God of War Ragnarok Tips and Tactics Guide

Kratos and Atreus are back. They'll face even bigger challenges in God of War Ragnarok. As Ragnarok draws near, father and son are gearing up for the fight. Don't worry if you've never played the previous game, since this one adds new features to help you catch up. For players continuing on, the initial controls will feel the same. So what are the God of War Ragnarok tactics and tips? Here's the God of War Ragnarok beginner's guide:

God of War Ragnarok Beginner's Guide: Tactics and Tips

Explore the Game Top to Bottom

God of War Ragnarok doubles down on exploration potential across its various realms and even in more linear sections. You'll find optional paths leading to treasures, artifacts, and Odin's ravens. As a rule of thumb, it's worth always taking the road less traveled first.

You can tell which direction to go by following where Atreus goes. If you see a split path, or Atreus running off to the right, turn left and see what you find. You won't come back from that detour empty-handed.

Something to keep in mind while exploring is that God of War Ragnarok is much more vertical than the last title. You'll also find areas you can climb, or spots where you can use your chains to climb more often.

Chest Puzzles Are Back

While exploring, you'll come across all kinds of chests, including rune chests that require you to solve a puzzle. You'll be told what kind of puzzle you need to solve to open it, but you'll also find some puzzles you can't solve right away. You shouldn't leave that area until you've solved the puzzle and looted the chest.

Don't Be Afraid to Spend Your Money and Resources

Early in the game, you might hesitate to spend your Hacksilver and craft materials. God of War Ragnarok adds different armor and accessories for Kratos and Atreus, each of which can be upgraded to make them stronger. Trying to hoard all your money and materials until you find gear later in the game likely won't work out well for you. Your weapons also use specific upgrade materials, so use them whenever you have the option to upgrade. You can earn money from chests, the ground, enemies, and plenty more. If you see pottery, swing your axe at it to earn a few extra bucks. Also, make sure you hit the Sell option when buying your upgrades and armor.

Spend Your XP

The game does a pretty good job with its skill system. Kratos and Atreus each earn their own separate XP pool, which you allocate across different skill trees. After the initial tutorial, you'll get fewer reminders to spend the XP pool you've built up. When you find a shop, check how much XP you have and which skills you're aiming to pick up.

Always Keep a Resurrection Stone in Your Pocket

Always keep a handy resurrection stone on you. You can buy these cheaply from Brok or Sindri, but only one is allowed at a time. If you're defeated or fall in a fight, press Square to continue.

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