You’re standing in Alfheim. The air is thick with pinkish mist, and the architecture is basically a psychedelic fever dream of white stone and glowing crystals. You can hear it. That rhythmic, metallic caw. It’s a sound that triggers a weird kind of fight-or-flight response in God of War players. You look up, squinting through the bloom lighting of the PS5, and there it is—one of Odin’s green spectral spies. Specifically, you’re looking for the Temple of Light ravens, and honestly, they are some of the most annoying collectibles Santa Monica Studio ever put in a game.
Tracking down every single one of these birds isn't just about being a completionist. It’s about the loot. You want those Raven Tears armor sets. You want the Nemean Crush heavy runic attack. But the Temple of Light is a vertical labyrinth. It’s easy to get turned intentionally around by the level design.
Most people miss these because they’re looking for birds sitting on branches. In the Temple of Light, the ravens are often hidden behind environmental puzzles or require a specific, physics-defying axe throw.
The First Hurdle: The Raven Behind the Gate
Let's get into the nitty-gritty. The first of the Temple of Light ravens you’ll likely encounter is tucked away behind a gate that feels like it shouldn't be accessible. You’ve probably walked past it three times already.
As you ascend the spiral stairs early in the temple, there’s a spot where Tyr—who is being his usual cryptic self—mentions the beauty of the light. Ignore him. Look for a gated-off area on your left. You can see the green glow of the raven perched comfortably on a pillar. The problem? You can't hit it directly. The gate is solid.
This is where the game teaches you (again) that Kratos’s Leviathan Axe is essentially a high-speed boomerang that loves purple rocks. You have to find the Twilight Stone. These are those glowing purple shards that reflect your axe. Positioning is everything here. If you stand too far to the right, the angle is off. If you stand too far left, you hit the bars. You have to aim at the stone so the trajectory line turns blue, indicating a successful bounce. One flick of the wrist, a satisfying clink, and the bird explodes into green mist.
It sounds simple. It’s not. Many players spend ten minutes just trying to find the pixel-perfect spot to stand.
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Why Verticality Changes the Hunt
The Temple of Light is built like a corkscrew. This makes the map layout in the menu almost completely useless. When you’re looking for the second raven, you need to pay attention to the drops.
There’s a section where you’re jumping across platforms hanging over a massive drop. It's beautiful, sure, but it’s a distraction. If you look toward the central pillar of light—the big glowing thing in the middle of the room—there’s a raven just chilling on a ledge that is remarkably far away.
Honestly, the distance is the issue.
If you use the Leviathan Axe, you have to account for the drop. The axe has weight. It’s a physical object in the game world, not a laser beam. If you’re struggling with the arc, this is the perfect time to switch to the Draupnir Spear, assuming you’re doing a late-game cleanup run. The spear flies straight. It’s basically the "easy mode" button for Odin’s ravens. But if you’re here early, you’ve gotta find that lead. Aim high. Watch the bird. Throw.
The Sound Design Trick
Santa Monica Studio did something brilliant and evil with the audio. The ravens emit a very specific, high-pitched metallic shriek. In the Temple of Light, the stone walls cause that sound to echo.
You’ll hear the bird. You’ll think it’s right above you. You’ll look up for five minutes, seeing nothing but Elven architecture and light bridges.
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The reality? The raven is actually below you, or tucked behind a translucent light wall. There is one specific bird near the "Stairway to Light" section that is hidden behind an ornamental grate. You can barely see the green pixels shifting. Most people find this one by accident while trying to solve the light-bridge puzzle.
- Listen for the directional audio. If you have 3D audio headphones, use them. It’s the only way to tell if the bird is on your horizontal plane.
- Look for the "Green Glow." Even when the bird is hidden, it casts a faint lime-green light on the surrounding white stone.
- Check the Twilight Stones. If there is a purple reflection stone in a room, there is almost certainly a raven or a chest nearby that requires a bounce-shot.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Rewards
There’s a common misconception that you need these ravens immediately. You don't. While the Temple of Light ravens contribute to the "Eyes of Odin" labor, the chests in Niflheim (The Raven Tree) unlock based on total counts, not specific locations.
If one bird is making you want to throw your controller into the TV, just leave.
You can come back later. In fact, coming back after the main story is finished is often better because you have the full kit. The "Huldra Projectile" upgrades and the spear make the Alfheim ravens trivial.
The rewards at the Raven Tree are some of the best in the game, though. The Girdle of Raven Tears increases your healing from Healthstones and Ragery by a massive percentage. In a boss fight on "Give Me God of War" difficulty, that’s the difference between winning and a "Game Over" screen.
Navigating the Lore of the Ravens
Odin isn't just a bird collector. These ravens are his surveillance network. In the Temple of Light, he’s particularly interested because this is the source of the Light of Alfheim—the most powerful energy source in the realms.
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By killing these ravens, Kratos isn't just clearing a checklist. He’s blinding Odin in a realm the All-Father desperately wants to control. It adds a layer of narrative satisfaction to the hunt. Every time you smash one, you’re essentially poking Odin in his one good eye.
The Temple itself is a monument to the conflict between Light Elves and Dark Elves. The ravens are perched on statues and friezes that depict the eternal war. It's a nice touch of environmental storytelling. The birds are always watching the most important historical moments of the Elves.
Practical Steps for the Perfect Run
If you’re currently stuck in the temple, follow this specific flow to get out with your sanity intact:
- Clear the combat first. Don't try to snipe birds while Light Elves are trying to slice your head off. The Temple of Light has several high-intensity combat arenas. Clear the room, then listen for the caw.
- Look for the "Ledge Hang." There is one raven that is only visible if you drop down to a lower ledge that looks like a "secret" path. It’s near the large circular elevator. If you’re standing on the main path, the geometry of the ceiling blocks the bird.
- Use the "Checklist" Method. Open your map and hover over the Temple of Light. It will tell you exactly how many ravens are left in this specific sub-zone. If it says 1/2, stop searching the whole of Alfheim. The bird is within the temple walls.
- Angle Matters. For the raven behind the gate with the Twilight Stone, stand as far back as possible. This gives you a wider view of the reflection trajectory.
Once you’ve cleared the Temple of Light ravens, make sure to head back to the Raven Tree in Niflheim. You’ll likely have hit a milestone (like 12, 18, or 28 birds) that unlocks a new piece of armor. Don't let those points sit there. The Raven Tears set is one of the few that scales well into the late-game trials of Muspelheim.
The hunt is tedious, sure. But in a game as polished as Ragnarok, even the tedious parts feel rewarding once the "Area Discovered: 100%" notification pops up on the screen.