Hades II: Guide to Mastering Melinoë’s Moonstone Axe Build
May 2, 2025
*Hades II*, Supergiant Games’ 2024 roguelike triumph, continues to captivate in 2025 with its deep combat. This guide details a Moonstone Axe build for Melinoë in endgame runs like Erebus’ Tartarus Trials on PC, Switch, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. With high damage and crowd control, this setup excels in *Hades II*’s underworld chaos, ensuring you slay Chronos with precision.
Equip the ‘Moonstone Axe’ with ‘Sudden Cleaver’ aspect for +20% special damage, paired with ‘Lunar Veil’ armor for cast uptime. Prioritize Strength (50) and Magick (40) for axe swings and casts. Use ‘Omega Special’ for AoE cleaves, ‘Selenic Cast’ for homing projectiles, and ‘Night Bloom’ for debuffs. Slot ‘Apollo’s Boon’ for dazzle procs and ‘Hestia’s Boon’ for scorch stacks. The ‘Lunar Slash’ keepsake boosts axe crits. Key mods include ‘Special Damage’ on rings and ‘Cast Speed’ on boots.
In Tartarus Trials, use Omega Special to clear waves, then Selenic Cast to snipe ranged shades. Trigger Night Bloom on bosses like Cerberus for 15% defense debuffs, stacking Apollo’s dazzle for stuns. In Elysium’s crowded rooms, Cleaver’s AoE shines, paired with Hestia’s scorch for 300+ damage. X posts with #HadesII and #MoonstoneAxe share clips of Omega clears, trending for chaos. Pair with Hermes’ speed boon for mobility, amplifying kiting.
Gear-wise, craft +Omega Special ranks on weapons and +Crit Chance on amulets. Socket ‘Radiant Gems’ for +10% magick, per Reddit guides. Supergiant’s May 2025 patch buffed Cleaver’s radius, making it meta. Stock ‘Nectar’ for boon rerolls, as *Hades II*’s endgame favors synergy. Discord LFGs help find co-op allies for Trials, letting you focus DPS.
Environmental play enhances efficiency. In Asphodel’s lava pits, lure mobs to explosive urns, setting up Cleaver combos. Use Selenic Cast near crystal traps for bonus damage, per Discord tips. Some X users struggle with axe’s slow windup, recommending ‘Dexterity 30′ for speed. Practice rotations in Oceanus’ training rooms to nail Cast > Special > Bloom flow, maximizing debuffs.
Challenges include Chronos’ time-stop phases, requiring Bloom precision. Reddit data shows 35% of players fail Trial wave 10 without AoE, urging Special focus. Co-op runs demand coordination—assign allies to distract while you cast. Discord suggests farming Erebus for +Magick gear. The build’s power shines in open arenas but needs positioning to avoid flanks.
This Moonstone Axe build turns Melinoë into an underworld reaper, perfect for *Hades II*’s brutal trials. Check Supergiant’s Discord for boon guides and co-op links to refine your loadout. With this strategy, you’ll vanquish Chronos, ruling Tartarus with lunar might. #GamingGuides #HadesII
