All animal companions (and how to unlock, upgrade and use them)

As Melinoe fights her way into the Underworld Hades 2she encounters several animal companions who can help her defeat the Time Titan and save her family. These animals are able to fight alongside her in battle, farm for better materials, and provide passive buffs to Melinoe herself.

However, Melinoe can only bring one familiar with him each time he runs through the surface or underworld. Players will need to choose their favorite companion wisely and see which one will best compliment their current build, or which familiar will help them gather some much needed materials.

Updated by Christopher Ng on October 18, 2024: The Olympic update brought two new familiars to Melinoe – the raven Raki and the dog Hecuba. This guide has been updated to include instructions on how to unlock these two new animal companions and charts for their unique skills.

Unlock Familiars In Hades 2

First some steps to complete

Melinoë must cast a spell in the Cauldron at the Crossroads to unlock the familiar. Specifically, the player will need Faith of Familiar Spirits spell. To unlock this spell, players must prioritize each gathering equipment and use it at least twice. Once this happens, Melinoe must defeat Hecate. If done correctly, Hecate will dialogue with Melinoe before the battle for the familiars.

After returning to the Crossroads, interact with the pot to find the incantation. He will need Melinoe to cast this spell 2x nectar and 1x lotus flower. To find nectar, search rooms with a nectar symbol or buy it for 50 bones from the Wretched Broker. Lotus flowers are found in various rooms throughout the Ocean. After occupation Faith of familiar spiritsMelinoe receives 1 Witch's Delight. Give this treat to an animal and it will join Melinoe in her future runs as a familiar.

IN hades 2, players have a choice of 4 animal companions – Frinos, Toula, Raki and Hecuba. Each one represents a different material that Melinoe can collect during her adventures in the underworld or on the surface. As a result, choosing the best known for a particular material will not only increase the probability that that material will appear, but also bypass having to play a minigame to collect this material. For example, Toula makes fishing easier and increases the probability of spawning. If Melinoe is fishing while Toula is with her, Toula will automatically catch the fish instead of the player going through the minigame.

Frinos the Frog

He loves to eat projectiles and find psychics

Frinos can be found near Melinoe's tent. Not only can it increase Melinoe's max HP, but it can also be used to block projectiles. This is especially useful against Hecate, as Frinos can eat Polymorph Curse.

Toula the cat

Extra life and more fish

After casting Woodsy Lifespring, Melinoe meets Toula in the Erebus Fountains room. After interacting with her, Toula disappears from Erebus and later reappears on the Surface.

Start a surface run, defeat Polyphemus in Ephyra and head to the Pier area. Before jumping to the exit, watch out for the Toula on the left side of the pier. Give her Witch's Delight and she joins Melinoe as a familiar.

Raki Raven

More pecking, more mining and more crit

Raki can be found in the fountain at the crossroads. Head past the fountain and there will be a white raven to the left of the path just before the exits. When Melinoe first talks to Raki, Raki disappears.

After this run, jump into the next Underworld run until Melinoe runs into fountain in Erebus with Raki in it. Raki disappears once more after Melinoe interacts with him. In the next Underworld run, find the fountain room one more time in Erebus and Raki will be able to bond with Melinoe. Give the adorable white raven Witch's Delight and it will join Melinoe as a familiar.

Hound of Hecuba

Bigger magic pool and lots of seed digging

To find Hecuba, head to the underworld and find Echo in the Fields of Sorrow. Follow the road towards the exit and Hecuba will be waiting at the exit sometime. Be careful not to miss the adorable canine – it blends in with the floor thanks to its black fur.

Talk to Hecuba and she will disappear. Repeat this process and level up the other familiars in Crossroads until Hecate has an exclamation point above her head. Talk to the titan and she will allow the recruitment of her familiars – Hecuba and Galea – through the “Common known bonds“authorization.

Jump into another underworld run, find Hecuba again in the fields of sorrow, and this time Melinoe will have a chance give Hecuba a treat. Give the faithful dog Witch's Delight and she will join Melinoe as a familiar.

Although the Shared Familiar Bonds permission allows Melinoe to recruit both Gale and Hecuba to her side as familiars, at the time of writing this guide, Gale the polecat is not currently in the game.

Familiars In Hades 2 Upgrade

Magic cookies for your favorite animal companions

To upgrade a familiar, approach them at the Crossroads. To upgrade familiar travel with Melinoe, head to that familiar's location in the training area and tell it to rest. From there, give the familiar Witch's Delight and upgrade one of its skills to the next level.

To create additional wizarding delight, use A recipe for alchemy from a beloved bite beast at the Boiler. This recipe can be used once Melinoe has cast Faith of Familiar Spirits. An ingredient that can be a bit difficult to find is Star Dust. Submit to get it Abyssal Night spellwhich can be obtained from Chaos at Crossroads near the Pitch-Block Stone. Alternatively, Star Dust can be obtained by completing Chaos Trials or purchased from the Broker for 600 bones.