Is it just me, or do Hera's boons take the piss?

[EmeraldFoxDeity]

The boons on offer already seem to be far more niche and negligible on average, with the biggest standouts being the ones that actually do something. But Hera's seem to be a special kind of bad. A cast bonus that only works on new mobs spawning in. A Magick refilling method that is absolutely horrid by itself unless you spec hard into certain Tarot cards. A horrid reversal of Demeter's Boon making boons gain rarity over time. And the audacity to offer me a boon for my special while I use the sister blades. That last part isn't really her fault that the sister blades basically don't have a special because it's so bad, but I'm going to blame her anyway.

Edit: Don't get me wrong, her Cast boon can be great. But in general her boons seem like joke placeholders to troll each other during test runs behind the scenes.

[BROLY 32]

To be fair, on higher fear, bosses are the least of your problems.
But I can see why she'd seem subpar to new players.

[dustin1280]

1. Hera's mana boon is the best mana recovery boon in the game.
2. Hera's attack book is one of the best options for the torch weapon, also a pretty good option for skulls. Though admittedly skulls are good with many gods boons.

[A_Muse_ing]

Um to use Hitch effectively requires a bit of skillful improvisation that is not patently obvious at first glance. But the damage bonus is good. And its technically good against bosses, because you clear waves faster, so you will have more health by the time you reach the boss. Its economical. And its still good against the Sirens, bonus 30% damage if you do it right, all clumped together, hit all 3 at once.

[Sunlight Swift]

From fear 8 onward I notice crowd managing boons shine more. Hera's boons value scales well into more challenging modes. I still think Zeus is best for me at all levels of play but I'm not upset at Hera popping up on a run at all. My least favorite's to see on a run is Aphrodite and Poseidon at this point. But I'm sure that may change over time. Top four for me are Zeus, Apollo, Hestia, and Demeter. After those four everyone else is kinda tied with Aphrodite and Poseidon under them a little.

[Travis Touchdown]

The biggest thing I'd change for Hera is that I wish her cast boon inflicted Hitch on enemies that entered the omega cast.

[gyarad0site]

Originally posted by EmeraldFoxDeity:

And the audacity to offer me a boon for my special while I use the sister blades. That last part isn't really her fault that the sister blades basically don't have a special because it's so bad, but I'm going to blame her anyway.

Eventually you can unlock rerolls through your Arcana, so if you get a list of boons that don't help your build, you can reroll for a new list of three.

[Knavenformed]

Originally posted by gyarad0site:

Eventually you can unlock rerolls through your Arcana, so if you get a list of boons that don't help your build, you can reroll for a new list of three.

The reroll Arcana are so much later in the tree that you probably have a predefined build already going

It's a hard slog after 25 card points to get any more even with easy gathering with Frinos

[hilfazer]

Originally posted by hilfazer:

Hera's boons are strange. Which, btw, does not mean bad or weak.

Having said that i think her cast has too many issues. It doesn't apply a curse, it doesn't deal damage (or rather it does but not to enemies inside it like any other cast), omega explosion happens much later and recasting it takes much more time thanks to increased duration.

I'd like to be able to use another cast after the standard cast duration which would remove the previous circle and place a new one.

One more thing i've noticed - Gale Force lasts way shorter then the Engagement Ring.

[Abewr]

I know everyone talks about the mana boon since it's so good. Her sprint is one of my favorites too. Aside from that, I really only like the cast for Pan aspect and use the attack/special at times on certain weapons. Hitch is really strong at clearing rooms and when it's on sprint it feels like an insane amount of free supplementary damage to any build. Even if you just infect 1 or 2 it spreads quickly as well

[Sintonir]

A lot of people already said about Hera gain, but I would add that it is one of only two I would use with Melinoe-aspected Flames attack-centred build. And the second option there is actually horrid. The reason? I want to continue Omega attacking no matter what, except for boss fights where I need to maneuver more. But that means any per-second regen can't kick in, since it needs about half a second of not channeling (I think). Only options there are Hera and Heph.
Her boons are also second-best by percentage increase. And the top one is Aphrodite, who can be tricky to make use of with some weapons. Flames, for example, can only really use Aphrodite with Omega Special, unless you get Duo with Poseidon.
And they are great for crowd control. Basically on anything but Daggers Special. They mean your hit damage scales with the number of enemies you hit. Got 6 enemies with one Axe attack? You deal double damage to every single one, multiplicative with base Hera +50%.

[BT]

Originally posted by Knavenformed:

Originally posted by gyarad0site:

Eventually you can unlock rerolls through your Arcana, so if you get a list of boons that don't help your build, you can reroll for a new list of three.

The reroll Arcana are so much later in the tree that you probably have a predefined build already going

It's a hard slog after 25 card points to get any more even with easy gathering with Frinos

You are encouraged to play all weapons due to the fear system.

I didn’t find it too hard to get to 30 arcana. I ended up getting it while trying to complete 24 fear with all weapons.

If you reach Chronos you usually get 100+ psyche with the upgraded Frinos every run.

[jimmyliou1990]

I used to hate plenty of her situational boons before figuring out how to take advantage of it, especially the Proper Upbringing/Uncommon Grace combo that gives a global damage boost and upgrades all boons you picked up before and boons you will be picking up later to rare.

Though I haven't figured out how to utilize Keen Intuition and Family Trade more strategically, but I'd say the rest of her boons actually feel pretty decent (except for her cast, I found it quite underwhelming)

[vesuvean2]

Originally posted by Knavenformed:

Originally posted by gyarad0site:

Eventually you can unlock rerolls through your Arcana, so if you get a list of boons that don't help your build, you can reroll for a new list of three.

The reroll Arcana are so much later in the tree that you probably have a predefined build already going

It's a hard slog after 25 card points to get any more even with easy gathering with Frinos

The rerolls are game changer thou, you should make place for these if you focus on a build with precise boons

The reroll package is : 5 point for the money, 4 for reroll boons and 3 for reroll the rewards

It work with the 1-5 0 card; the duo card is not affected if you play it neither the 3 same cost card so it doesn't block any build you want to put it in.

It offer you : 2-2,5 boons by the money, and 4-10 rerolls I dont see any card (except the death defiance) with more impact on a run. The reroll let you pick a trinket for a god; reroll ad nauseam until you have your pick and then the money let you just buy the bank. (and aid for getting the charon gifts cards) so it smooth any run from the start

(example : torch or skull special omega => pick hera reroll for born again; upgrade it if necessary and lets goooo)

So 12 points let you 18 (4 for death defiance and 2-9 for the damage boost let you 5-12 for the comfort cards)

[jimmyliou1990]

Came back to ask a question about Hera's Keen Intuition.

Does this one synergize with one of Ravaal's hammer, Possessed Array? This hammer fires a free omega attack upon skull retrieval, so I think as long as I keep my magick bar full I can point blank attack enemy then dish out a free omega attack when I pick the skull back up, rinse and repeat to reap the full benefit of this boon.

(of course this means not using any other omega move and not utilizing the card The Huntress...a brain dead build essentially)

Just finished an unexpectedly quick run with it and saw some rapid DPS so I assume this combo is the cause, but I can't be too certain.

[Sir_Noob]

Hera has the best magick gain boon and I'd say one of the best contenders for attack/special boons depending on your weapon. Her cast is awful and by far the worst in the game, I'd say her sprint is pretty bad too because the range on the hitch application is basically nil.