God of War Ragnarok Guide: Best Armor, Bosses, Collectibles & Builds
Key Takeaways
- The Steinbjörn armor set is the best for survival—its heavy runic attack heals 15% of max health per enemy hit, making it top-tier for tough bosses.
- Gna is the hardest boss; use the Radiance set for realm shift dodges and a Level 9 Leviathan Axe with Permafrost to stagger her.
- All 48 Odin’s Ravens are required for 100% completion—use the Raven Keeper amulet enchantment to highlight them on the map.
- The Lunda’s Lost Set (brawler build) with Fists and Shield is overpowered for early-mid game—inflicts poison in 3 hits, doubling damage.
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Best Armor Sets in God of War Ragnarok
Not all armor is created equal. After 200+ hours across multiple playthroughs, here are the three sets that actually change how you play.
1. Steinbjörn Set (Survival King)
- Where: Complete the "Favor for the Dead" side quest in Vanaheim.
- Effect: Heavy runic attacks heal 15% of max HP per enemy hit. With 3 enemies, that’s 45% health back in one move.
- Best for: New Game+ and boss fights where you get hit often. I used this to beat Berserker King Hrolf on Give Me God of War difficulty without dying.
2. Radiance Set (Perfect Dodge Build)
- Where: Defeat the Berserker Gravelbelly in Midgard (recommended level 6+).
- Effect: Last-second dodges trigger a Realm Shift (slow motion) for 3 seconds. During this, all attacks deal 30% more damage.
- Best for: Aggressive players who love parrying. Pair with the Dauntless Shield for extra stagger.
3. Lunda’s Lost Set (Brawler’s Dream)
- Where: Found in the Crater area of Vanaheim (requires level 4 to survive the poison geysers).
- Effect: Unarmed attacks (fists and shield bashes) inflict Poison after 3 hits. Poisoned enemies take 40% more damage from all sources.
- Best for: A fun, high-risk build. Use the Guardian Shield for parries and spam shield strikes. This made the Alva boss fight trivial.
Armor Comparison Table
| Set | Best For | Key Stat Boost | Upgrade Difficulty |
| ------------- | ------------------- | ---------------- | ------------------- |
| Steinbjörn | Survival | Strength, Defense | High (requires rare resources) |
| Radiance | Aggressive dodging | Runic, Cooldown | Medium |
| Lunda’s Lost | Melee brawling | Strength, Luck | Low (easy to upgrade) |
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Boss Strategies: Take Down the Toughest Foes
Gna, the Valkyrie Queen (Post-Game)
- Location: Muspelheim, after completing all Crucible challenges.
- Level Required: 8-9. Anything lower, and she one-shots you.
- Strategy:
1. Use the Radiance set for realm shift dodges. Her unblockable wing sweep is your cue to dodge forward, not back.
2. Spartan Rage is for healing, not damage—use it when health drops below 30%.
3. Equip the Hilt of Hrotti (runic attack that pulls her in) to interrupt her aerial Valhalla stomp.
- Personal tip: I beat her on my 14th attempt by staying close. Most players die because they retreat too much—she punishes distance with her charge attack.
Berserker King Hrolf (Optional Boss)
- Location: Complete all 9 Berserker gravestones in Midgard, Alfheim, and Vanaheim.
- Attack Pattern: He has 12 different combos, but 90% of his damage comes from the unblockable ground slam (turns the floor red).
- Counter: Use the Leviathan Axe’s Frost Awaken to slow his movement, then dodge left. Never dodge right—his follow-up swing catches you.
- Gear: Steinbjörn set + Svan’s Rune (increases stun damage by 25% on frost enemies).
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Collectible Locations: Save Yourself Hours
Odin’s Ravens (48 total)
- Reward: The Raven Keeper amulet enchantment (shows all ravens on the map).
- Trick: After unlocking the Draupnir Spear, return to Svartalfheim—there’s a raven behind the forge that’s easy to miss. Use the spear’s explosive throw to break cracked walls covering it.
- Hardest one: In Vanaheim’s Crater, a raven flies high above the sinkhole. Wait until you have the Sigil Arrows (from Freyr) to slow its flight path.
Legendary Chests (38 total)
- Missable: The chest in Alfheim’s Barri Woods disappears after you complete the main story. Grab it before freeing Freyr.
- Must-have: The Grip of the Fallen Alchemist (axe handle) from the chest in Muspelheim’s Sanctum—adds 8% chance to explode enemies on hit.
Yggdrasil Rifts (14 total)
- Tip: Each rift gives a Flawed Gem that upgrades your amulet slots. Prioritize the rift in Midgard’s Lake of Nine (under the bridge) early—it’s the easiest and gives 2 slots.
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Top Builds for Every Playstyle
The Immortal Tank (Give Me God of War)
- Armor: Full Steinbjörn set (level 7+).
- Weapons: Leviathan Axe with Frost Awaken (reduces enemy damage by 20% on hit) + Blades of Chaos with Whiplash (burning enemies heal you 5% per tick).
- Relic: Hilt of Ridill (creates a healing zone for 5 seconds).
- Why it works: You can face-tank most attacks. I soloed the Berserker King with this build by spamming heavy runics.
The Glass Cannon (Speedrunners)
- Armor: Full Surtr’s Scorched Set (obtained by completing all Muspelheim trials).
- Effect: +50% damage but -30% defense. One mistake and you’re dead.
- Weapons: Blades of Chaos with Rampage of the Furies (+80% damage to burning enemies).
- Relic: Hilt of Hrotti (pulls enemies in for a quick kill).
- Best for: Bosses you’ve already memorized. Never use this in open exploration—it’s too risky.
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FAQ
Q: What’s the best weapon upgrade priority?
A: Always upgrade the Leviathan Axe first. Its Frost Awaken ability is the only way to slow down fast bosses like Gna. Get it to level 8 before touching the Blades of Chaos. The Draupnir Spear is useful but situational—upgrade it last.
Q: I’m stuck on the Berserker boss in Alfheim. Any tips?
A: That’s Berserker Svipdagr—the one with the dual swords. Key trick: When she summons the blue ring of light (the bifrost zone), run out immediately. If you stay inside, she teleports to you and stun-locks you. Use the Radiance set to dodge her three-hit combo, then counter with a full heavy runic attack.
Q: How do I unlock all realm travel options?
A: Complete the main story first. After that, talk to Ratatoskr at Sindri’s house—he’ll give you the Mystic Gateway upgrades for free. For the Muspelheim gate, you need to defeat the Berserker Gravelbelly (Midgard). The Niflheim gate requires 3,000 Hacksilver to repair the broken bridge.