You’re staring at the screen, eyes slightly bloodshot, wondering if the drop rate is actually broken or if the universe just has a personal vendetta against you. We've all been there. If you are deep into the endgame of God of War Ragnarök, specifically hunting down the "Casualty of War" side quests in The Crater, you know exactly which item is causing the headache. The scroll.
It isn't just a piece of paper. It’s the difference between a 100% completion trophy and a permanent 98% that mocks you every time you open the map.
The Casualty of War the scroll quest—officially titled "Casualty of War: The Scroll"—is one of those tricky Vanaheim "Favors" that proves Santa Monica Studio loves making us work for our Platinum. It’s located in The Plains, a sub-region of the Jungle/Crater area that unlocks after you rescue Birgir. But here is the thing: if you don’t have the right time of day set, or if you haven't cleared specific boss encounters, that glowing purple item simply won't exist for you. It’s a ghost.
The Frustrating Hunt for the Scroll in The Plains
Most players stumble onto the first half of this quest by accident. You’re running through the northern part of The Plains, maybe dodging those annoying poisonous plants, and you see a ghostly figure. This is one of the many spirits trapped in a loop of their own death. They need an object to find peace. For this specific quest, it’s a scroll.
The struggle is real because The Plains is a massive, circular playground. It’s easy to get turned around. Honestly, the map in Ragnarök is better than the first game, but it still struggles with verticality. The scroll is tucked away in a spot that looks inaccessible from the ground level. You actually have to head toward the northwestern area of The Plains. Look for a cave-like opening near where you fight the Vali the Oath Guard.
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Wait. Before you go charging in, check the sky.
If it’s daytime, you might find yourself blocked or missing certain paths. Many of the environmental puzzles in The Crater rely on the Celestial Altar. Kratos needs to use the altar to change the time to night. Why? Because the paths change. Certain plants retreat. The spirits themselves are often more visible or only interactable when the moon is out. If you've been running in circles for an hour, go to the nearest altar and swap the time. It’s basically the "turn it off and back on again" solution for Vanaheim.
Why Does This Specific Favor Matter?
You might ask why anyone bothers. It’s just a scroll, right? Well, it’s about the lore, but mostly it’s about the Amulet Enchantments. Completing these "Casualty of War" quests is the primary way to get high-level medallions that slot into Kratos's Yggdrasil Amulet.
Specifically, completing the scroll quest nets you the Stunning Fang enchantment. This thing is a beast for stun builds. It grants a chance to create a shockwave when hitting a stunned enemy. If you’re playing on "Give Me God of War" difficulty, that extra crowd control is life or death. It’s not just fluff. It’s a build-defining item.
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There is also the narrative weight. These spirits—the one looking for the scroll, the one looking for the brooch, the one looking for the hourglass—provide the backstory for why the Crater is a desolate wasteland. You learn about the battle between Faye (Laufey the Just) and Thor. It turns out, when two gods of that magnitude go at it, they leave a lot of "casualties" behind. The scroll describes the strategic movements during that cataclysmic fight. It’s world-building done through scavenger hunts.
Finding the Second Half: The Actual Location
Okay, let's get specific. Most people find the spirit first. The spirit is located in a cave in the northwestern section of The Plains. To reach the actual Casualty of War the scroll item (the second half), you have to do a bit of climbing.
- Head to the western side of The Plains.
- You’ll find a spot where you can drop down into a lower area or climb up toward a ledge overlooking the dragon feeding grounds.
- The scroll itself is usually tucked near a ledge that requires you to use the Draupnir Spear.
- Look for the wind vents in the rock. Throw the spear, detonate it, and clear the path.
The item glows with a distinct purple aura. If you see a red glow, that’s different. Purple is what you want. Once you pick it up, the spirit will instantly manifest, finish its dialogue, and the quest marks as complete. No need to run back to the original ghost. Kratos is efficient like that.
Common Glitches and "Is My Game Broken?"
People often report that the scroll isn't appearing. This is rarely a hard crash glitch and usually a sequence break issue.
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First, ensure you have reached the "Return of the River" quest. If the dam in the Jungle hasn't been opened, half of the Crater is effectively "dry" and certain areas are unreachable or haven't triggered their world-state flags. If there’s no water in the canyons, stop looking for the scroll and go fix the dam.
Second, check your inventory. It sounds silly, but I’ve seen players who already picked up the scroll but didn't realize it because they hadn't found the spirit yet. The quest only triggers its UI elements once both halves of the interaction are initiated.
Survival Tips for The Plains
The Plains is dangerous. It’s full of Seidr fanatics and those annoying dragons that spit fire or ice from perches. While you're hunting for the Casualty of War the scroll, keep your Runic summons ready.
The enemies here scale with your level. If you are doing this early (right after getting the spear), you might feel underpowered. There is no shame in leaving, upgrading your armor to Level 6 or 7, and coming back. The scroll isn't going anywhere. Also, keep an eye out for the orange glowing crystals on the walls. Smashing those yields resources for the Crystalline armor set, which is arguably one of the best mid-to-late game sets for defense.
Actionable Next Steps for Completionists
If you are stuck on the 100% grind, follow this checklist to ensure you haven't missed a beat with the scrolls and spirits:
- Trigger "Return of the River": Navigate to the Jungle (south of the Plains) and follow the path to the dam. This is the "Master Key" for the entire region.
- Set Time to Night: Use a Celestial Altar. Most spirits in the Casualty of War series are only active or reachable during the nighttime phase.
- Clear the Dragon: There is a dragon (The Crimson Dread) circling The Plains. It’s much easier to search for quest items when you aren't being turned into a crispy snack from above. Kill it first.
- Listen for the Hum: Like the Ravens, the quest items for "Casualty of War" have a slight shimmering sound when you are close.
- Check the "Goals" Tab: If the quest is listed under "Favors" but hasn't updated, you likely have the item but haven't "spoken" to the ghost at the specific completion point.
Finding the scroll is basically a rite of passage for God of War fans. It's the "where is that last collectible?" moment that defines the endgame experience. Once you grab it, slot that Stunning Fang into your amulet, and you'll feel the difference immediately in your next combat encounter.