Athena: Goddess of Wisdom in the Underworld
The crimson sands of the Underworld beckon once more, and this time, we’re fighting our way out. Hades, the rogue-like dungeon crawler that captured the hearts of gamers worldwide, has a successor: Hades Two. Playing as Melinoë, Princess of the Underworld, we’re tasked with vanquishing Chronos, the Titan of Time. This seemingly impossible task requires allies, both mortal and divine. Among the Olympians lending their aid, Athena, the Goddess of Wisdom and Strategic Warfare, stands out as a beacon of defensive prowess and tactical insight.
Hades Two is currently in Early Access, meaning the landscape of boons and builds is constantly evolving. However, Athena’s core identity as a provider of powerful defensive options and supportive enhancements remains strong. This article delves into Athena’s arsenal of boons, providing strategies to maximize their effectiveness and comparing her offerings to other Olympian deities, ensuring that you are well-equipped to navigate the dangers that await.
Athena, in the Hades universe, embodies not just wisdom but also a pragmatic approach to combat. While some Olympians offer raw power or chaotic effects, Athena brings a sense of calculated control. Her boons are often characterized by deflection, a mechanic that allows you to negate incoming damage and turn enemy attacks against them. Think of her as your personal shield maiden, guiding you with calculated strikes and impenetrable defense.
Unlike some deities whose motivations might seem capricious, Athena consistently presents herself as a staunch ally, offering boons that focus on survivability and strategic advantage. Her presence is a welcome comfort in the perilous depths, offering a level of security that allows Melinoë to push through even the most challenging encounters.
Athena’s boons generally focus on three key areas: defense and deflection, support, and light damage. Mastery of Athena’s boons will help any player, regardless of playstyle, conquer the challenges of Hades Two.
A Deeper Dive into Athena’s Boons
Now, let’s examine some of Athena’s most impactful boons and how you can leverage them to your advantage.
Divine Strike
This boon affects Melinoë’s basic attack, granting damage and the ability to deflect projectiles. At its core, Divine Strike enhances your offensive capabilities while adding a layer of defense.
The boon scales with rarity, increasing the damage it deals. A common version might offer a moderate damage increase, while a Heroic version could significantly bolster your offensive output while deflecting all incoming projectiles.
Divine Strike shines with melee-focused weapon aspects. Its deflection capabilities allow for aggressive plays where you are constantly engaging enemies while simultaneously mitigating risk. Compared to other damage-boosting boons from gods like Zeus or Poseidon, Divine Strike offers a more balanced approach, prioritizing both offense and defense.
Phalanx Shot
Phalanx Shot enhances your Cast ability, firing a projectile that creates a burst of deflect. This is particularly effective against groups of enemies, providing area denial and bolstering survivability.
Like other boons, Phalanx Shot’s damage scales with rarity. The common version offers a decent burst of deflect, while a Heroic version may provide a longer-lasting and larger deflect field, making it even easier to neutralize incoming threats.
Phalanx Shot is best utilized when facing clusters of enemies or projectiles. Smart placement is key; you want to anticipate enemy movements and cast the projectile strategically to maximize its impact. A significant advantage of this boon is its ability to create a momentary safe zone.
Divine Dash
This boon enhances your dash ability, granting deflect. The Divine Dash is incredibly versatile, allowing you to evade attacks while simultaneously deflecting projectiles.
Higher rarities increase the duration of the deflect window. The ability to deflect during a dash can turn the tide of battle, negating damage and opening up counter-attack opportunities.
It’s best to time your dashes strategically, deflecting projectiles that would otherwise hit you. This boon allows for aggressive dodging and a more confident approach to combat.
Holy Shield
This boon is granted upon using your call ability, granting invulnerability and deflect. Holy Shield is a powerful defensive tool, providing a window of invulnerability that can completely nullify damage while deflecting incoming attacks.
The invulnerability duration scales with rarity, which is particularly useful during challenging boss encounters.
Last Stand
This boon allows you to automatically deflect damage when near death. Last Stand will offer you an advantage against enemies, particularly in boss encounters where incoming damage is high.
Athena’s Boons: Strategic Synergies and Powerful Builds
Athena’s true potential unfolds when her boons are combined effectively with weapon aspects and offerings from other gods. Here are a few examples of potent synergies:
- Sister Blades, Aspect of Artemis: This weapon aspect benefits immensely from Divine Dash. The quick attacks combined with deflect offer substantial damage output without sacrificing survivability.
- Pairing with Aphrodite: The combination of Athena’s deflect with Aphrodite’s weakness effects creates a build focused on defense and control. Enemies that are both weakened and forced to attack into deflect are easily managed.
- Duo Boon with Zeus: A duo boon involving Zeus and Athena, for example, might electrify deflected projectiles, adding an additional layer of damage to your defenses. (Specific Duo Boons in Early Access are subject to change).
- Duo Boon with Demeter: A duo boon involving Demeter and Athena, for example, might generate frost shield upon projectile deflect, offering both damage and survivability. (Specific Duo Boons in Early Access are subject to change).
Example Builds
Let’s look at some potential builds that harness the power of Athena:
- The Stalwart Defender: This build focuses on maxing deflection and survivability. Key boons include Divine Strike, Divine Dash, and Phalanx Shot. Prioritize enhancing your dash to maximize the deflect window, and look for boons that increase your overall health and armor.
- The Projectile Parry: This build utilizes the projectile deflect capabilities of Athena’s boons to neutralize enemy projectiles. Divine Strike and Phalanx Shot are essential, and pairing them with boons that increase projectile speed and damage creates a deadly defensive wall.
- The Strategic Supremacy: This build focuses on Athena’s wisdom and strategic thinking. It will allow players to have an advantage over enemies, guaranteeing a win.
Athena vs. Ares: Defense vs. Offense
While Athena emphasizes defense and control, Ares, the God of War, embodies raw aggression and offensive power. Ares’ boons typically focus on inflicting heavy damage, with effects like Doom (delayed damage) and Blade Rifts (whirling blades that tear through enemies).
Choosing between Athena and Ares depends on your playstyle. If you prefer a methodical approach, mitigating damage and controlling the battlefield, Athena is the better choice. If you favor aggressive tactics and overwhelming your enemies with brute force, Ares might be more appealing.
Athena’s boons are more consistent and reliable, while Ares’ boons offer the potential for higher damage output but often require more careful positioning and timing. Consider your weapon aspect and your preferred combat style when deciding which god to favor. A well-balanced build may even incorporate elements of both Athena’s defense and Ares’ offense, creating a versatile and formidable combination.
Tips and Tricks for Mastering Athena
To maximize Athena’s effectiveness, keep these tips in mind:
- Prioritize defensive boons early in the run. Establishing a solid defensive foundation allows you to take more risks and experiment with offensive options later on.
- Learn the timing of deflect. Mastering the timing window for deflection is crucial for maximizing its effectiveness. Practice deflecting different types of attacks to become proficient in this essential mechanic.
- Consider your weapon aspects. Some weapon aspects synergize better with Athena’s boons than others. Choose weapons that complement her defensive abilities, allowing you to create powerful and synergistic builds.
- Consider your keepsake early to maximize your boon drop chance. Early on in the game, the keepsakes can help to choose what god and boon type you want.
- Adjust strategy accordingly based on the environment and playstyle.
Conclusion: Athena’s Enduring Value
Athena’s guidance is invaluable. Her strategic boons provide a vital edge, making her a valuable asset for any player seeking to overcome the challenges of Hades Two. While the Early Access landscape may evolve, Athena’s core strengths – defense, control, and strategic insight – will undoubtedly remain crucial for navigating the perils of the Underworld and conquering Chronos. So, embrace the wisdom of the Goddess of Strategic Warfare, and prepare to deflect your way to victory in Hades Two.
Remember, Hades Two is still in Early Access, and these insights are based on the current build. New boons, changes to existing boons, and adjustments to game balance are all possible. So, stay informed, experiment with different builds, and most importantly, have fun exploring the ever-evolving world of Hades Two.
