Hadesis an isometric roguelike dungeon crawler that has consumed the video game universe in a storm that would make Zeus himself proud. The game has a lot of creative twists that take the edge off the repetitive nature of these kinds of games, which is what makes it stand out in a sea of roguish dungeons that are riding the current popular trend.
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The numerous options available to tweak the various weapons are one feature that keeps players coming back. Each of theInfernal Armscan be customized in a variety of ways for strategic defense, extra damage, or just a lot of explosive fun. For players that prefer the grace and versatility of the Aegis, there are a variety of options for the best shield build inHades.
Updated September 15th, 2022, by Kristy Ambrose:Few other rogue-like dungeon crawlers have the same level of customization when it comes to weapons and gear. When first starting their adventures in the Underworld, it’s easy for players to feel overwhelmedwith the various options available.
Everyone has their own ideas when it comes to the ideal weapon build. Some players prefer a more defensive build or maybe a combination that provides better ranged or melee abilities. For those intrepid adventurers who are trekking out of the Underworld armed withAegis,here are some ideas for putting together the perfectShield of Chaosbuild in this beloved indie roguelike.
Aegisis the second or third of theInfernal Armsthat most players acquire, requiring threeChthonic Keysfor Zagreus to unlock it. It’s also known as theShield of Chaos, and it holds a prominent place in ancient Greek mythology. The gods that Zagreus encounters will hint at these legends if he has the shield equipped when he encounters them.
Aegis, The Shield Of Chaos
Background Info
Like so many other things inHades, the dialogue with other characters changes depending on the circumstances. WhenZagreus is armed with the shield and comes into contactwith his thunderbolt-wielding uncle or his stoic warrior cousin, they comment on their personal connection with the shield.
The story of the shield, according to the Codex entry, is connected to both Zeus and Athena. It was used to battle the Titans, and although the original was shattered in that fight, a piece of it remained to be refitted for Zagreus.
Basic Moves
Initially, the shield’s powers are mainly defensive in nature. A basic attack swings in front of Zagreus and knocks numerous enemies back. Hold the attack button and release it to charge forwards, a move that can also be used to cross rivers of lava or slip through walls.
There’s also a block ability that’s combined with the special attack, Bull Rush, in which Zagreus can charge enemieswith his shield for both damage and defense. Blocking doesn’t work against traps or AoE attacks, but works against literally everything else, making this the basis of all the bestHadesshield builds.
Using The Keepsakes
EveryHadesAegis build depends on meeting a specific god every so often, so it helps to have some assurance they’ll appear. Deliver Nectar or Ambrosia to NPCs that Zagreus can talk to, and they’ll respond by giving him a Keepsake that he can use to help him escape.
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The Keepsakes can be gifted by figures in the House of Hades along with the gods that Zagreus meets on his journey. Wearing a Keepsake from an Olympian ensures that Zagreus is more likely to meet the god that gave it to him, and therefore be able to build his weapon using their Boons.
Zagreus can use two kinds of Artifact currency,NectarandAmbrosia, to earn the favor of certain gods and the other denizens of the Underworld. Ambrosia is an item that Zagreus will find as he progresses further in the game. It comes in a square bottle instead of a circular one and is more difficult to obtain. Nectar, an earlier version of Ambrosia, is sufficient for getting the keepsakes Zag needs.
The Mirror Of Night
The mirror in Zagreus' quarters closely resembles the section of an RPG where the player decides on talent points for different skills. This is essentially the same thing, with the purple tending to be more offensive powers and the green ones as more defensive or passive abilities.
These abilities aren’t included in mostHadesshield builds, but they can complement the build if players don’t mind going a little meta when it comes to their Zagreus build. These abilities can also be changed on a whim, so don’t be afraid to experiment with new combinations and change back later.
Daedalus Hammer Upgrades
Like most other things Zaegrus picks up while moving through the Underworld, these upgrades will last for the rest of a given run once applied to a weapon and will be reset when Zagreus dies. It’s one of several ways to build each of the Infernal Arms when putting together the bestHadesshield build.
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It’s hard to get a bad combination, but some of these abilities conflict with each other or cancel each other out when combined with certain Boons. This can throw a wrench into most builds, so be careful when choosing Daedalus Hammer upgrades.
The Fated List
The desk in Zagraeus' room holds a scroll with a document called The Fated List. In other games,these might be called quests or achievements, and there is one for the Shield of Chaos. It depends on the specificHadesshield build when it comes to Boons, but the player can try all of them, so provided they use the Aegis enough, they can check off all the boxes eventually.
The reward for completing this is a generous helping of gemstones, the currency often used when buying new renovations from the house contractor. Players can also trade them at the Wretched Broker in the House of Hades for a variety of currency and useful items.
The Aspects
One of the many ways thatHadesstays fresh is by allowing a high level of customization options with each weapon, and that starts even before stepping into the dungeon. The rare item Titan’s Blood can be used to buy and upgrade Aspects, and players often have to kill a boss to acquire it.
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UnlikeBoons, which are found and applied in dungeons, these are used to permanently upgrade weapons. However, Zag can still freely switch between aspects after unlocking them. Each of these Aspects is part of the best Shield of Chaos build inHades.
Advanced Attacks
After Zagreus has obtained the hiddenAspect of Beowulf,the shield gets some handy upgrades to its regular attacks. The player has to equip the shield in the house and interact with its information screen to activate the Aspect.
Ideal Upgrades
Certain Upgrades are more useful for the bestHadesshield builds than others. Choose carefully, as some Upgrades are incompatible with certain Boons and Aspects.
The Perfect Shield Builds
Drunken Master Build
In case the name hasn’t already given it away, thisHadesshield buildfocuses on boons from Dionysus. Equip the Overflowing Cup Keepsake to ensure he stops partying long enough to show up with his Boons. This build depends mostly on the effect of Hangover, the God of Wine’s signature power, which stuns and slows enemies, so take Boons with Hangover as opposed to his less effective Festive Fog.Drunken Dash, Drunken Strike, and Dionysus' Aidare some examples of ideal Boons for this build.
Other gods will appear in the dungeon to help Zag out regardless of the Keepsake. The boons ofAres, which tend to be more offensive, blend well with the Dionysian strategy of slowing enemies, so they can be evaded and destroyed.
Lord Of War Build
When it’s time to slay, let Ares lead the way. Don’t forget that his Keepsake is the Blood-Filled Vial. His signature ability is calledDoom, and it inflicts extra damage with every attack, so it’s fairly obvious where this is going. However, once the player leaves Tartarus, he gets a bit of help from another god.
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Although it’s fine to pick up any Boon that will provide some Doom, this build is more focused on the Blade Rift ability.Upgrade Zag’s Blade Rift as much as possible and try to grab any Doom-related abilitybefore leaving Tartarus, then switch Keepsakes upon reaching Asphodel. Take theFrostbitten Horn,a gift from Demeter, who grants several Boons that can Chill enemies. Freeze them in place, a relief in steaming Asphodel, and shatter them with the power of Ares.
Love Bomb Build
Aphrodite doesn’t seem like the most threatening god at first, but don’t try to tell Achilles that. Her powersare defensive as opposed to offensive, and they’re more effective at dealing extra damage as they range from Common at early levels to Heroic later in the game.
Weakis the Love Goddess’s signature ability, and it lessens the damage opponents can do to Zagreus by 30%.Passion Flare,which combines damage with Weak, is only unlocked after Zagreus discovers the Aspect of Beowulf. Combine that with any of the offensive powers of Zeus, Ares, or Poseidon for a build that strikes a nice balance between reducing damage and dealing it out.
Tidal Power Build
Considering the power of the ocean, especially in relation to the amount of sea on the earth as opposed to dry land, shouldn’t Poseidon be the one in charge? His powers are a combination of damage and crowd control. His main ability isRuptured, which deals more damage to enemies as they move. His Keepsake is the Conch Shell.
This build is similar to the Dionysian one in the sense that it starts with a lot of defensive powers in the form of knock-back abilities, but Poseidon deals more damage in less time. This buildworks nicely in combination with Demeter’s power of Chill,giving the build a more defensive edge. Mix it up with some Boons fromAresif the damage bonus is preferable to better defense.
The Vibranium Build
Also known as the Captain American Build or the Knockback Build, this is the shield build with the most defensive options, including crowd control and battlefield organization. Unlike the other builds, which tend to focus on Boons from a particular deity and support from only one or two others, this build is a diverse mix of several and is flexible depending on individual preference.
Choose a keepsake depending on which focus Zagreus wants and follow a natural progression to ranged damage from there for the best and most flexible shield builds inHades.
Start with either Demeter, Aphrodite, or Poseidon, relying on either the power of ice to slow enemies, love to confuse them, or tidal power to push them back. Add the Aspect of Choas to enable Zagreus to throw multiple shields and combine this with Ares-related abilities likeDoomto amp up the damage when he throws multiple shields.
