You've probably spent hours getting scorched. Most players head into the Muspelheim trials in God of War thinking it’s just another combat arena, a place to mash buttons and watch Kratos go ballistic. It isn't. Not really. If you approach these trials like a standard encounter, the realm will chew you up and spit you out faster than a Fire Ancient.
Muspelheim is a test of patience. It’s a test of gear. More than anything, it's a test of how well you actually understand the game's mechanics beyond just swinging the Leviathan Axe.
To even get here, you need those four purple language ciphers. They're hidden in those jagged, floating chests that look like they're breathing. Once Atreus reads the runes, the realm travel room unlocks the path to a world that basically looks like the inside of a volcano. And honestly? It’s one of the most rewarding grinds in the entire God of War (2018) experience, provided you don't break your controller in the process.
The Brutal Reality of the God of War Muspelheim Trials
The structure is simple on paper. You have six swords stuck in the ground at different elevations. Each sword has different difficulty tiers: Normal, Hard, and eventually, Impossible. You can't just skip to the end. You have to earn your way up the mountain.
The first few trials are basically warm-ups. Kill enemies within a time limit. Kill them fast. It sounds easy until the game starts throwing shielded Hel-Walkers and regenerating Viken at you. This is where the God of War Muspelheim trials stop being a fun distraction and start becoming a roadblock.
Take the "Avoid Damage" trial. It's miserable. One stray projectile from a Nightmare or a tiny tick of burn damage from a Draugr and you’re starting over. Most people fail this because they play too aggressively. You’ve got to use Atreus. Spam those arrows. Keep your distance. If you aren't using the Talon Bow to stun-lock enemies while Kratos hangs back, you're making it ten times harder than it needs to be.
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Breaking Down the Impossible Tier
Once you beat the Valkyrie Göndul at the peak—which is a whole different nightmare—you unlock the Impossible trials. This is where the real "Greater Crest of Flame" farming happens.
You need keys. To get to the final "Hidden Trial" at the top (Trial 6), you have to complete three out of the five Impossible trials below it. Don't touch the "Don't get hit" trial on Impossible unless you’re a literal god at parrying. It’s a trap. Stick to the time limits or the "Kill enemies to increase time" challenges. They’re much more manageable if your Runic stats are high enough.
Gear Check: What You Actually Need
If you’re walking into Muspelheim with level 4 or 5 gear, stop. Just turn around. You’re going to get one-shot by a level 7 Elite Draugr.
The best way to handle this realm is to have the Ivaldi’s Mist armor from Niflheim first, or at least some high-level Epic gear. Why? Because the stats matter more than the perks here. You need high Cooldown and Strength.
- Runic Attacks: You want area-of-effect (AoE) damage. Hel's Touch is great for breathing room. River of Knives is a must for the Axe. For the Blades of Chaos, Rampage of the Furies helps you lock down single targets that are being annoying.
- Enchantments: Stack anything that gives you "Fire Resistance" or "Permafrost/Immolation" boosts.
- The Talisman: Use the Talisman of Kvasir if your timing is good. Slowing down time on a perfect dodge is the only way some people get through the "Kill enemies in quick succession" trials. If your timing sucks, use the Sinmara's Cinders to buff your damage while you’re in the thick of it.
The "Kill Enemies in Quick Succession" Problem
This is the one that kills most runs. You'll see three enemies. You kill two. The third one is a beefy Ogre with half health. You can't kill him in time, so the other two respawn with full health. It feels unfair. It feels broken. It’s not.
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The trick is the "Health Bar Management" strategy. You don't kill anyone. You get all three enemies down to a sliver of health—like, one hit away from death. Only when all of them are blinking red do you unleash a Runic attack or a Spartan Rage pop to finish them all within that 2-second window.
Most people focus on one guy at a time. That’s a mistake. You have to be a shepherd. Herd them together, whittle them down equally, then cull the herd.
Why Farming This Realm Is Mandatory
You might wonder why you’d put yourself through this torture. It's the resources.
Smouldering Embers, Crest of Flame, and the coveted Greater Crest of Flame. You cannot max out the best armor sets in the game without these. If you want to face Sigrun, the Valkyrie Queen, and actually stand a chance, your gear needs to be level 8 or 9. Muspelheim is the only place to get the "fuel" for that upgrade fire.
Also, the Raging Inferno of Muspelheim. You get this after beating the Valkyrie here. You trade it at Brok or Sindri’s shop for a "Chaos Flame," which is the only way to upgrade your Blades of Chaos to their final level. If your Blades feel weak, it's probably because you haven't finished your chores in the fire realm.
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The Hidden Trial (Trial 6)
After collecting three keys from the Impossible trials, you head back to the very top. This is the Sutr's Hidden Trial. It’s usually a "Kill as many enemies as possible in 8 minutes" deal.
The rewards are tiered: Bronze, Silver, and Gold. Gold usually requires around 50 or 60 kills. Don't stress if you only get Silver on your first try. The jump in difficulty from the regular game to this specific challenge is steep. It’s less about survival and more about "Time Management Combat." Use the environment. Kick people off the cliffs. Use the "R2" Axe throw to freeze enemies and then shatter them with the Blades. Efficiency is king.
Common Misconceptions About the Trials
A lot of players think they need to use Spartan Rage to deal damage. Honestly? Use it as a panic button for health. When you're in the God of War Muspelheim trials, your health doesn't regenerate between waves in some challenges. Activating Rage gives you that tiny bit of life steal that can save a Gold-tier run.
Another myth: "Atreus doesn't matter here."
Wrong. Atreus is the MVP of Muspelheim. His Shock arrows are essential for crowd control. When you have those fast-moving Speed Draugrs zipping around, a well-timed Shock arrow chain will stop them in their tracks, allowing Kratos to land a heavy hit. If you aren't spamming the Square button until your thumb hurts, you’re leaving 40% of your damage potential on the table.
Actionable Strategy for Success
To dominate Muspelheim, stop playing like a brawler and start playing like a tactician.
- Prioritize the Nightmares: They explode or possess other enemies. Kill them the second they spawn.
- Watch the Timer, But Don't Panic: Panic leads to missed parries. Missed parries lead to death.
- Upgrade the Axe first: The freeze effect is more useful for crowd control in the early trials than the fire damage of the Blades.
- Use the "Executioner’s Cleave": If an enemy is frozen, this move deals massive damage and can often one-shot smaller mobs, saving you precious seconds.
- Farm Trial 2 and 4 on Impossible: These are generally considered the "easiest" keys to get if you have a decent Runic build.
The grind is real, but the Valkyrie armor and the fully upgraded Blades are worth the burnt fingers. Just remember to breathe when the "Avoid Damage" trial fails for the tenth time. It happens to everyone.
Once you’ve cleared the trials and upgraded your gear to level 8, your next move should be heading straight to Niflheim to tackle the Mist Echoes. The combination of the Muspelheim damage output and the Niflheim health regeneration makes Kratos nearly unstoppable for the endgame content. Focus on getting those Greater Crests of Flame first, as they are the primary bottleneck for the best pommels and enchantments in the game. Check your resources tab at the shop frequently to see exactly how many Smouldering Embers you're short on before starting another run up the mountain.