God of War Ragnarok: Dominate the Early Game – A Comprehensive Guide
The best early start in God of War Ragnarok centers around a balanced approach to combat, exploration, and resource management. Focus on acquiring the Nidavellir armor set as quickly as possible for its excellent stat boosts (particularly Strength and Defense) and its passive perks, prioritizing side quests in Svartalfheim to obtain it. Complement this with the Forbidden Grip of the Ages axe pommel for versatile stat enhancement. Invest early experience into unlocking key Leviathan Axe and Blades of Chaos abilities that offer elemental buffs and powerful crowd control. Finally, diligently collect Odin’s Ravens to unlock the Raven Tears armor set, providing substantial survivability for later challenges. This strategy offers a robust foundation for tackling the challenges that await.
Mastering the First Few Hours: A Deep Dive
The initial hours of God of War Ragnarok are crucial for setting the stage for your entire playthrough. Making the right choices early on can dramatically impact your combat effectiveness and overall enjoyment of the game.
Armor is Key: Nidavellir, Lunda’s Lost Armor, and Raven Tears
As mentioned, the Nidavellir armor set, obtained in Svartalfheim, is a game-changer early on. This set significantly boosts your Strength and Defense stats, making you a much more formidable opponent. Look for it as one of the very first side quests you can do!
Alternatively, Lunda’s Lost Armor is a surprisingly powerful option. While it focuses on inflicting poison, its damage buffs against poisoned enemies can be devastating, particularly against early-game foes. The chest piece inflicts poison on unarmed hits, and the other pieces boost damage against poisoned enemies.
Don’t forget about the Raven Tears armor set. This provides insane survivability. Collect Odin’s Ravens diligently while you play. You can get this armor relatively early by killing 18 of Odin’s Ravens from Niflheim.
Weapon Upgrades and Pommels: Powering Up Your Arsenal
Focus on upgrading the Leviathan Axe and Blades of Chaos as soon as possible. Prioritize skills that add elemental effects to your attacks, such as frost and burn. These effects not only increase damage but also provide valuable crowd control, like staggering enemies.
The Forbidden Grip of the Ages axe pommel is an excellent early-game choice. It provides a well-rounded stat boost and can be obtained relatively early by solving some environmental puzzles. Don’t miss out on this important item.
Exploration and Resource Gathering: Leaving No Stone Unturned
Svartalfheim should be your initial focus for exploration. This realm is rich in resources, and you’ll find plenty of opportunities to gather materials for upgrading your equipment. Smash every vase and hanging bucket you see.
Pay close attention to the environment and look for hidden areas and collectibles. These often contain valuable resources, such as Hacksilver (the game’s currency) and upgrade materials.
Combat Tactics: Mastering the Art of War
Embrace a balanced combat style early on. Don’t rely solely on one weapon; switch between the Leviathan Axe and the Blades of Chaos to exploit enemy weaknesses. For example, the axe is excellent for ranged attacks and dealing with armored enemies, while the Blades are ideal for crowd control and dealing with elemental-vulnerable foes.
Learn to parry and dodge effectively. These are crucial skills for survival, especially on higher difficulty settings. Practice your timing and master the art of evading enemy attacks.
Side Quests and Labors: Maximizing XP Gains
Complete as many side quests as possible early on. These quests provide valuable experience points, resources, and equipment upgrades. In particular, focus on quests in Svartalfheim to quickly acquire the Nidavellir armor.
Pay attention to the Labors tab in the game’s menu. Completing these tasks rewards you with extra XP, which can significantly accelerate your progression.
The Importance of Stats: Strength, Defense, and Vitality
Understand the importance of different stats. Strength increases your damage output, Defense reduces the damage you take, and Vitality increases your health. Focus on increasing these stats early on to improve your survivability and damage potential.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the best early game build in God of War Ragnarok?
A good early-game build focuses on Strength and Defense. Use the Nidavellir armor set, the Forbidden Grip of the Ages axe pommel, and invest in skills that increase your damage output and survivability. The Furious Maul and Cursed Empress Handles are also good options for specific builds.
2. Where should I go first in Ragnarok?
Svartalfheim is the first region you should explore. It contains crucial resources and equipment, including the Nidavellir armor set. Focus on completing the side quests in this realm to gain a significant advantage early on.
3. What is the best early game axe pommel in God of War Ragnarok?
The Forbidden Grip of the Ages is one of the best early game axe pommels. It provides a well-rounded stat boost and can be obtained by solving some environmental puzzles.
4. What is the best early game armor set in God of War Ragnarok?
The Nidavellir armor set is widely considered the best early game armor set. It provides a significant boost to your Strength and Defense stats. Lunda’s Lost Armor and Raven Tears Armor are also strong contenders depending on playstyle.
5. How do I collect Odin’s Ravens in God of War Ragnarok?
Odin’s Ravens are scattered throughout the Nine Realms. They are small, green birds that can be easily identified by their glowing eyes. Use your axe or blades to kill them. Collecting them unlocks rewards, including the Raven Tears armor set.
6. How do I get the Nidavellir armor set?
The Nidavellir armor set is obtained by completing side quests in Svartalfheim. Talk to the NPCs in Nidavellir to start the relevant quests.
7. What stats should I focus on early in God of War Ragnarok?
Focus on Strength, Defense, and Vitality. These stats will increase your damage output, reduce the damage you take, and increase your health, respectively.
8. How do I upgrade my weapons in God of War Ragnarok?
You can upgrade your weapons at the blacksmith shops located in various realms. You’ll need to gather resources, such as Hacksilver and upgrade materials, to upgrade your weapons.
9. What are the best early game skills to unlock in God of War Ragnarok?
Focus on unlocking skills that add elemental effects to your attacks and improve your crowd control abilities. These skills will significantly enhance your combat effectiveness.
10. How do I find hidden areas and collectibles in God of War Ragnarok?
Pay close attention to the environment. Look for clues, such as climbing walls, crevices, and breakable objects. Use your axe or blades to interact with the environment and reveal hidden areas.
11. Is Kratos weaker in Ragnarok compared to previous games?
While Kratos may seem weaker at the start of Ragnarok, this is primarily due to the loss of his Greek magic and the transition to a new combat system. As you progress through the game and upgrade your equipment and skills, Kratos will become significantly more powerful. The game developers confirmed that Kratos lost his Greek magic when he destroyed his homeland.
12. What is the hardest thing to do in God of War Ragnarok?
Many players consider defeating Gna, the Valkyrie Queen, to be the hardest challenge in God of War Ragnarok. This boss battle is only unlocked after completing the main story and requires a high level of skill and preparation.
13. What is the best shield in God of War Ragnarok?
The Dauntless Shield is widely considered one of the best shields in God of War Ragnarok. It allows you to parry attacks and unleash powerful counter-attacks.
14. How does the New Game Plus mode affect Kratos’ strength in God of War Ragnarok?
New Game Plus mode allows you to go beyond Kratos’ max strength. In this mode, Kratos can achieve a strength of 1003.
15. Where can I learn more about the educational aspects of gaming?
You can find resources and information on the educational value of games at the Games Learning Society. Check out GamesLearningSociety.org to learn more about how games can be used for learning and development.
By following these tips and strategies, you’ll be well-equipped to dominate the early game of God of War Ragnarok and set yourself up for a successful and enjoyable playthrough.