You're running through Vanaheim. Everything is green, wet, and trying to kill you. If you're hunting for the Eastern Barri Woods Nornir Chest, you’ve likely hit a wall. Most players do. It’s tucked away in a corner of God of War Ragnarök that feels like a maze, especially when the day-night cycle starts messing with which paths are actually open.
This specific chest is a pain. Honestly. It’s not just about finding the runes; it’s about the mechanics of the environment. You’re looking for a sealed stone box that holds either an Idunn Apple or a Horn of Blood Mead. If you want Kratos to survive the late-game bosses, you need those stats. But getting them requires a bit of environmental gymnastics and a very steady aim with the Draupnir Spear.
Where is the Eastern Barri Woods Nornir Chest anyway?
First, let’s get your bearings. You’ll encounter this area during the "Creatures of Prophecy" main quest. If you haven't reached that point, don't bother looking. The path won't be open. You’ll find the chest sitting in a stone gazebo-like structure. It’s right off the main path as you head toward the structure where you fight the two Dreki.
The chest is impossible to miss. The runes, however, are a different story. They are "spinner" runes. You know the ones—you hit the paddles to rotate the faces until they match the letters on the chest.
Cracking the code: The three rune locations
The first spinner is literally right next to the chest. Look to the left. It’s tucked into the ruins. Give it a hit. You want the rune that looks like a "P" (or a "w" depending on how you view Norse symbols). Easy.
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The second one is where people usually start spinning in circles. You need to head back down the path you came from, looking toward the high cliffs. It's nestled up in the rocks, partially obscured by vines. If it’s covered in those thick, blue Brambles, you’ll need to use Sigil Arrows and your Blades of Chaos to burn them away. Once it's clear, throw your axe or spear to flip it to the "F" looking rune.
Now, the third one. This is the kicker. It’s far off to the right of the chest, sitting way back in the distance across a chasm. It’s sitting in a small stone window of a crumbling tower. If you’re standing at the chest, look right and look up. Most players miss this because it blends into the grey stone of the ruins. This one needs to be set to the "C" (or "n") rune.
Why the Draupnir Spear is your best friend here
Technically, you can do some of this with the Leviathan Axe. But why make life hard? The Draupnir Spear is the MVP for the Eastern Barri Woods Nornir Chest. Since the third spinner is so far away, the spear’s flight path is much more forgiving than the axe’s arc.
You can just lob spears at these things from a distance.
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One thing most guides don't mention: the lighting. Vanaheim’s shift between day and night changes the visibility of the "F" rune significantly. If you’re playing during the "Day" cycle, the sun glare off the moss can make the rune almost invisible. If you’re struggling to see, head to a Celestial Altar and flip the time. It helps.
Common glitches and "Why won't it open?"
Sometimes the chest doesn't pop. It stays locked even when the runes look right. If that happens, it’s usually because you’ve hit a spinner one too many times and the game hasn't registered the "click" into the correct position.
Check the chest itself. The blue letters on the front will glow when a corresponding spinner is correct. If one is dark, you’ve got the wrong letter.
- Rune 1: Left of the chest.
- Rune 2: Behind you, up high on the cliffside.
- Rune 3: To the right, inside the distant tower.
There’s no trick to the order. Do them however you want. Just make sure the blue lights on the chest are all lit up before you walk away.
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The bigger picture: Why bother?
Ragnarök’s difficulty spikes hard in the late game. If you're playing on "Give Me God of War" or even "Give Me No Mercy," these health and rage upgrades aren't optional. They are the difference between getting one-shot by a Valkyrie and actually having a fighting chance. The Eastern Barri Woods is a high-traffic area, and missing this chest means backtracking through some of the most annoying respawning enemies in the game later on.
The Barri Woods is also home to some tricky lore markers and a legendary chest nearby. While you're at the Nornir chest, take a second to look around. There’s a lot of verticality here.
Actionable steps for your playthrough
Stop wandering aimlessly. Follow this sequence to get it done in under two minutes:
- Clear the area: Kill the enemies near the gazebo first. You don't want a projectile hitting you while you're aiming.
- Burn the vines: Check the spinner on the cliff behind you. If it's covered in blue vines, use a Sigil Arrow (pink) and hit it with the Blades of Chaos to trigger an explosion.
- Set the spinners: Hit the left spinner once, the back spinner twice, and the right-hand distant spinner once.
- Verify the glow: Look at the chest. If all three runes are glowing blue, you're golden.
- Loot and move: Grab your reward and keep moving toward the Dreki boss fight area. You've got more important things to do than stare at rocks.
If you’re still missing health after this, you likely missed the Nornir chest back in the Southern Wilds or the one in the Abandoned Village. Vanaheim is dense, so keep your eyes up. Most of the secrets in this game aren't hidden behind walls; they're just sitting higher than you're used to looking.