God of War (2018) reinvented Kratos as a father navigating Norse mythology with his son Atreus. The one-take camera (no cuts from start to finish) creates unprecedented cinematic immersion. Combat revolves around the Leviathan Axe — a frost weapon that can be thrown and recalled, freezing enemies in place. Mid-game, the Blades of Chaos return, adding fire damage and grappling range. The relationship between Kratos and Atreus drives a surprisingly emotional story about grief, identity, and breaking cycles of violence. The optional Valkyrie bosses are among the hardest encounters in modern gaming.
Resource management and crafting determine how quickly your power scales. This guide covers what to prioritize, where to farm, and how to avoid wasting resources on the wrong upgrades.
Crafting Priority List
The order you should invest resources:
| Priority | Target | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Primary weapons | Biggest damage increase per resource spent |
| 2 | Core build gear | Enables your role's key synergies |
| 3 | Defensive upgrades | Survivability for boss fights |
| 4 | Secondary weapons | Situational options for specific content |
| 5 | Consumables | Temporary boosts for hard content |
Resource Farming by Area
Midgard
Key resources: Main story progression, Lake of Nine exploration, most Nornir chests Farming efficiency: Low value per run, but safe and consistent
Focus on gathering materials for Blades of Chaos upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Alfheim
Key resources: Light Arrows for Atreus, Alfheim armor, story progression Farming efficiency: Good early-game farming spot
Focus on gathering materials for Blades of Chaos upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Helheim
Key resources: Blades of Chaos usage, story revelations, frost-immune enemies Farming efficiency: Best mid-game farming, worth revisiting
Focus on gathering materials for Blades of Chaos upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Muspelheim
Key resources: Muspelheim armor set, Smouldering Ember, Crest of Flame, trial rewards Farming efficiency: High-value materials for late-game upgrades
This is where you farm materials for Leviathan Axe max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Niflheim
Key resources: Niflheim armor set, Mist Echoes currency, Ivaldi's Workshop materials Farming efficiency: Best resources in the game, requires strong build
This is where you farm materials for Leviathan Axe max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Upgrade Path
Early Game (Midgard — Alfheim)
- Upgrade your starting weapons to functional level
- Craft basic defensive gear
- Save specialty materials — you'll need them later
- Focus on Blades of Chaos once accessible
Mid Game (Helheim)
- Push Blades of Chaos to mid-level upgrades
- Start collecting materials for Leviathan Axe
- Craft situational consumables for boss fights
- Upgrade build-specific gear pieces
Late Game (Muspelheim — Niflheim)
- Max out Leviathan Axe — this is your top priority
- Complete your build's core gear set
- Craft endgame consumables
- Optional: upgrade secondary weapons for variety
Crafting Mistakes to Avoid
- Spreading upgrades across multiple weapons — Focus one weapon to max before diversifying.
- Hoarding materials — Use them. The game provides enough if you farm efficiently.
- Upgrading the wrong gear — Check our builds guide before investing.
- Ignoring Helheim farming — This area has the best resource-to-time ratio in mid-game.
- Crafting consumables too early — Save specialty materials for late-game recipes.
Resource Efficiency Tips
- Throw the Leviathan Axe at an enemy to freeze them, then switch to bare fists for stun damage. When the stun bar fills, press R3 for a devastating finisher that drops health. This is the most efficient combat loop.
- Farm Helheim during mid-game for the best return on time
- Check the walkthrough to know when each resource becomes available
- Match your farming route to your build — some classes farm faster in certain areas
More God of War Guides
- God of War God of War Overview
- God of War Best Builds
- God of War Tier List
- God of War Walkthrough
- God of War Beginner's Guide
- God of War Tips & Tricks
- God of War Weapons Guide
- God of War Combat Guide
- God of War Boss Guide
- God of War Maps & Locations
- God of War Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy God of War, check out these related guides:
- Helldivers 2 Crafting Guide — action game with similar mechanics
- Black Myth: Wukong Crafting Guide — action game with similar mechanics
- Monster Hunter Wilds Crafting Guide — action game with similar mechanics
