Beginner Build

The safe first-clear build: Athena Deflect for defense, a strong attack-based damage source, and a Mirror revive so deaths do not end the run early.

At a glance


Damage source	Your weapon’s basic Attack, scaled by one god’s attack boon.
Comes online	Right away. The first attack boon you take is the build.
Core boon	Athena’s Deflect (reflects projectiles) for survival, plus any attack boon for damage.
Good weapons	Stygian Blade for a friendly all-rounder, or Shield of Chaos for built-in defense.

The goal of this build is not big numbers. It is to reach Hades alive on your first clears. You lean on Athena for defense, pick one attack boon for damage, and rely on a Mirror revive so a single mistake does not end the run.

Gods and boons to prioritize

Priority	God	Why
1	Athena	Deflect reflects projectiles and trivializes many ranged fights. Take it on Dash for movement safety or on Attack.
2	One attack god	Pick the first strong Attack boon you are offered (Zeus, Ares, Aphrodite, Artemis) and stack it. Do not spread across many gods.
3	Poseidon or Hermes	Poseidon adds knockback and bonus loot. Hermes adds move and dash speed for dodging.

Commit to one damage source. Take Centaur Hearts (max HP) when survival feels shaky, not just damage boons.

Payoff to aim for

There is no single Duo to chase here. The build’s payoff is staying alive: a high-rarity Athena Deflect plus a leveled attack boon. If a Duo from your two chosen gods is offered and it scales your attack, take it. Do not reroute the whole run to force one.

Keepsake

Start with a keepsake that buys safety:

Skelly’s Lucky Tooth: a one-time revive at 100 HP during the run. Strong insurance while learning.
Eurydice’s Evergreen Acorn: a few hits of invulnerability when entering each boss fight, gifted by Eurydice in Asphodel.

You can also start with Athena’s keepsake to make her Deflect appear early.

Do this in order

Spend Darkness at the Mirror of Night first. Get a revive talent (Death Defiance or Stubborn Defiance), Dark Regeneration for healing, and the extra dash from Greater Reflex.
Equip a safety keepsake (Lucky Tooth or Athena’s).
Take Athena’s Deflect as early as you can.
Pick one attack god and stack only that god’s attack-scaling boons.
Read the door symbols and route toward your damage god, Poms to level your key boon, and Centaur Hearts.
Use Fountain rooms and Charon’s shop healing. Reach Hades alive rather than fast.

Watch out for

Spreading boons across too many gods. One damage source only.
Skipping defense. Without Deflect the ranged fights in Elysium and Styx punish you.
Ignoring the Mirror. Revives and healing there are what make a first clear realistic.
Tunneling on damage and dying with low max HP. Take the Centaur Hearts.