Hades 2 – How to Defeat Chronos (Useful Tips)

Alright, so your goal is to defeat Chronos before the game leaves early access in order to claim your originality.

Intro

Preparation:

So, Arcana is key here, right? Gotta beef up your defense ’cause this showdown is like a marathon. Little slip-ups can sneak up on ya, and suddenly your Death Defiance is popping off from just one measly projectile.

Important tip: always keep at least one Death Defiance handy. Whether it’s from the Eternity card or Schelemeus’s Luckier Tooth. You gotta watch out for Chronos’s second phase; there’s this attack that hits for a crazy 999 damage and traps you in a tight spot on the map. Even if you know it’s coming, one wrong dodge or a bunch of enemies blocking your way can end your run.

Sure, having more health is nice, but don’t go all in on defense. You gotta balance it with beefing up your attacks and getting those sweet boons. Cards like “The Wayward Son (II)”, “The Titan (VII)”, and “The Centaur (XIII)” can help with that. They’re easier to upgrade too, so they’re good starting investments, especially if you miss the toughness boost from the Mirror of Night.

Resource Gathering:

Between runs, focus on snagging the resources you need. But hey, don’t be surprised if you bite the dust at Scylla’s final phase ’cause you ran outta magic or something. Thanks, Oceanus!

In my experience, pick and shovel have the best shot at finding minor stuff, followed by the tablet. Don’t sweat it if you’re short on seeds or stone; you’ll probably stumble upon something else you’ll be glad you grabbed.

You’re always gonna be lacking something, so keep track of what you need for your spells. And try not to keep grabbing the wrong keepsake over and over again.

Also, use these more casual runs to level up those keepsakes. But keep an eye out; if things are going surprisingly well, maybe it’s time to aim for beating the run.

Progressing:

To know you’re making real progress, keep an eye on completing those Minor Prophecies and crafting spells at the Cauldron. Right now, there might not be an endgame to conquer, so aim to get so strong that when version 1.0 drops, the Chronos boss fight feels like a warm-up.

At the start, adjust your mindset. Treat Hecate like a tutorial, Scylla like a talkative roadblock, and Cerberus like that annoying spammer you can handle. Think long-term; plan to make it all the way to the end. Don’t get complacent just ’cause you’re doing better than expected. Save those extra lives for learning and experimenting.

Movement

There’s this thing called i-frames, or “Invincibility frames,” in games. It’s like a little window of time during a character’s animation where they can’t get hit or take damage. Melinoe’s dash is all about those sweet i-frames.

When Mel dashes, she basically ignores everything in her path for that quick moment, even if she’s dashing right through where Chronos’s scythe is slicing through reality. You gotta use this to your advantage.

Now, this might be old news for hardcore Hades fans, but to minimize the time you’re in the danger zone of an attack, you should dash in the opposite direction. You know, like when you’re driving a car and the SUV next to you seems like it’s standing still because it’s going the same speed? Well, dashing the other way ramps up your perceived speed, making you harder to hit.

• (a) You dodge and you’re still in the attack.
• (b) Bye bye!

(a)
_____[attk]_____
_____[you]_____

_______[attk]___ ->
_______[you]___ ->

(b)
_____[attk]_____
_____[you]_____

_______[attk]___ ->
<- ___[you]_______

A lot of attacks don’t leave much room for you to squeeze through. That’s where you gotta master “dashing through hitboxes” and make it second nature. Time it just right so you slip through during those precious i-frames, covering the time you’d usually be in danger.

This trick really shines when you’re dealing with those “ring of death” attacks, which pop up quite a bit in Hades.

Now, about sprinting. It’s a great alternative to spamming dashes. Gives you more flexibility when dodging and avoiding stuff. Save your dashes for when you really need ’em, like reacting to sudden threats. It’s a neat addition to the gameplay, adds some depth to how you move around.

Attack Patterns

First off, Chronos isn’t as straightforward as Hades in terms of his moves.

First Phase

In his first phase, he’s all about spamming Guile’s sonic boom and swinging that annoyingly wide scythe around.

When he’s about to unleash his spinning disc attack, you’ll notice him getting all tensed up, like he’s constipated or something. He’ll curl his arm, and then the disc will start from his left side, moving clockwise to his right. Just dash in the opposite direction to dodge it. You gotta listen for it because he doesn’t give any visual cues.

The big thing to watch out for is his double or triple scythe attack. It’s easy to dodge if you’re always ready for it, but one hit can really wreck your health. Remember when you fought Headmistress Hecate? Same deal. The wider the attack, the more exaggerated his movements will be. Always dodge towards his back or keep your distance until he’s finished with his little dance.

His scythe attacks come in two flavors: a straight cut and a wide slice. He usually telegraphs the first one with a white glow and that constipated pose. Be ready for him to throw these attacks in groups of 2 or 3. They’re designed to keep you on your toes, so never assume one attack is the last in the sequence. And watch out for the straight cut; he’ll kinda prep for it like he’s about to take off, so don’t stand in his runway.

Footage from Faz Faz

You’ll notice them because they come with both a visual and audio cue. They leave these long streaks in the air that explode pretty quickly. And let me tell you, those streaks have a way bigger hitbox than they seem. If you’re debating whether they’ll hit you, they probably will. Best bet? Get outta there and save your brainpower for the real fight.

Now, about Chronos’s suck-y blade attack. It might look scary because once you’re in it, there’s no wiggling out. But don’t panic. Keep dashing in the opposite direction it’s tracking you, and you should wriggle free before it clips your toenails. Oh, and the slice that gets shot out at the end of the vacuum attack? It follows the vacuum, not where you are. So, if Chronos is still trying to aim at you, there’s basically zero chance it’ll hit.

Footage from Faz Faz

Second Phase

Honestly, I find it a bit easier than the first phase. This time around, Chronos’s projectiles are all telegraphed and easy to spot, so they don’t feel like as much of a threat.

So, he gets all angry and does this domain expansion thing (cue the 50,000th guy making that joke). He unleashes a super menacing attack that counts down with the sound of gears clacking. But honestly, it’s no biggie. We get some free hits in at the start and can sprint over there like it’s no big deal.

Now, in this phase, a lot of attacks use this golden-black floor pattern. The black parts are dangerous, but the golden ritual circle stuff is kinda safe. One attack to watch out for is when a bunch of scary rings start shrinking towards the center. It’s like a scarier version of Hecate’s cross-flame ring. The good news is that Chronos doesn’t actively chase you during this phase, so focus on nailing the platforming part.

Footage from Faz Faz

There’s also this silly attack that you can avoid while standing still. It definitely gives Hades’s laser but without half the spectacle. Chronus, being the gentleman that he is, gives you a hearty second to react to this:

Footage from Faz Faz

They’re not the worst, honestly. Plenty of space to maneuver, and they give you more chances to smack Chronos around.

But first things first, deal with those minions. They’ll pepper you with annoying projectiles, making it harder to dodge Chronos’s attacks. Take ’em out, avoid the spatial attacks, then focus on the big guy.

Why bother with the minions? Well, you don’t wanna get smacked by a stray fireball while you’re trying to navigate to a crucial but tiny area on the map. Plus, those hourglasses they drop? Fragile as heck. You can even blast ’em from a distance without worry. And hey, some skills heal you when you dish out damage, so that extra room for error? It’s a lifesaver.

Builds and Combos

“The Ol’ one-two”: If you’re rocking the Witch Staff, focus on upgrading that Omega Attack. It’s a beast early on, but can fall flat in Tartarus if left un-upgraded. Pair it up with boons like Double/Vampire Cataclysm and any “_ Strike” Attack-boosting boons you can get your hands on. This combo turns you into an enemy-shredding machine, especially if you’re channeling your attacks fast.

“Nepo-baby Necromancer”: Hephaestus’s Fixed Gain boon is your best friend here. Slay a tough enemy, slap on the “Moon Bloom” hex, and go to town with your high-cost attacks. If you get nicked, you get a free refill, baby! The summoned foe will be beefier than the one you took down, but it’ll vanish after a while. Keep slaying and summoning for maximum chaos. This trick even works on Scylla’s minions, so give her a taste of her own medicine!

“Speed-Smithing”: Hephaestus’s timer-focused boon is where it’s at. Pom that bad boy up, and you’ll be dishing out serious damage with each hit. With enough pomming, you can reduce the cooldown to just 3 seconds. Watch out though, it triggers on attack, not just landing a strike. So, be careful not to waste it on weaker enemies.

These are just a few combos to get you started, but they’re beginner-friendly and pack a punch with both aggressive and ranged playstyles. And who knows? You might even get lucky and have them all happen at once!