Hades

Hades Guide

Hades excels in the solo lane, where he can bully most opponents with his high base damage and sustain. Focus on clearing the minion wave as fast as possible using your third ability, Devour Souls, while hitting the enemy solo laner at the same time. This allows you to gain a farm advantage and pressure them under their tower. Look for opportunities to harass with your first ability, Death From Below, when they go for minions.

You can be pretty aggressive with Hades. Do exercise caution though, aggression is important. Hades is heckin’ tanky so pestering the enemy is essentially the whole point of Hades.

For builds, start with Guardian’s Blessing, health and mana potions. Follow up with Breastplate of Valor, Shoes of Focus, Void Stone, and then build based on the enemy team composition. Hades benefits greatly from cooldown reduction to frequently cast abilities. If ahead, build damage items like Spear of the Magus or Gem of Isolation. If behind, build more protections.

In joust and arena, Hades plays very similarly. Look to start favorable team fights with your ultimate ability, Pillar of Agony. Attempt to hit as many enemies as possible to cripple, frighten and damage them, allowing your team to follow up. After using your ultimate, utilize your first ability to damage and silence priority targets. Your third ability should be harnessed to damage and heal yourself, keeping you in the fight. Your second ability, Devour Souls Detonate, is best used for bursting down squishy targets or finishing off low health enemies. Stay close to your team as Hades so they can take advantage of the opportunities created by your abilities.

In Conquest team fights, initiate with your ultimate ability. This cripples, frightens and damages enemies, allowing your team to engage. Try to hit as many enemies as possible with it. Save your ult, as experienced players will use Purification Beads as soon as you cast it. After using your ultimate, utilize your first ability to damage and silence priority targets. Your third ability should be harnessed to damage and heal yourself, keeping you in the fight. Your second ability is best used for bursting down squishy targets or finishing off low health enemies. Stay close to your team as Hades so they can capitalize on the opportunities you create.

Hades plays the role of an initiator and control mage for his team. Look to start favorable team fights with your ultimate ability, then control enemies with your kit. Your goal is to protect your damage dealers while punishing the enemy’s. Work with your jungler to secure objectives like the Gold Fury or Fire Giant. Hades can force enemies away from objectives with his ultimate ability and zone control, allowing your team to defeat them. Place wards on objectives and common paths leading to them so you have information when to start them.

In general, focus on farming early without dying. Hades has a weak early game but scales well into the mid and late game. Play around your cooldowns and do not hesitate to use your ult when your relics are down if you see an opportunity. Build based on what your team needs and to counter the enemy. Hades can be built as a damage dealer or a bruiser depending on your role. Constantly look for favorable fights and ways to get your team ahead.

You are the tank, so be annoying and draw attention away from your damage dealers. If played intelligently, Hades can be an absolute menace.