All Vows in Hades 2 (January 2026) Complete Guide
Welcome to the most comprehensive guide to all vows in Hades 2! As you dive deeper into the underworld’s challenges, the Oath of the Unseen becomes your gateway to mastering fear runs and claiming the title of Night’s Champion. Whether you’re a newcomer looking to understand the basics or a veteran player aiming for that elusive 67 Fear run, this guide has everything you need.
Quick Overview: All 17 Vows at a Glance
| Vow Name | Fear Range | Primary Effect | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vow of Debt | 2 | Items cost 40-80% more | Easy |
| Vow of Denial | 2 | Limits boon choices | Medium |
| Vow of Fangs | 5 | Armored foes get perks | Hard |
| Vow of Forfeit | 3 | First boons become ashes | Medium |
| Vow of Frenzy | 6 | Foes 20-40% faster | Very Hard |
| Vow of Grit | 3 | Foes 10-30% more health | Medium |
| Vow of Hordes | 3 | 20-60% more foes | Medium |
| Vow of Hubris | 2 | Prime rewards for rarity | Easy |
| Vow of Menace | 3 | Stronger foes from next region | Medium |
| Vow of Pain | 5 | Foes deal 20-100% more damage | Hard |
| Vow of Return | 2 | Slain foes become revenants | Medium |
| Vow of Rivals | 12 | Stronger guardians | Extreme |
| Vow of Scars | 4 | Healing reduced 75-100% | Hard |
| Vow of Shadow | 2 | Shadow servants in warden fights | Medium |
| Vow of Time | 6 | Time limits per region | Very Hard |
| Vow of Void | 5 | Limits Arcana access | Hard |
| Vow of Wards | 2 | Foes get 1-2 armor | Easy |
In this guide, you’ll discover detailed strategies for each vow, optimal combinations for different Fear levels, and pro tips that will help you conquer even the most challenging runs. Let’s dive into the darkness and master the art of fear!
Understanding the Oath of the Unseen
The Oath of the Unseen is Hades 2’s answer to the original game’s Pact of Punishment, but with a dark twist. Created by Nyx (with Schelemeus claiming partial credit), this mystical shrine appears in the Training Grounds only after you’ve defeated Chronos at least once. Positioned strategically between the Underworld and Surface routes, it serves as your gateway to customized difficulty.
How Vows Work?
Each vow acts as a difficulty modifier that adds Fear points to your run. The total Fear displayed at the bottom of the Oath interface represents your run’s overall difficulty level. Here’s what makes the system special:
- Progressive Difficulty: Most vows have multiple ranks (1-4), allowing you to scale the challenge gradually
- Strategic Depth: Different vows interact uniquely with various weapons and boons
- Risk vs Reward: Higher Fear means better rewards but exponentially harder challenges
- Flexibility: You can rescind any vows without consequence between runs
Fear System Explained
Fear isn’t just a number—it’s the key to unlocking Hades 2’s most challenging content:
- Testaments of Night: Complete specific Fear thresholds to earn Nightmare rewards
- Gifts of the Veil: Unlock statues at 8, 16, and 24 Fear
- Night’s Champion: The ultimate challenge for high-Fear runs
- Maximum Fear: 67 points (only achieved by a handful of players worldwide)
The system encourages experimentation while providing clear progression goals. As one expert analysis noted, this creates perfect difficulty balance that keeps players engaged without feeling overwhelming.
Complete Breakdown: All 17 Vows
Core Difficulty Vows
Vow of Pain (5 Fear)
Effect: All foes deal +20%/+60%/+100% damage Quote: “Upon this night I writhe, that Fear may spread.”
This is one of the most impactful vows, especially at higher ranks. At Rank III, enemies deal double damage, making every mistake potentially fatal. However, it synergizes well with the Devotion upgrade and affects enemies with Night Bloom and Sun Worshiper boons.
Pro Strategy: Pair with defensive boons from Athena or Aphrodite. Avoid this vow until you’re comfortable with enemy patterns and have reliable healing options.
Vow of Grit (3 Fear)
Effect: All foes have +10%/+20%/+30% health Quote: “Upon this night my foes shall not fall readily, that Fear may spread.”
The quintessential difficulty vow that makes every fight longer. While not as flashy as other vows, Vow of Grit significantly extends run times and increases resource consumption.
Pro Strategy: Focus on damage-over-time effects and multi-hit abilities. Weapons like the Witch’s Staff excel against high-health enemies.
Vow of Frenzy (6 Fear)
Effect: All foes are +20%/+40% faster Quote: “Upon this night I shall be set upon relentlessly, that Fear may spread.”
Perhaps the most mechanically challenging vow, Vow of Frenzy completely changes combat flow. Enemies become more aggressive, harder to hit, and their attack patterns become unpredictable.
Pro Strategy: This vow synergizes with the Rigor upgrade. Consider weapons with wide area attacks or reliable crowd control. Many players find this vow frustrating at Rank II due to unfair-feeling moments.
Resource Management Vows
Vow of Debt (2 Fear)
Effect: All items that cost Gold are +40%/+80% more expensive Quote: “Upon this night I shall have naught to spare, that Fear may spread.”
Affects all purchases from Charon’s Shops, Well of Charon, Shrine of Hermes, and Nemesis’ Fair Trade. While seemingly simple, this vow can significantly impact your build potential throughout a run.
Pro Strategy: Focus on gold-generating boons and keepakes. Hermes’ boons become particularly valuable. Consider this vow for easy Fear points if you’re good at resource management.
Vow of Forfeit (3 Fear)
Effect: The first 1 Boon(s) in each Region become Ashes instead Quote: “Upon this night shall favors turn to tears, that Fear may spread.”
This vow transforms the first encounter’s Major Find into Ashes, potentially crippling your early build. However, it only affects Location rewards—not purchased boons or Family Dispute rewards.
Pro Strategy: Plan your build around core boons you can get later. Olympian Keepsakes will still prioritize boons during the second Major Find if you avoid choosing a boon during the first.
Vow of Hubris (2 Fear)
Effect: After you choose a Boon, Prime 3/6 for each Rarity greater than Common Quote: “Upon this night shall my pride of gods fall short, that Fear may spread.”
An excellent vow for players who understand boon rarity systems. It provides substantial rewards for taking higher-tier boons:
- Rare: 3/6 Prime
- Epic: 6/12 Prime
- Heroic: 9/18 Prime
- Legendary: 12/24 Prime
- Duo: 12/24 Prime
Pro Strategy: Focus on getting high-rarity boons early. This vow makes Magick potions more attractive and forces strategic boon selection.
Environmental and Spawning Vows
Vow of Hordes (3 Fear)
Effect: Most encounters have +20%/+40%/+60% more foes Quote: “Upon this night I shall be overwhelmed, that Fear may spread.”
More enemies means more chaos, but also more potential resources. The main drawback is the waiting time for all enemies to spawn, which can significantly slow down runs.
Pro Strategy: Area-of-effect weapons become essential. Consider the Sister Blades or Moonstone Axe for crowd control. This vow pairs well with resource-generating boons.
Vow of Menace (3 Fear)
Effect: Most foes have a 10%/25% chance to be from the next Region Quote: “Upon this night shall distant dangers come, that Fear may spread.”
Player-favorite vow that adds variety and unpredictability to encounters. Fighting advanced enemies early creates exciting challenges without feeling unfair.
Pro Strategy: This is one of the most enjoyable difficulty vows. It keeps runs fresh and tests your adaptability. Consider this for medium Fear runs.
Vow of Return (2 Fear)
Effect: Most slain foes have a +25%/+50% chance to become a Revenant Quote: “Upon this night my foes shall rise again, that Fear may spread.”
Revenants revive after 5 seconds unless collected first. This vow changes how you approach encounters, forcing you to prioritize enemy management.
Pro Strategy: Focus on quick kills and efficient collection. Weapons with fast attack speeds excel. Some players find revenant collection hitboxes frustratingly wide.
Specialized Challenge Vows
Vow of Scars (4 Fear)
Effect: Any healing effects are 75%/50%/0% effective Quote: “Upon this night my wounds shall never heal, that Fear may spread.”
At Rank III, this vow completely disables healing—except for specific exceptions:
- Witch’s Staff’s Vampiric Cataclysm
- Apollo’s Self Healing
- Demeter’s Plentiful Forage
- Dionysus’s Bounce Back
- Circe’s Old Herbal Remedy
- Well of Charon’s Charity Bottle and Breath of Eros
Pro Strategy: Plan around these healing exceptions. Build for damage prevention rather than recovery. This vow is well-paced but punishing at higher ranks.
Vow of Time (6 Fear)
Effect: You have 09:00/07:00/05:00 to fight through each Region Quote: “Upon this night there shall be not a moment’s peace, that Fear may spread.”
One of the most stressful vows, especially at higher ranks. When time runs out, Melinoë takes 5 damage per second—unreducible by any means, including invulnerability.
Pro Strategy: Optimize room clears and pathfinding. At Rank III, this feels nearly impossible without perfect execution. Consider this only for experienced players.
Vow of Void (5 Fear)
Effect: You have access to 60%/40%/20%/0% of your Grasp for your Arcana Quote: “Upon this night shall my beliefs be gone, that Fear may spread.”
Each rank reduces your available Grasp (starting from 30):
- Rank I: 18 Grasp
- Rank II: 12 Grasp
- Rank III: 6 Grasp
- Rank IV: 0 Grasp
Pro Strategy: This vow is frustratingly costed at 5 Fear. It severely limits build options without providing proportional challenge. Consider this only for specific challenge runs.
Unique Mechanics Vows
Vow of Shadow (2 Fear)
Effect: All Encounters with Wardens contain no fewer than 1 Shadow Servant(s) Quote: “Upon this night shall shadows multiply, that Fear may spread.”
Shadow Servants are dangerous apparitions that reinforce Wardens in every encounter. This vow specifically targets boss fights, making them significantly more challenging.
Pro Strategy: Prepare for extended boss fights. Focus on single-target damage and learn Shadow Servant patterns. This vow is manageable but requires specific preparation.
Vow of Fangs (5 Fear)
Effect: Most foes with Armor also have 1/2 random Perk(s) Quote: “Upon this night shall newfound terrors manifest, that Fear may spread.”
This vow adds unpredictable elements to armored enemies, making each encounter unique. The random perks can range from minor annoyances to run-ending threats.
Pro Strategy: Adaptability is key. Learn all possible enemy perks and have contingency plans. This vow rewards game knowledge and quick thinking.
Vow of Denial (2 Fear)
Effect: After you choose a Boon, 2 unpicked blessings shall not appear again this night Quote: “Upon this night I shall be denied, that Fear may spread.”
Strategic vow that can be used to your advantage by eliminating unwanted boons. It makes rerolls more interesting and forces careful boon selection.
Pro Strategy: Use this vow to ban undesirable boons and focus your build. It’s particularly useful for targeting specific Duo or Legendary boons.
Vow of Wards (2 Fear)
Effect: All foes have 1/2 Armor Quote: “Upon this night I strike to no avail, that Fear may spread.”
Armor provides damage reduction, making enemies more durable. This vow affects all enemies and synergizes with other difficulty-increasing vows.
Pro Strategy: Focus on armor-piercing attacks and status effects. Weapons with high single-hit damage work well against armored foes.
Vow of Rivals (12 Fear)
Effect: The Guardians of the first 1/2/3/4 Region(s) shall be stronger in various ways Quote: “Upon this night shall rivals rise, that Fear may spread.”
The ultimate challenge vow, unlocked progressively by defeating unrivaled versions of Guardians. Each rank makes bosses significantly harder:
- Underworld Rivals 1-2: Hecate and Scylla are very difficult, Cerberus is manageable
- Surface Rivals 1-2: Manageable difficulty
- Rivals 3 (Prometheus): Significantly harder
- Rivals 4: Extremely challenging
Pro Strategy: Avoid combining with Vow of Frenzy, Grit, or Pain at high levels. This vow is for true experts seeking the ultimate challenge.
Strategic Vow Combinations
Beginner Fear Setups (1-8 Fear)
For newcomers to fear runs, these combinations provide manageable challenges while teaching core mechanics:
Recommended Starter Setup (8 Fear):
- Vow of Debt (2) – Easy Fear points
- Vow of Hubris (2) – Good rewards for risk
- Vow of Wards (2) – Simple difficulty increase
- Vow of Denial (2) – Strategic element
Alternative Setup (6 Fear):
- Vow of Hubris (2)
- Vow of Menace (3) – Fun and engaging
- Vow of Shadow (2) – Boss-focused challenge
Intermediate Fear Setups (9-16 Fear)
Once you’re comfortable with basic fear runs, these combinations provide solid challenges:
Balanced Setup (12 Fear):
- Vow of Grit (3)
- Vow of Hordes (3)
- Vow of Pain (5) – Significant difficulty jump
- Vow of Hubris (2)
High-Reward Setup (15 Fear):
- Vow of Pain (5)
- Vow of Frenzy (6) – Very challenging
- Vow of Hubris (2)
- Vow of Debt (2)
Advanced Fear Setups (17-32 Fear)
For experienced players seeking serious challenges:
Expert Setup (24 Fear):
- Vow of Pain (5)
- Vow of Frenzy (6)
- Vow of Scars (4)
- Vow of Time (6)
- Vow of Hubris (2)
- Vow of Debt (1)
Night’s Champion Practice (32 Fear):
- Vow of Pain (5)
- Vow of Frenzy (6)
- Vow of Scars (4)
- Vow of Time (6)
- Vow of Void (5)
- Vow of Hordes (3)
- Vow of Hubris (2)
- Vow of Debt (1)
Extreme Fear Setups (33-67 Fear)
For the absolute pinnacle of Hades 2 challenge:
Maximum Challenge Setup (67 Fear):
- All vows at maximum rank
- Requires perfect execution and optimal builds
- Only achieved by a handful of players worldwide
Pro Tips and Advanced Strategies
Weapon Synergies
Different weapons excel with different vow combinations:
Witch’s Staff: Excellent for high-health enemies (Vow of Grit) and can bypass Vow of Scars with Vampiric Cataclysm
Sister Blades: Perfect for Vow of Hordes due to excellent crowd control
Moonstone Axe: Strong against armored foes (Vow of Wards) and single-target damage for revenants (Vow of Return)
Umbral Flames: Great for Vow of Time runs due to fast room clearing potential
Heart-Seeking Bow: Excels in Vow of Frenzy situations by keeping enemies at distance
Boon Selection Strategies
For High Damage Vows (Pain, Frenzy):
- Prioritize defensive boons from Athena, Aphrodite
- Focus on damage prevention over healing
- Consider damage reflection builds
For Resource Management Vows (Debt, Forfeit):
- Gold-generating boons become essential
- Hermes boons gain significant value
- Plan builds around guaranteed boon sources
For Time Pressure (Vow of Time):
- Fast-clearing weapons and boons
- Movement speed and dash upgrades
- Avoid slow, methodical playstyles
Common Mistakes to Avoid In 2026
- Overestimating Your Abilities: Start with lower Fear combinations and gradually increase difficulty
- Ignoring Weapon Synergies: Some weapons struggle with specific vows
- Poor Resource Management: High Fear runs require efficient resource usage
- Neglecting Defensive Options: Offensive builds often fail at high Fear levels
- Not Adapting to Vow Combinations: Some vows create unique challenges that require specific approaches
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I unlock the Oath of the Unseen?
The Oath of the Unseen appears in the Training Grounds after you defeat Chronos for the first time. This typically happens after your initial playthrough completion.
What’s the maximum possible Fear in Hades 2?
The maximum possible Fear is 67 points, achieved by activating all vows at their maximum ranks. Only a handful of players worldwide have successfully completed runs at this difficulty level.
Can I remove vows during a run?
Yes, Circe may offer the Black Night Banishment boon on the Surface route, which temporarily removes one random active vow without reducing your total Fear value.
Do vows affect all weapons equally?
No, different weapons excel with different vow combinations. For example, the Sister Blades are excellent for Vow of Hordes, while the Witch’s Staff can bypass Vow of Scars limitations.
What happens if I fail a fear run?
You can use the “Undo this Night” option to reset the run with a new RNG seed, or simply return to the Crossroads and try again with different vow combinations.
Are there any rewards for high Fear runs?
Yes! High Fear runs unlock:
- Testaments of Night rewards (Nightmare)
- Gifts of the Veil statues (8, 16, 24 Fear)
- Bragging rights and community recognition
- Unique gameplay experiences
Which vows should beginners avoid?
Newcomers should avoid:
- Vow of Frenzy (creates unfair moments)
- Vow of Time (extremely punishing)
- Vow of Scars (can make runs impossible)
- Vow of Void (poorly costed for difficulty)
How do Vow of Rivals work?
Vow of Rivals is unlocked progressively by defeating unrivaled versions of Guardians from both the Underworld and Surface. Each rank must be unlocked separately before you can activate it.
Conclusion
Mastering all vows in Hades 2 is a journey that transforms how you experience the game. From the simple challenge of Vow of Debt to the extreme difficulty of max-level Vow of Rivals, each modifier offers unique opportunities for growth and mastery.
Remember that becoming Night’s Champion isn’t about using every vow at once—it’s about understanding how different combinations work together and adapting your playstyle accordingly. Start small, experiment with different setups, and gradually work your way up to more challenging combinations.
The Hades 2 community continues to discover new strategies and vow combinations, so stay engaged with fellow players to learn the latest techniques. Whether you’re aiming for that first 8 Fear Testament or dreaming of the elusive 67 Fear run, the journey is rewarding every step of the way.