How to read this
Hades 2 weapons (the Nocturnal Arms) are all viable, but they play very differently. The tier reflects overall strength and ease of use, not a single damage number. Pair the weapon with the right Aspect and boons (see the best boons tier list and arcana guide).
By the numbers
- Hades 2 ships 6 Nocturnal Arms, and every arm has 4 Aspects (a base Melinoë form plus three that reshape its moveset).
- The tier list below ranks all six — there is no “hidden” arm left out, because each one is viable with the right Aspect and boons.
S-tier — strongest, easiest to build around
- Witch’s Staff — the all-rounder. Strong omega attacks, great reach, and flexible whether you lean attack, special or cast. The Momus and Circe aspects are standout picks.
- Umbral Flames — fast, ranged-ish fire that suits special- and cast-focused builds. Excellent for melting groups and forgiving for newer players.
A-tier — powerful with the right build
- Moonstone Axe — heavy, slow hits with a big omega. Rewards patient spacing and pairs with boons that forgive its wind-up.
- Sister Blades — a fast melee pair built for aggressive, in-your-face pressure. Strong when you stay on top of the enemy.
- Argent Skull — the returning boomerang weapon. Unique flight path rewards positioning; great for hit-and-run omega play.
- Black Coat — blade plus gun forms with a very high skill ceiling. Among the best when mastered, but punishing until you learn the dash timing.
Aspect priority
On each weapon, chase the aspect that matches your boon plan:
- Attack builds → aspects that boost the attack (e.g., Staff’s Momus).
- Special/cast builds → aspects that empower the special or add a second cast (e.g., Flames aspects).
- Hidden aspects → unlock them for a dramatic change to the weapon’s identity; they are almost always worth it once you have the materials.
Build it out
Once you pick a weapon, lock the Aspect, then stack complementary boons and an Arcana loadout. The best builds & synergies page shows full loadouts, and the keepsakes guide covers what to hold for each route.