Disney Dreamlight Valley has opened its doors to players in The Storybook Vale with its latest expansion, introducing three new characters, including Hades, the ruler of the Underworld. However, Hades isn’t immediately accessible. To unlock him, you first need to complete some tasks with Merida.
After your initial greeting with Merida, you’ll receive the Royal Net, a new tool that will allow you to start exploring this fresh expansion. Although Merida suggests you start with The Wild Woods to meet Flynn Rider, you can also choose to unlock the Elysian Fields, where Hades awaits.
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How To Recruit Hades
A Land of Myth & Legends Quest
Once you begin your exploration, several regions on the map will be blocked off by Inkies. Similar to how it worked in Disney Dreamlight Valley and the previous expansion, A Rift In Time, you’ll need to unlock each area using the specific currency for that locale. For the base game, this currency was Dreamlight, but for The Storybook Vale, you’ll be using Story Magic. You can accumulate this currency by completing the daily tasks listed in your tracker.
Once you’ve collected at least 2000 Story Magic, you can remove the Inkies blocking access to the Elysian Fields. Upon entering, a new quest titled "A Land of Myth and Legends" will automatically generate with Merida, paving the way for you to meet Hades. To begin, venture south in the area, where you’ll encounter an arch leading to a gazebo housing some Inkies.
If you’ve previously unlocked Flynn in The Wild Woods, this setup should feel familiar. After locating the area described, you’ll be tasked with speaking to the Lorekeeper. Following your chat, you’ll return to the book for some background information before Merida leads you back to the Elysian Fields. She’ll pause before what appears to be a small flame-like whisp, instructing you to catch two of them. These whisps are not difficult to catch, as they move slowly.
Important Note
Merida will remind you that you cannot capture whisps using any tools. Instead, set your items aside and follow the whisps until you’re close enough to interact and catch them.
Once you’ve caught both whisps, make your way back south. You should see two braziers perched on pillars flanking a spinning lever. Place a whisp in each brazier, then use your Royal Net to turn the lever in the correct direction. This will create a portal where the Inkies were, initiating Guts & Glory, Hades’ unlocking quest. Step through the portal to start your quest with Hades.
Guts and Glory Quest
Upon entering the portal, you’ll finally come face-to-face with Hades. After your conversation, he’ll explain a series of tasks you’ll need to complete as part of a trial. Start by pushing the cart to his right, following him through the open gate. The next steps will involve solving puzzles to push Hades’ cart to the finish line. You’ll use a spinning lever to rotate a bridge until it aligns with your path.
As you continue, interact with the lever to lower a bridge you need to cross. You’ll have to break the rocks at the end to reach another spinning lever, allowing you to open a gate that’s blocking the cart. Once that gate is open, push the cart through to follow Hades to the next area.
Here, you’ll need to fish in a sandy whirlpool in front of you to pull up the bridge. After crossing, spin the lever at the other end of the bridge to move the stairs and access the next area. There’s also a platform with a chest, which you should collect first. Once the stairs are aligned, follow Hades to the next area and again pull the lever there.
This will lower another bridge with a lever on the other end. Pull that lever to lower another bridge, granting access to a spinning lever. After spinning it with the Royal Net, raise the second bridge back up so it doesn’t block the cart, and then return to the first bridge to push the cart into its final position. Finally, interact with the source of the constitution to release you and Hades back into The Storybook Vale, completing the first mythical trial.
How To Begin Hades’ Friendship Quests
Build Hades’ Lair In The Storybook Vale
After returning to The Storybook Vale, there are still tasks that need completion to befriend Hades. First, you need to officially make him a villager in Disney Dreamlight Valley by placing his home within the valley. Open the build mode tab and select his house from the quest-related icon featuring his face, just as you’ve done with previous characters. You can position the construction platform wherever you prefer.
Once you’ve placed it, interact with the sign in front of the incomplete home to summon Scrooge McDuck. He’ll inform you that the construction will cost you 10,000 Gold Coins. Once you pay, Hades’ home will be built, and a welcome scene will commence. However, to kick off the first friendship quest and hang out with Hades, you need to raise him to level 2. This can be achieved by gifting him some of his favorite items in Disney Dreamlight Valley.
