Santa Monica Studio's Ragnarok reached PC on 19 September 2024 with the free Valhalla add-on included in the package. Kratos and Atreus travel all Nine Realms during Fimbulwinter, and the Draupnir Spear, forged at Surtr's fire in Muspelheim, joins the Leviathan Axe and the Blades of Chaos as a genuine third weapon rather than a gadget. There are 35 Nornir Chests scattered across the game and 30 of them are enough to cap health and rage, which leaves room to skip the worst puzzles.
God of War Ragnarok features distinct areas with increasing difficulty. This guide covers every major location in progression order: what to do, what to get, and when to move on. For the step-by-step path, see our walkthrough.
Area Progression Order
| Order | Location | Difficulty | Key Rewards | Recommended Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Svartalfheim | Gear level 1 to 3 | Nidavellir shops, early Nornir Chests, the Applecore route, Brok and Sindri's forge upgrades | Blades of Chaos Burn Build |
| 2 | Alfheim | Gear level 2 to 4 | The Barrens Berserker Gravestone, Legendary Chests in the Forbidden Sands, Light and Dark Elf gear | Blades of Chaos Burn Build |
| 3 | Vanaheim | Gear level 3 to 5, with the Crater at 7 and above | Shatter Star Shield in the Abandoned Village, the Crater side content, Nidhogg, multiple Berserker Gravestones | Leviathan Axe Frost Build |
| 4 | Helheim | Gear level 4 to 6 | Onslaught Shield after the Garm fight, Hel Tears, King Hrolf Kraki's gravestone and the Hilt of Skofnung | Leviathan Axe Frost Build |
| 5 | Asgard | Gear level 5 to 7 | Heimdall's fight, Asgardian armour sets, late story Legendary Chests | Leviathan Axe Frost Build |
Svartalfheim: Starting Area
The dwarven mining region and the first large open area, built around Nidavellir, the Bay of Bounty and a set of rigs connected by boat. Water levels change with the tide, which opens and closes routes as the story moves.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Gear level 1 to 3 |
| Key Rewards | Nidavellir shops, early Nornir Chests, the Applecore route, Brok and Sindri's forge upgrades |
| Recommended Role | Blades of Chaos Burn Build |
| Key Weapons | Blades of Chaos |
What to Do Here
- Learn the basics of Three weapon rotation. This is where you practice without heavy punishment.
- Collect starting resources and your first weapons upgrade.
- Clear all main content before moving to Alfheim.
- If you're struggling, read our beginner's guide.
Alfheim: Early Game
The elf home split between the Light and Dark Elves, with The Barrens desert sitting between the Temple and the Forbidden Sands. It is far larger here than it was in the 2018 game and holds a heavy share of the optional content.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Gear level 2 to 4 |
| Key Rewards | The Barrens Berserker Gravestone, Legendary Chests in the Forbidden Sands, Light and Dark Elf gear |
| Recommended Role | Blades of Chaos Burn Build |
| Key Weapons | Blades of Chaos |
What to Do Here
- Focus on mastering Stun meter and grabs. It's critical from this point on.
- Farm for Blades of Chaos if you don't have it yet.
- Complete all objectives for maximum rewards.
- Prepare for the difficulty spike in Vanaheim.
Vanaheim: Mid Game
The largest area in the game, green and overgrown, with Freyr's Camp as its hub and the Crater opening up as a post story region. The Sinkholes and Noatun's Garden hold some of the best optional fights.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Gear level 3 to 5, with the Crater at 7 and above |
| Key Rewards | Shatter Star Shield in the Abandoned Village, the Crater side content, Nidhogg, multiple Berserker Gravestones |
| Recommended Role | Leviathan Axe Frost Build |
| Key Weapons | Blades of Chaos |
What to Do Here
- This is the main skill check. Bring an optimized build.
- Leviathan Axe becomes accessible here. Prioritize getting it.
- Master Shield loadouts for the boss encounters.
- Check our boss guide if you get stuck.
Helheim: Late Game
Cold, grey and built around the Garm storyline. It is more linear than Vanaheim and it holds one of the game's better boss fights, along with the shield that most aggressive builds end up wearing.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Gear level 4 to 6 |
| Key Rewards | Onslaught Shield after the Garm fight, Hel Tears, King Hrolf Kraki's gravestone and the Hilt of Skofnung |
| Recommended Role | Leviathan Axe Frost Build |
| Key Weapons | Leviathan Axe |
What to Do Here
- Full build optimization is expected by this point.
- Leviathan Axe should be your primary, fully upgraded.
- Spartan Rage modes mastery starts mattering here.
- Farm resources for the push into Asgard.
Asgard: Endgame
Odin's seat, visited under a truce that nobody is honouring, with heavily armoured Einherjar guarding every hall. The story chapters here are tightly scripted, which makes them the point where a weak build finally fails.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Gear level 5 to 7 |
| Key Rewards | Heimdall's fight, Asgardian armour sets, late story Legendary Chests |
| Recommended Role | Leviathan Axe Frost Build |
| Key Weapons | Leviathan Axe |
What to Do Here
- This is endgame. Best-in-slot gear and a perfected build are mandatory.
- See our boss guide for endgame fight strategies.
- The reward loop: clear content → upgrade → push harder content.
- Experiment with Luck Perk Build for variety once you've mastered the meta.
Exploration Tips
- Clear areas in order: Svartalfheim → Alfheim → Vanaheim → Helheim → Asgard. Skipping areas means missing resources you'll need later.
- Check every corner: Hidden caches and secrets are often in non-obvious locations.
- Match your weapons: Some areas favor different weapons types.
- Read the walkthrough: Our walkthrough provides exact progression milestones for each area.
- Don't rush: Clearing an area fully gives more resources than speedrunning two areas.
More God of War Ragnarok Guides
- God of War Ragnarok God of War Ragnarok Overview
- God of War Ragnarok Best Builds
- God of War Ragnarok Tier List
- God of War Ragnarok Walkthrough
- God of War Ragnarok Beginner's Guide
- God of War Ragnarok Tips & Tricks
- God of War Ragnarok Weapons Guide
- God of War Ragnarok Combat Guide
- God of War Ragnarok Boss Guide
- God of War Ragnarok Crafting Guide
- God of War Ragnarok Classes & Characters
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