What to Spend Money on in God of War Ragnarok: A Hacksilver Hoarder’s Guide
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So, you’re knee-deep in Norse mythology, axes are swinging, and you’re swimming in…Hacksilver? Fear not, warrior! While Hacksilver might seem abundant at times in God of War Ragnarok, it’s easy to squander it. The trick is knowing where to invest wisely to maximize Kratos’s power and Atreus’s support, and ensuring you’re not wasting precious resources. Here’s a comprehensive guide to get the most bang for your Hacksilver buck.
Priority One: Upgrading Core Gear Early
The absolute best initial investments are centered around Kratos’s core weapons and gear.
- Weapon Handles & Pommels: Don’t underestimate the power of a new handle for the Leviathan Axe or a pommel for the Blades of Chaos. These provide significant stat boosts (Strength, Runic, Luck) and can offer valuable perks, such as increased stun damage or elemental buffs. Experiment to find combinations that suit your playstyle. Early on, prioritize handles that boost Strength and Runic.
- Armor: This is HUGE. A new chest armor piece can dramatically increase your defense and offer various perks. Don’t hesitate to buy and upgrade new armor sets as they become available. The Nidavellir set is an excellent early-game option known for improving stun capabilities.
- Atreus’s Gear: Ignore Atreus at your peril. Regularly upgrade his bow and quiver. Improved quivers let him carry more special arrows, crucial for exploiting enemy weaknesses. A better bow does more damage and can affect elemental status build-up. Armor for Atreus affects his stats and can change how he behaves in combat, such as frequency of arrow usage.
Mid-Game Spending: Focused Specialization
As you progress, focus on specializing your build and optimizing for specific combat scenarios.
- Runic Attacks: Experiment with different light and heavy runic attacks for both the Axe and Blades. These are your heavy hitters and can completely turn the tide of battle. Some attacks are better suited for crowd control, while others excel against single, powerful enemies. Upgrade the ones that fit your playstyle.
- Shields & Shield Attachments: The shield you use significantly impacts your combat style. A Guardian Shield is great for parrying, while a Stonewall Shield is better for aggressive play. Upgrade your chosen shield to improve its stats and resistance. Also, use the attachments to further customize your shields with different perks.
- Amulet Enhancements: The Amulet of Yggdrasil is incredibly powerful, but it’s only as good as the enhancements you slot into it. Look for enhancements that complement your build, boosting Strength, Defense, Runic, or Luck. Don’t be afraid to try different combinations.
Late-Game: Perfection and Exploration
By the late game, you’ll be fine-tuning your build and tackling the toughest challenges.
- Fully Upgrading Sets: If you’ve found an armor set you truly love (like the Steinbjorn set for defense or Ivaldi’s Deadly Mist set for regen), invest in fully upgrading it to its maximum potential. This requires substantial Hacksilver, but the stat gains and perk enhancements are well worth it.
- Experimentation: Don’t be afraid to experiment with new gear and builds. By this point, you should have a solid understanding of the combat system. Trying different combinations can lead to unexpected synergies and new ways to dominate enemies.
- Resource Conversion: Sometimes you’ll find yourself with an abundance of a specific resource. Visit the shops to see if you can convert it into Hacksilver.
What to Sell for Hacksilver
Clearing out your inventory can provide much-needed Hacksilver boosts.
- Artifacts: Always sell artifacts. Their sole purpose is to be sold for Hacksilver. They serve no other function once you find them.
- Old Armor: Once you’ve upgraded to significantly better armor, sell your old sets. There’s no point in hoarding them.
- Low-Level Resources: If you have an excess of low-level crafting materials that are no longer needed for upgrades, consider selling them.
Things to Avoid Spending Hacksilver On (Early On)
- Upgrading Gear You’ll Replace Soon: Don’t pour Hacksilver into upgrading low-level armor or weapon attachments that you know you’ll replace with better gear within a few hours of gameplay.
- Cosmetics (Initially): While cosmetic armor changes are cool, they offer no stat benefits. Focus on function over fashion until you’re comfortable with your build.
By following these guidelines, you’ll be well-equipped to make the most of your Hacksilver and conquer the challenges of God of War Ragnarok. Remember to always prioritize upgrades that enhance your core abilities and adapt your spending to your preferred playstyle. Now, go forth and vanquish! Perhaps you could even use this financial savvy to build a learning game to teach players about resource management, a concept explored by researchers at the Games Learning Society, found at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Should I sell all my artifacts in God of War Ragnarok?
Yes! Absolutely sell all your artifacts. They are specifically designed to be sold for Hacksilver and have no other purpose. Once collected, the artifact registers in your collection, allowing you to sell the physical item without any negative consequence.
2. What is the best early-game armor to get?
The Nidavellir armor set is an excellent choice for early to mid-game. It focuses on increasing stun damage, allowing you to quickly stagger enemies. This is especially useful against weaker foes, leaving them open for devastating attacks.
3. How important is it to upgrade Atreus’s gear?
Upgrading Atreus’s gear is very important. A better bow increases his damage output, and upgraded quivers allow him to carry more special arrows, which can exploit enemy weaknesses. Additionally, armor for Atreus can impact his stats, thus improving his behavior in combat.
4. What stats should I prioritize upgrading?
Early on, focus on Strength, Runic, and Luck. Strength directly increases your damage output, Runic enhances your runic attacks and skills, and Luck can trigger beneficial perks and effects. Defence and Vitality are useful but Strength, Runic, and Luck offer greater benefits initially.
5. Should I upgrade my shield early in God of War Ragnarok?
Yes, upgrading your shield is a good investment. A better shield offers increased defense and parry windows, which is crucial for survival in difficult combat encounters. Use the Shield attachments to customize your shield further.
6. Is the Zeus Armor Set worth getting?
The Zeus Armor Set is incredibly powerful. It substantially increases damage dealt, but also drastically increases damage received, making it a high-risk, high-reward option for experienced players. It’s worth it for those who want to push their damage to the absolute limit.
7. How do I get the Zeus armor?
The Zeus Armor Set is exclusive to New Game Plus. You must clear the fourth Remnant of Asgard (War Belt of Zeus), the sixth Remnant of Asgard (Gauntlets of Zeus) and defeat Valkyrie Queen Gna (Cuirass of Zeus) to obtain all three pieces.
8. Is it better to buy new armor or upgrade existing armor?
It depends on the situation. If you find a new armor set with significantly better stats and perks, it’s often worth buying it. However, if you’re comfortable with your current set and it’s only slightly weaker, upgrading might be more cost-effective.
9. What is the best armor for Kratos in God of War Ragnarok?
That depends on play style! The Steinbjorn set is arguably the best for sheer defense due to its incredibly high defense stat. Ivaldi’s Deadly Mist set is great for a balanced approach, offering good stats and a constant healing perk. The Zeus armor set offers maximum damage output at the expense of defense.
10. What do I do with all my crafting materials?
Use crafting materials to upgrade your weapons, armor, and attachments. Once you’ve fully upgraded a piece of gear, any remaining materials can be sold for Hacksilver.
11. What’s the easiest way to earn Hacksilver quickly?
The fastest ways to earn Hacksilver are to open every chest, break crates and barrels, complete side quests, and sell artifacts and old gear.
12. Are there any missable items that I should be careful not to sell?
No, there are no missable items that you should be worried about selling. You can always re-acquire resources or re-craft gear if needed.
13. How does Luck stat affect the gameplay?
The Luck stat increases your chance of triggering beneficial perks and effects, such as bonus damage, healing, or status effects. A higher Luck stat can significantly improve your overall combat effectiveness.
14. Should I spend Hacksilver on resurrection stones?
Resurrection stones can be useful, especially on higher difficulty settings. Keep one or two on hand for tough boss fights.
15. What should I do after getting 100% completion in God of War Ragnarok?
Even after 100% completion, there’s still plenty to do! Try tackling the Muspelheim Crucible challenges, freeing the real Týr, hunting down Berserkers, closing Draugr Holes, finding secret bosses, collecting Bloom Flowers and Kvasir poems, and locating Dvalin’s Lost Pages.