You’ve probably spent way too much time wandering around Midgard, freezing to death in the snow, trying to find those damn Norns. It's a whole thing. But then you stumble across a Nornir chest tucked away in the Well of Urd, and honestly, it looks easier than it is. You see the chest. You see the runes. Then you realize you have to light torches, and one of them is basically in another zip code.
Finding the well of urd nornir chest isn’t the hard part—it’s the verticality of the puzzle that usually trips people up. Most players expect all three seals to be within eyeshot of the chest. In Midgard, Santa Monica Studio decided to play with your depth perception instead.
Where is this thing exactly?
You’ll find the chest during the main quest "Word of Fate" or if you're just back-tracking for that 100% completion trophy. It sits at the base of the cliffs leading up to the Norns' dwelling. If you're looking at the chest, you're looking at a classic "brazier" puzzle. You aren't throwing your axe at spinning wooden paddles this time; you need the Blades of Chaos.
Fire is the key.
💡 You might also like: Why the Disney Infinity Star Wars Starter Pack Still Matters for Collectors in 2026
Lighting the Runes: A Step-by-Step Guide
The runes on this specific chest look like a "C," an "R," and an "n." You have to find the matching braziers hidden in the environment and set them ablaze.
The First Brazier (The "C" Rune)
This one is a freebie. It’s sitting right across from the well of urd nornir chest on a rock. You don’t even need to move Kratos’ feet. Just aim your Blades of Chaos, hit the heavy attack (L2 + R2), and watch it ignite. One down, two to go.
The Second Brazier (The "n" Rune)
Okay, here is where the climbing starts. You need to head up the cliff face directly behind the chest. Use the grapple points. Once you reach the first "landing" or ledge, look up and to your left. The "n" rune brazier is perched on a high rock.
📖 Related: Grand Theft Auto Games Timeline: Why the Chronology is a Beautiful Mess
Pro tip: If you can’t reach it with your blades, you’re standing too far away or you haven't climbed high enough. You actually have to be on that first elevated level to get the angle right.
The Third Brazier (The "R" Rune)
This is the one everyone misses. You have to keep climbing. Go all the way to the top of the cliff area where the path starts to narrow. Look for a spot where you can grapple down to a lower, isolated ledge that you couldn't reach from the bottom.
- Climb past the second rune.
- Reach the upper plateau.
- Turn around and look for the prompt to drop down the cliffside.
- The "R" rune brazier is sitting right there on that ledge.
Light it up. Once the third flame is burning, you’ll hear that satisfying "clink" of the magical seal breaking.
👉 See also: Among Us Spider-Man: Why Everyone Is Still Obsessed With These Mods
What’s Actually Inside?
Inside the well of urd nornir chest, you’re getting one of two things: an Idunn Apple or a Horn of Blood Mead.
If you’ve been diligent about finding these, you know the drill. Three apples increase your maximum health bar. Three horns increase your maximum Spartan Rage. By the time you reach the Well of Urd, your stats are probably already decent, but you'll need every bit of health for the endgame bosses (looking at you, Hrolf Kraki).
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Wasting Sigil Arrows: You don't actually need Freya’s hex bubbles for this specific chest. The braziers are all reachable with the length of the Blades of Chaos. Save your arrows for the puzzles in Vanaheim.
- Checking the wrong level: If you're standing at the chest and looking for the third rune, you're going to have a bad time. It's physically impossible to see it from the ground.
- Ignoring the sounds: Listen for the chime. If you think you hit a brazier but the rune on the chest is still glowing, the flame didn't catch.
Beyond the Chest: Other Well of Urd Collectibles
While you're in the neighborhood, don't just grab the loot and run. This area is dense.
- Odin’s Raven: Look up. Way up. There's a bird perched on the icy peaks above the arena where you fight the travelers.
- Legendary Chest: There is a crack in a wall you can smash through near the top of the climbing section that holds a shield attachment (Rond of Purification).
- Hel-Tear: If you're visiting later in the game, there's a Hel-Tear near the entrance that counts toward the "Frozen Sparks" quest.
Honestly, the well of urd nornir chest is one of the more rewarding puzzles because it forces you to actually look at the environment’s layout rather than just standing in one spot and spinning circles.
Your Next Moves
Once you've cracked the chest, make sure you've also checked the "Remnants of Asgard" in the same area if you've already finished the main story. If you're still missing health or rage, your next stop should be the Raider Hideout or The Oarsmen in Midgard—both have Nornir chests that are significantly more annoying than this one. Go grab those apples.