You’ve seen the throne room. It’s that eerie, circular clearing north of the Lake of Nine, tucked away in the Mason’s Channel. If you played the 2018 God of War, you probably stumbled into the Council of Valkyries early on, saw those eight empty thrones, and felt a genuine sense of dread. You should have.
Most people think the main story ends when Kratos and Atreus scatter the ashes in Jotunheim. They’re wrong. Honestly, the narrative weight of the game doesn't fully land until you’ve dealt with the Council. It’s not just a gauntlet of "git gud" boss fights; it’s the emotional connective tissue between the old Kratos and the man he’s desperately trying to become.
The Brutal Reality of the Council of Valkyries
Basically, the Council is where the game stops holding your hand. While the main path is a cinematic journey about fatherhood, the Council of Valkyries God of War side quest is a brutal lesson in Norse lore and high-level combat mechanics. You can't just button-mash your way through this.
The premise is simple but heavy. Odin, in his typical paranoid fashion, didn't just want to control the Valkyries; he wanted to corrupt them. By "binding" them in physical forms, he drove them insane. They couldn't perform their duty of taking the dead to Valhalla, which is why Helheim is literally overflowing when you visit. You aren't just killing these women; you're performing a messy, violent exorcism.
Every time you defeat a Valkyrie across the different realms—from the lava-scorched cliffs of Muspelheim to the foggy maze of Niflheim—you take their helmet back to the Council. Placing a helmet on a throne triggers a brief dialogue from the spirit. It’s haunting stuff. You start to realize that these weren't just monsters. They were sisters. They were a sisterhood that Sigrun, the Valkyrie Queen, tried to save by taking the curse onto herself.
Why Sigrun is a Design Masterpiece (and a Total Nightmare)
Let's talk about the elephant in the room. Sigrun.
🔗 Read more: Among Us Spider-Man: Why Everyone Is Still Obsessed With These Mods
Once you place all eight helmets, a tear in the center of the Council opens. Touching it pulls Sigrun into the arena. She is, without hyperbole, one of the most difficult bosses in modern gaming history. On "Give Me God of War" difficulty? She’s a brick wall.
What makes Sigrun fascinating from a design perspective is that she doesn't have a unique moveset. Instead, she uses every single move from the previous eight Valkyries combined. If you weren't paying attention to how Eir blocked or how Gondul called down meteors, Sigrun will delete your health bar in seconds. You’ve got to recognize the "Valhalla!" stomp within a fraction of a second or it’s game over.
But there’s a narrative beauty here, too. By defeating her at the Council of Valkyries, Kratos isn't just proving he’s the strongest warrior. He’s cleaning up Odin’s mess. It’s the first time we see Kratos acting as a protector of the realms' natural order rather than just a guy trying to get from point A to point B. He’s acting like a god—a good one.
The Lore Most Players Miss in the Mason’s Channel
The location itself is telling. The Council sits right near the giant corpse of Thamur. If you look at the architecture, it’s grand but decaying. It feels like a place that was meant for peace but was repurposed for war.
- Mimir provides the best context here.
- If you listen to his stories while rowing near the Council, he explains that Freya was the original Queen.
- Odin’s betrayal of Freya is what led to Sigrun taking the mantle.
This adds a layer of tragedy to the whole ordeal. When you finally free Sigrun, she mentions that Freya is the only one who can truly lead them. If you haven't finished the story yet, this might seem like flavor text. If you have, it’s a massive foreshadowing of the events in God of War Ragnarök. The Council isn't just a graveyard; it’s a bridge to the sequel.
💡 You might also like: Why the Among the Sleep Mom is Still Gaming's Most Uncomfortable Horror Twist
How to Actually Survive the Council Gauntlet
If you’re struggling, you’re likely under-geared. Don't even think about the Queen until you're at least level 8. Ideally 9.
The Niflheim armor set (Ivaldi’s) is usually the go-to for the health regeneration, but the Valkyrie armor you pick up from the individual sisters is actually better for the cooldown perks. You need your runic attacks. You need them badly. Use Hel’s Touch for the quick stun and the Hyperion Slam for heavy damage.
Also, keep Atreus on light arrows. The stun damage is okay, but the ability to interrupt some of the Valkyries' airborne "blinding" attacks is literally a life-saver. People sleep on the Ratatoskr runic summon, but getting those extra health stones in the middle of a fight at the Council of Valkyries is sometimes the only way to survive Sigrun’s third phase.
The Significance of the "Broken" Sisterhood
One thing that’s rarely discussed is the psychological state of the Valkyries. When you're at the Council, pay attention to the dialogue. They thank you. They aren't angry.
This creates a weird emotional whiplash. You just spent ten minutes sweating, screaming at your TV, and dodging wings made of blades, only for the victim to thank you for "freeing" her. It’s a stark contrast to the original God of War trilogy where every boss died cursing Kratos’ name. Here, the violence is an act of mercy. This is the core of Kratos’ character arc. He is no longer the monster; he’s the guy who puts monsters out of their misery.
📖 Related: Appropriate for All Gamers NYT: The Real Story Behind the Most Famous Crossword Clue
What to Do After the Queen Falls
Once Sigrun is back in her spirit form, she gives you the final piece of the puzzle regarding Freya and Odin. But the gameplay rewards are the real draw. You get the Valkyrie Pommel, which is arguably the best axe attachment in the game, and a bunch of Perfect Asgardian Steel.
More importantly, you get the achievement/trophy "Chooser of the Slain." In the grand scheme of things, completing the Council of Valkyries God of War questline is the definitive proof that you’ve mastered the game’s systems.
Actionable Next Steps for Completionists:
- Check your Bestiary: Mimir’s notes on each Valkyrie update after you defeat them at the Council; read them for the specific lore bits about their human lives.
- Upgrade the Valkyrie Set: Don't just let that armor sit in your inventory. Use the materials Sigrun drops to max it out before starting New Game+.
- Visit Freya: After the Council is cleared, head back to Freya’s home (if the story allows at your current point). The dialogue doesn't change much, but the context of what you now know about her role as the true Queen makes your interactions much more poignant.
- Prepare for New Game+: The Valkyrie fights change in New Game+. They get new attack patterns and timings. If you thought the Council was hard the first time, the "Plus" version will test your soul.
The Council is a reminder that in the world of Midgard, the loudest stories aren't always the most important ones. The quiet, optional circular room in the north holds the soul of the game. If you haven't finished it, go back. It's worth the pain.