The Greek god Dionysus is the god of the spirit of wine and ecstasy. Dionysus is one of the many gods that assist Zagreus in his quest to reach the surface. Dionysus gives Zagreus the power to apply hangover, Festive Fog, and increase health. In this Dionysus Boon Guide, I will outline all boons and the use cases for them.
General Dionysus Advice
What is Hangover?
Hangover lasts for 4 Seconds, and the victim takes damage every 0.5 seconds. However, the effect can stack up to 5 times by default. Besides that, the effects of hangovers can be modified greatly by the boons that Dionysus offers. Despite this, Hangover is one of the most underwhelming status effects.
What does Festive Fog do?
Festive fog is an area of effect that impairs the movement of foes. However, the ability of festive fog can do additional effects using some of the modifying boons. Festive Fog is a great boon for beginners to utilize, as it can be used as a crutch while you learn the ropes. However, other strategies are better.
What weapons work well with Dionysus?
Dionysus is one of the most lackluster gods to build around. However, the Heart-Seeking Bow is the stand-out weapon for this god. The strategy for this combo is to use your festive fog to slow down enemies which makes it easier to attack with the bow. Besides that, you will be able to apply hangover to the enemies.
The Boons
Drunken Strike
Description: Your Attack inflicts Hangover
Common: Hangover Damage 4 / Rare: Hangover Damage 5 / Epic: Hangover Damage 6 / Heroic: Hangover Damage 7
Analysis
Hangover is not really worth taking the up the attack slot. However, if you are sent on it then you need some of the later boons to really fill it all out. Despite this, I would suggest going with a better boon in your attack slot. Besides that, the later Dionysus boons don’t magically make the attack fantastic.
Drunken Flourish
Description: Your Special inflicts Hangover
Common: Hangover Damage 5 / Rare: Hangover Damage 6 / Epic: Hangover Damage 7 / Heroic: Hangover Damage 8
Analysis
This is better than the boon above because putting it on your special will be better. However, I don’t think that this boon is good. It has higher hangover damage, but it is still not amazing. However, the bow specials that have an AOE or Burst are going to be better with this boon. Besides that, the boon won’t give you much mileage.
Trippy Shot
Description: Your Cast lobs a large explosive that bursts into Festive Fog
Common: Cast Damage 100 / Rare: Cast Damage 120 / Epic: Cast Damage 140 / Heroic: Cast Damage 140
Analysis
The Festive Fog is alright, but I would say that if the later boons don’t excite you then you should pass. However, the Festive Fog is great if you have a ranged weapon, as you can make landing those hits easier. Besides that, the boon is kind of useless for close-range weapons.
Trippy Flare
Description: Your Cast damages foes around you, leaving behind Festive Fog
Common: Blast Damage 100 / Rare: Blast Damage 144 / Epic: Blast Damage 168 / Heroic: Blast Damage 192
Analysis
This boon can only be used on the Aspect of Hera and Aspect of Beowulf, and in both cases it is underwhelming. Definitely, skip this boon unless you need a cast late in the game.
Drunken Dash
Description: Your Dash causes Hangover several times near where you started
Common: Hangover Damage 2 / Rare: Hangover Damage 3 / Epic: Hangover Damage 4 / Heroic: Hangover Damage 5
Analysis
It is an okay dash, but it isn’t close to the power of the Athena dash which is one of the best boons in the game. Despite this, I would pick it up you are using the boon. If an enemy is close by you can dash, and hit them while it is in the fog. Besides that, the boon is kind of in the middle.
Dionysus’ Aid
Description: Your Call inflicts Hangover on foes all around you for 1.5
Common: Hangover Damage 15 / Rare: Hangover Damage 17 / Epic: Hangover Damage 18 / Heroic: Hangover Damage 20
Analysis
The Call is one of my least favorite in the game. However, this could be good for the players who are going deep into Dionysus. Besides that, the boon doesn’t impress me as much as the Athena, Ares, or Zeus calls. Outside of that, hangover is not that great in general, and while the stacks at Heroic can do so much damage it is a pass.
Premium Vintage
Description: Gain health increases when you pick up nectar. Receive 1 nectar now
Common: Nectar Life Gain +20 health / Rare: Nectar Life Gain +25 health / Epic: Nectar Life Gain +30 health / Heroic: Nectar Life Gain +35 health
Analysis
One of the few Dionysus boons that I consider taking when it is available. At a certain point, nectar becomes kind of useless, so changing all of them to health is more useful. A plus +20 health is a pretty good option, and the +35 health is even better. Despite this, some of the other boons are strictly better at helping you survie.
After Party
Description: If your health is low after Encounters, restore to the threshold
Common: Life Threshold 30% health / Rare: Life Threshold 38% health / Epic: Life Threshold 45% health / Heroic: Life Threshold 60% health
Analysis
At the heroic level, this boon might actually be insane. Despite this, I think the boon is a pass, at the Common and Rare level. It is a boon that is all over the place, and I think the effectiveness depends on the player. However, If you are new to the game you can pick it up as a handicap.
Strong Drink
Description: Using a Fountain restores all health and gives you bonus damage
Common: Bonus Damage per Fountain +3% / Rare: Bonus Damage per Fountain +4% / Epic: Bonus Damage per Fountain +5% / Heroic: Bonus Damage per Fountain +6%
Analysis
The great Dionysus boons are more towards the end. However, this is one of the better boons to pick up. This boon lets you gain some passive damage after each level is complete, but also you start the next level fresh at max health. If this boon is picked up early on you could get a +18% bonus damage.
Positive Outlook
Description: You take less damage while at 40% health or below
Common: Damage Resistance +10% / Rare: Damage Resistance +15% / Epic: Damage Resistance +20% / Heroic: Damage Resistance +25%
Analysis
I normally pass on boons that require you to be low on health to activate. However, the 40% threshold is pretty good, and can be easily achieved. Despite this, I don’t think the trade-off is good enough. Besides that, the boon only gives you a little more survivability.
High Tolerance
Description: You take less damage while standing in Festive Fog
Common: Damage Resistance +12% / Rare: Damage Resistance +18% / Epic: Damage Resistance +27% / Heroic: Damage Resistance +35%
Analysis
The festive fog is not a big area, and that is the core problem with this boon. The chances to use this boon are kind of limited. Besides that, if you want to get the full potential then you have to be in a small location and be taking damage. The idea behind this boon is flawed, and is a hard pass.
Bad Influence
Description: Deal more damage while 3 or more foes are Hangover-afflicted
Common: Bonus Damage +50% / Rare: Bonus Damage +65% / Epic: Bonus Damage +90% / Heroic: Bonus Damage +115%
Analysis
If you are going deep in a build centered around Dionysus then this boon is essential. Besides that, the case of 3 or more foes having a hangover is easy to achieve. However, this boon doesn’t really help you at all in boss battles. I think that a Dionysus build struggles with boss battles, and this is a symptom of the problem.
Numbing Sensation
Description: Your Hangover effects also make foes move slower
Common: Move Speed Reduction +15% / Rare: Move Speed Reduction +20% / Epic: Move Speed Reduction +30% / Heroic: Move Speed Reduction +37%
Analysis
This boon is not really useful and might be one of the worst boons you could be offered. Movement speed is not an X-factor that makes the game harder. Besides that, you are likely more acclimated to the normal movement speed of enemies and may end up playing more recklessly.
Peer Pressure
Description: Hangover-afflicted foes inflict it on other foes near them every 4 secs
Common: Hangover Damage 4 / Rare: Hangover Damage 6 / Epic: Hangover Damage 10 / Heroic: Hangover Damage 11
Analysis
This boon is great in theory, but depending on the level it is difficult in practice. However, the boon is really great in the last level but is very poor in levels 2 and 3. Realistically, you won’t get this boon in the first level. Despite this, I would pick this up just to help out in that last level.
Black Out
Description: Hangover-afflicted foes take bonus damage in Festive Fog
Legendary: Fog Combo Damage +60%
Analysis
This is another boon that requires you to meet a weird amount of conditions in order to use it. The enemy has to be in the festive fog, and have hangover afflicted. This might be useful in boss battles, but you will really only use this on the third or final boss.