When you're fighting your way out of the Greek underworld in Supergiant Games' hit rogue-like, you don't have to do it alone. The game features a specialized mechanic centered around Hades companions—legendary summoned allies that turn the tide of difficult boss fights and crowded room clearances. If you've been wondering how to unlock these companions, build deep relationships with the denizens of the House of Hades, and maximize your combat effectiveness, you're in the right place.
Unlike standard boons gifted by the Olympians, these companions are earned through persistent gift-giving, specific favor completions, and careful resource management. Let's look at how the companion system actually works, which legendary figures you can recruit, and what it takes to max them out.
What Are Hades Companions and How Do They Work?
Companions—referred to in the game's code and lore as Chthonic Companions—are special summonable entities you can call upon during combat runs. Once unlocked and equipped in your loadout alongside your keepsake, you can press a designated button to summon your chosen ally onto the battlefield.
Each companion comes with a limited number of uses per run, though you can upgrade them using Styx Stones to increase their charge capacity. They don't replace your weapon or your cast; instead, they act as an ultimate-style attack that deals massive burst damage, clears out minor foes, or provides tactical breathing room against elite enemies and bosses.
To even begin collecting companions, you'll need to progress past your initial escape attempts, unlock the Keepsake Cabinet, and start gifting Nectar to various characters around the Underworld.
The Complete List of Companions and How to Unlock Them
There are six distinct companions available in the game, each tied to a specific character. Unlocking them requires a mix of Nectar, Ambrosia, and completing specific personal favors for each character.
Dusa (Fidi)
Dusa is the affectionate floating gorgon head who cleans the House of Hades.
- How to unlock: Gift her several bottles of Nectar until she accepts them, then continue talking to her regularly. Eventually, you'll need to fulfill her request to decorate the Lounge and speak to Achilles and Nyx about her workload.
- Summon Effect: Fidi flies onto the screen, petrifying and stunning enemies in a targeted area while dealing moderate damage. It's fantastic for crowd control when you're swarmed by Witches or Slamdancers.
Megara (Rib)
Megaera is one of the Furies and Zagreus's complicated ex-companion.
- How to unlock: Keep giving her Nectar whenever you encounter her in Tartarus. After defeating her enough times, she'll start visiting Zagreus's bedchambers. Continue your conversations and gift her Ambrosia once the option unlocks.
- Summon Effect: Megara unleashes a devastating whip slash across a wide line, dealing massive damage to single targets and bosses alike. It's one of the best choices for chunking down boss health bars quickly.
Thanatos (Mort)
Thanatos is the personification of death and another primary confidant.
- How to unlock: Encounter him during your escape attempts, gift him Nectar whenever the prompt appears, and engage in your competitive room-clear races. Once your relationship hits maximum rank through Ambrosia, he'll gift you his companion.
- Summon Effect: Thanatos appears with a sweeping scythe attack that deals immense area-of-effect damage, instantly vaporizing almost any non-boss enemy caught in the blast radius.
Achilles (Skully)
Achilles is the legendary hero stationed in the administrative halls of the Underworld.
- How to unlock: Gift Nectar to both Achilles and Patroclus. You'll need to progress their tragic storyline by helping them reunite, which involves speaking to the Nyx and completing administrative tasks via the House Contractor. Once their plotline resolves, Achilles gives you Skully (or rather, the skeleton helper).
- Summon Effect: Skully summons a skeletal decoy that taunts enemies, drawing aggro away from Zagreus for a few crucial seconds while dealing minor damage when destroyed.
Sisyphus (Shady)
Sisyphus is the eternally condemned king pushing his boulder, accompanied by his loyal boulder friend Bouldy.
- How to unlock: Find Sisyphus in Tartarus, give him Nectar, and talk to him about his contract with the Furies. You'll need to purchase the administrative sentence-commutation from the House Contractor's Diamond tab to free him, after which he rewards your kindness.
- Summon Effect: Shady drops down, dealing burst damage in an area and—most importantly—dropping random healing items, darkness, or obols. This makes Shady arguably the best utility companion for sustaining health during rough runs.
Patroclus (Companion Availability Note)
While Patroclus plays a massive role in the narrative and is deeply tied to Achilles' storyline, he does not have an independent summonable companion. Instead, his fate is directly woven into unlocking Achilles' reward. For deeper insight into ancient Greek hero traditions, you can read more via Britannica.
Upgrading Companions with Styx Stones
Unlocking a companion is only the first step. By default, most companions can only be used once per escape attempt. To get the most value out of them, you'll want to upgrade their usage count.
You can upgrade companions by talking to characters in the House of Hades after unlocking their respective summons, though upgrades primarily require Styx Stones (obtained by trading with the Wretched Broker or progressing specific character milestones). Each companion can generally be upgraded up to three times, increasing their uses per run from one to three or four, transforming them from occasional safety nets into reliable combat staples.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Players new to the companion system often make a few avoidable errors that stall their progress:
- Hoarding Nectar and Ambrosia: Don't save your nectar indefinitely. Gifting it early unlocks dialogue, lore, keepsakes, and eventually companions. You will find plenty more as you clear chambers.
- Ignoring Fulfilling Favors: Simply maxing out hearts with Nectar isn't always enough. Many companions require you to check your Prophecies (Fated List of Minor Minor Honours) or complete specific favor quests before they hand over their keepsake or companion.
- Forgetting to Equip Them: It sounds obvious, but many players unlock great summons like Shady or Rib and forget to swap them into the companion slot before leaving the House of Hades. Always check your loadout mirror before stepping out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use multiple companions at the same time during a run?
No. You can only equip one companion at a time in your loadout, just like keepsakes. You must choose the right ally for your specific weapon and build before starting an escape attempt.
Do companions carry over between heat levels and runs?
Yes. Once you unlock a companion, it remains unlocked permanently across all future escape attempts, standard runs, and elevated Heat levels enabled through the Pact of Punishment.
Which companion is the best for beginners?
Shady (from Sisyphus) is widely considered the best choice for beginners and high-heat veterans alike because dropping extra healing and currency provides immediate survival utility that pure damage summons can't match.
Can I change my companion mid-run?
No. Once you select your companion at the Keepsake Cabinet in the courtyard and step through the doors, you are locked into that companion for the entirety of that specific escape attempt.
