How To Increase Grasp And Use More Arcana Cards In Hades 2

It doesn’t take long for Hades 2 to introduce Tarot Arcana cards to you, a new mechanic that allows protagonist Melinoë to become stronger in many ways. Each card requires a specific amount of Grasp, a resource unique to this system, which can fill up pretty fast.

During your first few expeditions to the Underworld’s inner chambers, the default amount of Grasp available might be enough to activate a few Arcana cards. Once you start progressing further into the game and facing even greater threats, you’ll need all the help you can get. Here’s how to increase your Grasp to use more Arcana Cards in Hades 2, as well as how to get the material needed to do so.

How to increase your Grasp in Hades 2

If you’re wondering how to activate more Tarot Arcana cards in Hades 2, the answer is simple: you need to increase your total Grasp, which only has 10 points by default, to allocate more cards. To do this, you need to spend Psyche—a material obtainable from multiple sources—while meditating on the training grounds of the Crossroads.

Screenshot: Supergiant Games / Kotaku

Now, if you’re like me and you ignored the tutorial messages saying so, the way to access the menu to increase your Grasp is by clicking or pressing on Melinoë’s portrait on the right side of the Tarot Arcana screen. Yes, there’s little visual indication for this, at least at first glance, so it’s easy to miss.

Thankfully, the process is pretty simple from there. Just go ahead and spend as much psyche as you can. For reference, I had 392 Psyche, and was able to increase my Grasp from 10 to 20 total.

The costs get higher with each subsequent upgrade, but there are many ways to get more psyche.

How to get Psyche in Hades 2

As far as materials go, Psyche is one of the most common in Hades 2. It’s one of the easiest to spend, too, if you’re not careful. There are a few incantations that ask for the resource, as well as other mechanics. As such, it’s never a bad idea to have Psyche to spare.

Screenshot: Supergiant Games / Kotaku

Below are some of the ways you can get Psyche in Hades 2:

• Using the Tablet of Peace tool: You might have noticed a few shades being stationary inside locations during runs. Once you’ve unlocked the Tablet of Peace in the Silver Pool, you can complete a short minigame by interacting with them, gaining Psyche in exchange.
• Trading bones for Psyche via the Wretched Broker: Similarly to Fated Fabric, the old trusty Wretched Broker has Psyche up for sale. Remember that you’ll first need to have unlocked the Summoning of Mercantile Fortune incantation for the merchant to appear at the Crossroads.
• As a reward for completing a location: You’re likely to see Psyche as a reward for tackling a room during runs. This is by far the easiest way to get the material. Also, if you run into any boons that affect loot, you’ll be getting more bang for your buck. Poseidon can offer a boon where he adds a chance of items being duplicated, which is great for this.
• Completing tasks from the Fated List of Minor Prophecies: There aren’t many tasks that grant you the material, but there are some!
• As the occasional reward from boons and elsewhere: Some boons, as well as interactions with a few characters during runs, can lead to some extra Psyche.

That’s all you need to know to increase your Grasp in Hades 2. If you’re looking for some extra guidance, we also have pointers around the game’s experience on Steam Deck and how to defeat Headmistress Hecate.