You’re standing in the heat. Steam hisses from the pipes, and the rhythmic thud-thud-thud of the dwarven machinery in Svartalfheim is probably starting to give you a headache. If you’ve made it to The Forge in God of War Ragnarök, you’re likely hunting for that specific Nornir Chest tucked away near the wooden boardwalks. It’s sitting there, glowing with those annoying blue runes, mocking you while you try to figure out where the third seal is hiding. Honestly, this one isn't even the hardest puzzle in the game, but the verticality of the area makes it a total pain if you don't know exactly where to stand.
Most players sprint past it the first time. You’re focused on the story, or maybe you're just trying to get to the top of the mountain to meet the Lady. But those Idunn Apples and Horns of Blood Mead aren't going to collect themselves. If you want Kratos to actually survive the late-game bosses, you need that health bar to wrap around the screen.
Cracking The Forge Nornir Chest
This specific chest is a "destroy the idols" type. No spinning clocks, no timed bells—just find three stone totems with glowing letters and smash them into dust. It sounds simple. It should be simple. But Santa Monica Studio decided to hide one of them in a spot that feels borderline illegal.
The chest itself is located shortly after you exit the tiny train (the one that always seems to break down). As you follow the path toward the heart of the forge, you'll see it nestled against the rock wall on your right.
Finding the first two seals
The first one is basically a freebie. If you’re facing the chest, turn around and look toward the cliffside behind you. It’s sitting right there on a rock. One quick toss of the Leviathan Axe and it's gone. Done. Easy. You’re feeling confident now.
The second one requires a tiny bit of walking. Head further up the path, away from the chest, toward the wooden structure where the geysers are. Look back toward the direction of the chest, but look high up on the rock face. It’s perched on a ledge, somewhat obscured by the wooden scaffolding. Again, Kratos doesn’t have to do much heavy lifting here. Just aim and throw.
The one that everyone misses
Now, this is where people get stuck and start googling "The Forge Nornir chest bugged" because they can't find the third rune. It’s not bugged. You’re just looking in the wrong place.
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Go back to where the chest is. Stand directly in front of it. Now, look out over the edge of the cliff, toward the massive valley below and the distant mountains of Svartalfheim. See that huge rock pillar standing solo in the middle of the abyss? The third seal is sitting right on top of it. It’s a long shot. You might have to adjust your aim for the axe's travel time and arc.
Once you hear that heavy clunk and the runes on the chest go dark, you’re golden. Open it up and claim your prize.
Why Nornir Chests are actually mandatory
Look, you can technically finish the game without opening every Nornir Chest. But why would you?
The stats don't lie. Each chest contributes to increasing your maximum Health or Spartan Rage. By the time you reach the Berserker souls or the Valkyrie Queen Gná, having that extra sliver of life is the difference between a "Victory" screen and a "Load Game" screen.
- Idunn Apples: These increase your health. You need three to trigger an upgrade.
- Horns of Blood Mead: These increase your Rage meter. Same deal—you need a set of three.
In God of War Ragnarök, the developers changed the loot table slightly. Once you’ve maxed out your health and rage, these chests don't just become useless. They start dropping high-level enchantments and hacksilver. So, even if you feel like a god already, it’s worth the thirty seconds it takes to smash some rocks.
Common mistakes in Svartalfheim
Svartalfheim is the first "real" open realm you explore, and it sets the tone for how the rest of the game's puzzles work. The most common mistake? Not looking up.
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The level design in the Forge is incredibly vertical. If you’re stuck, 90% of the time the solution is either way above your head or hidden behind a breakable wooden pallet. Also, remember that some chests in this realm—though not this specific one in the Forge—require the Draupnir Spear. If you see a small glowing hole in a wall or a wind-vent, and you haven't gotten the spear yet, stop. You can't do it. Come back later.
There's no shame in backtracking. The game is designed for it.
The "Spear" problem
Wait, let's talk about that spear for a second. If you are visiting the Forge for the first time, you might notice some environmental puzzles you can’t interact with. This is intentional. The Forge is a location you'll visit twice during the main story. The first time is with Atreus, and the second is later with Brok.
If you're hunting this Nornir chest during your first trip, you have everything you need. You don't need the spear for this specific one. You just need a pair of eyes and a decent throwing arm.
Understanding the lore behind the runes
Ever wonder why these chests exist? It’s not just "video game logic." The Nornir are the Fates of Norse mythology—Urd, Verdandi, and Skuld. They weave the threads of destiny at the foot of Yggdrasil. The chests are essentially a thematic nod to the idea that "fate" requires effort to unlock.
In the 2018 game, Mimir mentions that these chests are warded with ancient magic. Breaking the seals is basically Kratos asserting his will over the magic of the land. It’s a small detail, but it makes the repetitive task of hunting for glowing rocks feel a bit more grounded in the world-building.
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Expert tips for speed-clearing Nornir puzzles
If you're trying to platinum the game, you're going to be doing a lot of these. Here’s how to make it less tedious:
- Use the Sound: The seals make a very distinct humming sound when you're close to them. If you’re wearing headphones, you can actually echolocate most of them.
- Check the Map: The map in the pause menu tells you exactly how many Nornir Chests are in a specific sub-region. If the Forge says 1/1, stop looking. You're done.
- The Sigil Arrow Trick: For the "timed" torch puzzles (not this one, but others in Svartalfheim), use Freya or Atreus’s sigil arrows. You can chain them together to light torches that are too far apart to hit normally.
- Axe Recall: Remember that the Leviathan Axe does damage on the way back, too. Sometimes it's easier to hit a seal by calling the axe back through it rather than trying to hit it straight on.
The bigger picture in Svartalfheim
The Forge isn't just about the chest. While you’re here, make sure you look for the Yggdrasil Rift and the various lore markers. There’s a lot of flavor text about how Odin exploited the dwarves, which adds some much-needed weight to the story. The environmental storytelling in the Forge shows the industrial decay of a realm forced to work for a tyrant.
The chest is just a bonus. The real value is the context of the world you’re destroying.
Actionable Next Steps
To make sure you've fully cleared the Forge and are ready for the next leg of the journey, follow these specific steps:
- Verify your inventory: Check if you have two out of three Idunn Apples. If you do, this chest will trigger a health bar upgrade immediately.
- Look for the "Pit-Mines" entrance: Once you finish the chest, ensure you've grabbed the nearby lore scroll. It’s easy to miss and required for the 100% completion trophy.
- Don't overthink the distance: When aiming for that third seal on the distant pillar, aim slightly higher than the target. The axe has physics, and it will drop over long distances.
- Check your skills: If you're struggling with the throw, see if you have the "Axe Throw" upgrades in the skill tree. They increase the speed and accuracy of your ranged attacks.
Once you’ve cracked the Forge Nornir chest, continue up the mountain path. The next major encounter is narrative-heavy, so you'll want that extra health you just earned. Keep your eyes on the cliffs—Svartalfheim hides its best loot where most people are too afraid to look.