You’re staring at a wall of vines in Vanaheim. Your map says there's a chest here, but all you see is dense foliage and those annoying poisonous plants. It’s frustrating. God of War Ragnarök doesn't just hand you these rewards. If you're hunting for the Nornir chest in The Jungle—which is basically a sub-region of The Crater—you’ve likely already realized it’s one of the trickier puzzles in the game. It isn't just about throwing your axe at a few glowing runes. It requires environmental manipulation, specific timing, and honestly, a bit of patience.
The Crater is huge. It’s easily the most complex optional area Santa Monica Studio ever built. To even get to The Jungle, you have to complete the "Scent of Survival" quest, which involves chasing Helka the hound. Once you’re there, the Nornir chest becomes a priority because, let’s be real, you need those Idunn Apples and Horns of Blood Mead if you plan on surviving the late-game Berserker fights or Gná.
How to actually unlock the Nornir chest in The Jungle
First thing's first: you can't even touch this chest during the day. This is the biggest hurdle. Vanaheim has a day/night cycle that completely changes the geography. If it’s daytime, the path to the chest is blocked by massive roots. You need to head to a Celestial Altar—there’s one nearby in the Western Plains—and change the time to night. Only then will the path into the ruin open up.
Once the sun is down, head south. You’ll find the chest sitting pretty in a stone alcove. It’s the "spinner" variety. You know the ones. You have to hit the wooden paddles to rotate the symbols until they match the three runes on the chest itself. The runes look like an 'E,' a 'B' (or a 'P' variant), and a 'T.'
Finding the actual spinners is where people lose their minds.
The first one is tucked away to the right of the chest, slightly elevated. It's partially obscured by vines. Here’s the catch: these aren't just any vines. They are red vines. Your Leviathan Axe won't do a thing to them. You need to use Sigil Arrows (Freya’s pink arrows) and the Blades of Chaos. Basically, you place a few sigil bubbles on the rock face and then hit the one closest to you with your blades to cause a chain reaction. Once the vines burn away, hit the paddle until it shows the 'E' rune.
The second spinner is even more annoying. It’s hidden behind you, high up on the cliffside. You have to look for a specific angle where the brush clears. It’s easy to miss because the lighting in The Jungle at night is intentionally moody and dark. If you’re standing at the chest, turn around 180 degrees and look up toward the ruins. You’ll see the paddle. Rotate it to the 'B.'
The third spinner and the "Dragon" problem
The final rune is the reason most people search for a guide. It's not in the immediate vicinity of the chest. To find it, you have to climb up the structure toward the area where the Ogre is throwing massive boulders at you (or where the Dragon, the Frost Phantom, might be lurking depending on your progress).
You’ll need to grapple up to the higher ledge. Once you're up there, look back toward the chest area from the elevated vantage point. The spinner is tucked into a corner of the ruins. Once you hit it to match the 'T' rune, you’ll hear that distinct chime. The chest is open.
Why this specific chest matters for your build
By the time you reach The Crater, you’re likely around Level 6 or 7. The enemies here don't play around. The Jungle is home to some of the most aggressive flora and fauna in the game. If your Health or Rage meters aren't maxed out, the optional bosses in this region—like the Dreki or the various "Untamed Fury" encounters—will end you in two hits.
Most players think they can skip Nornir chests once they hit a certain power level. Big mistake. Even if you've maxed your stats, opening these chests provides high-level crafting components and hacksilver later on. Plus, the satisfaction of clearing the "100%" checkmark for Vanaheim is half the reason we play these games.
Common mistakes and glitches in The Jungle
Sometimes the spinners won't move. If you hit a spinner and nothing happens, check for "Seidr" magic interference. There are often small totems in the area that emit a blue haze; these can lock environmental objects. If you’ve cleared the area and it still won't budge, try reloading your last checkpoint. Ragnarök is a polished masterpiece, but the complex logic of The Crater’s environmental shifts can occasionally get a bit buggy.
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Another thing: the Ogre. If you haven't killed the Ogre that’s throwing rocks, trying to solve this Nornir chest is a nightmare. The screen shake alone will mess up your axe throws. Pro tip? Go kill the Ogre first. It’s a bit of a trek around the back of the ruins, but it makes the puzzle-solving process significantly less stressful.
Moving beyond the chest
Once you’ve cracked the Nornir chest in The Jungle, don't just leave. The Jungle is one of the most reward-dense areas in the game. If you follow the river further, you’ll unlock the "Return of the River" favor. Doing this actually floods the dry canyons of The Crater, allowing you to access entirely new areas by boat. It’s a total game-changer.
Seriously, if you haven't done the river quest yet, you're only seeing about 40% of what this map has to offer. The water opens up shortcuts that make backtracking for missed collectibles way easier.
Actionable Next Steps
- Check the Time: If the path is blocked by thick roots, find the nearest Celestial Altar and change the time to night.
- Burn the Vines: Use Freya’s Sigil Arrows to create a chain from the red vines to a point you can reach with your Blades of Chaos.
- Kill the Ogre: Don't try to solve the spinners while getting pelted with boulders. Clear the area first.
- Flood the Region: Immediately start the "Return of the River" quest after the chest. It makes navigating The Jungle and the rest of The Crater significantly more efficient.
- Upgrade your gear: Use the resources from the chest to visit Lunda or Brok/Sindri before heading into the deeper parts of the Plains to face the dragons.