How to unlock Book of Shadows in Hades 2

Hades 2 is full of mythological items and tools for Melinoë to make use of while traveling through the Underworld, and one especially important tool is the Book of Shadows. Here's what you need to do to get it, and what you'll actually use it for on your journey to the underworld.

What is the Book of Shadows?

The Book of Shadows is an essential tool that gathers and compiles information about everything from slain enemies and bosses to unlocked weapons to Melinoë's relationship status with different characters (requires Incantation). Each time a new enemy is defeated, or when Melinoë progresses further in the story, more information is added to the Book of Shadows, providing a detailed insight into her journey and the world around her.

How to unlock it in Hades 2

To officially unlock the Book of Shadows, you need to defeat Headmistress Hecate at least 3 times at the end of Erebus. The fight itself is fairly simple with just a few mechanics, as Hecate uses it to test Melinoë's strength for the perils that lie ahead. Upon defeating her for a third time, the Book of Shadows will become a permanent part of Melinoë's inventory and also conclude the 'Keeper of Shadows' Fated List task.

From there, each time a new piece of information is added, the book symbol will appear at the bottom of the screen, so be sure to check it regularly.

How to expand the Book of Shadows

The Book of Shadows can also be expanded by concocting certain Incantations that unlock at the Crossroads Cauldron. They currently include:

• Empath's Intuition - Upgrades the Book of Shadows to relay relationship progress information with each character.
  • Requires 1 x Fate Fabric and 3 x Myrtle

This Incantation allows Melinoë to check her relationship status with everyone she's met thus far. Providing gifts of Nectar is a guaranteed method to improving those relationships with all the gods and goddesses of Hades 2. It remains to be seen if other actions like Boon preferences affect this as well.

That concludes our guide on Hades 2's Book of Shadows. Hopefully, you found this helpful, and let me know how you've been enjoying the game so far.

Be sure to check out all of our guides and news for Hades 2 at Pro Game Guides, such as how to wake up Hypnos.