Aside from Melinoe’s runs throughout the four layers of the Underworld, Hades 2 provides another type of challenge through the Chaos Trials. These challenge runs are a mid-to-late game featured locked behind a hidden Incantation. Chaos Trials are extremely difficult and limit the players’ usual arsenal of weapons, boons, and abilities, but all give very powerful rewards.

Veterans of the first Hades game may the mysterious Realm of Chaos. This is an exclusive zone that appears rarely and costs a significant portion of Melinoe’s health to enter. Along with strange but useful boons, other rewards in the Realm of Chaos can grant familiars, Keepsakes, Incantations, and even the ominous Chaos Trials. The first step to acing the Chaos Trials is unlocking the proper Incantation. With practice and knowledge, you can easily master the chaotic, primordial realm.

How To Unlock The Chaos Trials In Hades 2

To gain access to the Chaos Trials in Hades 2, you need to acquire the Abyssal Insight Incantation. To gain this Incantation, you need to find the Realm of Chaos and gift Chaos herself the Nectar of the Gods.

Entrances to the Realm of Chaos appear randomly throughout your runs in the Underworld, but can be identified by ominous, eye-shaped doorways built into the ground. Entering into the Realm of Chaos will cost you at least 15 health. Once inside, meet with Chaos and give her Nectar. This might take a couple of bottles, but eventually, Melinoe will receive the Abyssal Insight Incantation.

Entering the Realm of Chaos will always cost health. Be wary if you are already low health, as this trip can either unceremoniously end your run, or spit you out into a new encounter at a massive disadvantage.

In Hades 2, you can gather Nectar either through room rewards or as a purchase from Charon or the Wretched Broker. Once you have gathered all the necessary materials and performed the Incantation at the Crossroads by the cauldron, located by the Witch Heistress Hecate, you can then spot a new glowing crystal in Melinoe’s room. By interacting with this Crystal, you have officially gained access to the Chaos Trials.

How Do Chaos Trials Work In Hades 2

Each Chaos Trial in Hades 2 is a short run with multiple encounters, much like any regular run throughout the Underworld. Instead of being able to customize your own gear, each trial has pre-set weapons, boons, and a special change that makes this challenge unique.

The goal of the Chaos Trial is to complete all encounters and slay the boss at the very end. The bosses that cap off each trial are the Guardians which you regularly face in the Underworld, although in different arenas with slightly modified move sets.

Chaos Trials use all the main bosses and mini-bosses from usual runs. The more familiar you are with the Guardians at the end of each level, the more likely you are to finish your run.

If you manage to successfully clear a Chaos Trial, you are rewarded with Star Dust. This mysterious reagent has various purposes in Hades 2. First, it is used to upgrade Arcana Cards that you have already unlocked. Next, it can be exchanged for Witch’s Delight. Witch’s Delight is another reagent used to craft Beast-Loved Morsels, which are then used to recruit familiars to aid Melinoe on future runs with ive benefits. Both of these are massively beneficial buffs that can make your fight to the Titan of Time much easier.

All Chaos Trials In Hades 2

So long as you have unlocked at least the Witch’s Staff and Sister Blades weapons for Melinoe, there are three Chaos Trials initially available after performing the Abyssal Insight Incantation: the Trial of Salt, Trial of Origin, and Trial of Humility. You can unlock more Chaos Trials by acquiring more weapons, weapon aspects, and Incantations. More Chaos Trials will likely be added to Hades 2 as the game continues along its early access road map, but below are three central trials that you can test your skill with.

You can unlock even more Chaos Trials through the Aspect of the Night and Darkness Incantation. This costs five bronze and one Nightshade but increases the number of available weapon aspects. By crafting more weapon aspects, such as the Aspect of Melinoe, you will start to see more Chaos Trials appear in your selection menu.

Ultimately, Chaos Trials are incredible ways not only to gain reagents for extra buffs, but also to gain further mastery with all weapons available to you. If you want to test out your proficiency with any particular weapons in Hades 2, then the Chaos Trials are the perfect test.