In the fast-paced roguelike world of Hades, where every run feels like a test of skill, patience, and strategy, certain Boons stand out for their unique mechanics and gameplay impact. One of the most intriguing is the Curse of Longing, a Boon offered by the goddess Aphrodite. This Boon not only adds thematic richness to Zagreus’s arsenal but also introduces a gameplay style that rewards careful timing and synergistic planning. Whether you’re experimenting with status effects or seeking better crowd control, the Curse of Longing offers a nuanced option for building powerful runs in the Underworld.
Understanding the Curse of Longing
What Is the Curse of Longing?
The Curse of Longing is a Duo Boon in Hades, created through a synergy between Aphrodite and Ares. To unlock it, players must have Boons from both gods that apply their respective status effects specifically, Aphrodite’s Weak and Ares’ Doom. This powerful combination causes enemies afflicted by Weak to suffer Doom damage after a short delay. Essentially, it links the effects, allowing Aphrodite’s debuff to trigger Ares’ deadly delayed damage.
This Boon turns an already strong build into a lethal one by chaining status effects and increasing the consistency of Doom triggers. It is especially effective in builds focused on area control or prolonged fights, where maintaining multiple debuffs on groups of enemies can keep you safe and maximize damage output.
How to Unlock the Curse of Longing
Requirements for the Duo Boon
To even see the Curse of Longing appear as an option during your run, you need to meet specific conditions:
- Possess at least one Aphrodite Boon that applies Weak (e.g., Heartbreak Strike or Heartbreak Flourish)
- Possess at least one Ares Boon that applies Doom (e.g., Curse of Agony or Curse of Pain)
- Have met both Aphrodite and Ares in prior runs and developed their relationship level enough
Once these prerequisites are met, the next time you obtain a Boon, the game may offer the Curse of Longing as a Duo Boon selection. These Boons are rare, so increasing your chance with Pom Blossom, Duo Boon priority keepsakes, or rerolls via Fated Authority can help.
Strategic Value in Combat
Weak + Doom Synergy
The beauty of the Curse of Longing lies in its ability to tie two separate mechanics into a singular destructive force. Normally, Doom only applies from direct Ares attacks or cast abilities. However, with this Boon, simply weakening an enemy will also prime them for Doom damage after a delay. This opens up powerful opportunities for consistent area-of-effect damage, especially if you can apply Weak through wide-reaching attacks or skills.
Since Weak reduces enemy damage output, using it on groups of enemies enhances your survivability. Now, thanks to Curse of Longing, it also becomes an offensive strategy, turning a defensive debuff into a dual-purpose weapon. Enemies deal less damage and simultaneously tick down toward significant delayed bursts of pain.
Optimizing Weapon and Aspect Choices
Not all weapons in Hades are equally suited for the Curse of Longing, but several stand out:
- Heart-Seeking Bow (Aspect of Chiron): Multiple targeted hits ensure Weak is constantly applied, triggering Doom in succession.
- Stygian Blade (Aspect of Arthur): The wide attack range is ideal for spreading Weak quickly to many enemies.
- Shield of Chaos (Aspect of Zeus): The ricocheting throws are effective for debuffing multiple enemies and triggering status chains.
Any weapon that can quickly and repeatedly apply Weak becomes a potent tool for enabling Curse of Longing to reach its full potential. Combining that with frequent Doom triggers through multi-hits or AoE coverage creates a feedback loop of damage and control.
Boons That Complement the Curse of Longing
More Than Just A Duo
Once you have the Curse of Longing, enhancing it through additional Boons becomes your next strategic goal. Ideal supporting Boons include:
- Dire Misfortune (Ares): Increases Doom damage for each instance applied before it activates this stacks wonderfully with Curse of Longing.
- Broken Resolve (Aphrodite): Reduces enemy resistance when weakened, further increasing all sources of damage.
- Black Metal (Ares): Enhances Doom spread on cast, especially if using a wide-area cast build.
- Different League (Aphrodite): Reduces damage taken from nearby foes a great addition for melee builds using Curse of Longing for control.
Look for opportunities to power up both Weak and Doom in tandem. Even Boons that seem minor can become pivotal when compounded across multiple enemies per room or encounter.
Ideal Playstyle and Encounter Tactics
Room-to-Room Combat Flow
With Curse of Longing, pacing becomes an essential part of your combat rhythm. You don’t need to rush to kill enemies immediately instead, apply Weak to as many enemies as possible and let the Doom take its course. This methodical playstyle encourages movement, zoning, and the strategic use of dodge timing and positioning.
In Elite or Boss fights, Curse of Longing can chip away consistently at enemy health while you focus on survival. If you pair it with Boons that grant health recovery on kill or damage reduction, you become a durable source of attrition-based damage, ideal for long encounters like Theseus and Asterius or Hades himself.
Handling Different Enemy Types
The Boon works excellently against both fast-moving mobs and slow, heavy enemies. Against crowds, spreading Weak ensures you reduce incoming damage while setting up multiple Doom procs. Against slower enemies, you can reliably cycle the status effect to keep the damage ticking at regular intervals, giving you space and control.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
Misusing Weak or Doom
Curse of Longing is only effective if you’re actively applying Weak. If your Boon selection or weapon choice doesn’t support fast Weak application, then the Boon becomes nearly useless. Similarly, Doom’s delayed damage is less effective if you’re defeating enemies before it activates. Balance your damage output and build style to ensure that Doom has time to trigger before enemies die from other sources.
Overcommitting to a Duo Boon
Like many Duo Boons in Hades, Curse of Longing is not guaranteed. Don’t center your build entirely around it unless you’ve already secured one of the necessary Boons. Stay flexible and adapt your plan depending on the god offerings you encounter. Building a strong Aphrodite or Ares setup is still viable on its own Curse of Longing is simply the cherry on top.
In the layered roguelike experience of Hades, Boons like Curse of Longing provide players with exciting new ways to approach combat. It rewards careful planning, smart positioning, and a balance between offense and defense. With its ability to transform the Weak debuff into a dangerous offensive tool by pairing it with Doom, this Duo Boon encourages creative builds and offers high payoff for players who enjoy tactical control. Mastering the Curse of Longing can take your Underworld runs from average to exceptional, making it a valuable asset in your journey to escape the clutches of Hades.