When Can You Fight the Berserker King in God of War Ragnarok?
The formidable Berserker King, Hrolf Kraki, is not a boss you’ll encounter immediately in God of War Ragnarok. Instead, he acts as a challenging, optional final boss, accessible only after you’ve proven your might by defeating all twelve of his Berserker minions scattered across the Nine Realms. In short, you can face the Berserker King only after you have defeated all twelve Berserker mini-bosses. This requirement pushes players to explore the game world thoroughly, engage with optional content, and truly test their combat prowess. Think of it as a final exam, proving you’ve mastered the mechanics and strategies needed to conquer all the game has to offer.
Unlocking the King’s Challenge
The road to King Hrolf is a journey in itself. Here’s a breakdown of the steps involved:
- Defeat All Twelve Berserkers: These encounters are spread across various realms, and each Berserker presents a unique combat challenge. You can tackle them in any order you prefer, but it’s important to note that some become available only after you progress further into the main story.
- Access to Helheim: One crucial location you need to visit is in Helheim, which is only accessible after you’ve completed the main story of God of War Ragnarok. This means you can’t fight all Berserkers, and therefore, King Hrolf, until after the main story has been completed.
- The King’s Grave in Midgard: After defeating all twelve Berserkers, you will be able to locate King Hrolf’s grave at the King’s Grave Mystic Gateway in the northeastern reaches of the Lake of Nine in Midgard. This is where the final showdown will take place.
- The Inert Hilt of Skofnung: The final ingredient is obtaining the Inert Hilt of Skofnung from the ominous gravestone at King’s Grave. This key item must be picked up to start the quest, and you’ll have to do it before you can challenge him.
- Activate the Hilt: Once all Berserkers are defeated, and the hilt has been picked up, you return to the gravestone, at which point you will activate the hilt, unlocking the ultimate encounter.
Preparing for the Final Fight
Before confronting the Berserker King, it’s vital to prepare adequately. He is not a pushover; in fact, he’s arguably one of the hardest bosses in the game, capable of utilizing the moves of all the Berserkers you’ve fought before. This means you need:
- Upgraded Gear: Ensure your armor and weapons are fully upgraded. The better your equipment, the more of an edge you’ll have in the fight. The Steinbjörn armor set is particularly useful, thanks to its high defense and health restoration skill.
- Effective Build: Experiment with different skills and abilities to discover the most effective combination against King Hrolf.
- Practice and Patience: This battle will require both skill and patience. Be prepared to retry multiple times, learn his patterns, and adapt your strategy accordingly.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can I fight the Berserker King before completing the main story?
No, you cannot fight the Berserker King before completing the main story. Access to one of the Berserkers is gated behind a post-game area in Helheim, making it impossible to fight all 12 before finishing the main quest line.
2. What are the rewards for defeating the Berserker King?
Defeating King Hrolf Kraki grants significant rewards, including:
- The Hilt of Skofnung: This powerful relic, when fully activated by defeating all Berserkers, summons spectral swords that bolster your offense or defend you.
- Armor Set: You’ll get a full armor set, weapons attachments, and upgrade materials, all of which are very useful for post-game challenges.
- Large Amounts of XP: Both Kratos and Freya will receive large amounts of experience points.
3. Is the Berserker King the hardest boss in God of War Ragnarok?
While the Berserker King is incredibly difficult, many players consider Gna, the Valkyrie Queen, to be the hardest boss in the game. Both bosses require a high level of skill and strategy to defeat. Gna is generally regarded as the toughest challenge overall.
4. Where can I find all the Berserker locations?
The Berserkers are spread across all of the Nine Realms in God of War Ragnarok. A detailed list of their locations can be found online in many gaming guides. Some notable locations include Svartalfheim, Alfheim, and Midgard. Remember that you can only access the final location in Helheim, required for the Berserkers, after completing the main story.
5. What is the easiest Berserker to fight?
Harđrefill the Callous is generally considered to be the easiest Berserker to defeat. This serves as a good starting point for players looking to build their confidence before taking on the harder challenges.
6. Can I fight the Berserkers in any order?
Yes, you can challenge the Berserkers in any order you want. This allows you to customize your progress and tackle the encounters in a way that best suits your playstyle. However, consider starting with easier ones like Hardrefill.
7. Why does Mimir dislike the Berserkers?
Mimir has a personal vendetta against Hrólf Kraki and his Berserkers because Hrólf betrayed and murdered Mimir’s king, Aldis, whom Mimir had vouched for, leading to great guilt and hatred for the Berserkers.
8. Are the Berserkers mini-bosses?
Yes, the Berserkers are considered mini-bosses. They are challenging encounters that are more complex than regular enemies but not as major as main story bosses. The Berserkers are the focus of an optional side quest line, and require more tactics and strategy to take down, unlike other regular encounters.
9. Is the gear from Berserkers useful in the endgame?
While the gear obtained from the Berserkers is powerful, it is most likely acquired quite late into the game and is more useful to take on challenges such as Gna and Muspelheim’s trials. The Berserker gear can still be useful, depending on your strategy and preferred playstyle, but it isn’t the game’s ultimate or best gear.
10. How do I avoid Bifrost attacks from the Berserkers?
Some Berserkers use Bifrost attacks. You can usually block these attacks with your shield to safely avoid the damage. Some attacks you can parry, which sends it right back to the Berserker.
11. What is the best armor in God of War Ragnarok?
The Steinbjörn armor set is widely considered to be one of the best in the game. It offers excellent defense and a skill that allows you to restore health by dealing damage. This armor set is essential for any of the game’s more challenging encounters.
12. Who are some of the hardest Berserkers?
Besides the Berserker King himself, some of the more difficult Berserkers include Svipdagr, The Cold, and the Sisters of Illska, as well as Bödvar the Fierce and Starólfr the Troublesome. These fights often require a significant amount of strategy and can be challenging for even experienced players.
13. Is the Valkyrie Queen harder than the Berserker King?
Yes, the consensus among players is that Valkyrie Queen Gna is harder than the Berserker King. She possesses more aggressive moves and is generally considered the most difficult boss fight in God of War Ragnarok.
14. What strategy should I use against the Berserker King?
A useful strategy for the Berserker King is to continuously impale him with spears and then detonate them. This increases the power of the blasts and helps deal significant damage, and is especially effective when you hold triangle after impaling.
15. How do you activate the Hilt of Skofnung?
The Hilt of Skofnung is activated after you have defeated all 12 Berserkers, after which you must return to the King’s Grave, where the activation will be triggered at his grave stone.
By understanding the requirements to unlock the fight, taking the time to explore, and preparing adequately, you’ll be able to face the Berserker King, Hrolf Kraki, and claim your rewards in God of War Ragnarok. Remember to have patience and learn from each attempt, and you will eventually prevail over one of the game’s most challenging encounters.