So, you're running around Svartalfheim in God of War Ragnarök, and you've hit a wall. Or rather, a beach. Dragon Beach is one of those locations that feels smaller than it actually is, mostly because the verticality and hidden geysers tend to mess with your internal compass. If you are hunting for that specific Nornir Chest at Dragon Beach, you aren't alone in your frustration. It’s one of the trickier early-game puzzles because the seals aren't just sitting out in the open waiting for an axe throw. They are tucked away behind environments you have to manipulate.
I've spent way too many hours exploring the Bay of Bounty. Honestly, the first time I landed here, I spent ten minutes just trying to figure out where the third seal was hidden. It’s a classic Santa Monica Studio move—hiding something in plain sight but shielding it with a mechanic you’re currently ignoring. You have to use the Leviathan Axe to freeze geysers, but the timing and positioning are everything. If you miss one, you're just standing there staring at a locked wooden box while Kratos grunts in disapproval.
Where Exactly is the Dragon Beach Nornir Chest?
First things first. Dragon Beach is located on the eastern side of the Bay of Bounty in Svartalfheim. You'll know you’re there when you see the massive dragon statue—which, by the way, isn't just decoration if you have the right item later in the game. But for now, we're focused on the loot.
The chest itself sits on the left side of the beach as you jump off your boat. It’s tucked into a little rocky alcove. It’s a standard "seal" chest, meaning you need to find and destroy three stone runes (the ones that look like an n, a c, and an r) to pop the lid. No timers here, thankfully. You don't have to be a speedrunner to get this done. You just need to be observant.
Breaking the First Seal
The first one is the easiest, which is probably why the game lets you have it for free. Look directly behind the chest. Walk a few paces toward the rock wall. You’ll see the seal sitting behind a geyser. Now, here is the trick that applies to all of these: you can’t hit the seal if the water is blocking your view or your throw.
Throw your Leviathan Axe at the base of the geyser to freeze it. Once the water drops, the seal is exposed. Recall your axe and quickly chuck it at the rune. Boom. One down. It’s simple, but it sets the stage for the next two, which are slightly more annoying.
📖 Related: Why the Yakuza 0 Miracle in Maharaja Quest is the Peak of Sega Storytelling
Finding the Hidden Second Seal
The second rune is further down the beach, specifically behind the dragon statue. If you walk toward the back of the area, past the wooden scaffolding, you’ll see another geyser. This one is tucked into the rock face.
Again, you have to freeze the geyser first. If you don't, you're just throwing your axe into a wall of water. Once it's frozen, look closely at the gap in the rocks. The seal is nestled in there. It’s a tight angle. You might have to shimmy Kratos a bit to the left to get a clean line of sight. Honestly, the hit detection can be a little finicky here, so make sure you see the rune break before you move on.
That Annoying Third Seal
This is the one that trips everyone up. You can't see it from the ground. Or, well, you can, but it’s nearly impossible to hit.
You need to get some height. Look for the wooden platforms on the edge of the beach. You’ll need to use your Blades of Chaos to grapple up to the higher level. Once you are up there, walk along the wooden walkway toward the dragon statue. Look toward the cliffs on the periphery of the beach.
The third seal is hidden behind a metal grate/fence structure near another geyser. From this elevated position, you have the angle you need. Freeze the geyser if it’s blocking you, though from this height, you can often just lob the axe over or through the gap. Once that third stone shatters, you’ll hear that distinct magical "clink" that signifies the chest is unlocked.
👉 See also: Minecraft Cool and Easy Houses: Why Most Players Build the Wrong Way
Why Bother With These Chests Anyway?
Look, I get it. You want to get to the story. You want to see what's happening with Tyr or yell at Atreus for being a teenager. But these chests are the only way to increase your maximum Health and Rage.
The Nornir Chest at Dragon Beach specifically contains either an Idunn Apple or a Horn of Blood Mead. Which one you get depends on how many you’ve already found in the game. The game scales these rewards. If your health bar is looking a bit thin and you’re getting two-shotted by Bergsra, this chest isn't optional. It's survival.
Beyond the stats, Dragon Beach is a hub for other collectibles. There's a Lore Marker nearby and an Yggdrasil Rift if you climb high enough. Getting the chest done early just clears the mental clutter so you can focus on the tougher combat encounters in the Svartalfheim mines later on.
Common Mistakes People Make at Dragon Beach
I’ve seen people try to use the Blades of Chaos to break these. Don't do that. The Leviathan Axe is your precision tool. The distance on these seals is just far enough that the Blades usually won't reach, or they'll hit the surrounding rock instead of the rune.
Another mistake? Forgetting to recall the axe. It sounds stupid, but in the heat of "puzzle mode," people sometimes forget that the geyser only stays frozen while the axe is in it. You have to:
✨ Don't miss: Thinking game streaming: Why watching people solve puzzles is actually taking over Twitch
- Freeze.
- Identify the target.
- Recall.
- Strike.
It’s a rhythm. If you’re struggling with the third seal, check your positioning on the scaffolding. If you are standing too far to the right, the angle is blocked by the wooden beams. Move closer to the cliff edge.
The Lore Connection
Svartalfheim is the realm of the Dwarves, and the craftsmanship of these chests reflects that. According to the game's lore (and the bits we know from the 2018 prequel), Nornir chests are keyed to the magic of the Norns—the weavers of fate. They aren't just locks; they are tests of environmental awareness.
Dragon Beach itself is a graveyard of sorts. The massive statue isn't a god; it’s a tribute. Later, when you get the Draupnir Spear, you can come back here and activate the "Hollowed" quest by using the Mystical Heirloom. This beach has layers. The Nornir chest is just the surface-level loot.
Practical Steps for Your Playthrough
If you are currently standing on the sand looking at this guide, here is your immediate checklist:
- Stand at the chest and look immediately behind it for Geyser #1. Freeze, recall, smash.
- Run to the Dragon Statue and look for the geyser in the rocks to the left. Freeze, recall, smash.
- Climb the scaffolding using the grapple points. Follow the path to the crane/platform. Look back toward the entrance of the beach to find the final seal tucked away in the rocks.
- Drop down and claim your reward.
Don't leave Svartalfheim without hitting the other chests in the Aurvangar Wetlands either. The more you stack your health early, the less you'll struggle when the boss fights start demanding more "perfect dodges" and "parries" from you.
The puzzle design in Ragnarök is generally more forgiving than the 2018 game—there are fewer "timed bells" that require Olympic-level reflexes. It’s more about perspective. At Dragon Beach, the "perspective" is literally just getting high enough on the wooden platforms to see what the developers hid behind the curtains of water.
Once you've cracked this, keep heading north toward the Althjof’s Rig. There’s a lot more Svartalfheim steel to find, and your gear isn't going to upgrade itself. Stick to the edges of the map; the best loot in this game is rarely on the main path. Clear the beach, get your apple, and get back to the boat. There’s a realm to save.