Should You Upgrade Gear in God of War? A Comprehensive Guide

Unequivocally, yes, you should upgrade your gear in God of War. Gear upgrades are a crucial part of the progression system, directly impacting your ability to survive and thrive in the harsh Norse world. Ignoring upgrades will leave you woefully underpowered, turning even basic encounters into frustrating slogs. Mastering the upgrade system is essential for truly experiencing God of War’s epic narrative and challenging combat.

Why Upgrading Gear is Essential

The core of God of War’s gameplay revolves around a constant cycle of combat, exploration, and upgrading. Here’s why upgrading your gear is non-negotiable:

• Increased Stats: Upgrading armor directly boosts Kratos’ key stats like Strength, Defense, Runic, Vitality, Luck, and Cooldown. These stats govern damage output, damage resistance, skill potency, health, and the frequency of special attacks. Without upgrades, these stats will lag behind enemy scaling, leading to significantly reduced effectiveness in combat.
• Weapon Enhancement: Weapons, particularly the Leviathan Axe and the Blades of Chaos, gain increased damage and new moves through upgrades. These upgrades often unlock powerful combos and abilities that are vital for dealing with different enemy types.
• Armor Perks and Skills: Upgraded armor can unlock or enhance unique perks. These perks offer various bonuses, like increased damage after dodging, resistance to specific damage types, or health regeneration. Maximizing these perks is key to tailoring Kratos to your preferred playstyle.
• Progression Wall Mitigation: God of War doesn’t explicitly gate progression with levels, but encountering enemies that are significantly higher level than you will result in Kratos dealing minimal damage and receiving excessive damage. Upgrading your gear allows you to effectively close this gap and tackle challenging areas.
• Enjoying the Full Experience: A fully upgraded Kratos is a force to be reckoned with. Upgrading allows you to fully explore the game’s combat mechanics, experiment with different builds, and dominate even the most challenging encounters.
• Atreus’s Abilities Enhancement: Don’t forget about Atreus! While his armor primarily affects appearance, upgrading his armor accessories significantly impacts his arrow abilities and overall support capabilities, making him a much more valuable asset in combat.

When to Prioritize Upgrades

While constantly upgrading everything might seem ideal, resources are often limited, especially in the early game. Here’s a strategy for prioritizing upgrades:

• Weapons First: Focus on upgrading the Leviathan Axe and the Blades of Chaos as soon as possible. These are your primary damage dealers, and their upgrades provide the most significant immediate impact on combat effectiveness.
• Prioritize Key Stats: Identify the stats that align with your playstyle. If you prefer a more aggressive approach, prioritize Strength and Runic. For a more defensive build, focus on Defense and Vitality. Luck is generally a useful stat to increase overall XP and Hacksilver acquisition.
• Upgrade Strategically: Don’t blindly upgrade everything. Examine the stat boosts and perks offered by each upgrade. Focus on upgrades that provide the most benefit for your current build and playstyle.
• Don’t Neglect Atreus: Upgrade Atreus’s armor accessories to enhance his arrow abilities. Different arrow types are effective against different enemy types, so diversifying his arsenal is crucial.
• Use Resources Wisely: Rare resources are often required for higher-level upgrades. Research which armor sets and upgrades are most desirable and save your resources accordingly.
• Early Game Focus: In the early hours, upgrading your weapons is more important than armor. You will find early armor lacking, so wait until you can afford better pieces.

Understanding Different Armor Sets

God of War features a wide variety of armor sets, each with its strengths and weaknesses. Consider these popular options:

• Steinbjorn Armor: Excellent defense and health restoration make this set a solid choice for players who struggle with survivability.
• Mist Armor (Niflheim): Requires venturing into the challenging realm of Niflheim, but offers balanced stats and useful perks.
• Zeus Armor (New Game Plus): The most powerful armor set in the game, but incredibly difficult to obtain, requiring the defeat of all Valkyries in New Game Plus.
• Dragon Scaled Armor (God of War Ragnarok): One of the best armors in the game but requires you to defeat Dragons and Drakes.
• Nidavellir Armor: Focuses on health regeneration when stunning enemies.

The Importance of Hacksilver

Hacksilver is the primary currency in God of War, and you’ll need a lot of it to upgrade your gear. Here are some tips for maximizing Hacksilver acquisition:

• Explore Thoroughly: Search every nook and cranny for chests containing Hacksilver.
• Complete Side Quests: Side quests often reward significant amounts of Hacksilver.
• Sell Artifacts: Artifacts serve no purpose other than to be sold for Hacksilver.
• Increase Luck: The Luck stat increases Hacksilver acquisition, making it a worthwhile investment.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is it worth it to fully upgrade Kratos’ initial armor?

It depends on your playstyle and difficulty setting. If you’re struggling, even a small stat boost can help. However, saving resources for better armor sets is generally a more efficient strategy. If you are comfortable with the gameplay, save your resources.

2. What armor should I upgrade in God of War?

The Steinbjorn armor is a great all-around choice due to its high defense and health restoration abilities. The Zeus armor is the strongest but requires a New Game Plus playthrough and defeating the Valkyries.

3. Should I sell everything in God of War?

Yes, all collectibles are safe to sell, including artifacts. Once you pick them up, they’re registered in your collection, so selling them won’t affect completion.

4. Does armor matter for Atreus?

Not directly. Atreus’s armor pieces are cosmetic. However, his armor accessories significantly impact his arrow abilities and are worth upgrading.

5. Is the Zeus armor the best armor in God of War?

Yes, the Zeus armor is considered the best, but it’s also the hardest to obtain and upgrade, requiring you to beat all Valkyries in New Game Plus.

6. Is luck worth it in God of War?

Yes. Luck increases XP gains, Hacksilver acquisitions, and the chance of activating certain perks, making it a valuable stat to invest in.

7. What stats should I focus on in God of War?

Focus on stats that align with your playstyle. Strength and Runic for aggressive builds, Defense and Vitality for defensive builds. Luck is universally useful.

8. Are artifacts worth keeping in God of War?

No. Artifacts should be sold for Hacksilver as they serve no other purpose.

9. Is Nidavellir armor worth upgrading?

Yes, especially in the early game. The health regeneration it provides after stunning enemies can be a lifesaver.

10. What is the highest level of armor in God of War?

All armor can be upgraded to a max Power Level 9.

11. Does upgrading armor change its appearance?

Yes, upgrading armor can alter its appearance, adding new details and visual enhancements as it progresses.

12. Where can I find the resources needed to upgrade my gear?

Resources can be found by exploring the world, completing quests, defeating enemies, and opening chests.

13. What happens if I don’t upgrade my gear?

Enemies will become increasingly difficult, and you’ll deal significantly less damage. You’ll struggle to progress and won’t be able to fully experience the game’s combat.

14. Can you respec your gear upgrades in God of War?

No, you cannot respec your gear upgrades. Therefore, it’s important to plan your upgrades carefully and prioritize the stats and perks that best suit your playstyle.

15. What is the best way to learn more about God of War’s gameplay and mechanics?

Explore online resources like guides and forums, watch gameplay videos, and experiment with different builds and strategies to find what works best for you. Consider exploring educational gaming resources, like the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org, for insights into game design and learning through play.

Final Thoughts

Upgrading gear in God of War is not just an option; it’s a necessity. By understanding the game’s upgrade system and strategically investing your resources, you can transform Kratos into an unstoppable force and fully immerse yourself in the epic world of Norse mythology. Don’t neglect your gear, and you’ll be well on your way to conquering any challenge that comes your way. Good luck, and may the gods be with you!