Familiarize Yourself: Animal Companions Guide

Many popular fantasy stories feature witches or similar magic users accompanied by animal companions. While there might be historical roots, the appeal is undeniable. What could be more enchanting than a loyal animal assisting with spells? In Hades 2, these Animal Familiars provide both companionship and practical aid.

As you advance through the narrative of Hades 2, you gain the ability to unlock Animal Familiars for Melinoe. These creatures accompany her into battle, with five different familiars available, each bringing unique and helpful skills as well as stat boosts. You can further enhance their capabilities by upgrading them, offering a crucial edge in challenging situations.

And yes, you can pet them.

How to Unlock Familiars

To gain access to these loyal companions, you must first unlock the feature itself through a specific incantation. The “Faith of Familiar Spirits” incantation becomes available in your cauldron once you’ve fulfilled these conditions: You must vanquished Hecate in Erebus at least five times, and you need to complete 2 gatherings each with the Crescent Pick and Silver Shovel, and 1 with the Tablet of Peace, which presupposes that you’ve found all three tools in the first place.

Upon the incantation appearing in the cauldron, perform it using 1 Lotus (found in Oceanus) and 2 Nectar bottles. Executing this incantation also rewards you with a Witch’s Delight, a crucial treat for recruiting and improving your familiars.

Using at least two Witch’s Delights will allow you to conjure the “Attending a Faithful Beast” incantation. For the price of a Tear from Infernal Cerberus, and 3 Olives (grown from Olive Branches), you may rest with familiars in the Training Grounds to gather resources. After another Witch’s Delight is spent, you will unlock a third incantation, called “Bravery of Familiar Spirits.”

Spend 1 Wool (found by slaying Polyphemus) and 3 Wheat (grown from Wheat Seeds), and you can use any additional Witch’s Delights to upgrade your familiars’ abilities. Each familiar can receive up to 9 Witch’s Delights to unlock and improve unique skills. Obtain more Witch’s Delights by performing the Alchemy incantation “Beast-Loved Morsel,” which requires 1 Star Dust and 1 Nectar.

Finding and Improving Frinos the Toad

Frinos, the toad, will be your first Animal Familiar, always waiting in Melinoe’s tent after a run. Once the Witch’s Delight is created via “Faith of Familiar Spirits”, feed it to Frinos at his perch to recruit him. He’s always there to support you.

With Frinos by your side, your maximum health increases by 10, you have a 10% higher chance of finding Lost Shades, and he’ll jump around, dealing minor damage. He is also able to automatically absorb most enemy projectiles, acting as a mobile shield. Second, if you stumble upon any Lost Shades, he can compel them, granting Psyche without the mini-game.

Upgrading Frinos with additional Witch’s Delights unlocks and enhances these abilities:

Finding and Improving Toula the Cat

Toula the cat, a quintessential witch’s companion, is the second familiar. Before seeking her out, you need to progress in the game in specific ways. You must have caught at least one fish with the Rod of Fishing.

Additionally, you must perform the incantation “Woodsy Lifespring,” which opens the fountain room in Erebus. Toula might appear here, but you cannot recruit her yet. Next, journey to the surface and overcome Polyphemus to reach the Rift of Thessaly. Find Toula on the pier to the left before entering the area and recruit her with a Witch’s Delight.

Toula gives you an extra Death Defiance, and they all restore 10 more health than usual. She also increases the chance of fishing spots appearing, automatically handling them like Frinos with Lost Shades. Sprinting near Toula causes her to strike nearby enemies, dealing damage, though her interest fades quickly.

Upgrading Toula with Witch’s Delights unlocks and enhances these abilities:

Finding and Improving Raki the Raven

Raki the Raven, a classic symbol of witchy mystique, is third. If you’ve already unlocked the Erebus fountain room for Toula, you’re on the path to find Raki.

Raki may appear when entering the fountain room. He will fly away the first time you speak to him, forcing you to seek him out again in a future run. You’ll have to find him once more, then you can recruit him by offering a Witch’s Delight.

Raki’s skills are excellent for those who enjoy critical hits. All damage you inflict has a 1% chance of being critical while he is around. He’ll also swoop down on enemies to peck at them, dealing damage and marking them, which raises their chance of receiving critical damage for a short period. Furthermore, Raki’s presence boosts the chance of material outcroppings, such as silver veins, appearing, and he will harvest them for you.

Upgrading Raki with Witch’s Delights unlocks and enhances these abilities:

Finding and Improving Hecuba the Hound

Another familiar companion is Hecuba the Hound, one of Hecate’s faithful friends. While you’ve likely seen her and Gale in the Crossroads, you’ll require Hecate’s approval to recruit her.

To start, you must have attempted at least 12 runs, spent at least three Witch’s Delights, and unlocked “Bravery of Familiar Spirits”. Once these conditions are satisfied, Hecuba will start appearing in Echo’s chamber in the Fields of Mourning, if Nemesis is not present.

You must also fulfill some more conditions to get Hecate’s blessing. Talk to Hecuba in the Fields of Mourning at least twice and mention it to Hecate. You also must recruit all three previous companions and used each of their abilities in a run at least once. Upgrading them all at least once is also required. Hecate will give her blessing when these conditions are satisfied. Next time you encounter Hecuba, a Witch’s Delight will allow you to recruit her.

Hecuba increases your max Magick by 10% and the likelihood of Digging Spots appearing, which she can dig up. She also periodically stuns all enemies in her radius. Most importantly, when you have less than 51% health or 70% Magick, she’ll dig up a small health or Magick-restoring item, on a short cooldown.

Upgrading Hecuba unlocks and enhances these abilities:

Finding and Improving Gale the Polecat

The final Animal Familiar is Gale the Polecat, another of Hecate’s minions. Like Hecuba, you must get Hecate’s permission for Gale to join. The requirements are very similar to recruiting Hecuba.

The only difference is that you must see and talk to Gale a couple of times at Charon’s Shop on Mount Olympus, on the surface, before fighting Prometheus. After you’ve interacted with Gale twice, talk to Hecate in the Crossroads, and she will authorize it. Offer Gale a Witch’s Delight to recruit her on your next encounter.

Gale provides a small passive increase to both your movement speed and your chance to automatically dodge attacks. Additionally, Gale boosts the chance of Flora spawns, such as Moss and Shaderot. She can also take the hit for you up to three times each region, dealing 250 damage to the attacker, with a 30-second cooldown between instances.

Upgrading Gale unlocks and enhances these abilities: