In Hades 2, the importance of Melinoe's weapons cannot be overstated as they play a key role in defeating the most powerful bosses. However, successfully progressing through the game also requires the ability to extract valuable resources scattered across the various biomes of the Underworld and Olympus. One such critically important resource is mandrake.
The Importance of Mandrake in Hades 2
Mandrake is a key resource for unlocking mid and late-game spells for Melinoe. These spells enhance her abilities, significantly aiding her movement between biomes. In this article, we will detail how to obtain mandrake seeds, where to plant them, and how to grow mandrake roots.
Obtaining Mandrake Seeds
The first step to obtaining mandrake is finding its seeds in the Rift of Thessaly biome. This biome is located not in the Underworld but on the surface. However, to access it, you must break the surface ward using the Permeation of Witching-Wards spell. To unlock this spell, you will need the following resources:
- One Cinder item
- One Shadow item
- Three Moly resources
After breaking the surface ward and heading to the surface, be sure to take the Silver Spade with you. Without this tool, Melinoe cannot interact with dig spots that might contain mandrake seeds.
Planting and Growing Mandrake
Dig spots are random events, so they will not always be found in each run through the Rift of Thessaly. Each time you use the Silver Spade, you have a chance to obtain one mandrake seed.
After acquiring at least one mandrake seed, return to the Crossroads and unlock the Flourishing Soil Incantation. This spell creates two soil plots where you can grow various seeds from your inventory, including mandrake.
These soil plots can be found near Odysseus, the Veteran Tactician. If two plots are not enough, you can unlock two more using the Rich Soil Incantation. After planting a mandrake seed, it will grow into a mandrake root after you have completed 17 encounters.
Using Mandrake Roots
Mandrake root is an important mid-to-late game crafting material. It can be used to enhance tools or upgrade an Arcana Card. For example, to upgrade the Origination Arcana Card, which increases Melinoe's damage by 25%, 38%, and 50% to enemies with two or more curses, you will need:
- Five Moon Dust items
- Three mandrake roots
Additionally, to upgrade the Silver Spade to rank two, you will need two mandrake roots and one bronze item. An upgraded spade increases the chance of obtaining more materials per interaction.
Conclusion
Mandrake in Hades 2 is not just a resource, but a strategic element that can significantly enhance Melinoe's abilities and ease the progression through challenging stages of the game. Understanding the process of obtaining, planting, and using mandrake will give you a significant advantage in the game, allowing you to more effectively handle the challenges of the Underworld and Olympus.
If you have excess mandrake roots in your inventory, you can always sell them to the Wretched Broker for 12 Bones each, which will also add to your in-game budget.
Use these strategies and tactics to make the most of mandrake in Hades 2 and ensure the success of your game character.
