Mastering the Valkyrie Armor in God of War: A Comprehensive Guide
The Valkyrie armor in God of War (2018) is one of the most sought-after sets due to its balanced stats and impressive performance. To fully max out your Valkyrie armor, you’ll need to defeat all nine Valkyries, gather specific Asgardian Steel and Perfect Asgardian Steel resources, and have a substantial amount of Hacksilver. This process involves progressing through the main story, unlocking new realms, and mastering combat to overcome these challenging foes.
Acquiring the Valkyrie Armor
Before you can even think about upgrading, you need to acquire the Valkyrie armor pieces. These are obtained as drops from the Valkyries themselves:
- Valkyrie Cuirass: Dropped by defeating Gunnr in Thamur’s Corpse.
- Valkyrie Gauntlets: Dropped by defeating Eir in The Mountain.
- Valkyrie Waist Guard: Dropped by defeating Kara in the River Pass.
Once you have all three pieces, you’re ready to begin the upgrade process.
Gathering Resources: Asgardian Steel and Perfect Asgardian Steel
The primary materials needed for upgrading the Valkyrie armor are Asgardian Steel and Perfect Asgardian Steel.
- Asgardian Steel: This resource is dropped by every Valkyrie you defeat, including those in Midgard and other realms.
- Perfect Asgardian Steel: This is a rarer material dropped only by the tougher Valkyries located in realms outside of Midgard. Specifically, you’ll get it from:
- Gondul in Muspelheim
- Rota in Helheim
- Olrun in Alfheim
- Eir in The Mountain
- The Valkyrie Queen Sigrun in the Council of Valkyries
The Upgrade Process
Each piece of the Valkyrie armor can be upgraded multiple times at the blacksmith shops of Brok and Sindri. Each upgrade requires a specific amount of Asgardian Steel, Perfect Asgardian Steel, and Hacksilver. The exact amounts will vary depending on the current level of the armor and the next level you’re aiming for.
- Visit Brok or Sindri: Travel to one of their shops, accessible throughout the game.
- Select “Buy/Upgrade”: Navigate to the armor section and select the Valkyrie armor piece you wish to upgrade.
- Check Requirements: The upgrade screen will display the necessary materials (Asgardian Steel, Perfect Asgardian Steel, Hacksilver) and the stat boosts the upgrade will provide.
- Confirm Upgrade: If you have the required materials and Hacksilver, confirm the upgrade.
Repeat this process for each piece of the armor until they are all fully upgraded. The higher the upgrade level, the more challenging the Valkyries you’ll need to defeat to acquire the necessary materials. This may be a good opportunity to explore more about gaming and how it might be used to make an impact at the Games Learning Society.
Tips for Defeating Valkyries
Defeating Valkyries is no easy feat. They are among the toughest enemies in God of War, so here are some tips to improve your chances:
- Maximize Your Stats: Focus on increasing your Strength, Runic, Defense, and Vitality. These stats are crucial for dealing damage, surviving their attacks, and managing your health.
- Upgrade Your Weapons: Ensure the Leviathan Axe and Blades of Chaos are at their highest possible levels. Also, upgrade your Runic Attacks to Level 3 and use yellow Epic-rank gear.
- Utilize Runic Attacks: Powerful Runic Attacks can stagger the Valkyries and deal significant damage. Experiment with different combinations to find what works best for you.
- Master Parrying and Dodging: Valkyries have predictable but punishing attack patterns. Learning to parry and dodge effectively is essential for survival.
- Equip Enchantments: Use enchantments that boost your stats, provide additional perks, or offer resistance to specific damage types.
- Consider Ivaldi’s Armor: Ivaldi’s armor from Niflheim can be helpful due to its regenerating health perk, which provides constant healing during the intense battles.
The Significance of Fully Upgraded Valkyrie Armor
A fully upgraded Valkyrie armor set offers substantial benefits:
- High Stats: It provides some of the highest overall stats in the game, balancing Strength, Runic, Defense, Vitality, Luck, and Cooldown.
- Versatility: The balanced stats make it suitable for a variety of playstyles, allowing you to deal significant damage while remaining durable.
- Prestige: It signifies your mastery of the game and your ability to conquer its most challenging content.
Conclusion
Maxing out the Valkyrie armor in God of War requires dedication, skill, and a bit of patience. By defeating all the Valkyries, gathering the necessary resources, and upgrading each piece of the armor, you’ll be rewarded with one of the most powerful and versatile armor sets in the game. So, prepare yourself, sharpen your skills, and embark on the journey to claim your place among the gods. As you journey towards becoming a god, consider attending an event hosted by the GamesLearningSociety.org to learn more about the community.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is Valkyrie armor the absolute best armor in God of War?
There’s no single “best” armor, as it depends on your playstyle. The Valkyrie armor is excellent due to its balanced stats, while Ivaldi’s Mist armor is good for survivability, and certain Dwarven armors offer unique perks.
2. What are the specific stats boosted by Valkyrie armor?
The Valkyrie armor boosts Strength, Runic, Defense, Vitality, Luck, and Cooldown. The exact amount of each stat depends on the upgrade level of the armor.
3. Can I upgrade the Valkyrie armor in New Game Plus?
Yes, in New Game Plus, you can further upgrade the Valkyrie armor, increasing its stats even higher.
4. What’s the fastest way to earn Hacksilver for upgrades?
Farming Niflheim is a good way to get Hacksilver. Also, selling artifacts and valuable items you don’t need can quickly boost your Hacksilver reserves.
5. Which Valkyrie should I fight first?
Gunnr in Thamur’s Corpse is generally considered the easiest Valkyrie to start with.
6. What Runic Attacks are recommended for Valkyrie fights?
Powerful Runic Attacks like Leviathan’s Wake, Ivaldi’s Anvil, and Wrath of the Frost Ancient for the Leviathan Axe, and Rage of the Furies and Hyperion Slam for the Blades of Chaos are highly effective.
7. Do Valkyries respawn after being defeated?
No, Valkyries do not respawn in a regular playthrough. In New Game Plus, you will refight them at a much higher level.
8. Is it possible to beat the Valkyries at a low level?
While challenging, it’s possible with skillful parrying, dodging, and strategic use of Runic Attacks. However, it’s generally recommended to be at least level 7 or 8.
9. What role does Luck play in Valkyrie fights?
Luck can increase the chance of activating perks on your armor and talismans, potentially giving you an edge in battle.
10. What are some good enchantments to use against Valkyries?
Enchantments that boost your stats, increase resistance to status effects, or provide health regeneration are all beneficial.
11. How important is parrying against Valkyries?
Parrying is crucial. Many of the Valkyries’ attacks can be parried, creating openings for counter-attacks.
12. Is there any armor better than Valkyrie armor for specific builds?
Yes, for a purely Runic-focused build, Ivaldi’s Deadly Mist armor might be preferable due to its higher Runic stat. For other builds, the Thegn’s Armor in Valhalla is also considered to be a strong set.
13. Can the Valkyrie armor be upgraded indefinitely?
No, the Valkyrie armor has a maximum upgrade level, beyond which it cannot be further improved in the initial playthrough. You can continue to upgrade it in New Game Plus.
14. How does the Valkyrie armor compare to the Zeus armor?
The Zeus armor, unlockable in New Game Plus, offers significantly higher damage output but at the cost of reduced defense. The Valkyrie armor is more balanced and forgiving.
15. What is the most important thing to remember when fighting Valkyries?
Patience and persistence are key. Learn their attack patterns, don’t get greedy with your attacks, and be prepared to die multiple times before succeeding.