To get into the new PS5 adventure in the best possible way, we have compiled the most valuable tips for you.
Four years after God of War, Kratos and Atreus continue their conflict with the Norse gods on the PlayStation 4 and 5: There”s slaughter, puzzling, and thrills along the way. God of War Ragnarok is the brilliant conclusion to the series and, according to our test, already a clear contender for the best game of 2022 – alongside the Olympic Elden Ring, of course.
But four years later, many an axe-wielding muscle will logically be a little out of practice. And what”s with the chests? To get you back into God-of-War best shape, we”re sending you off to Gods training camp with these six beginner tips. All without dangerous spoilers, of course!
Table of Contents
1. the optimal playing style
Is this not more of the same? – Not at all! While God of War Ragnarok is built on the same technical foundation as God of War (2018), it is far more than a part 1.5, so don”t be confused or disappointed that the first two hours of play feel a bit sluggish. They only serve as an introduction to a game with many new facets and improvements, which only really starts from the world of Svartalfheim.
An important note: Despite many and larger worlds, God of War Ragnarok is still not an open-world game, but a linear story game with some freedom. It offers you the option to strictly follow the storyline, pick up some loot on the side or travel to completely new areas for side quests.
You can complete these side quests right away because they are beautifully designed, but you don”t have to do it out of fear because you assume you won”t get the chance otherwise. At certain points in the game, Kratos and Atreus casually mention that they have some time for other adventures right now – this is the perfect time to tackle side quests via the door portal.
For the best play style, we recommend: Follow the storyline, always keep an eye out for treasure off the paths, leave what you don”t feel like doing at the moment and save before tackling optional bosses or long side quests so you can always back out if in doubt.
2. Get to grips with all the skills
How it hums! With Kratos” light and heavy punches, you can deal out some serious damage to the enemies. However, that”s only enough to get you started! That”s why we strongly advise you to try out all abilities in the first fights, as the later battles quickly increase in difficulty and require much more skill.
Concentrate on one move and try it out until it works. Then you can gradually expand your fighting repertoire with all the other attacks. Important note: Unlike in Part 1, you have two weapons with different effects and tactics right from the start. So switch between them regularly in order to remain more flexible in battle.
- The axe is very suitable for single opponents and causes ice damage. By throwing the axe easily and recalling it, you can use it as a boomerang and deal ranged damage. With a heavy axe throw, you can freeze enemies completely, taking them out of action for a short time. Don”t forget: Boost enemies into the air and keep them up there to deal a lot of damage!
- The Chaos Blades are very effective against large crowds of enemies and deal fire damage. With a light throw you can set individual enemies on fire, with a heavy throw you can draw distant enemies towards you and deal with them individually. Don”t forget: Propel the enemies into the air and keep them up there to do a lot of damage!
3. Dodge, block and counter are your best friends
With a good offense comes a good defense. With no stamina bar, you can conveniently dodge as often as you like, which is definitely a good idea when you”re surrounded by crowds of enemies. In order not to lose your camera during quick dodges, we recommend that you mark the enemies. Also, don”t hesitate to extend your shield periodically to deflect a few blows. Any damage you don”t take will pay off later.
Important note: You can block attacks marked in blue, attacks marked in red always hit. The only thing that helps here is dodging. To counter properly, you have to extend your shield just before the opponent”s blow arrives. This requires some practice and a sense of rhythm, especially as the first shield extends very slowly. Later shields are much faster and easier to handle.
4. Atreus is not a story deco
Son Atreus is not only pubescent and mysterious, but by now a real warrior. Therefore, don”t leave him on the bench! You can always call in a shot with his bow via the square button. The individual damage may not be worth mentioning, but over a long fight this support pays off noticeably.
In addition, you should deal with his own skill tree and spend his experience points on effective manoeuvres. Unlike its predecessor, no one should underestimate its combat power now.
5. loo, loo, loo
Nobody said that god wars are cheap. To get the best possible equipment, you should take everything you can get your hands on. Destroy any barrels or hanging containers with your axe that seem unimportant at first glance.
Here you will often find valuable hacking silver currency, green healing orbs and red rage orbs. Also, keep your eyes open and look for glowing chests. While many of these chests are right on the side of the path, others are hidden behind small puzzles.
These puzzles all follow a similar pattern. Either you have to clear an entrance first or discover it by just walking around. It”s also always a good idea to see if Kratos” grappling hook chaos blades can be used. He can use them to lower himself to a secret ledge or pull himself up to one. It”s worth taking these puzzles and crates with you, as lots of useful loot beckons, which in turn can be invested in new equipment at the Dwarven Blacksmiths.
6. real dwarf shopping
Who needs an arms dealer when you have dwarf friends like Sindri and Brokk! Both in their main branch in their house and in the many secondary branches in the worlds you can buy new equipment, improve your old one and apply effective modifications.
Always rattle off the exclamation marks in the sections first, as these will let you know which area has new offers at the moment. Don”t forget to sell old armour and artefacts to get more hacking silver faster – you can always buy them back later!
If you don”t want to bother with the RPG elements and damage values of all weapons, you can use the automation function. An important tip at the end: Buy a revival stone at any time to get a second chance if you die!
What tips would you recommend to beginners of God of War? Did we forget an important tip? Let us know in the comments!
