the Guardian known as the Infernal Beast in the Fields of Mourning
Wool	Adds +1 Wool to your inventory This resource is obtained by defeating the Guardian Polyphemus in the City of Ephyra
Golden Apple	Adds +1 Golden Apple to your inventory This resource is obtained by defeating the Guardian Eris in the Rift of Thessaly
Feather	Adds +1 Feather to your inventory This resource is obtained by defeating the Guardian Prometheus on Mount Olympus
Star Dust	Adds +1 Star Dust to your inventory This resource is obtained by completing a Chaos Trial through the Pitch-Black Stone once you have unlocked it

Miscellaneous door symbols

Finally, this section covers the game’s miscellaneous symbols. These indicate special or unusual chambers such as those listed below. These symbols may also appear alongside others mentioned above.

Symbol	Chamber type
Onward	A transition chamber between regions where you can drink from fountains to restore Life, purchase items or change your current Keepsake, provided you have performed the necessary Incantations at the Crossroads Cauldron
Warden	You must fight a Warden or miniboss, which varies depending on your current region
Guardian	You must fight a Guardian boss, which varies depending on your current region
Fated List	Indicates an opportunity to complete an outstanding objective from your Fated List of Minor Prophecies
Charon’s Shop	Allows you to enter Charon’s Shop and purchase various items using the Gold Crowns you have collected Charon sells items such as Boons from the gods, upgrades for Melinoë and resources
Special chamber	These chambers contain an encounter with a friendly character who will offer you a gift for the rest of the night. Only one such character appears in each type of region Arachne: appears in Erebus and allows you to choose a temporary Outfit that grants Armor Narcissus: appears in Oceanus and allows you to choose one of his secondhand gifts Echo: appears in the Fields of Mourning and allows you to choose one of her Plaintive Echoes Hades: appears in Tartarus and allows you to choose one of Hades’ Boons Medea: appears in the City of Ephyra and allows you to choose one of her Nightly Curses Circe: appears in the Rift of Thessaly and allows you to choose one of her Transformations or Fortunes Dionysus: appears on Mount Olympus and allows you to choose one of Dionysus’ Boons
Express Route	A combat chamber in Tartarus that takes you closer to the location of the Titan Chronos. It does not offer a specific reward