How to Spend Your Diamonds Wisely in Hades: A Comprehensive Guide

Diamonds in Hades are a rare and valuable resource, distinct from other currencies like Gemstones or Darkness. They aren’t used for every little upgrade, so the question of where to spend them becomes crucial for progression. In short, you should prioritize using your Diamonds to unlock crucial upgrades from the House Contractor, focusing on items that enhance your runs and unlock story progression elements first. This generally means prioritizing quality-of-life upgrades and unlocks before spending on purely cosmetic items.

Prioritizing Your Diamond Spending

The House Contractor offers a range of items purchasable with Diamonds, and understanding which ones provide the biggest impact early on is key. Here’s a breakdown of what to focus on:

Essential Upgrades

• Court Musician’s Sentence (Orpheus): This should be your first priority. Unlocking Orpheus for 1 Diamond brings a significant story element into play, allowing you to engage with him, restore his motivation, and enjoy his songs in the House of Hades. This is a core narrative element and provides a touch of joy and calm amidst the chaos of the Underworld.
• Fated List of Minor Prophecies: This is a vital unlock after freeing Orpheus. It costs 2 Diamonds and reveals a long list of minor prophecies, each granting valuable rewards upon completion, including more Diamonds, Titan Blood, and Ambrosia. These prophecies are a major driving force for gameplay, providing clear goals and a steady supply of resources.
• Music Stand: While not as critical as the above, the Music Stand (also costing 1 Diamond) is a fantastic purchase once Orpheus is unlocked. It allows you to select which music plays in the House of Hades, enriching the atmosphere and making the time between runs more enjoyable.
• Vanquisher’s Keep: Another top priority. This upgrade adds a new type of room to your escape attempts where the room reward is a Gemstone. Once you defeat the last boss, you gain the ability to purchase this upgrade, and it becomes a key factor in acquiring the precious gems.

High-Value, Quality of Life Upgrades

• Resource Director: These upgrades, while not immediately game-changing, offer consistent long-term benefits. Increasing the drop rate of resources like Darkness, Gemstones, and Chthonic Keys will pay off over many runs. There are several tiers of Resource Directors you can unlock with Diamonds.
• Urns of Warding: Each rank of the urns makes the rooms you enter safer and more rewarding. Each rank costs 2 Diamonds.

Cosmetic Upgrades

• Various Decorations & Themes: While these are tempting, hold off on purchasing room decorations until you have acquired the essential and high-value unlocks first. These purely cosmetic purchases don’t affect gameplay and should be considered end-game spending after your core needs are met.
• The Fated List of Minor Prophecies: This important tool allows you to track your progress in-game.

Why Prioritize These Choices?

Spending Diamonds strategically early in the game gives you the foundation for efficient resource gathering and story progression. It helps:

• Unlock more content: Getting Orpheus back and unlocking the Fated List opens up story progression and new gameplay elements.
• Boost your resource income: Investing in resource upgrades means more Darkness, Gemstones, and keys over time, leading to better character and weapon upgrades.
• Enhance gameplay: Items like the Music Stand and the Lounge renovations make the House of Hades more enjoyable.

Frequently Asked Questions About Diamonds in Hades

1. How do I get more Diamonds in Hades?

Diamonds are primarily obtained as rewards for defeating the second boss (Lernaean Bone Hydra). They can also be found in prophecy rewards through the Fated List. Remember to increase your Heat with the Pact of Punishment to maximize your resources.

2. What’s the fastest way to farm Diamonds?

The most efficient way to farm Diamonds is by defeating the Lernaean Bone Hydra with high Heat levels. Utilizing the Pact of Punishment consistently will increase the number of rewards received.

3. Is it worth spending Diamonds on cosmetic items?

It’s best to save your Diamonds for essential upgrades and quality-of-life improvements first. Cosmetic purchases are purely for aesthetics and should be considered once other priorities are met.

4. Does the House Contractor have any other must-have upgrades besides Orpheus?

Absolutely, the **Fated List of Minor Prophecies** is a must-have. Additionally, investing in **Resource Director** upgrades provides long-term benefits. **Vanquisher's Keep** is also extremely useful, helping you obtain more Gemstones with the Gem room upgrades.

5. How do the Resource Director upgrades work?

The Resource Director upgrades increase the chances of encountering rooms with specific resource rewards. This helps you to accumulate resources faster, aiding in upgrading your character and weapons.

6. What is the Fated List of Minor Prophecies?

The Fated List is a collection of objectives. Completing these objectives rewards players with precious resources including Titan Blood, Diamonds, and Ambrosia.

7. Can I reset my Diamond purchases?

No, there is no way to reset the upgrades you purchase with Diamonds in *Hades*.  Consider carefully before spending your Diamonds.

8. How does Heat impact Diamond rewards?

Increasing the Heat level on the Pact of Punishment increases the **quantity and quality** of rewards obtained, including Diamonds. This provides a good method to farm diamonds quickly.

9. Is there a limit to how many Diamonds I can obtain?

There is **no limit** to the number of Diamonds you can acquire, though farming them can become increasingly difficult as you max out your Heat levels.

10. What are the best areas to find Diamond rewards?

**Defeating the second boss, the Lernaean Bone Hydra, is your best source for Diamonds.** Prophecies can also offer multiple Diamonds.

11. Should I save my Diamonds for late-game content?

No, you should focus on **purchasing essential upgrades** from the House Contractor as soon as possible. These upgrades will help accelerate your progression throughout the game.

12. Are there any secret uses for Diamonds?

Diamonds are primarily used at the House Contractor. There are **no hidden or secret uses** beyond these purchases.

13. Can I trade other currencies for Diamonds?

No, you cannot trade other currencies like Darkness, Gemstones, or Keys for Diamonds.

14. How do I unlock the House Contractor?

The House Contractor is available from the **start of the game**, located to the right of Hades in the main hall.

15. Why is it important to unlock Orpheus first?

Unlocking Orpheus through the **Court Musician's Sentence** is vital as it triggers a crucial story arc, unlocks further quests, and enhances the overall experience of playing *Hades*. This also leads to the Fated List of Minor Prophecies, which gives more valuable resources.

By understanding how to spend your Diamonds wisely, you can maximize your progress, enhance your gameplay experience, and ultimately help Zagreus achieve his goal of escaping the Underworld. Prioritizing essential unlocks and strategically using Diamonds will lay the groundwork for a successful journey in Hades.