Look, the Surface route in Hades 2 is a brutal spike in difficulty compared to the Underworld. You spend hours getting used to Chronos and his time-warping nonsense, only to head topside and realize the Olympian gods aren't exactly doing great. When you finally reach the summit of Mount Olympus, you meet the Father of Monsters. Honestly, figuring out how to beat Typhon in Hades 2 is mostly a test of your movement and how well you can manage the sheer visual chaos he throws at you. It’s a mess. A beautiful, terrifying, screen-filling mess.
If you’ve played the first game, you might remember Typhon being mentioned in hushed tones. Here, he’s a physical reality. He is massive. He’s basically a walking natural disaster. You aren't just fighting a guy with a spear; you are fighting the personification of a volcano, a hurricane, and a grudge that’s lasted since the dawn of time.
The First Phase: Avoiding the Slam
When the fight starts, Typhon doesn't move much. He's a stationary boss for the most part, but that doesn't make him easy. His reach is insane. He uses his massive, serpentine arms to sweep across the entire arena. If you aren't dashing through the swipes, you're getting clipped for 40 or 50 damage easily. You've gotta stay close to his chest to deal real damage, but that's exactly where his stomps land.
The wind-up for his overhead slam is actually pretty generous. You'll see his shadow darken on the floor. Don't panic. Wait for the arm to reach the apex. Dash toward him, not away. If you dash away, the shockwave usually catches you at the end of your frames.
Typhon also loves his projectiles. He spits out these globs of molten ichor that stay on the ground. Step in them? You’re slowed and taking tick damage. It’s annoying. It limits your movement. You really want a Boon that can clear projectiles or at least a Dash that grants you a bit of distance. Hestia’s soot sprint is a godsend here. Literally. It snuffs out those projectiles before they hit the ground.
Choosing the Right Build for the Mountain
You can't just walk into Olympus with a random set of boons and expect a win. Well, you can, but you'll probably die. Melinoë is squishier than Zagreus was, and Typhon punishes that.
For weapons, the Moonstone Axe is risky. It’s slow. Typhon has very small windows where he isn't attacking, and if you're stuck in a heavy swing animation when he starts his "Cataclysm" roar, you're toast. I personally prefer the Sister Blades or the Umbral Flames. With the Flames, you can stay at mid-range and just circle-strafe. It’s safer. Much safer.
Let's talk about Boons. You need health. Lots of it.
- Aphrodite: Her "Weak" status effect is mandatory. Cutting Typhon’s damage by 30% makes his big slams survivable.
- Poseidon: His knockback doesn't move Typhon (he's too big), but the "Splash" damage is great for clearing the smaller monsters Typhon summons during the transition phases.
- Hera: Linking the summons to Typhon via "Hitch" means you're damaging the boss even when you're focusing on the adds. It’s efficient.
You also need to think about your Keepsake. If you made it to the summit with the Evil Eye, and you’ve died to Typhon before, use it. That extra damage against the foe that last killed you is the edge most players need to push through that final 20% of his health bar.
Dealing with the Summon Phase
About midway through, Typhon gets bored of fighting you directly and retreats into a cloud of volcanic ash. This is where most runs fail. He summons "Echos of the Pit"—monsters you've fought in the Underworld, but buffed with Olympic energy. They are fast. They are aggressive.
The trick here isn't to kill them all. It's to survive until Typhon reveals his "Core." You’ll see a glowing heat-sink on his chest or back. Focus everything there. Ignore the smaller enemies if you can, or use your Cast to lock them down. If you take too long to break the Core, Typhon fills the arena with lightning strikes that are nearly impossible to dodge perfectly.
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The Second Phase: The Storm
Once he hits 50% health, the weather changes. It’s not just fire anymore; now it’s ice and wind. Typhon starts using a vacuum move that pulls you toward him. If you get sucked into his "maw," it’s a massive chunk of health gone.
Run away. Seriously. Hold the sprint button and don't look back until the suction stops.
He also gains a multi-hit lightning strike. You'll see small circles on the ground. They track you. To beat this, you need to keep moving in a tight circle. Don't dash wildly. Just a steady, rhythmic movement. If you dash too early, you'll run out of stamina or frames right when the third or fourth strike hits.
What Most Players Get Wrong
Most people try to play Typhon like they play the Minotaur or Meg from the first game. They try to burst him down. That doesn't work. Typhon has "damage caps" or soft-phases where he becomes briefly invulnerable or highly resistant. You have to play the long game.
It’s a marathon.
Also, don't ignore your Arcana cards. If you haven't leveled up The Titan (for extra HP/Magick) or The Lovers (to ignore the first hit you take), you’re making it way harder than it needs to be. The "Death Defiance" cards are obviously a must, but focus on the ones that reward you for using your Cast. Placing a Cast at Typhon’s feet and letting it tick damage while you focus on dodging is the most consistent way to win.
Mastering the "Final Roar"
When Typhon is near death—we’re talking 10% health—he goes into a frenzy. The screen goes red. Everything is exploding. This is the "Final Roar." He will chain his slams three times in a row, followed by a screen-wide blast.
The only safe spot is usually right behind him or at the very edge of the arena, depending on his positioning. If you have a Hex from Selene, save it for this moment. The "Phase Shift" hex (which slows time) makes this joke-easy. If you have the "Moonlight Ray," beam him down from a distance.
Whatever you do, don't get greedy. It is so tempting to just stand there and mash the attack button when he’s at 2% health. That is exactly when he’ll hit you with a point-blank explosion that ends your run. Stay calm. One hit at a time.
Actionable Strategy for Your Next Run
To actually pull this off, you need a plan before you even leave the Crossroads.
- Prioritize Max HP: Aim for at least 250 Health before reaching Olympus. Use the Centaur Hearts every chance you get.
- Focus on "Weak" or "Daze": You need to debuff Typhon's attack power. Use Aphrodite or Apollo boons to ensure he isn't hitting for full value.
- Upgrade your Dash: Whether it's the extra distance from Hermes or the elemental trails from others, your mobility is your life.
- Save your Hex: Don't use your Selene ability on the way up the mountain. Keep it fully charged for the 50% health transition or the final 10% frenzy.
- Watch the Shadow: Typhon's physical attacks are always telegraphed by shadows on the floor. Trust the floor more than you trust your eyes on his body.
The fight is a spectacle, but it's mechanical. Once you stop being intimidated by his size and start treating him like a sequence of timers and hitboxes, the Father of Monsters becomes just another roadblock on your way to saving the family.