God Of War Ragnarök Guide How To Achieve 100 Percent Completion
God of War Ragnarök, the highly anticipated sequel to the critically acclaimed 2018 title, has arrived, and it's a masterpiece. Santa Monica Studio has crafted a game that not only meets but exceeds the lofty expectations set by its predecessor. This action-packed, narrative-rich adventure plunges players back into the Norse realms with Kratos and Atreus, continuing their journey through a world brimming with gods, monsters, and intricate lore. Achieving 100% completion in God of War Ragnarök is no small feat, it's a testament to dedication, skill, and a true appreciation for the game's depth. For players seeking to truly conquer the Nine Realms and witness every secret the game has to offer, this guide serves as your roadmap to total completion.
A Journey Worth Undertaking: Why 100% Completion Matters
Embarking on the quest for 100% completion in God of War Ragnarök transcends merely ticking off boxes on a checklist. It's about immersing yourself fully in the rich tapestry of the game's world, lore, and challenges. God of War Ragnarök's world is a beautifully realized Norse landscape teeming with secrets, challenging combat encounters, and intriguing puzzles. Achieving 100% completion ensures you leave no stone unturned, no mystery unsolved.
Fully exploring each of the Nine Realms is a reward in itself. Each realm has a distinct identity, featuring unique environments, enemies, and challenges. By striving for 100% completion, you'll experience the full breadth of the game's visual and artistic design, from the frozen landscapes of Fimbulwinter to the vibrant forests of Vanaheim. The journey to 100% completion will also hone your combat skills. God of War Ragnarök features a deeply satisfying and challenging combat system. To conquer every foe and overcome every trial, you'll need to master Kratos' diverse arsenal of weapons and abilities, as well as learn the attack patterns of a wide range of enemies. Achieving 100% completion is a true test of your combat prowess, pushing you to your limits and rewarding you with a sense of accomplishment.
God of War Ragnarök weaves a compelling narrative that delves into themes of family, destiny, and sacrifice. By completing all side quests and optional content, you'll gain a deeper understanding of the characters, their motivations, and the events unfolding around them. This extra content enriches the main story, providing valuable context and emotional resonance. Furthermore, completing God of War Ragnarök 100% unlocks the true ending, which includes a post-credits scene. This true ending provides a more complete conclusion to Kratos and Atreus' journey, offering closure and hinting at future adventures. This scene can only be unlocked through dedication and complete exploration, making the 100% completion goal especially rewarding for dedicated fans. Finally, the 100% completion journey often yields powerful upgrades, equipment, and resources that significantly enhance Kratos' abilities. These rewards can make subsequent playthroughs or New Game Plus runs even more enjoyable, allowing you to experiment with different builds and combat styles. Earning these powerful upgrades is a testament to your dedication and a reward for your thorough exploration of the Nine Realms. Thus, the pursuit of 100% completion in God of War Ragnarök is an investment in a richer, more rewarding gaming experience, one that leaves a lasting impression long after the credits roll. It's a journey of discovery, mastery, and narrative depth that elevates the game from a simple playthrough to an unforgettable saga.
The Road to 100%: Key Pillars of Completion
Achieving 100% completion in God of War Ragnarök requires meticulous exploration, skillful combat, and a keen eye for detail. The game doesn't hold your hand, and some of its secrets are well-hidden. To conquer this challenge, you need a strategic approach. This involves not only completing the main story but also tackling a variety of side quests, collectibles, and challenging encounters that populate the Nine Realms. Understanding these key pillars of completion is the first step towards ultimate victory.
Main Story Completion
The most fundamental step is, of course, finishing the main narrative. While this sounds obvious, it's crucial to remember that the main story often unlocks new areas and abilities essential for accessing certain collectibles and side quests. Think of the main story as the backbone of your completion journey; it provides the structural framework upon which everything else is built. Progressing through the narrative will unveil new realms, introduce new characters, and grant Kratos and Atreus new tools and skills. These tools and skills are often necessary to overcome environmental obstacles, defeat specific enemies, or access previously unreachable areas. Therefore, strategically balancing main story progression with side content exploration is key to an efficient and enjoyable 100% completion run. Rushing through the main story can leave you under-equipped or lacking crucial abilities, while neglecting it entirely can limit your access to the full scope of the game's content. A balanced approach ensures you're always adequately prepared for the challenges ahead and that you're maximizing your opportunities to discover secrets and collectibles along the way. Consider the main story as the foundation upon which your 100% completion journey is built, providing both the narrative context and the practical tools necessary to explore every corner of the Nine Realms. It is advisable to proceed through the main story first.
Favors (Side Quests)
God of War Ragnarök is brimming with Favors, the game's equivalent of side quests. These range from helping wayward spirits to hunting mythical creatures, and they offer a wealth of rewards, lore, and character development. Favors are not just optional distractions; they are integral to the game's world-building and often provide valuable insights into the characters and cultures of the Nine Realms. By undertaking these quests, you'll encounter a diverse cast of characters, each with their own stories and motivations. These interactions enrich the narrative and provide a deeper understanding of the world's history and mythology. Many Favors also reward you with powerful equipment, resources, and upgrades that significantly enhance Kratos' abilities. Completing these quests can provide a tangible advantage in combat, allowing you to tackle tougher challenges with greater confidence. Moreover, Favors often lead you to hidden areas and secrets that you might otherwise miss. Exploring these optional areas can uncover valuable collectibles, resources, and even new combat encounters.
Collectibles: A Completionist's Paradise
For the dedicated completionist, God of War Ragnarök offers a vast array of collectibles to discover, from Odin's Ravens to Legendary Chests. Gathering these items unlocks lore, upgrades, and a profound sense of accomplishment. Each type of collectible offers a unique reward and a distinct challenge. Odin's Ravens, for example, are scattered throughout the realms, often hidden in obscure locations or requiring creative problem-solving to reach. Destroying these ravens not only progresses a specific questline but also rewards you with valuable resources. Legendary Chests, on the other hand, contain powerful armor pieces, weapon upgrades, and runic attacks, significantly enhancing Kratos' combat capabilities. Finding these chests often involves solving intricate puzzles or overcoming challenging combat encounters, making the reward all the more satisfying. Artifacts, another type of collectible, provide snippets of lore and backstory, enriching your understanding of the game's world and its inhabitants. These artifacts can be found in various locations, from abandoned settlements to ancient ruins, encouraging exploration and discovery.
Nornir Chests
These chests require you to solve environmental puzzles by interacting with nearby runes. Nornir Chests are a specific type of collectible that presents a unique challenge to players. Unlike some collectibles that simply require being found, Nornir Chests are locked and require you to solve a puzzle to open them. These puzzles typically involve locating and activating three runes hidden in the vicinity of the chest. The runes might be concealed behind obstacles, require specific combat maneuvers to reach, or involve solving environmental puzzles using Kratos' abilities and equipment. Successfully solving these puzzles not only unlocks the chest but also rewards you with valuable items that enhance Kratos' stats and abilities. Nornir Chests are not only a source of valuable rewards but also a test of your problem-solving skills and environmental awareness. They encourage you to carefully examine your surroundings, think creatively, and utilize Kratos' abilities in innovative ways. Finding and opening all the Nornir Chests is a testament to your dedication and a significant step towards achieving 100% completion.
Berserker Gravestones
The Berserker Gravestones are optional boss battles scattered throughout the realms. These encounters are notoriously challenging, requiring precise timing, skillful use of abilities, and a deep understanding of enemy attack patterns. These battles are not for the faint of heart; they demand mastery of the game's combat mechanics and a strategic approach to character builds and equipment. Each Berserker presents a unique set of challenges, with distinct attack patterns, abilities, and weaknesses. To emerge victorious, you'll need to carefully study their movements, identify openings, and exploit their vulnerabilities. These encounters are a true test of your combat prowess, pushing you to your limits and rewarding you with a sense of accomplishment upon victory. Defeating these formidable foes not only provides a thrilling challenge but also unlocks valuable rewards, including powerful armor pieces, weapon upgrades, and resources. These rewards can significantly enhance Kratos' abilities, making him even more formidable in combat.
The Crater in Vanaheim
Vanaheim's Crater is a large, optional area filled with unique challenges, quests, and collectibles. This area unlocks after completing a specific Favor and offers a significant amount of endgame content. The Crater is not just a single location but rather a vast, interconnected region with diverse environments, from lush jungles to murky swamps. Exploring the Crater will lead you to discover new side quests, challenging combat encounters, and a wealth of collectibles. These side quests often involve helping the local inhabitants, unraveling mysteries, or confronting dangerous creatures. Completing these quests not only rewards you with valuable items and resources but also provides deeper insights into the lore and history of Vanaheim. The Crater is also home to some of the game's most challenging combat encounters, including unique boss battles and formidable enemy types. Overcoming these challenges requires a strategic approach, utilizing Kratos' full range of abilities and equipment. Moreover, the Crater is filled with hidden areas and secrets, rewarding thorough exploration and a keen eye for detail. Finding these secrets often involves solving environmental puzzles, navigating treacherous terrain, or discovering hidden passages.
Tips and Strategies for Completion
Achieving 100% completion in God of War Ragnarök is a marathon, not a sprint. It requires patience, persistence, and a strategic approach. Here are some essential tips and strategies to guide you on your journey to total victory:
Prioritize Exploration
Thoroughly explore each realm, checking every nook and cranny for hidden passages, collectibles, and side quests. Use your compass and map to track your progress and identify unexplored areas. Exploration is the cornerstone of 100% completion in God of War Ragnarök. The game's world is meticulously designed, filled with hidden areas, secret passages, and off-the-beaten-path locations that often contain valuable collectibles, resources, and side quests. Rushing through the main story without taking the time to explore can lead to missed opportunities and make the completion process more challenging later on. Take your time to carefully examine your surroundings, using Kratos' abilities and equipment to overcome obstacles and access new areas. Pay attention to visual cues, such as ledges, climbable walls, and breakable objects, as these often indicate hidden paths or secret areas. Utilize your compass and map to track your progress and identify unexplored regions. The map not only shows the main pathways and points of interest but also reveals areas that you haven't fully explored. By systematically clearing each area of the map, you can ensure that you don't miss any collectibles or side quests. Interact with the environment, such as talking to NPCs, examining objects, and reading lore entries, as these can often provide clues about hidden locations or trigger new quests. The world of God of War Ragnarök is rich with detail and lore, and taking the time to immerse yourself in it will not only enhance your understanding of the game's story but also make the exploration process more rewarding.
Utilize Companion Abilities
Atreus and other companions have unique abilities that can help you solve puzzles and reach hidden areas. Make sure to use them effectively. Atreus, in particular, is not just a sidekick but an integral part of your exploration and combat strategy. His arrows can trigger environmental effects, such as igniting flammable objects or freezing water, allowing you to overcome obstacles and access new areas. He can also decipher ancient runes, revealing hidden passages or unlocking new pathways. In combat, Atreus provides valuable support, distracting enemies, inflicting status effects, and dealing damage. Mastering the use of his abilities is crucial for success in both exploration and combat. Other companions you encounter throughout the game may also possess unique abilities that can aid you in your quest for 100% completion. These abilities might involve solving specific puzzles, interacting with the environment in unique ways, or providing combat support. Learning to effectively utilize the abilities of your companions is a key aspect of the game's mechanics and a valuable tool in your arsenal.
Gear Up Strategically
Experiment with different armor sets, weapon upgrades, and runic attacks to find the best build for your playstyle and the challenges you face. God of War Ragnarök features a deep and rewarding gear system, allowing you to customize Kratos' abilities and combat style to suit your preferences. Experimenting with different armor sets, weapon upgrades, and runic attacks is crucial for optimizing your build and tackling the game's diverse challenges. Different armor sets offer various stat boosts and perks, such as increased strength, defense, or luck. Some armor sets also provide unique abilities or effects, such as increased resistance to specific types of damage or the ability to trigger powerful elemental attacks. Weapon upgrades enhance the damage output and effectiveness of Kratos' weapons, allowing you to deal more damage and defeat enemies more quickly. Runic attacks are special abilities that can be equipped to Kratos' weapons, providing powerful offensive or defensive options. These attacks can range from devastating melee strikes to long-range projectiles, allowing you to tailor your combat style to different situations. Finding the right combination of gear and abilities is essential for overcoming the game's tougher challenges, such as boss battles and Berserker Gravestones. Consider trying different gears.
Difficulty Setting
Don't be afraid to adjust the difficulty setting if you're struggling with certain encounters. While a higher difficulty can provide a greater challenge and sense of accomplishment, it can also hinder your progress towards 100% completion if you get stuck on difficult encounters. God of War Ragnarök offers a range of difficulty settings, allowing you to tailor the game's challenge to your skill level and preferences. If you're finding certain encounters too difficult, don't hesitate to lower the difficulty setting temporarily to overcome the obstacle. This will allow you to progress through the game and continue your journey towards 100% completion without getting bogged down by excessively challenging encounters. Once you've completed the game or acquired better gear and abilities, you can always revisit these encounters on a higher difficulty setting if you desire a greater challenge. Ultimately, the goal is to enjoy the game and experience all that it has to offer, and adjusting the difficulty setting can help ensure that you have a fun and rewarding experience.
Post-Game Content
Many areas and quests become accessible only after completing the main story. Don't rush to finish; there's plenty to do in the post-game. The post-game content in God of War Ragnarök is substantial, offering a wealth of new challenges, quests, and collectibles that can only be accessed after completing the main story. These include new areas to explore, challenging boss battles, and additional side quests that provide deeper insights into the game's lore and characters. Some of the most rewarding content in God of War Ragnarök is reserved for the post-game, making it well worth your while to continue playing even after the credits have rolled. Completing the main story unlocks new abilities and gear that are essential for tackling these post-game challenges. Additionally, many of the game's most challenging encounters, such as the Berserker Gravestones and optional boss battles, are best approached with a fully upgraded character and gear set. Therefore, don't rush to finish the main story; take your time to explore, complete side quests, and gather collectibles before tackling the endgame content.
Conclusion: A True Triumph
Achieving 100% completion in God of War Ragnarök is a testament to your dedication, skill, and love for the game. It's a journey that will take you to every corner of the Nine Realms, challenge you in ways you never imagined, and reward you with a sense of accomplishment that few games can match. So, embark on this epic quest, explore every secret, conquer every foe, and experience the full glory of God of War Ragnarök. The quest for 100% completion is not just about ticking off boxes on a checklist; it's about immersing yourself fully in the world of God of War Ragnarök and experiencing everything it has to offer. It's about forging your own legend alongside Kratos and Atreus, and proving yourself worthy of the title of God of War.
