By Sophie Huiberts. Last updated July 21st 2025. This work is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
New game new chances, and what a game it is! Hades 2 brings fresh challenges to the fresh file experience, and in this guide I hope to set you on your path to a first run clear. Since the game is still in early access, this guide will include no spoilers for anything past first run.
You might know me from my Hades 1 first run guide. Or from the times when I held first place on the Hades 2 Fresh File leaderboards. Or from having a successful two-players-one-controller Fresh File run of both Hades 1 and Hades 2 with ChelseaInSpace (Thanks Chelsea for your help in writing this guide!). I will describe the leading build strategy for top-level times, although alternative builds are possible.
Besides this guide, it can be helpful to watch some game footage of other people clearing first run. I suggest looking at the leaderboard on speedrun dot com.
If you want to chat about strategies or want feedback on how to improve your play then I suggest joining the speedrunning discord server. If you have feedback on this guide, you can find me there in the #h2-fresh-file channel.
July 21st 2025: Big update for Unseen patch.
February 19th 2025: NEW PATCH. The meta is anyone’s guess at this pooint.
January 20th 2025: Major update for present day mechanics and meta.
July 25th: List of Cerberus attacks plus their damage amounts
July 24th: Minor updates for Patch 4
June 27th: Added general note about this guide’s status for Patch 3.
June 26th: Added the important message to turn off auto aim.
June 9th: Eris thresholds and boss attack damage. Sunny disposition savestate.
June 8th: replaced Chronos savestates. one has PS, one has steam.
June 7th: added fields miniboss savestates, expanded introduction.
June 6th 2024: initial version.