How to Free Sisyphus in Hades: A Comprehensive Guide
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Freeing Sisyphus from his eternal torment in the Underworld is one of the most rewarding side quests in Hades. It requires a blend of patience, resource management, and persistent interaction. In short, to free Sisyphus, you must complete his personal questline by building a strong relationship with him, involving both nectar and ambrosia gifts, and ultimately convince Hades to release him. This involves purchasing the Knave-King’s Sentence from the House Contractor. Let’s delve into the specifics of how to achieve this challenging but gratifying endeavor.
Sisyphus’s Journey to Freedom: Step-by-Step
Building Trust with Nectar
The first step in freeing Sisyphus is getting to know him and building a relationship. This is done by gifting him Nectar. You’ll need to give him at least six Nectar to progress his storyline. Make sure to speak with him every time you encounter him in Tartarus, even if he seems to repeat the same dialogue. This constant interaction is key to unlocking his story and revealing his motivations and desires. Each interaction will progress his dialogue and reveal more about his past.
Unlocking the Conversation with Bouldy
As you give Sisyphus nectar, he’ll gradually share his story and eventually prompt you to speak to Bouldy, his boulder. This conversation is essential for moving his quest forward. Continue to talk to Sisyphus and he will eventually ask you to talk with Bouldy, at which point you are one step closer to completing his quest.
The Ambrosia Step
Once Sisyphus has exhausted his nectar interactions and asked you to speak with Bouldy, you will have unlocked the ability to give him Ambrosia. You’ll need to do this three times. After the first Ambrosia gift, Sisyphus will ask Zagreus to find a way to lessen his sentence.
Purchasing the Knave-King’s Sentence
The crucial turning point in Sisyphus’s quest line comes after you speak with him after giving him Ambrosia for the first time. You will need to purchase the Knave King’s Sentence from the House Contractor for seven diamonds. This is a significant investment of a valuable resource, so be prepared to set aside some diamonds for this quest.
Completing the Favor
Once you’ve purchased the Knave-King’s Sentence, talk with Sisyphus again, and you’ll complete the favor. At this point, you can continue gifting Ambrosia to him. You’ll want to do this a total of 3 times to maximize your relationship with him. Gifting him ambrosia unlocks Companion Shady.
Gaining Companion Shady
The ultimate reward for freeing Sisyphus is unlocking Companion Shady. This is obtained by reaching a high level of trust with Sisyphus, achieved by completing his personal quest as detailed above and gifting him Ambrosia a total of 3 times.
Additional Steps
Talking to Megaera and Hades
In addition to your interaction with Sisyphus, you need to initiate conversations with Megaera and Hades about Sisyphus and his sentence. You will need to ask Megaera to go easier on Sisyphus if he can get Hades to end the sentence. Then you will need to speak with Hades as much as possible until you can ask him about Sisyphus. You may need to exhaust all of their other dialogues before these options are available.
Patience is Key
This entire process will take time. You need to encounter Sisyphus on several runs, making sure to give him nectar and engage with his dialogues. There are times you will need to talk to other characters and exhaust their dialogues. This is not something that can be completed in one run. It is a process that will require patience and consistency to accomplish,
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How much darkness does Sisyphus give?
Sisyphus offers a choice of rewards after some conversations, one of which is 30 Darkness. The other two choices are health and Obols. It’s not a huge amount, but it’s a free, early-game boost for your darkness collection.
2. What does it mean to max out Sisyphus affinity?
To fully maximize your relationship with Sisyphus, you’ll need to reach 9 hearts, requiring the gifting of 6 Nectar and 3 Ambrosia. This will ensure that you have unlocked all of his dialogue, completed his quest, and unlocked the Companion Shady.
3. How do I void a Sisyphus contract?
You don’t void a contract to free Sisyphus. You purchase the Knave-King’s Sentence from the House Contractor after progressing his personal questline. To reach this point, you must give him nectar until he does not accept anymore and exhaust his conversations. You will also have to exhaust all of Hades dialogues as well.
4. Can you give Bouldy nectar?
Yes, you can give Bouldy Nectar, which will grant Zagreus a randomized boon for the rest of the escape attempt. This is a very good way to add some bonuses to a run. This will reset with a failed or successful attempt, but can be done every time you encounter him.
5. How does Sisyphus trick Hades?
In Greek mythology, Sisyphus is known for his cleverness. He tricked Hades by asking how the chains worked and then using the opportunity to chain Hades or Thanatos and escape.
6. What was Sisyphus’s trick to cheat death?
Sisyphus cheated death twice. First, he captured Thanatos (the personification of death). Second, he convinced Hades to let him return to the world of the living to ensure his wife made proper offerings.
7. Why was Sisyphus punished?
Sisyphus was punished by Zeus for revealing Olympian wrongdoings. As punishment, Hades made him endlessly roll a boulder uphill in Tartarus.
8. Why can’t Sisyphus stop?
Sisyphus doesn’t stop because he is driven by a belief that he can eventually succeed. His punishment is the endless task, and he continues because he foolishly thinks he might make it.
9. Where is Sisyphus located in Hades?
Sisyphus is found in Tartarus, the first realm of the Underworld. You will encounter him randomly throughout your runs.
10. What is Companion Shady?
Companion Shady is an item that can be summoned during runs, providing aid. It’s unlocked after completing Sisyphus’s quest and gifting him a total of 3 Ambrosia.
11. What does Patroclus give you?
If you give Patroclus Nectar, he will give you the Broken Spearpoint, which is a keepsake item. This can be used for special benefits on runs.
12. Can you take back Dusas ambrosia?
Yes, you can take back the Ambrosia you’ve given to Dusa without any consequences. This is a free resource that can be used to deepen relationships with other characters.
13. Who is best to give ambrosia to?
Ambrosia is best given to characters you want to develop a stronger relationship with and unlock their unique rewards and quests.
14. Who is Achilles’ love interest?
Achilles is in love with Patroclus. Their love story is revealed throughout the game. The two had a very deep bond with each other.
15. How do you unlock the secret shield?
To unlock the secret shield aspect, you need to speak to Chaos while wielding any aspect of the Shield of Chaos. Once you have invested 5 Titan Blood in shield aspects, speak to Chaos again.
Freeing Sisyphus is a challenging and rewarding task in Hades that requires a good understanding of the game’s mechanics and a great deal of patience. This guide should provide you with the knowledge you need to achieve this goal and strengthen your relationships with the unique characters of the Underworld.