Look, Kratos isn't the same guy who ripped Helios' head off just for a flashlight. He's older, he's a dad, and honestly, he's kind of exhausted. If you’re looking for a God of War walkthrough, you probably realized pretty quickly that the 2018 soft reboot—and its massive sequel, Ragnarök—isn't just a "press square to win" type of deal anymore. It's dense. There are these layers of Norse mythology woven into every single combat encounter and puzzle that make the old games look like simple arcade brawlers.
Most people play these games wrong. They rush. They see a golden chest and think, "I'll get that later," but then they never do. Then they hit a boss like Sigrun the Valkyrie Queen and wonder why their health bar is the size of a postage stamp.
The secret to a successful run isn't just knowing how to throw the Leviathan Axe. It’s about understanding the rhythm of Midgard. You have to be okay with being distracted. You've got to listen to Mimir. The smartest thing you can do is treat the main quest like a suggestion rather than a mandate.
The Midgard Problem and Why Exploration is Mandatory
Most walkthroughs tell you to go from Point A to Point B. That's a mistake. In the 2018 game, the Lake of Nine is your hub, and it changes. It literally drops in level, revealing new islands and secrets. If you just follow the golden path, you are going to be severely underleveled by the time you reach Helheim.
Don't ignore the side quests, or "Labors" and "Favors" as the game calls them. Brok and Sindri aren't just there for comic relief; their quests unlock the best armor sets in the early game. If you aren't doing the "Second Hand Handmaiden" quest or helping the spirits around the lake, you're leaving XP and hacksilver on the table. You need that stuff.
The combat system is basically a dance. You've got the axe for freezing enemies and close-range heavy hits, but your fists are actually your best weapon for building up the stun meter. Once that red bar under an enemy's health fills up, you press R3 and perform an execution. This is vital. Executions give you i-frames (invincibility frames), meaning you can't be hit while the animation is playing. In a crowd, this is a life-saver.
Mastering the Leviathan Axe and Atreus
Atreus is not an escort mission. He is a tool. Probably the most powerful tool in your kit.
Early on, you might forget to press Square. Don't. His arrows interrupt enemy attacks. They can stun-lock a Draugr just long enough for you to recall your axe and land a heavy overhead strike. By the time you get to the later stages of a God of War walkthrough, Atreus should be firing light or shock arrows constantly.
- Light Arrows: Great for building stun.
- Shock Arrows: Perfect for crowd control as the electricity chains between enemies.
The "Recall" mechanic is where the skill ceiling really lives. You can throw the axe, run behind an enemy, and then recall it so it hits them in the back on the way back to your hand. It sounds simple. It is actually incredibly hard to master in the heat of a fight with three Revenants screaming at you.
Gear and Stats: Stop Ignoring Luck
We all want high Strength. It makes sense. We want Kratos to hit like a truck. But honestly? Luck is the most underrated stat in the entire game. Luck governs how often your Enchantments and Runic attacks trigger their "Perks." If you have a high Luck stat, you’ll find yourself getting heals or strength bursts much more often.
Defense and Vitality are your safety nets. If you’re struggling with the timing of parries—which you should be using the Golden Talisman of Deflecting for—then pump points into Defense. It reduces the chip damage you take when you fail a "perfect" block.
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The Valkyries: A Lesson in Pain
You cannot talk about a God of War walkthrough without mentioning the Valkyries. These are the true endgame. They are optional, but if you don't beat them, did you even play the game?
Each Valkyrie teaches you a specific mechanic. One is all about dodging. One is about using Atreus to knock her out of the air. The Queen, Sigrun, uses every single move from the previous eight. It’s a brutal test of memory and reflex.
Pro tip: If a Valkyrie jumps into the air and starts glowing, throw your axe at her immediately. If you don't, she’s about to hit you with an unblockable blinding attack that will probably end your run. Also, turn your sound up. They often scream "Valhalla!" before they try to stomp on your neck. When you hear that, dodge. Do not roll—just dodge. Rolling has a longer recovery time and might get you caught in her follow-up.
Navigating the Realms
The world design is "Metroidvania" style. You’ll see red sap or blue crystals that you can't interact with yet. Don't stress. The game will give you the tools—like the Shock Arrows or the Alfheim light—eventually.
Muspelheim and Niflheim are the "grind" realms. Muspelheim is a series of combat trials. Some are easy, like "don't take damage," while others are a nightmare, like "kill enemies inside shifting circles." Niflheim is a procedurally generated mist maze. It’s annoying. I get it. But the Ivaldi’s Armor you get from there is arguably the best set for the mid-to-late game because it provides constant health regeneration.
In God of War Ragnarök, the scope gets even bigger. You’ve got more realms to visit, and the navigation becomes a bit more vertical. The grappling hook mechanic with the Blades of Chaos changes how you look at the environment. Always look up. There are "Odin’s Ravens" everywhere, and killing them unlocks chests in Niflheim that contain some of the most powerful relic handles in the game.
Common Mistakes Beginners Make
- Hoarding Hacksilver: Spend it. You’ll find more. Upgrading your current gear is always better than waiting for a "perfect" set that might be ten hours away.
- Forgetting Runic Attacks: These are your "super moves." You have a light and a heavy runic attack for both the Axe and the Blades. Use them often. They operate on a cooldown, so if you're not using them, you're wasting DPS (damage per second).
- Ignoring the Bestiary: The journal isn't just flavor text. It actually records enemy weaknesses after you've fought them a few times. If a specific monster is kicking your teeth in, read the book. It’ll tell you if they’re weak to frost or if you need to parry their specific overhead swing.
The narrative of the game is about restraint. Kratos is trying to be a better man. This reflects in the gameplay too. If you play wildly and aggressively, the game punishes you. You have to be deliberate. You have to watch the yellow and red rings that appear around enemies. Yellow means you can parry it if your timing is perfect. Red means "move your butt out of the way right now."
Actionable Steps for Your Next Session
If you’re sitting down to play right now, here is exactly what you should do to ensure you don't hit a wall.
- Check your enchantments. Every time you get a new piece of armor with a socket, fill it. Even a low-level enchantment is better than an empty slot.
- Sell your old gear. You don't need those Level 2 bracers anymore. Sell them back to the dwarves to get the resources you need for your Level 5 chest plate. You can always "buy back" items if you really regret it, but you won't.
- Upgrade Atreus's bow first. Seriously. His damage output and stun capability are the biggest force multipliers in the game.
- Practice the 'executioner’s cleave'. It’s a skill for the Leviathan Axe where you hold R2. It deals massive damage and can stagger almost any non-boss enemy. Learn the timing.
- Go back to the Lake of Nine after every major story beat. New areas open up. New conversations happen. The world evolves.
Norse mythology is full of tragedies and cycles. Don't let your playthrough be one of them. Take your time, explore the corners of the map, and remember that being a "God of War" is more about the mind than the muscle. You've got this. Keep the axe sharp and the boy close.
Go hunt some dragons. Or, you know, just try to survive the next Draugr pit. Both are equally valid.
The biggest takeaway for any God of War walkthrough is patience. Whether you're solving a Nornir chest puzzle with those annoying spinning runes or trying to timing a parry against a Dark Elf Lord, rushing is your enemy. The game rewards the observant. If you see a bunch of birds flying in one direction, follow them. If you hear a faint shimmering sound, there’s a lizard carrying rare upgrade materials nearby. Kill it quickly.
Final tip: Use your XP to buy skills before you worry about upgrading the Runic attacks. Having a wider variety of moves—like the ability to switch stances or perform a sprinting attack—will help you survive more than just a 10% damage boost on a move you only use once every thirty seconds. Focus on the fundamentals of the combat tree, especially the shield branch. A good defense is quite literally your best offense here.
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At the end of the day, Kratos’s journey is yours to shape. Don't feel pressured to play on the hardest difficulty if you’re just there for the story, but don't shy away from the challenges either. The feeling of finally taking down a Berserker or a Valkyrie after twenty tries is exactly why these games are masterpieces.