Let’s talk about something that most Blasphemous 2 players — even those who’ve wrung the game dry of achievements — likely missed. If you thought you mastered the game’s systems after a full playthrough, you might want to hold that thought. There’s one deceptively deep system that hides behind vague tooltips, and unless you went digging (or got very lucky), chances are it slipped under your radar. That system? The hidden resonances of the Altarpiece of Favors.

Scratching the Surface vs. Diving Deep

During an initial 30-hour journey through the brutal yet beautiful world of Blasphemous 2, the Altarpiece of Favors might seem like a straightforward system. You collect statues, slot them into the grid on the Penitent One’s back, and if you’re diligent, you’ll notice that pairing statues from the same category — say, two focused on a specific weapon — unlocks a small icon indicating a “resonance.” These four basic resonances grant a modest bonus: damage boosts to one of the three weapons, or a flat increase to all elemental damage types. Simple, clean, and perfectly functional.

But that’s not the whole story. Far from it.

The Hidden Layer: Unique Resonances Between Statue Types

Unbeknownst to many, including some seasoned players, there exists a second, more secretive tier of resonances — twenty of them, in fact. These are hidden pairings, formed not by matching categories, but by combining statues from different classes in very specific ways. And unlike the base four resonances, these unique pairings can fundamentally alter your gameplay.

One combination, for example, transforms the elemental nature of Veredicto’s fire into a toxic miasma. Another causes lightning to shoot out with each dodge, punishing foes for being too close. There are even pairings that give prayers an occult flavor, reimagining how you approach combat and support. These aren’t just minor stat tweaks — they’re mechanical reworks that bring new flavor and function to your entire build.

What makes these hidden resonances so satisfying isn’t just the power they bring, but how cleverly they’re integrated. They’re almost like mini-puzzles embedded within the game’s build system. And yet, the only clue to their existence is a vague tooltip hinting that “statues may react in mysterious ways.” No glowing signposts. No achievements tied directly to them. Just subtle brilliance waiting to be discovered.

Why You Probably Missed It

If you’re like the majority of players, you probably experimented early with cross-category statue pairings and, seeing no immediate results, gave up. The visual language of the basic resonances — matching icons with categories — trains you to look for pattern-based feedback. So when those patterns don’t appear in mixed pairings, it’s easy to assume the system stops there.

Even players deeply engaged with side quests and exploration often miss these secret interactions. Anecdotally, only one in six players in a small group discovered the hidden resonances on their first run — and even that was by accident. And that’s why this PSA is so important: you might not even know what you’re missing.

The Value of Rediscovery

These hidden resonances bring tremendous replay value. Once you’re aware of them, experimentation becomes addictive. You start to look at statues not just for their individual buffs but as puzzle pieces. How might this statue with an obscure description synergize with another that seems completely unrelated?

And the best part? The game never tells you outright. There’s no checklist. No spoiler-filled compendium shoved in your face. It respects your curiosity and rewards those willing to chase that spark of “what if?”

The basic resonances will get you through the game just fine. You won’t feel underpowered. But once you begin pulling on the thread of hidden combinations, Blasphemous 2 starts to open up in unexpected ways. It’s like discovering a hidden chamber in a cathedral you thought you knew inside out.

Final Thoughts: Don’t Settle for the Obvious

So here’s your takeaway: experiment more than the game encourages you to. The Altarpiece of Favors isn’t just a passive buff system — it’s a sandbox of secrets. Don’t stop with the obvious pairings. Slot in mismatched statues, try out unlikely combinations, and see what new resonance may emerge.

There’s something almost sacred about how Blasphemous 2 hides some of its most clever mechanics behind silence. It’s a design choice that invites a deeper level of engagement, and for those who accept the invitation, the payoff is more than worth it.

Have you discovered any hidden resonances yourself? If not, now’s the perfect time to dig in and start experimenting. You might just uncover something that redefines how you approach the entire game.

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For more insights into Blasphemous 2‘s systems, secrets, and story, stay tuned to the rest of the guide series. And remember: sometimes the most powerful tools are the ones you didn’t even know existed.