You’re rowing around the Lake of Nine, the water is shimmering, and Mimir is mid-story. It’s peaceful. Then you see that golden glow on the shoreline—the telltale sign of a buried treasure. If you’ve been playing God of War (2018), you know that finding the buried treasure Lake of Nine caches isn't just about the loot; it’s about the satisfaction of solving those cryptic maps you’ve been lugging around in your inventory.
Honestly, the Lake of Nine is the heart of Midgard. It’s huge. It changes constantly as the water levels drop. Because of that, tracking down every single dig spot can get kinda overwhelming if you don't know exactly where to look. We aren't just talking about one chest here. The lake serves as a hub for several different maps including "The Boatman's Reward," "Dead and Bloated," and "Kingdom of Hunter."
Let’s get into the dirt.
Why the Lake of Nine is Treasure Central
The Lake of Nine acts as a massive puzzle box. When Jörmungandr first moves and the water level drops for the first time, new islands emerge. When it drops a second time? Even more secrets appear. This is why a lot of players get confused. You might have a map that looks like a specific beach, but if the water is too high, that beach doesn't even exist yet.
You've probably noticed that the rewards are actually worth the effort. We’re talking Rare Enchantments, Leiptir Alloy, and a decent chunk of Hacksilver. If you're trying to max out your armor before heading into some of the tougher Valkyrie fights, these dig spots are non-negotiable.
The Boatman’s Reward
This is one of the earliest ones most people find. You get the map at Forgotten Caverns, but the treasure itself is tucked away at the Isle of Death.
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Look, the Isle of Death is a vertical nightmare if you aren't paying attention. Once you dock, you have to climb. You’re looking for a spot near the top where the zipline is located. It’s right there in the open, usually tucked near a pile of rocks. Digging it up nets you some solid early-game resources. It's basically a rite of passage for treasure hunters in Midgard.
Finding the Dead and Bloated Treasure
This one has a grim name, right? You find the map in the Volunder Mines, which is part of Brok’s first favor, "Second Hand Soul." The map shows a dead giant.
The actual location is at the Cliffs of the Raven.
When you get to the Cliffs, you’ll see the giant corpse. It’s hard to miss. Seriously, it's a massive, rotting body. Walk around to the side of the giant's torso, near the stomach area. The golden glow will pop up. This one is famous among the community because the visual cue on the map is so literal. You see a dead guy, you find the dead guy.
Don't Ignore the Kingdom of Hunter
This map is found at Lookout Tower. It’s a bit of a trek because you have to deal with some spikes and a few Nornir chest puzzles in the vicinity. The treasure, however, isn't at the tower. It’s over at Veithurgard.
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Veithurgard is that massive area behind the big gold doors. To get the treasure, you need to head toward the giant stone doors that are locked by the four rune turners. To the left of those doors, near a Lore Marker, is your dig spot.
It’s easy to run right past this while you’re dodging the dragon's lightning breaths. Don't do that. Stop. Dig. The Leiptir Alloy you get here is vital for upgrading the Hripstor pommel.
The Nuance of the Light of Elven-Marsh
People often mix this one up. You find the map near the Lake of Nine (specifically at the Mason's Channel), but the treasure is at Konunsgard.
Wait. Konunsgard is a late-game area. You can't even get in there until you're doing the "Hail to the King" favor for Brok and Sindri. Once you’re inside, head past the first shop and look for a small altar area. The treasure is right there. It feels a bit disconnected from the lake, but since the map is found on the shore of the Mason's Channel, it counts toward your completionist goals for the hub area.
Common Mistakes When Hunting Near the Water
One big thing: The "Golden Glow" won't appear if you haven't actually picked up the map first.
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I’ve seen people stand exactly where the treasure is supposed to be, frustrated because nothing is happening. You can't "accidently" find these. Kratos needs to have the scroll in his inventory for the interaction prompt to trigger.
Also, check your map levels. If you are looking for a spot and the landmarks don't match, you likely need to progress the main story further so the World Serpent can move again. This lowers the water and reveals the lower docks.
Rewards and Scaling
The loot in these chests actually scales a bit, but mostly they provide specific crafting components.
- Hacksilver: You’ll usually get between 5,000 and 20,000.
- Enchantments: These are often random but usually lean toward "Rare" (Blue) or "Legendary" (Purple) quality.
- Hardened Svartalfheim Steel: Essential for middle-tier armor sets.
Practical Steps for Completionists
If you want to clear the Lake of Nine 100%, follow this flow. It’ll save you hours of back-and-forth rowing.
- Clear the Fog: Row to every statue of the Norse gods around the lake to reveal the map names.
- Wait for the Second Drop: Don't go crazy hunting every treasure as soon as you get the boat. Wait until the water drops the second time after the "A New Destination" quest.
- Check the Map Tab: In your menu, there is a specific sub-menu for Treasure Maps. It shows you the image and the riddle. If the image is grayed out, you haven't found the map yet.
- Listen to Atreus: Sometimes the kid will literally point out "Hey, there's something over there!" Trust the boy.
The Lake of Nine is more than just a transition zone. It’s a giant vault. Between the Boatman’s Reward and the Dead and Bloated caches, you have enough resources to significantly boost Kratos's stats before you ever step foot in Helheim or Niflheim.
Get the maps from the Volunder Mines, the Mason’s Channel, and the Lookout Tower first. Then, make a circuit around the Isle of Death and the Cliffs of the Raven. This covers the bulk of the "lake" treasures in one go. If you’re missing one, it’s almost certainly because the water level hasn’t dropped enough or you haven't opened the path to Veithurgard yet.