Unveiling the Mightiest Armor Sets in God of War Ragnarok: A Definitive Guide
The quest for the perfect armor set in God of War Ragnarok is a journey in itself. The game offers a plethora of options, each with its own unique stats, perks, and playstyle implications. To answer the core question directly: While the “strongest” armor is subjective and depends on your desired playstyle, Surtr’s Scorched Set and the Steinbjörn Armor Set stand out as top contenders for overall power and utility. Surtr’s Scorched Set focuses on maximizing raw damage output with boosts to Strength, Defense, and Vitality, making it ideal for aggressive players. On the other hand, the Steinbjörn Armor Set prioritizes defense and health regeneration, enabling you to withstand significant damage while sustaining yourself in prolonged battles. In New Game Plus, the Zeus Armor offers immense damage output at the cost of taking more damage. Let’s delve into the details of these and other top armor sets to help you forge your ultimate God of War Ragnarok build.
The Top Tier Armor Sets: A Detailed Look
Surtr’s Scorched Set: For the Unrelenting Warrior
This armor set is a commitment. Unlocking and upgrading it requires significant time and effort spent in the fiery Muspelheim challenges. However, the rewards are well worth the investment.
- Key Stats: Massive boosts to Strength, Defense, and Vitality.
- Skills: These skills amplify damage output and survivability, allowing Kratos to excel in prolonged engagements.
- Playstyle: Designed for aggressive players who prioritize raw damage and can effectively manage their health.
Steinbjörn Armor Set: The Immovable Object
The Steinbjörn Armor Set is all about resilience and staying power. Its focus on defense and health regeneration makes it an excellent choice for players who prefer a more cautious and strategic approach.
- Key Stats: Extremely high Defense and substantial Vitality.
- Skills: The chest armor grants a skill that restores health by dealing damage, providing valuable sustain in combat.
- Playstyle: Suited for players who prioritize survivability and want to withstand heavy damage while slowly chipping away at their enemies.
Zeus Armor (New Game Plus): The Glass Cannon
This set is specifically available in New Game Plus and is not for the faint of heart. It’s the embodiment of a “glass cannon” build.
- Key Stats: Greatly increases melee and runic damage.
- Skills: Simultaneously increases incoming damage taken.
- Playstyle: Demands perfect timing and execution. Only skilled players who can consistently dodge and parry will be able to truly harness its power.
Dragon Scaled Armor: Balanced Offense and Defense
This is a formidable set that requires dedication.
- How to Get It: You need to kill every Dragon, Drake, and Dreki in the game to fully upgrade it.
- Playstyle: Offers a good balance between offensive and defensive capabilities. It’s suitable for a variety of combat styles.
Berserker Armor: Unleash Fury
- Key Stats: Boosts STRENGTH, DEFENSE, RUNIC, VITALITY, COOLDOWN, and LUCK.
- Berserker Cuirass – Soulless Warrior: Using a Relic massively increases the damage of Kratos’ Melee Attacks, but also the damage received, for a duration.
Honorable Mentions
- Nidavellir Armor: An excellent choice for the early game, focusing on Vitality and health regeneration.
- Ivaldi’s Deadly Mist Set: Offers a good balance of stats, including Strength, Runic, Defense, and Vitality, along with a health regeneration perk.
- Raven Tears Set: Increases healing effectiveness and Luck, making it a strong choice for players who rely on healing abilities.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the best early-game armor in God of War Ragnarok?
The Nidavellir armor set is arguably the best armor set players can craft in the early stages. Its focus on Vitality provides valuable health and boosts health regeneration, increasing survivability as you face early challenges.
2. What is the highest level you can reach in God of War Ragnarok?
The Level Cap in New Game + has been increased to Level 10. Reaching this requires upgrading armor, weapons, weapon attachments, or shields to Level 9 and then converting them at a Dwarven Shop through four levels: 9.1, 9.2, 9.3, and 10.
3. Which shield is considered the best in God of War Ragnarok?
The Dauntless Shield is widely considered the best due to its parrying capabilities and ability to stun enemies.
4. What is Kratos’s most iconic weapon?
While the Leviathan Axe is central to the Norse saga, the Blades of Chaos remain Kratos’s most recognizable weapons throughout the entire God of War franchise. Prior to that, the Blades of Athena were arguably the most recognizable upgrades.
5. Is there a “useless” item in God of War Ragnarok?
The Mystical Heirloom might seem like the most useless Relic, but it can lead to a great armor set when used correctly.
6. Who is the toughest boss in God of War Ragnarok?
Gna, the Valkyrie Queen, is generally considered the toughest boss in God of War: Ragnarok, offering a significant challenge even after completing the main story.
7. What should I do after achieving 100% completion in God of War Ragnarok?
After 100% completion, consider: visiting Tyr in each realm, awakening the trolls and dragon, visiting chaurlie/birgir, getting Atreus’ journal, engaging in Angrboda interactions, Thrud interactions, Skjoldr interactions, and witnessing Sinmara crying.
8. Is it possible to continue playing after finishing the story in God of War Ragnarok?
Yes, you can continue playing after beating the story. You can explore the world, complete side quests, and collect remaining items.
9. How long does it take to achieve 100% completion in God of War Ragnarok?
Achieving 100% completion can take around 55-60 hours or more, depending on your playstyle and familiarity with the game.
10. What are the best weapon attachments to use with the strongest armor sets?
The best weapon attachments depend on your chosen armor and playstyle. Experiment with different pommels, hilts, and grips to find what works best for you. For example, the Pommels of Agile Deceit offer a balance of Strength and Vitality, complementing many armor sets.
11. How does Luck affect armor builds in God of War Ragnarok?
Luck increases the chance of activating certain perks and status effects, such as increased damage or health regeneration. It can be a valuable stat for builds that rely on these procs.
12. Can every shield parry in God of War Ragnarok?
Yes, Dauntless, Onslaught, and Shatter Star shields can parry. While their shield-specific abilities vary, they all allow you to parry attacks, stagger enemies, and slow down time briefly.
13. Which weapon in God of War Ragnarok deals the most damage per hit?
The Leviathan Axe deals the highest damage per hit.
14. How does armor impact runic attacks in God of War Ragnarok?
Certain armor sets, like the Berserker Armor, directly boost Runic stats, which increases the power of Runic Attacks. Other armor sets may have skills that enhance specific Runic Attacks or playstyles.
15. Where can I learn more about game design and learning through games?
You can explore the Games Learning Society and their research on how games can be used for educational purposes. Visit their website at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/ for more information.