Challenge Mode#
The challenge content in God of War Ragnarök goes far beyond the main story itself. Hidden across the Realms are large amounts of optional combat challenges, trial towers, and forgotten side bosses. From Muspelheim’s trial tower to the primal hunts of Valkyries and Berserkers, and on to replaying on Give Me God of War after the credits, tests of skill are everywhere. A layered breakdown follows.
Story and Clear Challenges#
Main Story Challenges#
The main story opens with Kratos and Atreus heading north and closes with the epic showdown of Ragnarök. A first clear is the baseline for experiencing the story; the challenge layer lies in:
| Challenge | Description |
|---|---|
| Story clear | Complete every story chapter |
| One difficulty throughout | Push through on the highest difficulty |
| No-death run | Try not to fall at any point during the playthrough |
Give Me God of War#
Unlocking — or selecting Give Me God of War on a new save — greatly empowers enemies and leaves almost no margin, the ultimate trial for action players:
| Difficulty | Traits | Fits |
|---|---|---|
| Give Me No Mercy | Stronger enemies | Advanced players |
| Give Me God of War | Extremely strong enemies, fragile player | Hardcore players |
On Give Me God of War, prioritize the core skills of the Leviathan Axe and Blades of Chaos, and master shield parry and block timing.
Weapon Upgrade Challenges#
Leviathan Axe#
The Leviathan Axe centers on frost and the throw-recall loop. Upgrading frost runes and skills powers moves like the storm dance:
| Upgrade Path | Effect | Challenge Value |
|---|---|---|
| Frost combos | Faster freezing | Against fire enemies |
| Throw and recall | Buffed axe throws | Ranged crowd control |
| Runic Attacks | Unlock powerful finishers | Burst damage |
Blades of Chaos#
The Blades of Chaos focus on fire and area damage for crowd clearing and long combos. Upgrading flame runes and skills like the whirlwind slash boosts area bursts:
| Upgrade Path | Effect | Challenge Value |
|---|---|---|
| Flame strings | Sustained burning | Crowd damage |
| Whirlwind slash | Area knockback | Crowd control |
| Runic Attacks | Fire finishers | High burst |
Alternate between the two weapons: freeze enemies with the axe’s frost, then detonate with the Blades’ flames — the core rhythm for sustain and hard boss fights.
Runic and Skill Challenges#
Runic Attacks are Kratos’s strongest burst tools, split into light and heavy runes, swappable and upgradeable in each weapon’s tree.
Runic Setup Ideas#
| Rune Type | Traits | Recommended Scenes |
|---|---|---|
| Light runes | Short cooldowns, combo fillers | Regular combat |
| Heavy runes | High damage, long cooldowns | Boss bursts |
| Flame runes | Area burning | Crowds |
| Frost runes | Freeze control | Against elites |
Pair light and heavy runes well and chain them during enemy stagger windows for massive damage — the key to Valkyrie and Berserker fights.
Smith and Gear Challenges#
The smiths (the Huldra Brothers) upgrade armor, weapons, and enchants. Challenge play asks you to gather materials and build a loadout tailored to your combat style.
| Gear Path | Effect | Challenge Scenes |
|---|---|---|
| Strength armor | Higher melee output | Hard-hitting builds |
| Defense armor | Better survivability | High-difficulty modes |
| Enchant boosts | Added stat resistances | Against elemental bosses |
Crafting a full high-tier set and maxing it out is the precondition for sustained survival and output on Give Me God of War.
Muspelheim Trials#
Muspelheim’s trial tower is one of the game’s signature challenges: a series of timed, limited-health, condition-bound combat trials that unlock tier by tier up to the final Ordeal King.
Trial Types#
| Trial | Condition | Key Points |
|---|---|---|
| Timed kills | Clear all enemies within the time limit | Prioritize AoE bursts |
| No-damage trial | Take no damage throughout | Lean on parry and dodge |
| Element lock | Only the set element allowed | Build around the element |
| Boss chain | Defeat elites back to back | Preserve health and skills |
Trial Rewards#
Clearing each stage yields rare materials, enchants, and upgrade resources; the final challenge also unlocks powerful Kratos-exclusive gear — a key target of the challenge layer.
Ordeals (Ordeal of Fury / High-Difficulty Gauntlets)#
A post-clear gauntlet chains multiple elites and bosses back to back, testing build strength and execution ceilings. Attempt after weapons and armor are maxed.
| Stage | Content | Advice |
|---|---|---|
| Elite waves | Multiple elite waves | Fire AoE damage |
| Mixed elements | Enemies of many elements | Swap weapons flexibly |
| Final chain | A strong boss finale | Maxed gear + skilled play |
Dragon Nests#
Dragon Nests are scattered across the realms, holding imprisoned dragons and powerful enemies. Clearing them yields rare materials and dragon-mount-related rewards.
| Nest | Location Hint | Reward |
|---|---|---|
| Dragon Nest A | Realm secrets | Rare metals and enchants |
| Dragon Nest B | Hidden area | Advanced materials |
| Dragon Nest C | Near the main path | Gear upgrade resources |
Mind the dragon’s breath and tail sweeps in the nests; use dodges and frost throws to control the field.
Valkyrie and Berserker Challenges#
These hidden challenges — no-damage, timed, and more — rank among the highest-tier combat opponents in the realms, dropping top armor and materials when defeated. They test reaction speed and combo mastery.
Challenge Keys#
- Learn each boss’s wind-up animations and parry in time
- Use Runic bursts in stagger windows for damage
- Wear targeted enchants and resistance gear
- Stay patient; a failed attempt is a lesson
The Ragnarök Ending and Post-Game#
After the Ragnarök ending, the game opens extensive post-game content: free exploration, clearing remaining favours, completing collections, and fighting every hidden boss — the true stage of challenge play.
| Post-Game | Description |
|---|---|
| Free exploration | Return to the realms and sweep unexplored areas |
| Favour completion | Finish all favours and the King’s Trials |
| Hidden bosses | Fight Valkyries and Berserkers |
| Collection completion | Fill out runes, armor, and the codex |
Achievements and Trophies#
Trophies cover story, favours, collections, and challenges. No-damage trials and Give Me God of War are the main pain points.
| Type | Condition | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Clear trophy | Finish the story | Low |
| Favour trophy | Complete all favours | Medium |
| Collection trophy | Fill every collection | Medium-high |
| Hard-mode trophy | Give Me God of War related | High |
Recommended Challenge Order#
| Order | Goal | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Story clear | Learn the controls and the plot |
| 2 | Clear favours and Dragon Nests | Gather materials to upgrade gear |
| 3 | Muspelheim trials | Practice timed and conditioned fights |
| 4 | Valkyries and Berserkers | Take on the hard bosses |
| 5 | Ordeal gauntlets | Test the finished build |
| 6 | Give Me God of War replay | The ultimate core challenge |
FAQ#
When should I do the Muspelheim trials?#
After mid-story with gear in shape; early margins are too thin.
Does Give Me God of War need a new save?#
Yes, it is usually selected on a new save; you can also replay at higher difficulty after clearing the game.
Where are the Valkyries?#
Spread across the realms; track down clues to locate them. Defeating them yields powerful armor.
Key Bosses: Practical Notes#
| BOSS | Phase Keys | Recommended Play |
|---|---|---|
| Helm Björn (Björn) | Two-phase transformation shatters ice blocks | Freeze with the Leviathan Axe, then chain Blades of Chaos fire combos |
| Thunder God Klaus | Three-stage hammer slams | Parry its lunge and counter; dodge the circular electric ring |
| Valkyrie Queen (Gná) | Fast strings + Valkyrie summons | Keep mid-range; use runic heals after taking damage |
| Bal’ouyang (Haz) | Phase shifts to fire | Suppress its aerial phase with frozen blades |
Runes and Gear Upgrades#
- Runes: prioritize ease-of-input, counter, and rampage runes to raise your margin; stacking multiple layers greatly boosts single-hit burst.
- Weapon upgrades: main frost damage on the Leviathan Axe, fire and raw output on the Blades of Chaos; pick the elemental path that suits your feel.
- Armor sets: the high-resistance set dropped by the Valkyrie Queen offers the best value; the post-game supplies max-level crafting materials.
Muspelheim and the Ordeals#
- Muspelheim challenge tower has six floors — the first four with fixed patterns, the last two randomized; clearing all lets you fight the Valkyrie at the top for a relic.
- Ordeal (Valhalla) trials: open in designated areas; face multi-wave enemies and aim to clear in one pass for ultra-rare crafting materials.
- Tidy up runestones and herbs before trials; in high-difficulty modes one mistake can force a restart.
Post-Clear Collection#
- Completing the full “Bells of the Nine Realms” collection unlocks hidden dialogue; related collectibles are spread across the main story’s regions.
- Free exploration after the Ragnarök ending still lets you clear every Dragon Nest, the Valkyrie Queen, and the remaining trials one by one.
Achievement Keys#
- Story clear + all trials clear + full collection (runes, relics, chests) — these three are the platinum core.
- The Valkyrie kill-count achievement requires defeating all 7+1 bosses.
- Most combat achievements can be mopped up after clearing “God of War mode” on the highest difficulty.
This page was last updated on 2026-07-25; content is based on the current game version.