Hades has made its way to a wide array of platforms now, giving all gamers a chance to see Prince Zagreus' adventure, regardless of their console of choice. It's a fantastic journey filled with amazing characters and some high-octane action. It's also jam-packed with a wide array of things to do, and while the gameplay loop may seem simple at first, players will soon discover that Hades is overflowing with hidden content, side quests, unlockables, and events.
A great example of this is Bouldy, an unassuming rock that Sisyphus considers a good friend and confidante. When Zagreus first comes across the mighty former king, he won't think much of his wacky-faced companion. But as time goes on, and players continue to attempt to escape the confines of the Underworld, they'll learn more about the mythological figure and his rocky companion. Players will even have the opportunity to give Bouldy some Nectar, but is it worth it?
Where To Find Bouldy
Before players can actually give any Nectar to Bouldy, they'll need to locate Sisyphus. During any given run through Tartarus, gamers may spot a door with an exclamation point icon on it. Entering this door will take them to a large room, where they'll spot Sisyphus standing next to a massive boulder with what appears to be a crudely made face etched into it. In Greek Mythology, Sisyphus was a mighty king that was punished by the gods for cheating death twice. His eternal damnation was to push a large boulder up an incline, only to see it roll back down to the bottom whenever he managed to get close to the top.
This version of Sisyphus is well-mannered and incredibly helpful to Zagreus. He even considers his boulder, "Bouldy," a friend, and regularly refers to him as a "living object." By speaking to Sisyphus numerous times throughout multiple runs, players will eventually unlock the ability to "speak" to Bouldy himself.
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NOTE: Players can only encounter Sisyphus and Bouldy in Tartarus during escape attempts. |
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What Does Giving Nectar To Bouldy Do?
Giving Nectar to most characters in Hades will reward Zagreus with a specialized trinket, which he can then use on subsequent escape attempts. These trinkets offer up powerful boons and game-changing stat buffs. Even better, they can be upgraded through consistent use.
Bouldy, unfortunately, doesn't give Zagreus any trinkets for handing over a bottle of Nectar. However, that doesn't mean he's incapable of "helping out the prince" in exchange for some of the golden liquid. Bouldy himself has no affinity level, so Zagreus won't be able to form a strong bond with the seemingly inanimate object. This means the smiling rock cannot be given Ambrosia, but he can be gifted Nectar once per escape attempt. Doing so will cause Bouldy to reward Zagreus with a random positive boon, similar to how Chaos buffs work but without any of the "trials" or downsides.
What Boons Can Bouldy Give?
By offering Bouldy some Nectar, Prince Zagreus will receive one randomized boon in return that stays active for the rest of the escape attempt. Once the escape is over or the player perishes, the boon resets and Bouldy must be given another Nectar to trigger a new one.
Although the boon itself is called "Heart of Stone," it can come in a variety of flavors, including;
|
Boon Type |
Stat Increase |
Rarity |
|---|---|---|
|
Attack Damage Bonus |
2 - 4% |
Common |
|
Damage Reduction |
2 - 4% |
Common |
|
Move Speed |
2 - 10% |
Common |
|
Cast Damage Bonus |
2 - 10% |
Common |
|
Special Damage Bonus |
2 - 9% |
Common |
|
Obols Bonus |
1 - 7% |
Common |
|
Ambiguity Bonus |
2% |
Common |
Each boon comes with the description, "You believe in Bouldy, and Bouldy believes in you," except for the "Ambiguity" variant, which reads; "You do not know if you believe in Bouldy..."
Is It Worth Giving Nectar To Bouldy?
While it's definitely useful to gain any of the above boons during an escape attempt, it's not necessarily worth it to give up your hard-earned Nectar early on. Zagreus will meet many gods and side characters throughout his travels and each one of them comes with an Affinity bar that must be filled by offering up both Nectar and Ambrosia. Since these items aren't exactly "overflowing" in the early game, giving up one to Bouldy during the first few hours can set back Zagreus' relationship progress with other characters.
For this reason, it's recommended to only start offering Nectar to Bouldy when the player has managed to max out Zagreus' relationships or is swimming in Nectar while waiting to meet certain characters. Dedicated Hades players who find themselves in the mid-to-late-game escape attempts will benefit from these boons, especially if they can get lucky and roll them with other stackable bonuses or certain trinkets.