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Bancroft's Talon + a couple of 
Healing Potions (or one each of Healing Potion and 
Multi Potion).
This is the preferGo with this start if you plan to play aggressively early-game. You'll pick up T2 of Bancroft's Talon + a couple of Healing Potions (or one each of Healing Potion and Multi Potion).
Talon Trinket
Healing Potion
Tiny Trinket also allows you to choose whether you want to build into Bancroft's Talon or 
Pythagorem's Piece.
This start is helpful if you're learning the god or need to play a more conservative early game due to unfavorable matchups. Besides a bit of early sustain and damage mitigation, getting Tiny Trinket also allows you to choose whether you want to build into Bancroft's Talon or Pythagorem's Piece.
Warrior's Blessing
Tiny Trinket
Healing Potion
Multi Potion
Shoes of Focus is great for early CDR and more aggression.
Traveler's Shoes is very helpful for mana sustain, and provides a lot of utility. Due to the higher speed and passive speed boost, it can allow you to choose an alternate starting relic to Teleport Glyph, and gives you higher-than-average MS for chase and escape. Bancroft's Talon is great for early aggression and survivability, especially when in your ult. Pythagorem's Piece is useful mid and late-game when you group with teammates.
Void Stone is basically core for the damage potential it provides to you and any other magical teammates.
Shoes of Focus is great for early CDR and more aggression.
Traveler's Shoes is very helpful for mana sustain, and provides a lot of utility. Due to the higher speed and passive speed boost, it can allow you to choose an alternate starting relic to Teleport Glyph, and gives you higher-than-average MS for chase and escape.
Bancroft's Talon is great for early aggression and survivability, especially when in your ult. Pythagorem's Piece is useful mid and late-game when you group with teammates.
Void Stone is basically core for the damage potential it provides to you and any other magical teammates.
Shoes of Focus
Traveler's Shoes
Bancroft's Talon
Pythagorem's Piece
Void Stone
Hide of the Urchin
Spirit Robe
Mantle of Discord
Ethereal Staff
Jade Emperor's Crown
Tyrannical Plate Helm
Breastplate of Valor
Hide of the Nemean Lion
Midgardian Mail
Contagion
Pestilence
Oni Hunter's Garb
Pridwen
Divine Ruin
Typhon's Fang
Soul Reaver
Blink Rune
Teleport Fragment
Magic Shell
Heavenly Wings
Purification Beads
Shield of Thorns
Bancroft's Talon, which is historically very popular for Hades. The passive encourages you to play aggressively, as your lifesteal and power increase as you take damage. It also helps counteract damage you expect to take when you're immobile in your ult. Breastplate of Valor is shown here to counter a physical lane enemy (alternative is Tyrannical Plate Helm (for aggressive lane pushing)). If you've got a magical lane opponent, you'll want to build Void Stone before a physical protection item. Ethereal Staff is a good offensive utility item in the 5th slot, as it steals health and mana. If you want to go more defensive, you can go for Hide of the Urchin, or consider a CDR boost with Pridwen.
Elixir of Speed and another item of your choice.
This build utilizes Bancroft's Talon, which is historically very popular for Hades. The passive encourages you to play aggressively, as your lifesteal and power increase as you take damage. It also helps counteract damage you expect to take when you're immobile in your ult.
Breastplate of Valor is shown here to counter a physical lane enemy (alternative is Tyrannical Plate Helm (for aggressive lane pushing)). If you've got a magical lane opponent, you'll want to build Void Stone before a physical protection item.
Ethereal Staff is a good offensive utility item in the 5th slot, as it steals health and mana. If you want to go more defensive, you can go for Hide of the Urchin, or consider a CDR boost with Pridwen.
Replace Shoes late with Elixir of Speed and another item of your choice.
Bancroft's Talon
Shoes of Focus
Breastplate of Valor
Void Stone
Ethereal Staff
Mantle of Discord
Traveler's Shoes provides higher mobility and good mana sustain. Pythagorem's Piece is chosen over Bancroft's Talon as the build concept is more utility, and you won't be looking to mix it up as much in the early game. Pythagorem's translates very well to late-game teamfights. Breastplate of Valor and Void Stone should be purchased in the order to counter your lane opponent and higher damage threat. Divine Ruin is a strong counter to healing, while providing some added offensive function. Alternatively, if you feel the need for more protections but still need anti-heal, Contagion or Pestilence are good defensive options. Of course, if no anti-heal is needed, choose another item as preferred. Elixir of Speed and another item of your choice.
In this build example, we see a variety of different items.
Traveler's Shoes provides higher mobility and good mana sustain.
Pythagorem's Piece is chosen over Bancroft's Talon as the build concept is more utility, and you won't be looking to mix it up as much in the early game. Pythagorem's translates very well to late-game teamfights.
Breastplate of Valor and Void Stone should be purchased in the order to counter your lane opponent and higher damage threat.
Divine Ruin is a strong counter to healing, while providing some added offensive function. Alternatively, if you feel the need for more protections but still need anti-heal, Contagion or Pestilence are good defensive options. Of course, if no anti-heal is needed, choose another item as preferred.
Replace Shoes late with Elixir of Speed and another item of your choice.
Traveler's Shoes
Pythagorem's Piece
Breastplate of Valor
Void Stone
Divine Ruin
Mantle of Discord
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Hey everyone, welcome to the SMITEFire Community guide to  Hades. In this guide, we'll be going over all the essential info you'll need to get started with Hades.
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Blight
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Death From Below and Shroud of Darkness, but also from basic attacks.
Blight effect from other abilities you use. Shroud of Darkness to fear them and create further space.|
Death From Below
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Shroud of Darkness. Use 1 for initiation to close distance with enemies and create a stack of Blight. You can also save it to use as a chase ability to catch up to a fleeing enemy. Devour Souls without turning around yourself (it applies in a radius around you). Shroud of Darkness is helpful, and your main damage / heal of Devour Souls is more important. Also, upgrading this early means you might kill minions before you can heal.
Awilix’s ultimate CAN pull you, even below ground.|
Shroud of Darkness
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Death From Below. Devour Souls to kill a minion wave, healing yourself entirely.
Magi's Cloak).|
Devour Souls
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Shroud of Darkness) to apply Blight, and cast Devour Souls in the midst of the wave to get a significant heal.|
Pillar of Agony
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Blink Rune or Death From Below. Can be used to force relic use from the enemy. Blink Rune, or walk into range of the enemy before using. This saves Death From Below for follow-up damage, or to escape if things turn sour.
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Devour Souls is your main burst damage source and health sustain. This is always your first priority. Shroud of Darkness or Pillar of Agony. The argument for Shroud is to get the CD down to the same level as Devour to more easily use it as your main combo, and the higher silence duration is extremely helpful CC. Alternatively, for enemies that have no mobility and are easily caught in your ult, Pillar provides significant damage and protections. Death From Below is helpful for damage, but sometimes may be used for escape, making this the lowest priority ability.
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Death From Below for potential escape (or chase). Shroud of Darkness to apply Blight, then Devour Souls for the burst damage and heal. Easy to use on a full minion wave for quick clear.|
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Blight, and makes for an easy combo with Devour Souls. Shroud of Darkness in case you need to apply CC after the combo.|
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Purification Beads and any mobility abilities they have. Blink Rune to close the gap quickly; timing and location is key here. Apply Blight with Shroud of Darkness to apply the protection debuff, then immediately go into Pillar of Agony. Blight, then use Devour Souls for more damage, or just quickly use Devour without the basic. Save Death From Below to chase escaping enemies or escape as needed.
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Talon Trinket + 2x Healing Potion start is for rushing Bancroft's Talon for aggressive early play. Warrior's Blessing, the standard item for Solo-lane use. It is helpful if you're learning the god or need to play a more conservative early game due to unfavorable matchups. Besides a bit of early sustain and damage mitigation, getting Tiny Trinket also allows you to choose whether you want to build into Bancroft's Talon or Pythagorem's Piece.|
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Shoes of Focus is the typical Shoes option for the mana and CDR. Alternatively, Traveler's Shoes is very helpful for mana sustain, and provides a lot of utility. Due to the higher speed and passive speed boost, it can allow you to choose an alternate starting relic to Teleport Glyph, and gives you higher-than-average MS for chase and escape. Bancroft's Talon provides early pressure and high sustain, while also working well with his ult. Alternatively, Pythagorem's Piece provides high steady lifesteal, and comes with some health for more defensive function. It translates very well to late-game teamfights. Void Stone offers good stats for the price and % magical protection reduction for your team as long as you stay close to the target; it also applies when you have enemies in your ult.|
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A great item that adds health, mana, and good protections of both kinds when fully stacked. Get this 3rd or 4th if you’re able to consistently get kills and/or assists. |
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You will be a tank but you are still vulnerable to CC. If you're against hard CC comps, this item may help you tank extra damage after you get CCed. |
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An alternative to Spirit Robe, it also provides equal protections and CDR, but with a focus of stunning enemies once you hit a certain health threshold. Great especially when fighting in close. |
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Great late-game hybrid function that steals health and mana from enemies. More helpful when targeting tanky enemies with high health. |
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Functional early anti-physical counter while providing some offensive function due to the power. |
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Build to provide protection against physical lane opponents, with a bonus of enhancing friendly minions to more effectively win your lane. |
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Not always suggested, but when physical enemies are a significantly higher threat and you also want CDR, this item fits the bill. Having strong CC in a silence / fear with a CD under 10 seconds can be game-changing. |
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Counters physical basic attackers by reflecting a portion of the damage they output back to them. |
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Also counters basic attackers, but has a bit more universal function as it provides health to help with magical damage. When hit by basics, it provides some control by slowing the movement and attack speed of the attacking enemies. |
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Physical protection and anti-heal to counter enemies with significant healing. |
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Magical protection and anti-heal to counter enemies with significant healing. |
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As a front-liner, you'll be expected to fight in the midst of multiple enemies. Provides good magical protection, while also providing mitigation against all incoming damage. |
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High CDR and very good synergy with this item's passive giving you a shield when you use your ultimate. |
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A great offensive anti-heal item that also has power and flat penetration. |
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Strong lifesteal enhancement and offensive function due to the % penetration. Great pairing with Bancroft's Talon, and can help partially counteract anti-heal from the enemy.
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Adds burst damage potential to your abilities, and deals more damage to tanks. |
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Bancroft's Talon, while following up with protection items to allow him to be a frontliner. Recommended build for players comfortable with Hades. Elixir of Speed and buy another item of your choice.|
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Breastplate of Valor is helpful for the CDR as the build doesn't contain any earlier CDR, but you can substitute another item for this if preferred. Divine Ruin is shown as an aggressive anti-heal option. Defensive alternatives include Contagion and Pestilence. If anti-heal isn’t needed, swap for another item as needed. Elixir of Speed and buy another item of your choice.
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This relic is Core to Hades. Hades only has Death From Below for mobility and this skill can be avoided. Blink lets you instantly be in front of your enemy and hit him with your skills and if he tries to escape you can use your jump, or if things get too hot you also can jump out.
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Early Game
Play aggressively when possible. Hades has strong wave clear and insane poke damage early game, so use and abuse it, especially if the enemy walks into the minion wave.
At level 1, hit multiple enemies with your basic attack to apply Blight before using Devour Souls in the middle of the minions for clear function.
Hades is a secret counter to 
King Arthur because Shroud of Darkness can stop his spins. Strong early damage and sustain means a well-played Hades can snowball an Arthur.
Mid Game
This is the point of the game you are strongest. If you’re equal/ahead, play aggressively when possible to put the enemy on their heels.
Start to rotate and help your team with objectives.
Late Game
Your strength falls off late-game. Your damage isn’t as strong because you usually will fight without minions around the enemy. Since you’ll be at least partially tanky, you’ll turn into more of a secondary tank. You can tank objectives, initiate teamfights to a degree, and force enemy relic use with your ult and Shroud of Darkness.
Thank you for reading this community guide to Hades! If you'd like to contribute regularly to guides like this, just send me a Private Message. Everyone who contributes to one of these Community Guides will be credited in the guide.
If you liked the guide, don't forget to vote and leave a comment with your thoughts! If you have any suggestions, criticism or other feedback, comments of all sorts are appreciated. Good luck in your Hades games!
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Also maybe add Typhon's, Reaver and deso as situational damage options.
If others also feel Deso is a good option, I'll add that too.
(also could someone teach me how to link the items so they pop up in my comments lol)
To link items use double [ and ] e.g. [Jade Emperor's Crown] but with double brackets.
If you want a more utility/late game item then Phyta is better.
It all depends of your preference and choice
And I think Pythags gets it's power shut down a bit more by Runic Shield.
Do you think the item can still be effective in certain situations? I'm thinking maybe if you're playing against a god with good wave clear, this item will help you hang onto your advantage in that area?
Do you think the item can still be effective in certain situations? I'm thinking maybe if you're playing against a god with good wave clear, this item will help you hang onto your advantage in that area?
No. Hades outclears most Solo laners im pretty sure.
Regarding the mindset of Tyrannical, I think it's less about trying to even up wave clear, and more to consider when you already have a clear advantage and you want to give your lane even more pressure.
With the nerfs to
See, it could be that the extra minion health could have made it just hard enough for Bell to clear too long and take more damage from you.
Alternatively, it could be that once you got this item online, the added power and physical protection allowed you to exchange more efficiently with her, and it didn't have as much to do with the minions at all. In this case, getting
Or it could be a combination of the two.
To me, Tyrannical is an item you get when your clear priority is objective push. Helps to get the enemy tower down more quickly, and if you can do that, you can rotate more, and help push mid-lane too. Jade is an item you get when you're focusing more on enemy exchange rather than objectives.
More situational item suggestions:
Also with Pythags being a thing I don't see how Bancrofts is "Core". Both can be considered.
And both builds only have 10% CDR, I'd at least make it 20% or 30% (40% not being necessary due to power pot).
As such, if you use it when you've got decent health, your follow-up after the ult ends with the potential of the shield means you can keep contributing to the fight, even if you DID get relatively hurt during the ult. And this also solves the lack of CDR in the rest of the build, at least as ONE CDR item option.
What are your thoughts on this? (and others' thoughts would also be appreciated)
I can also agree that Bancroft's is probably not core, at least not in a Solo build...I contributed mostly in this case to some of the ability tips. So let's discuss further and see if we can agree to a couple of build examples, identify which items might be core (if we need to identify core to begin), etc.
Not that Pythag isn't a good option, I just can't see it being better than Bancrofts for early game (we all know hades is early/mid right?).
(Also, with lifesteal, it encourages the enemy to consider anti-heal more strongly than they already would against Hades)
But depending on matchups also, you might just want / need to go with a more traditional tanky solo build. So maybe we don't have Bancroft's as core (or get rid of core item recognition), and offer an aggressive build (your example perhaps), and a tankier build with items such as BoV, Oni, anti-heal, etc. Thoughts?