You’re staring at a map of Vanaheim in God of War Ragnarok and there’s a missing checkmark. It’s annoying. I know the feeling because I spent forty minutes running in circles around the Vanir Shrine legendary chest thinking the game had bugged out. It hadn't. The level design in this specific sub-region is basically a giant, circular puzzle that uses verticality and hidden torch sequences to mess with your head. If you’re looking for that specific loot—which, by the way, contains the Rampage of the Furies light runic attack—you have to do more than just kill a few Gulons.
Most people miss this chest because they treat Vanaheim like a linear path. It isn't. The Shrine is Freya's personal history lesson, and the chest is gated behind a literal wall of fire and a bridge mechanic that feels intentionally clunky.
Why the Vanir Shrine Legendary Chest is So Easy to Miss
Vanaheim is dense. It’s a visual mess of green and gold that hides paths in plain sight. When you first enter the Vanir Shrine during the "Freya's Missing Peace" favor, you're focused on the heavy dialogue and the massive Soul Eater boss. The Vanir Shrine legendary chest is tucked away in the right-hand wing of the ruins, but reaching it requires a specific sequence involving Sigil Arrows and your Blades of Chaos.
Honestly, the hardest part isn't the combat. It's the perspective.
You’ll find yourself in a courtyard area with a locked gate and two blue-flame torches high up on a wall. If you don't light them simultaneously, the gate stays shut. You've probably tried throwing the Leviathan Axe at them. It won't work. You’ve probably tried jumping. You can't. This is where most players get stuck and assume they need an upgrade they don't have yet. You have everything you need the moment you step foot in here with Freya.
Cracking the Torch Puzzle
To get to the goods, you have to look at the bridge. There's a drawbridge held up by two seals. One is easy. The other is hidden behind some shrubbery that looks like every other piece of foliage in the game. Once you drop that bridge, you aren't done.
Look at the wall. See those two unlit braziers?
You need to use Freya’s Hex (Sigil) arrows. You place them in a chain—big bubbles that overlap—connecting the torches to a point you can actually reach with your blades. If the bubbles aren't big enough, the chain reaction fails. It’s finicky. You’ll likely fail three times before the timing clicks. Once those torches catch fire, the gate drops, and the Vanir Shrine legendary chest is sitting there waiting for you.
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The Loot: Rampage of the Furies
Is it worth the headache? Yeah, probably. The Rampage of the Furies is a classic God of War move. It’s a high-damage, flurry-style attack that’s great for staggering bosses. In Ragnarok, where the combat rhythm is a bit more deliberate than the 2018 game, having an attack that locks an enemy into a hit-stun animation is a lifesaver. Especially on Give Me God of War difficulty.
- Damage: 3/5
- Burn: 2/5
- Stun: 3/5
It’s not the "best" runic in the game, but for that mid-game stretch in Vanaheim, it’s a massive power spike. If you’re building Kratos for Strength and Luck, the multiple hits from this attack give you more chances to proc your armor perks.
Common Mistakes in the Shrine
A lot of players try to find the chest after the quest is over. You can do that, but the lighting changes and some of the enemy spawns make it a chore. Also, keep an eye out for the Lore Marker right next to the chest. If you leave without reading it, you’ll be coming back anyway for that 100% completion trophy.
Another weird thing? The map tracking. Sometimes the game doesn't update the "Legendary Chests 1/1" immediately. Don't panic. Just fast travel out of the Mystic Gateway and check your map again. Vanaheim's tracking is notoriously buggy compared to Svartalfheim or Midgard.
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The Hidden Path to the Second Gate
Wait, there's more. The shrine is split.
If you’ve found one chest but the map says you’re still missing something, you might be confusing the Vanir Shrine legendary chest with the one near the entrance. To get to the main one, you have to go through the sequence where you light the two braziers above the gate. If you're on the left side of the ruins, you’ve gone too far. Retrace to the main circular plaza where the Soul Eater was.
Face the giant statue of Freya. Turn right. That’s your path.
Technical Requirements for Completion
You don't need any end-game gear. No Draupnir Spear is required here. No special elemental arrows beyond what Freya starts the quest with. This is purely a "stop and look up" puzzle. If you can't reach a torch, the answer is always Sigil Arrows. Always. Make the bubbles larger by hitting the same spot three times. It’s a mechanic the game explains once and then expects you to remember forever.
Actionable Steps for 100% Completion
If you're currently standing in the mud in Vanaheim, do this:
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- Clear the Gulons first. Don't try to solve the puzzle while being bitten. It’s distracting and the camera will lock onto enemies, ruining your Sigil placement.
- Aim for the right-hand wall. Look for the two iron braziers hanging about 15 feet up.
- Chain three Hex bubbles. Start from the braziers and chain them down to the ground level.
- Ignite with the Blades of Chaos. Use the L2 + R2 heavy whip to hit the bottom bubble.
- Check the gate. If it didn't open, one of your bubbles was too small or timed out. Speed is key.
- Loot the Rampage of the Furies. Don't forget to equip it and upgrade it with XP immediately; the level 2 version adds significantly more hits to the combo.
- Grab the Lore Marker. It’s literally three steps away. If you miss it, you're doing this all over again for the Platinum trophy.
The Vanir Shrine is one of the most rewarding areas for Freya's character development, so don't just rush the chest. Listen to the dialogue. But once the talking stops and you're just looking for that last piece of loot, follow the fire.