Look, Svartalfheim is a massive headache if you aren’t prepared. It’s the first real open-ish realm you hit in God of War Ragnarok, and the developers at Santa Monica Studio clearly wanted to test your patience early. You’re sailing around the Bay of Bounty, looking at those glowing blue runes on sealed stone boxes, and realizing that half the solutions are hidden behind geysers or stuck on the side of a cliff you can’t even reach yet.
If you want to max out Kratos’ Health and Rage, you cannot skip these. A Svartalfheim Nornir chest isn’t just a collectible; it’s the difference between surviving a boss fight with a sliver of health and seeing the "Load Game" screen for the tenth time.
The game doesn't hold your hand. Some chests require the Blades of Chaos to light torches. Others need the Leviathan Axe to spin paddles. Later on, you’ll find some that are literally impossible to open until you get a specific weapon much later in the story. It's frustrating. But honestly, once you know the tricks, these puzzles are actually pretty satisfying to solve.
The Aurvangar Wetlands Chests: Your First Hurdle
The second you step off the boat in the wetlands, the game hits you with your first Nornir chest. It’s sitting right there in the open, mocking you. This one is basic—a "smash the seals" type.
You’ll find one seal hidden behind a geyser to the right. You have to freeze the geyser with your axe to even see it. The second is tucked behind the chest itself on a high rocky ledge. The third? It’s to the left of the chest, sitting out in the open. Quick tip: don't overthink the first few. They are designed to teach you that the environment is your biggest obstacle, not the runes themselves.
Further into the wetlands, there’s another one. This one introduces the "spinning paddle" mechanic. You have to hit the gold paddles to match the runes on the chest. One is behind a geyser again (get used to that), one is behind the chest on a hill, and the last is tucked away to the left near a structure. If the rune doesn't match, keep hitting it. It’s a simple rotation.
👉 See also: Will My Computer Play It? What People Get Wrong About System Requirements
Why the Bay of Bounty is a Completionist’s Nightmare
Once the map opens up, you’ve got the Bay of Bounty. It’s huge. It's overwhelming.
Radsvinn’s Rig holds a chest that is a classic "light the torches" puzzle. You need the Blades of Chaos. One torch is right next to the chest. Simple. The second is hidden behind some breakable barrels—classic God of War move. The third is the tricky one. It's behind a metal grate. You have to climb up the rig, look down, and find the angle to hit an explosive jar or use your blades to ignite it through a gap.
Then there’s Alberich Island. This one is a timed puzzle. You hit a paddle to lower a crane, then you have to nail all three seals before the timer resets. It sucks. Honestly, it took me four tries because the axe throw travel time is just slow enough to mess up your rhythm. Use the quick-turn or aim ahead of where you think you need to be.
The Dragon Beach Puzzle is Just Mean
Most players walk right past the Svartalfheim Nornir chest at Dragon Beach because they’re too busy looking at the giant dragon statue. I don't blame them. But this chest is tucked behind a geyser on the left side of the beach.
To solve this, you have to find the seals hidden behind the geysers. The trick is that you can’t see them while the water is spraying. You have to freeze the geyser, memorize where the seal is, let the axe return, and then throw it again through the water or find an angle from behind the geyser. It’s a test of spatial awareness.
✨ Don't miss: First Name in Country Crossword: Why These Clues Trip You Up
- One is behind the geyser closest to the chest.
- One is behind the geyser further down the beach near the dragon’s tail.
- The third is hidden behind a geyser near the wooden scaffolding.
Jarnsmida Pitmines and the Mines of Volunder
When you get into the actual mines, the verticality increases. The Jarnsmida Pitmines chest involves lighting braziers. One is right by the chest. To reach the others, you have to manipulate the water flow using your axe to stop the water wheels, which lowers or raises platforms.
There is one brazier tucked under a moving water trough. You have to freeze the trough at the right moment so the water stops dousing the flame, then light it. It’s easily the most "Zelda-like" puzzle in the early game. If you're stuck, look up. The water source is always the key.
The Applecore has a few as well, but one in particular is a massive pain because it requires the Draupnir Spear. If you are here early in the game and can't find the third seal, stop looking. You can't do it yet. This is a common trap in Ragnarok—the game shows you a puzzle you literally cannot solve for another ten hours of gameplay.
The Technical Side: Horns of Blood Mead vs. Idunn Apples
Every time you open one of these, you're getting closer to a stat boost. It's not random. The game tracks how many you’ve opened and cycles through Idunn Apples (Health) and Horns of Blood Mead (Rage).
- Health Upgrades: You need more apples as you progress. The first upgrade takes two, then three, then more.
- Rage Upgrades: Same scaling.
- Late Game: Eventually, Nornir chests stop giving stats and start giving rare crafting materials like Hacksilver or Shattered Runes once you’ve maxed out your bars.
How to Handle the "Spear Only" Chests
Later in Svartalfheim, specifically in the Applecore or the Myrkr Tunnels, you'll find chests with small glowing cracks on the seals. Your axe won't work. Your blades won't work.
🔗 Read more: The Dawn of the Brave Story Most Players Miss
You need the Draupnir Spear. You have to throw a spear into all three seals and then detonated them all at once by pressing Triangle. If you try to do them one by one, it won't work. They have to break simultaneously. This is the game's way of forcing you to come back to Svartalfheim later in the story, which is a bit of a chore but necessary for that 100% completion trophy.
Practical Tips for Your Svartalfheim Run
Don't spend an hour looking for a seal that isn't there. If you see a small, wind-emitting hole or a glowing yellow crack, you're in a "come back later" zone.
Always check behind you. Santa Monica Studio loves putting seals directly behind the chest or high up on a pillar that you can only see if you stand in one specific spot. Listen for the sound, too. The seals have a distinct humming noise when you’re close.
If you're doing the timed puzzles, rebind your controls or get comfortable with the "quick recall" of the axe. The timing is tight, and a single missed throw usually means you have to start the whole sequence over.
Once you've cleared the Bay of Bounty and the Mines, you'll have a massive head start on your stats. This makes the mid-game bosses in Alfheim and Vanaheim way less of a nightmare. Get the work done in Svartalfheim early, and the rest of the Nine Realms will feel a lot more manageable.
To wrap this up, go back to the Aurvangar Wetlands first. It’s the easiest place to mop up the early chests you missed. Check your map; it tells you exactly how many Nornir chests are left in each sub-region. If the map says 1/2, you’ve got work to do. Focus on the geysers and the high ledges, and stop trying to break the "Spear" seals before you've actually visited the Forge with Brok. It'll save you a lot of yelling at the TV.