Unraveling Fate: A Deep Dive into the Fated List in Hades
The Fated List in Hades is essentially the game’s ingenious take on an achievement system, presented in the form of Minor Prophecies. This in-game mechanic provides a series of tasks for Zagreus to complete, rewarding his efforts with a variety of resources useful for his unending escape attempts. These prophecies aren’t simply checkboxes; they’re interwoven with the narrative, characters, and core gameplay loop, making them feel like an organic part of the Hades experience. They act as a guide, encouraging players to explore the many facets of the game, and often nudging them towards important character interactions and gameplay mechanics. In essence, the Fated List provides a compelling secondary objective alongside Zagreus’s primary goal of escaping the Underworld, giving a structure and purpose to the many runs.
Unlocking the Fated List
Before diving into the prophecies themselves, you’ll first need to acquire the Fated List. This is achieved by purchasing it from the House Contractor, an NPC that appears next to Hades’ desk after your first few attempts at escaping the Underworld. The List doesn’t come for free, though. You will need to cough up 20 gemstones to add it to your repository of Underworld tools. Gemstones can be obtained from completing rooms and as rewards throughout your runs, so be sure to pay attention to the reward icons displayed before each room. Once purchased, the Fated List becomes a permanent fixture and the key to accessing these in-game prophecies.
How the Prophecies Work
Each prophecy within the Fated List has its own unique unlock condition. These can range from meeting specific characters, completing runs in certain ways, upgrading aspects on Zagreus’s Mirror of Night, or using specific keepsakes and so on. Completing a prophecy always rewards Zagreus with useful resources such as Gemstones, Diamonds, Titan Blood, and Ambrosia. These resources are crucial for further progression in the game, providing a continuous incentive to engage with the Fated List. The prophecies also encourage players to experiment with different weapons, Gods’ Boons and abilities, providing a much deeper dive into the varied and intricate gameplay possibilities that Hades has to offer. The fact that the rewards are varied and useful means that completing the list isn’t just about ticking boxes – it is about growing stronger.
All 55 Minor Prophecies: A Variety of Challenges
There are a total of 55 Minor Prophecies within the Fated List, each one offering a new challenge and reward. These are not just one and done objectives either, as some can take many escape attempts to achieve. For instance, one prophecy might task you with killing a specific number of enemies, while another may require you to complete a run using a specific weapon with particular aspects. Some prophecies are more esoteric, challenging you to strengthen your relationships with certain characters or experiment with certain items. This level of variety keeps the Fated List engaging and is one of the major reasons why Hades has such high replay value. Each prophecy encourages exploration and experimentation, making each escape attempt both unique and rewarding. You can always find at least one prophecy that you can make progress on, thus keeping you constantly engaged in the core loop.
Fated List: More Than Just Achievements
The Fated List in Hades transcends the traditional concept of achievements. It serves as a narrative tool, guiding players through the complexities of the Underworld and the relationships between the many gods and other characters that you meet on your journey. It also encourages players to interact with the wide variety of mechanics and elements the game offers, ensuring no one gets stuck in a rut with one specific play style. Each prophecy is a subtle nudge towards discovery, making your exploration of the game much more rewarding and dynamic. Because many of these prophecies are linked to dialogue with characters, or require you to use keepsakes that boost your abilities when playing, the list is intertwined into many key aspects of the game, thus making the gameplay experience much more satisfying. Ultimately, the Fated List is an intrinsic part of the Hades experience rather than an optional add-on.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How many fated lists are there in Hades?
There is only one Fated List in Hades that contains a total of 55 Minor Prophecies.
2. What are the Chthonic Colleagues on the Fated List?
The Chthonic Colleagues Prophecy requires you to meet the following characters: Lord Hades, Nyx, Charon, Thanatos, Hypnos, Megaera, Alecto, and Tisiphone.
3. How do you fulfill the Dark Reflections Prophecy?
To unlock the Dark Reflections prophecy, you must first have beaten Hades at least once. You also need to have had enough conversations with Nyx to unlock the bonus perks on the Mirror of Night, and fully unlock all perks on the Mirror using keys.
4. How do you unlock the Ares Prophecy?
To get the Ares Prophecy on the Fated List, give Ares at least 5 or 6 gifts of nectar. Then, to complete the prophecy, you must have killed a total of 10,000 enemies across all of your escape attempts. Kills before you unlocked the prophecy will still count.
5. How do you get the Thorn of Thanatos keepsake?
The Thorn of Thanatos is acquired by giving Thanatos a gift of nectar. Once you have it, you must get a 30% damage boost during a single escape attempt by completing encounters without taking any damage.
6. What does the Fated Choice boon do?
A Fated Choice is a type of boon that is often useful for clearing out the Fated List, so it is advised you grab it when you see it, especially if working on your list.
7. What is Nyx’s relationship with Zagreus?
Nyx is a daughter of Chaos and the mother of many Underworld entities. In Hades, she serves as Zagreus’s main caretaker after Persephone leaves.
8. Is Zagreus a Chthonic god?
While the etymology of Zagreus’s name might imply a connection to pitfalls for catching animals and offerings to a Chthonic deity, in Hades, Zagreus is a son of Hades.
9. Can Zagreus learn to play the Lyre in Hades?
Yes, Zagreus can learn to play the Lyre through repeated practice. There are no special shortcuts.
10. What is considered the best weapon in Hades?
The Twin Fists of Malphon are often considered among the best weapons, particularly with the Aspect of Demeter for aggressive playstyles.
11. How many times do you have to clear Hades to get the true ending?
To get the true ending, you need to clear Hades 10 times in total and have enough dialogue with Persephone, meaning an additional 9 clears after the first.
12. How many characters can you date in Hades?
You can only attempt to romance three characters: Dusa, Megaera, and Thanatos.
13. How can you free Sisyphus in Hades?
You need to give Sisyphus at least six gifts of nectar, speak to him often, and interact with Bouldy, his boulder.
14. How many weapons are there in Hades?
There are six weapons in Hades, each having four different aspects which alter their functions and appearance.
15. Will Zagreus be in Hades 2?
No, Zagreus will not be a playable character in Hades 2. The new protagonist will be Melinoë, Zagreus’s half-sister.