Hades 2: Dionysus Boons, Ranked

With the recent Olympic update in Hades 2’s Early Access, two familiar Gods have returned: Athena and Dionysus. While Dionysus may not have been the most dominant God in the first game, his role as a Friendly NPC in Olympus has enhanced the potency and versatility of his Boons.

In Hades 2, the top Dionysus Boons are those that prove useful across a variety of builds or provide effects that different playstyles can leverage. Though he offers only six Boons, similar to other Allies you encounter in the underworld and beyond, Dionysus’ offerings are among the most valuable in the game.

6. Dancing Queen: A Momentary Power Boost

One-Time Power Boost Every Ten Seconds

Every Encounter introduces Grape Juice into the area, providing a Power boost when activated.

Reappearance Time: 10 seconds

Dancing Queen can be potent in specific scenarios. For players wielding slower, hard-hitting weapons like the Axe, this boon can be a decent choice. However, for faster weapons available in Hades 2, its effect may not be strong or reliable enough compared to other top Dionysus Boons.

When you interact with a Grape Juice, your next attack receives a 100 Power boost. While this sounds powerful, the Grape Juice can spawn in less accessible areas, such as large boss arenas or spots obstructed by Fire or traps, complicating its effectiveness.

5. Tipsy Shot: Controlled Damage and Burst Potential

Great Burst Damage & Controllable Casts

Hold Cast to launch a large explosion that creates a binding circle.

Base Cast Explosion Damage: 300

Tipsy Shot stands out among Dionysus Boons for its substantial damage and the ability to direct your Cast. Upon aiming your Cast, it deals 300 Explosion Damage and establishes a Binding Circle.

This boon synergizes well with other strong Cast-boosting Boons and Chaos Effects. However, if you already possess Hestia's Cast Boon, the control over your Casts may not significantly enhance your build.

4. Worry Free: Max Health Gain with a Twist

Enormous Max Health Gain, But At A Cost

Receive a Max Health boost, but your total Health becomes a mystery.

Base Max Health Gain: 80

Worry Free ranks among Dionysus’ best Boons, granting Melinoë a substantial Max Health increase while obscuring her total Health from the user interface. Opting for this boon means sacrificing visibility of your character’s current health status, but the significant boost makes this sacrifice manageable.

As players progress and combat intensifies, awareness of the Health bar often diminishes. Without that distraction, players may actually improve their performance by focusing more carefully on gameplay.

3. Happy Haze: Damage Boost in the Fog

Huge Damage Bonus While Standing in Fog

Every 8 seconds in an Encounter, Festive Fog appears, enhancing your strength while you’re within it. Enemies are stunned by the Fog.

Base Fog Damage Bonus: 30%

Happy Haze ranks high among Dionysus Boons due to its universal damage increase. Unlike Tipsy Shot and Dancing Queen, which enhance specific damage types, Happy Haze provides a broad damage bonus to all outgoing attacks while standing in the Fog.

However, to gain this substantial 30% bonus, players must remain in the Fog, making it essential to have strong ranged capabilities. This boon is less effective in melee-focused builds, as players would need to navigate potentially dangerous areas to access the Fog’s benefits.

2. Drunken Stupor: Inflicting Damage Over Time

Omega Moves Inflict Hangover for Damage Over Time

Your Omega Moves cause Hangover the first time they hit enemies.

Base Hangover Damage: 50, every 0.5 seconds for 4 seconds (totaling 400 damage)

The Drunken Stupor boon returns the Hangover effect to Hades 2. This boon is a top choice due to its capacity for substantial, recurring damage, especially in builds centered around Omega abilities.

With builds like the Aspect of Pan or the Black Coat featuring numerous Special upgrades, this boon can deal up to 400 damage over 4 seconds to the first enemy struck by an Omega attack. This ability is particularly effective against bosses and Guardians, making it a top choice if your build incorporates Omega moves.

However, if your playstyle doesn't rely on Magick or Omega moves, this boon may not provide significant advantages.

1. Bounce Back: Essential Health Restoration

Minimum 50% Health Restoration After Every Encounter

Restore some Health after each Encounter if you sustained damage.

Base Health Restoration: 50% of Life Lost

Regardless of your build or situation, the ability to recover Health is invaluable in any Hades 2 run. Bounce Back is one of the most effective ways to regain Health, effectively reducing damage taken from room to room by at least 50%.

This boon restores 50% of your Life Lost after any Encounter, provided you survive. For instance, if you drop from 200 Health to 1, surviving means you'll recover back to 100. While it doesn’t mitigate damage at the moment or restore Shields, the ability to regenerate lost Health makes this boon a superior choice compared to more situational alternatives.

With this ranking, you’ll be well-equipped to choose the best Dionysus Boons for your playstyle in Hades 2, maximizing your chances of success in the underworld!