In Hades, the door symbols that appear before each chamber tell you exactly what reward you will earn for clearing that room. Each icon corresponds to a specific boon, item, or resource, and knowing what they mean is essential for planning a successful escape attempt.
The Core Door Symbols
The most common door symbols you will encounter are the boon icons, which represent the Olympian gods. Each god has a unique symbol that appears on the door, and the color of the door also matches that god’s theme. Here is a breakdown of the main symbols:
- Zeus (lightning bolt): Grants chain lightning and other electric damage effects.
- Poseidon (wave/trident): Offers knockback and slam damage, plus ocean-themed boons.
- Athena (owl/shield): Provides deflect abilities and damage reduction.
- Aphrodite (heart): Inflicts Weak, reducing enemy damage, and offers charm effects.
- Ares (blade/sword): Adds Doom, which deals delayed damage, and blade rifts.
- Artemis (arrow/crescent): Boosts critical hit chance and provides homing arrows.
- Dionysus (wine cup/grapes): Applies Hangover, dealing damage over time, and gives festive buffs.
- Hermes (winged sandal): Offers speed, dodge, and resource-related boons.
- Demeter (snowflake): Inflicts Chill, slowing enemies, and can freeze them.
Non-Boon Door Symbols
Not all doors lead to gods. Many doors offer other rewards that are equally important for your run:
- Centaur Heart (heart with a plus): Increases your max HP by 25 (or more with certain upgrades).
- Obol (gold coin): Grants a set amount of Charon’s Obol, the currency used in the underworld shops.
- Key (latchkey): Gives you a key used to unlock new weapons and abilities in the House of Hades.
- Gem (purple gem): Provides gems that are used to renovate the House of Hades and unlock cosmetic features.
- Darkness (purple teardrop): Gives Darkness, which is used to upgrade the Mirror of Night.
- Nectar (amber bottle): Grants Nectar, which you can give to characters to increase your relationship and receive keepsakes.
- Daedalus Hammer (hammer): Upgrades your current weapon with a special modification.
- Pom of Power (purple/pink flower): Levels up one of your existing boons.
- Skull (blue skull): This is a Death Defiance charge. It refills one of your extra lives if you have any left.
- Shop (bag of coins): Leads to a Charon shop where you can buy items.
- Chaos Gate (swirling void): Takes you to Chaos’s realm, where you can take a curse that gives a powerful boon after a few encounters.
- Fishing Point (glowing spot): Appears in some chambers and lets you fish for items.
How to Choose Between Two Doors
When you clear a chamber, you are often presented with two doors. The choice depends on your current build and what you need most. Here are some guidelines:
- If you lack damage: Prioritize a god boon that synergizes with your weapon. For example, if you have a fast-hitting weapon like the Rail, Zeus’s lightning boons work well.
- If you are low on HP: Take a Centaur Heart or a shop door to buy healing items.
- If you want to upgrade your weapon: The Daedalus Hammer is often the best choice, as it can drastically change your playstyle.
- If you have a lot of boons already: A Pom of Power can strengthen your core boons.
- If you are saving for a specific item: Take Obol doors to build up your currency for the next shop.
How Door Symbols Change During a Run
Door symbols are not static. They can change depending on your progress and the current state of the game. For example, if you have already taken a boon from a god, that god’s door may still appear, but the offered boon will be different. Also, after you defeat the final boss of a region, the door to the next region is always a specific symbol (like the skull for the Temple of Styx). Additionally, some doors are locked behind requirements, such as needing a key to open a Chaos Gate.
Common Misconceptions
One common misconception is that the door symbols are random. While the rewards are randomly generated, the symbols themselves are consistent. Another misconception is that the Skull door gives you an extra life immediately. In reality, it only restores a charge of Death Defiance if you have already used one. If you have not used any, the skull door will not grant you an extra life beyond your current maximum.
Door Symbols and the Story
Door symbols also tie into the narrative. The gods who appear on doors are the ones who are actively helping you on your quest. As you progress, you will unlock more gods and their symbols will appear. The presence of certain doors, like the Chaos Gate, is also tied to story progression. Once you meet Chaos, that door becomes available. Similarly, the fishing points only appear after you receive the fishing rod from the story.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the purple heart door mean?
The purple heart door is Aphrodite’s symbol. It means you will receive a boon from Aphrodite that typically inflicts Weak or Charm on enemies.
What does the skull door mean in Hades?
The skull door represents a Death Defiance charge. It will restore one of your extra lives if you have used one. If you have not used any, it will not add an extra life beyond your maximum.
Should I always take the Daedalus Hammer?
Not always, but it is often a good choice. The hammer upgrades your weapon in unique ways that can complement your build. However, if you are in dire need of HP or a specific god boon, you might skip it.
What does the gold coin door do?
The gold coin door gives you a set amount of Obol, the currency used to buy items from Charon’s shop. The amount can vary based on your progress and any bonuses you have.
Can door symbols be rerolled?
No, door symbols cannot be rerolled. However, you can use Fated Authority (a mirror upgrade) to reroll the reward of a chamber after you clear it, but this does not change the door symbol itself.
What is the Chaos Gate door?
The Chaos Gate is a swirling void door that takes you to Chaos’s realm. There, you can accept a curse that debuffs you for a few encounters, but after that, you receive a powerful boon from Chaos.
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