God of War Ragnarok Guide: Best Armor, Bosses, and Collectibles
Key Takeaways
- The Steinbjorn armor set offers the highest defense in the game, perfect for tank builds, but requires defeating the Trolls in The Crater.
- The Berserker King boss fight is the hardest in the game; equip the Radiance set for Realm Shift dodges and use the Hilt of Hrotti for stun.
- There are 38 Odin’s Ravens in total—find them all for the “Eyes of Odin” favor, which unlocks the Hilt of Forsbrandr.
- The Lunda’s Lost Armor set is ideal for a status effect build, boosting damage against poisoned or burned enemies by 40%.
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Best Armor Sets in God of War Ragnarok
Armor in GOW Ragnarok is not just about numbers—it’s about how you play. Here are the three best sets, ranked by utility.
1. Steinbjorn Set (Tank Build)
- Location: The Crater (Vanaheim) – kill all four Trolls: Bjorg, Ryg, Golrab, and Fiske.
- Stats: 150 defense per piece at max level; 45 vitality.
- Perk: On taking damage, release a shockwave that stuns enemies and heals you for 10% of max health. This is absurdly good for survivability.
- Best for: New Game Plus or players who trade blows. I used this for the Gna fight and it saved me from one-hit kills.
2. Radiance Set (Dodge Master)
- Location: Collect 10, 15, and 20 of the 38 Odin’s Ravens, then talk to the Raven Keeper in Niflheim.
- Stats: Moderate defense (80 per piece), but 20 cooldown reduction.
- Perk: Perfect dodges trigger a Realm Shift, slowing time for 3 seconds. Combos beautifully with the Hilt of Hrotti (slows time on kill).
- Best for: Aggressive players who rely on timing. I beat the Berserker King (Hvitserkr) with this set by chaining Realm Shifts.
3. Survival Plus Set (All-Rounder)
- Location: Crafted from Hacksilver and Luminous Alloy—no rare materials needed.
- Stats: 90 defense per piece; 15 strength and 15 runic.
- Perk: No major perk, but you can upgrade it to Level 9 early. It’s the best “starter” set for high difficulty.
- Best for: New players or those who want flexibility. I used it until I got Steinbjorn.
Comparison Table: Top Armor Sets
| Set Name | Defense (Max) | Key Perk | Best For |
| ---------- | --------------- | ---------- | ---------- |
| Steinbjorn | 150 per piece | Shockwave heal | Tank/New Game Plus |
| Radiance | 80 per piece | Realm Shift on dodge | Aggressive dodgers |
| Survival Plus | 90 per piece | None | Early game or all-rounder |
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Boss Strategies: Hardest Fights
Berserker King Hvitserkr (The King’s Grave)
- Level: 9 (recommended level: 8+ with maxed armor).
- Key Moves: Unblockable charge (red circle), ground slam (blue circle), and a 6-hit combo.
- Strategy:
- Use the Radiance set for Realm Shifts on perfect dodges. I found that dodging *into* his charge (right before impact) triggers a slow-mo window.
- Equip the Hilt of Hrotti (from Odin’s Ravens reward). It slows time for 4 seconds on kill or stun, letting you land a full runic attack.
- His health is 80,000—use heavy runic attacks like Leviathan’s Fury (level 3) for 12,000 damage per hit.
- Parry his ground slam (blue circle) to stagger him for 2 seconds. Don’t try to block the charge.
Gna (The All-Mother)
- Location: After main story, in Muspelheim’s Crucible.
- Key Moves: Wing slam (unblockable), feather projectile, and a teleporting grab.
- Strategy:
- Equip the Steinbjorn set—it heals you when she hits hard. Her wing slam deals 40% of your health, but the shockwave heals 10% back.
- Use the Lunda’s Lost Armor if you have it; poison her with the Poison Axe (Runic Attack: Poisoned Daggers) to reduce her damage by 30%.
- She has 100,000 health. Focus on runic attacks with short cooldowns like Hel’s Touch (3-second cooldown) to interrupt her combos.
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Collectible Locations: Key Items
Odin’s Ravens (38 total)
- Reward: Hilt of Forsbrandr (slows time on command).
- Hardest Raven: In the Jarnsmida Pitmines—it’s behind a waterfall near the crane. Use the Blades of Chaos to hit it through the waterfall.
- Pro Tip: Open the map and look for the “?” icon. Ravens appear as faint green dots when you’re close.
Legendary Chests (50 total)
- Best Find: The Muspelheim Crucible chest gives the Raven’s Cry (axe heavy runic attack with 15,000 damage).
- Tip: Chests in Vanaheim (The Sinkholes) require you to burn bramble using the Blades. Use the Sigil of Extinguishment to clear poison first.
Artifacts (15 sets)
- Key Set: Kvasir’s Poems (in Midgard) – each poem gives a permanent stat boost (e.g., +3 strength). Collect all 7 for the Kvasir’s Amulet (50% runic cooldown reduction).
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Best Builds for Endgame
Build 1: The Tank (Steinbjorn + Stone Wall Shield)
- Armor: Full Steinbjorn set (level 9).
- Shield: Stone Wall Shield (blocks unblockables).
- Amulet: Svanin’s Blessing (heal 5% on block) + Niflheim’s Justice (10% defense boost).
- Runic Attacks: Leviathan’s Fury (axe) and Meteor Slam (blades).
- Result: 200 defense, 45 vitality, and constant healing. You can face-tank Gna’s combos.
Build 2: The Speedster (Radiance + Hilt of Hrotti)
- Armor: Full Radiance set (level 9).
- Shield: Dauntless Shield (parry-focused).
- Amulet: Hilt of Hrotti (time slow) + Raven’s Cry (damage boost).
- Runic Attacks: Hel’s Touch (stun) and Fury of the Ice Troll (area damage).
- Result: Perfect dodges slow time. I cleared the Berserker King in 2 minutes with this build.
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FAQ
1. What’s the best armor for New Game Plus?
The Steinbjorn set is the best because its shockwave heal scales with your defense. Plus, you can upgrade it to Level 10 in NG+ with the new Sparks of the Crucible material. It’s overkill for regular enemies but essential for the new boss, Gna.
2. How do I find all Odin’s Ravens?
You need to explore every realm. The easiest method is to use the “Eyes of Odin” favor tracking on your map—it shows ravens as small green dots. But note: the ravens in Vanaheim’s The Crater are behind environmental puzzles (e.g., freeze a geyser to reach a platform). I recommend a video guide for the last 5.
3. What’s the hardest collectible?
The “Soul of the Valkyrie” artifact in Muspelheim. It’s hidden in a cave behind a lava waterfall. You need to use the Blades of Chaos to pull down a chain while dodging fire. It’s missable if you don’t explore before completing the main story.