Hades 2: How to get Star Dust? Hades 2 guide, tips
Star Dust is a valuable resource appearing in the later stages of Hades 2. On this page we have described what it is used for, how to unlock it, acquire it and what the Chaos Trials in the Pitch-Black Stone are all about.
Last update: 22 May 2024
Star Dust is a rare, valuable resource that you will encounter in the later stages of the game.It used for, e.g. incantations and improving some Tarot Arcana. On this page of the guide, we have described how to unlock Star Dust, what it is for, how to obtain it, and what the Chaos Trials in the Pitch-Black Stone are.
How to unlock Star Dust?
The key to unlocking Star Dust is interacting with Chaos, who await you in randomly appearing gates during your expeditions. During one of your visits, Chaos will teach you the Abyssal Insight incantation, which will awaken the Pitch-Black Stone located in the Crossroads training ground.
For the incantation, you need the following reagents:
- 2x Fate Fabric - you can buy it from the Wretched Pest for 30 bones each;
- 2x Pearl - reward for defeating Scylla, the boss of Oceanos;
- 2x Moly - golden flowers collected in Erebus (you don't need any tools);
- 2x Nightshade - you must collect the seeds in Erebus using the Silver Spade tool, and then plant them at the Crossroads.
Creating this incantation will unlock access to the Pitch-Black Stone and thus the Chaos Trials, which are your main source of Star Dust.
What are the Chaos Trials?
The Chaos Trials are short challenges that you can start at the Pitch-Black Stone. These are shorter expeditions that require you to complete one specific region with the rules imposed by the game. You will receive a specific weapon, sometimes a specific keepsake, and often several boons from one specific god. Occasionally, you will also have to deal with a time limit. Each attempt consists of only one region, and after defeating the boss of a given region, you will return to the Crossroads. The reward for each completed trial is one unit of Star Dust.
There are five eyes on the right side of the trial selection window. They symbolize the difficulty level of a given trial - the more eyes are open, the more difficult the trial. Trials marked with one eye are very simple - for example, they give you the task of completing Erebus while having as much as 1,000 health points. However, more difficult trials can pose quite a challenge. Each trial will only reward you once, so you cannot farm the same trial to earn more Star Dust from it.
After unlocking the Pitch-Black Stone, the Wretched Broker's offer will also expand to include Star Dust. However, it costs 800 bones per unit, so the Chaos Trials are a much more efficient source.
What to do with Star Dust?
Star Dust currently has three uses. These are:
- Incantations - it is a required component of the Faith of Familiar Spirits incantation, thanks to which you will unlock the ability to take Familiars with you on your expeditions.
- Upgrading Tarot Arcana - some of the most expensive and useful tarot arcana require Star Dust to upgrade them to their highest level.
- Crafting Moon Dust - in the cauldron, you can also turn one Star Dust into three units of Moon Dust, a more common material for tarot arcana upgrades. This is not cost-effective, so only do it if you don't currently need Star Dust because you've already upgraded the cards you're using. Moon Dust can be purchased from the Wretched Broker for 80 bones each (Star Dust costs ten times that), and when you manage to defeat Chronos for the first time, you will unlock another Moon Dust recipe that uses more common materials.