Hades by Supergiant Games is built around a cast of characters as memorable as its combat, and the companion system turns those relationships into direct mechanical advantages. Each companion summon can shift the outcome of a difficult chamber or boss fight. The five picks below cover the most useful companions for consistent run completion and damage output.
| Companion | Summon Effect | Best Use | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meg (Rib) | Heavy damage burst | Boss fights | 4.8/5 |
| Thanatos (Mort) | Damage + kill bonus | Elite rooms | 4.7/5 |
| Skelly (Knuckle Bones) | Distraction tank | Tough chambers | 4.6/5 |
| Achilles (Anemos) | Damage + speed | Elysium | 4.5/5 |
| Dusa (Fidi) | Petrify AoE | Crowd control | 4.4/5 |
Meg - Best Damage Companion in Hades
Meg’s companion item, the Companion Rib, summons Megaera to deal a concentrated burst of damage to enemies in a targeted area. It is the highest raw-damage companion summon in the base game and the go-to choice for boss fights where you need immediate spike damage during a tight window. Meg is one of the first characters you can max out relationship with, making this companion accessible relatively early in a playthrough. The summon works best paired with builds that already stack damage multipliers, since the burst scales with your overall damage output modifiers in certain circumstances. Keeping this in your companion slot for boss rooms is the standard meta recommendation.
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Thanatos - Best Elite Room Companion
Thanatos’ companion summon, Companion Mort, brings Than into the chamber to mark and execute enemies, with a bonus reward if he lands the killing blow on a certain number. This summon is exceptional in elite rooms and later biomes where killing enemies quickly prevents the room from spiraling out of control. The kill-bonus mechanic also rewards aggressive positioning, making Mort a natural fit for attack-focused builds. Thanatos is also one of the more interesting characters to build relationship with narratively, so players who engage with the story unlock this companion naturally through normal progression.
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Skelly - Best Beginner-Friendly Companion
Skelly’s companion, the Knuckle Bones (Companion Rib variant), summons a decoy that draws enemy attention and absorbs damage for a limited time. For players still learning encounter patterns, this breathing room can be the difference between surviving a difficult room and dying to a bad hit. Skelly is available very early in the relationship system, and his questline is one of the more accessible ones to complete. The companion’s utility is straightforward: drop it when you are overwhelmed, use the enemy focus break to reposition or heal. It does not scale as dramatically into late-game as damage companions, but its consistency makes it reliable.
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Achilles - Best Elysium Companion
Achilles’ companion summon, Companion Anemos, deals targeted damage and increases Zagreus’ move speed for a short duration after activation. The move speed bonus makes this companion uniquely valuable in Elysium, where enemy density and room size reward mobility. Achilles’ combat expertise as a character translates into a summon that feels purposefully designed for the third biome. Players who invest in cast-heavy or ranged builds find the mobility bonus extends their effective range management. Narrative investment in Achilles’ questline is one of Hades’ strongest story threads, making unlocking this companion rewarding beyond the mechanical benefit.
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Dusa - Best Crowd Control Companion
Dusa’s companion summon, Companion Fidi, petrifies enemies in an area for several seconds, completely stopping their actions and making them vulnerable. This is the most unique companion effect in the roster because it provides true crowd control rather than damage. Against groups of enemies in packed rooms or during multi-phase boss encounters with adds, a well-timed Fidi can neutralize threats while you focus on priority targets. Dusa’s questline involves the domestic side of the House of Hades and takes longer to develop than combat-character relationships, but the crowd control payoff is worth the investment for players who struggle with specific room configurations.
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How to Choose a Companion in Hades
Match your companion slot to your weakest point in a run. If boss fights are where you die most, carry a damage companion like Meg or Than. If you are dying in elite rooms or chaotic chamber mid-points, a crowd control or tank companion provides better overall run insurance. Only one companion can be equipped at a time, and each is one-use per run, so reserve the summon for the moment it matters most rather than using it at the first sign of difficulty. Relationship investment determines which companions you can access, so prioritize building rapport with characters whose summon types match your playstyle.
For more gaming guides, see our roundup of best co-op PS4 games and best companion robot for real-world gaming setups. See our methodology for how we evaluate gaming recommendations.
Frequently asked questions
How do you unlock companions in Hades?+
Companions in Hades are unlocked by deepening your relationship with specific characters through Nectar and Ambrosia gifts. Once a character reaches maximum affinity and their personal questline progresses far enough, they offer a companion item. These summons are used once per chamber and provide a powerful single-use ability, from massive damage bursts to healing or crowd control effects.
Which companion is best for beginners in Hades?+
Skelly's companion summon, the Knuckle Bones (Companion Rib), is widely recommended for beginners because it provides a reliable tanking distraction during tough encounters. Meg's companion summon deals significant damage and is straightforward to use. Both are unlocked relatively early through relationship building and do not require advanced game knowledge to apply effectively during a run.