How to Reach the True Ending and Epilogue in Hades

How to Reach the Credits in Hades

Your journey in Hades isn’t over when you first defeat your father—it’s just beginning. Seeing the credits roll is a major milestone that unlocks a deeper, richer story, and it’s all about persistence.

The path to the true ending in Hades requires multiple successful escapes.

To reach this initial ending, you need to achieve 10 successful escapes. That means fighting your way through the Underworld, past the Styx, and defeating Hades himself ten separate times. Don't worry—the game keeps track of this count for you. After that tenth victory, a special event triggers, and you’ll witness the credits sequence for the first time. This isn’t the true finale, but it’s the essential gateway to everything that follows.

Once the credits roll, return to the House of Hades. You’ll find Persephone, Zagreus’ mother, has returned from Greece on The Surface and is now a permanent resident. Her homecoming is marked by an unmissable conversation, the PersephoneHomeMeeting dialogue, which occurs in the Bedroom. She’ll speak about her re-acclimation to the Underworld, setting the stage for the post-game storylines.

Back in the Great Hall, make sure to seek out Hades himself. You’ll trigger the HadesPostEnding dialogue, where he discusses Zagreus's newfound freedom to leave and the ongoing deception of the Olympians. This conversation is a key narrative beat that acknowledges your progress and opens the door to the epilogue quests.

With the credits seen and these foundational dialogues in place, you’re officially ready to dive into Hades’ expansive post-game content, starting with the quest to mend the family’s fractured relationships.

How to Unlock The Queen's Plan in Hades

The credits have rolled, but your journey in Hades isn't over yet. With Persephone back in the House of Hades, the real work of mending a fractured family begins. This is where you transition from a rebellious son to a master diplomat, and it all starts with a single, crucial prophecy.

The Fated List of Minor Prophecies tracks milestones needed for the epilogue.

After your 10th victory over Hades and Persephone’s return, keep speaking with her in the Great Hall. Eventually, she’ll present you with a new directive on the Fated List of Minor Prophecies called The Queen's Plan. This prophecy is your ticket to the game's true epilogue, and its goal is deceptively simple on paper: you must forge unbreakable bonds with the Olympian gods.

Here’s what that actually means. You need to achieve Bond Forged status with at least 6 of the 9 Olympians (Aphrodite, Ares, Artemis, Athena, Demeter, Dionysus, Hermes, Poseidon, and Zeus). You can check your progress with any god in your Codex. The path to that final bond follows a consistent, two-stage pattern for each deity, and it requires two key resources.

First, you’ll use Nectar. You can buy this relationship currency from the Wretched Broker in the House of Hades lounge. Gift Nectar to a god repeatedly by encountering them during your runs and pressing [A] to offer it. This will fill their affinity gauge until you hit a "locked" heart—a narrative roadblock that requires completing a unique character-specific favor. (We’ll cover the intricate details of each god’s favor in a dedicated section).

Once you’ve completed a god’s favor and unlocked that final heart, you move to the second stage: Ambrosia. This rare resource is primarily earned as a first-time boss reward for defeating Theseus and Asterius in Elysium. After unlocking a god's heart, you must gift them Ambrosia (again with [A]) to finally achieve the Bond Forged status that The Queen's Plan demands.

Trust me, this is a marathon, not a sprint. The dialogue needed to trigger favors is governed by Hades’ infamous RNG, so persistence is key. Keep doing runs, keep talking to everyone in the House of Hades after each attempt, and keep gifting those Nectar and Ambrosia. Once you’ve secured that sixth Bond Forged status, you’ll have proven your diplomatic mettle and be ready to orchestrate the ultimate family reunion.

Best Strategies for Forging Olympian Bonds

Alright, you’ve got Persephone’s The Queen’s Plan prophecy active and you’re staring at a Codex full of locked hearts. This is where Hades turns from a roguelike into a social sim—your goal is to earn the trust of the Olympians, and each one has a unique, often quirky, favor to complete before they’ll accept your final gift of Ambrosia. Let’s break down what each god needs.

The Secret Stash menu tracks relationship progress and favor requirements for companions.

The Olympian Favor Checklist

Here’s the specific, non-negotiable task for each of the nine gods you need to befriend. Focus on the six that seem most achievable for you first.

• Zeus: You need to play messenger for the King of the Gods. Find Zeus in Olympus when he offers you a boon. To unlock his final heart, you must hear what other gods think of him while you’re already holding one of his boons. This means picking up boons from other Olympians in the same run after you’ve taken a Zeus boon. Equip his Thunder Signet keepsake to start with his boon and make this easier.
• Poseidon: The god of the sea has a fishing quest. First, buy the Rod of Fishing from the House Contractor and catch at least 18 fish total. Then, in a single run, you must catch a fish and then get a boon from Poseidon in Olympus before taking any other god’s boon. Talk to him immediately after catching the fish to trigger the special dialogue.
• Athena: The goddess of wisdom is impressed by success. You must have Athena congratulate you on a successful escape three separate times. This means defeating the final boss and then finding her in the House of Hades after the run. Just keep escaping and checking the courtyard—she’ll show up eventually.
• Aphrodite: As the Goddess of Love, her favor is all about your connections with others. Before she’ll open her heart, you must first forge a Bond Forged with Megaera, Thanatos, and Dusa. Once all three of those relationships are complete (their storylines resolved and Ambrosia gifted), keep talking to Aphrodite in Olympus over several runs until she acknowledges your capacity for love.
• Ares: The god of war wants a blood offering. He’ll give you the War-God’s Bloodlust prophecy, which requires you to slay a cumulative total of 10,000 foes. You can track your progress at the Scrying Pool in Zagreus’s Bedchambers. Just keep playing—this one will complete itself over time.
• Artemis: The huntress’s heart is unlocked through story. Exhaust all of Artemis’s dialogue in Olympus regarding her friend Callisto. This happens naturally over many conversations as you encounter her. There’s no specific action beyond gifting Nectar and talking to her repeatedly.
• Dionysus: The party god wants you to share the wealth. His requirement is to forge bonds with six other characters (not necessarily gods) and then gift a total of 10 Ambrosia across them. Once you’ve done that, speak to Dionysus in Olympus to complete his favor.
• Hermes: The messenger requires a demonstration of speed. Level up the Lambent Plume keepsake to 3 stars by completing runs with it equipped. Then, equip the maxed-out keepsake and speak to Hermes in Olympus during a run. He’ll notice your dedication and unlock his heart.
• Demeter: The frosty goddess has the simplest path but a later gate. Simply gift her Nectar until you reach 6 out of her 7 hearts. However, her final heart will remain locked until after you complete the Epilogue questline. Don’t worry about her being one of your initial six.

Strategy for the Grind

This process is a marathon, not a sprint. Here’s how to manage it efficiently:

1. Target the Low-Hanging Fruit First: Demeter, Artemis, and Ares are largely passive—just keep playing, gifting Nectar, and talking to them. Work on these alongside more active goals.
2. Multitask Your Runs: Plan runs around specific goals. Need Poseidon’s fish-and-boon combo? Equip his Conch Shell keepsake and head to Tartarus with your fishing rod ready. Working on Zeus? Start with his keepsake and then avoid other gods until you’ve collected their opinions.
3. Manage Your Resources: Ambrosia is precious. Don’t gift it until a god’s final heart is unlocked (the padlock icon disappears in the Codex). Farm it efficiently by defeating Theseus and Asterius in Elysium on higher Heat levels via the Pact of Punishment, or trade for it at the Wretched Broker.

If a god’s favor dialogue isn’t triggering, you’re likely stuck in Hades’ infamous dialogue queue. Just keep doing runs, checking the House of Hades between each attempt, and eventually the right conversation will pop.

With a plan for each Olympian and a little patience, you’ll have those six bonds forged and be ready for the final family gathering. Let’s get to work.

How to Complete the Romance Favors for Aphrodite

Love might be a battlefield, but in Hades, Aphrodite’s final favor is a test of commitment. Before you can earn the Goddess of Love’s ultimate trust, you must prove your heart is true by forging deep bonds with three key characters in the House of Hades. This isn’t about choosing one—it’s about completing each of their personal stories. If you’ve struggled to get that final locked heart to open, you’re not alone; this favor is a marathon of social progression.

Visualizing the path toward completing character favors and game milestones.

Here’s the core requirement: to unlock Aphrodite’s final heart, you must achieve a Bond Forged status with Megaera, Thanatos, and Dusa. This is more than just giving gifts—it’s about completing their unique storylines. The process is the same for all three: gift them six bottles of Nectar to fill their affinity gauge to a locked heart, complete their specific character “Favor,” then gift them one Ambrosia to finalize the bond and earn their companion.

Let’s break down what each character needs from you.

Completing the Three Key Bonds

First, focus on Megaera, one of the Fury Sisters you’ll find in the House of Hades Lounge. After gifting her six Nectar, her favor involves a series of conversations. You’ll need to trigger a specific bedroom scene where she retrieves her belongings, followed by another key dialogue in Zagreus's room. Keep running into her after escapes until these scenes play out. Once her heart unlocks, gift her that first Ambrosia to receive the Companion Battie.

Next is Thanatos, the stoic personification of Death. He appears randomly during escape attempts, most often in Elysium. After his six Nectar, his favor is a direct challenge: you must defeat him in a kill-count contest when he appears mid-run. Win that competition, then find him back in the House for a pivotal conversation. Gift him Ambrosia afterward to earn the Companion Mort.

Finally, there’s Dusa, the cheerful Gorgon head floating around the House of Hades Lounge. Her favor is tied to the House Contractor. After her six Nectar, you must purchase at least 12 Lounge renovations. Key purchases include ‘Service, Great Hall’ and ‘Rug, Gaia’, which are often prerequisites for cleaning up messes and fixing wall damage. Once the lounge is suitably upgraded, a grateful dialogue will trigger. Gift her Ambrosia to complete the bond and receive the Companion Fidi.

Securing Aphrodite’s Favor

Once all three companions—Battie, Mort, and Fidi—are in your Secret Stash, the final step is a waiting game. Return to the House and speak with Aphrodite whenever she appears. The game’s dialogue system has a queue, so she may need several encounters to acknowledge each relationship. She’ll typically have three distinct conversations praising your bonds with Megaera, Thanatos, and Dusa before her locked heart finally vanishes from the Codex.

Stock up on Nectar and Ambrosia early—you’ll need at least 18 Nectar (6 for each character) and 3 Ambrosia just to reach this point. Remember, you can romance all three characters simultaneously in Hades without penalty, and Dusa’s path culminates in a deep, platonic friendship, which still counts for the favor.

With the bonds forged and Aphrodite’s heart unlocked, you’ve cleared one of the most intricate social hurdles in the game. You’re now one major step closer to fulfilling The Queen’s Plan and orchestrating the ultimate family reunion.

How to Trigger the Family Reunion in Hades

Alright, this is the final push. You’ve forged the bonds, you’ve seen The Queen's Plan through, and the House of Hades is buzzing with anticipation. Now, to truly bring everyone together, you need to fulfill the final prophecy: Family Reunion.

Defeating Chronos is a major step toward resolving the family conflict.

Think of this as the ultimate party-planning checklist. The Family Reunion prophecy, found in your Fated List of Minor Prophecies, asks you to collect one boon from each of the nine Olympian Gods. This sounds simple, but Hades' dialogue system means you’ll need to be strategic to trigger the final story beats.

First, ensure those crucial conversations have happened. After the credits rolled, you should have seen the HadesAboutOlympianReunionQuest dialogue in the House of Hades Garden. This is where Hades reveals Zeus’s secret about bringing Persephone to him, a key piece of lore for the reunion. Next, you need to navigate the tricky family drama between Zeus and Demeter. To trigger ZeusAboutPersephone 1, you’ll need at least 1 Heart with Zeus and have already heard the DemeterAboutPersephone 3 dialogue. Likewise, to get DemeterAboutPersephone 4, you’ll need 5 Hearts with Demeter and have had eight distinct conversations with Persephone in the Underworld.

Here’s where Keepsake Cycling becomes your best friend. At any Rest Area with a Keepsake Box, press [A] to swap your equipped keepsake. To efficiently collect boons for the Family Reunion prophecy and force those last dialogues, equip the keepsake of the god you’re missing right at the start of a run. Get their boon, then if you wish, you can end the run early in the next chamber to quickly move on to the next god on your list.

The final guest list for the Family Reunion includes:

• Aphrodite
• Ares
• Artemis
• Athena
• Demeter
• Dionysus
• Hermes
• Poseidon
• Zeus

You don’t need all nine boons in a single run. Just ensure each god’s boon icon appears in your list at least once across your attempts. Some players find Hermes appears more reliably after reaching Asphodel, so plan your “early end” runs accordingly.

Once you’ve collected that final boon and the prophecy is marked complete, return to the House of Hades. Speak with Persephone and Hades. If all the narrative stars have aligned—the bonds forged, the dialogues heard, the boons collected—you’ll trigger the culminating epilogue scene. The family, both divine and chthonic, finally reunites under one roof, bringing your long journey to a profoundly satisfying close. You’ve earned this moment.

Hades Epilogue Rewards and One for the Ages Achievement

This is it—the final curtain call. After forging bonds, reuniting families, and orchestrating a divine reunion, you’ve earned the right to see the story’s true conclusion and reap the ultimate rewards for your dedication to Hades.

Completing prophecies is a key step toward the final epilogue rewards.

The Epilogue and Final Rewards

After completing the Family Reunion prophecy, return to the House of Hades. Speak to Persephone in the Great Hall and then to Hades in his administrative chambers. This triggers the final, heartwarming epilogue cutscene where the entire extended family—Olympians and Chthonic gods alike—gathers. Watching this scene unlocks the final story achievement, One for the Ages.

With the story complete, a new phase of the game opens up, offering powerful tools and cosmetic bragging rights for your continued runs.

Post-Epilogue Keepsakes & Cosmetics
Your relationship with the House itself deepens after the credits roll. By continuing to run the Underworld and speak with everyone, you’ll unlock two powerful late-game keepsakes:

• Sigil of the Dead: After a few more successful runs post-credits, a scene with Hades in the Great Hall will unlock the ability to gift him Nectar. His gift in return is this unique Call, which starts encounters with a portion of your God Gauge already filled and grants brief invisibility when used.
• Pom Blossom: Once Persephone is settled back in the House of Hades, you can gift her Nectar to receive this keepsake. It automatically levels up a random boon every few encounters, perfect for long, scaling runs.

You’ll also gain access to a new NPC: the Resource Director. Find this shade in Hades' Chambers (the room to the left of Hades' desk in the Great Hall). He allows you to exchange Darkness for purely cosmetic ranks that add embellishments to your health bar—a perfect sink for resources once everything else is maxed.

Endgame Fishing & Achievements
For completionists, there’s still more to hunt. A rare Fishing Point can now spawn in the boss arena on The Surface (in Greece), letting you catch fish unique to the surface waters: Trout (Common), Bass (Rare), and Sturgeon (Legendary). These can be traded to the Wretched Broker for high-tier resources.

This is also the time to mop up any remaining achievements. If you’ve followed the guides for the epilogue and companion unlocks, achievements like Complete Set (all Chthonic Companions) and Something From Everyone (all standard Keepsakes) should be within reach. For the truly daring, purchase Extreme Measures 4 from the House Contractor for 100 Gemstones to face a brutally upgraded version of the final boss fight.

You’ve done it. You’ve mended a broken family, earned your place among legends, and unlocked the tools to conquer the Underworld in style. The story of Zagreus is complete, but your journey through Hades is whatever you make it next—whether that’s chasing every fish, conquering the highest heat, or simply enjoying the endless, perfect cycle of escape. Well done, Prince.