After around one year of the game’s initial release, God of War Ragnarök has received a brand-new free game mode! This mode acts as an epilogue for the main story and sees you embarking on a rogue-like adventure. Accompanied by Mimir and with the help of Freya and the Valkyries, Kratos attempts to beat one of his hardest challenges yet – Valhalla. However, the Ghost of Sparta wouldn’t be himself if he wasn’t absolutely decimating every enemy he comes across. As a result, we’ve compiled all you need to know to create the best God of War Ragnarok Valhalla builds.
For more relevant content, make sure to check out these articles on KeenGamer:
- God Of War Ragnarok: Top 5 Relics and Sword Hilts
- God Of War Ragnarok: Top 5 Armor Sets
- God Of War Ragnarok: All Odin’s Ravens Locations
- God Of War Ragnarok Review: An Emotional Masterpiece
Below is the official reveal trailer for God of War Ragnarök‘s free Valhalla DLC game mode. God Of War Ragnarök is available on both PlayStation 4 and 5, for $69.99.
Best Armor
Note: Armor is only cosmetic in this game mode but by analyzing the buffs and effects, one can correlate that to the bonuses gained through Valhalla and determine which stats and builds to prioritize.
The first piece of armor we recommend is the Fate Breaker Shoulder Guard, as it is easily obtainable in the main mode (by simply starting the quest ‘Realms at War’). This makes it so that most players will recognize its effects and can keep an eye out for them in Valhalla accordingly. The shoulder guard will buff Kratos’ Strength, Defense, Runic, and Stagger Resistance upon ending his ‘Rage’. If you’re familiar with the base game, you’ll know these buffs are ones you should look to obtain via stat chests.
Whenever you feel as though you’re being overwhelmed or are about to perish, activate your Rage and deal damage whilst regaining a bit of HP. Afterward, the armor will grant you some extra protection and strength that allow you to continue hammering down your enemies. Because it boosts your Runic ability, it would be wise to save your Runic attacks until after your Rage ends for maximum damage output. Of course, while this does not exist in Valhalla, you are still able to use the knowledge of this armor’s effect to construct a Valhalla build based on its stats. Therefore, keep an eye out on what is in those chests!
Fate Breaker Armor
Another great option is Vidar’s armor set; especially the Bracers of Might and the Belt of Might. When you upgrade them to Level 3, they grant Kratos a unique ability called ‘Finishing Might’. Its effects are extremely powerful as they make it so that combo finishers now do up to 20% increased damage. Combine these with a versatile and powerful chest armor such as the Spiritual Shoulder Straps or Dragon Scaled Armor and you’ll be flying. Additionally, Sol’s Wraps of Courage is a fantastic alternate option that has a chance to grant a Rage burst whenever you take damage. What all these armors have in common is their strong effects that can be found in Valhalla’s chests. Combine them with stat glyph chests to basically have the armor from the base game available.
Best Amulet Enchantments
Note: Amulets do not return to Valhalla in the same manner as we know them. However, their effects are still present as obtainable buffs and boons via the chests. Therefore, this section acts as a refresher for returning players.
At the end of the day, choosing effects that suit your style of play is more important than simply trying to find out what’s meta. That being said, there are a few powerful combinations you can gather on your run that can elevate your God of War Ragnarok Valhalla gameplay to new heights. Stay on the lookout because they aren’t going to be named exactly the same. Therefore, make sure you read the boon’s carefully to fully understand what you are getting.
Amulet of Yggdrasil enchantments
- Niflheim Virtue – Grants 3 Defense and 12 Cooldown. The full set increases Kratos’ Melee damage when he is above 75% Health based on his Defense. However, this enchantment’s purpose is solely to increase Cooldown, allowing for more Runic attacks.
- Jotunheim’s Honor – Grants 4 Defense, 4 Vitality, 6 Luck. The full set increases Kratos’ Maximum Rage based on his Vitality – a great ability for those aiming for a defensive approach.
- Jotunheim’s Essence – Grants 4 Strength, 4 Vitality, and 6 Luck. This is a flex spot and can easily be replaced with Vanaheim’s Fortitude for extra Cooldown.
- Muspelheim Force – Grants 12 Strength, 3 Runic, a great way to further push the boundaries of Kratos’ beefiness.
- Muspelheim Protection – Grants 3 Runic, 10 Cooldown, 7 Luck. Pairing this with Niflheim’s Virtue and Vanaheim’s Fortitude makes for an insane Cooldown build that allows you to use Runic attacks frequently.
- Boon of Fury – An enchantment that enhances the power of Fury Spartan Rage at the cost of amount healed from damage dealt whilst in Rage. This is extremely useful in various situations such as; taking out bigger enemies, thinning out hordes, or dealing that extra bit of damage you need.
- Greater Regenerating Essence – Adds a fair amount of constant Health regeneration. This requires 170 vitality but with the right gear and amulet enchantments, it is achievable. The healing while idle is great for out-of-combat scenarios. However, it is also useful during combat as you can regain a few hit points whilst running away, dodging, parrying, and taking a breather.
- Regenerating Essence – Adds a small amount of constant Health regeneration. Exactly the same as the enchantment above yet healing is in smaller amounts. Both Regenerating Essences stack.
- Crest of Desperate Heroics – When Kratos’ health drops to a critical level, grants a short invincible barrier, buff to Strength, and Health Burst when complete. Pretty self-explanatory why this enchantment is great, acting as a second chance when you break out of the flow of combat.
These effects, buffs, and boons are available to obtain via glyph chests and tablet upgrades. Make sure you keep an eye out and find similar boosts on your run that could prove useful!
Best Relics
Relics were singlehandedly responsible for netting us that Platinum trophy on our initial playthrough of God of War Ragnarok. This is because they provide unique effects that can truly act as your saving grace. One of the easiest Relics to use is the Glaive of Dodher. Activating it throws 3 Bifrost chakrams that hit your enemies, leaving them weakened. You will notice their health bar will appear blue and your attacks will have bonus damage. This is incredible when taking out huge bosses as it also acts as a way to get in a few more hits, even if you’re far away.
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- Realm Shift Relic
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- Glaive of Dodher Relic
Another useful Relic is the Hilt of Hofud which allows you to Realm Shift upon activation. Many players are already familiar with this Relic as it helped Kratos defeat Heimdall. Therefore, it should be relatively easy to use. That being said, if you do decide to go for his Relic, then make sure to heavily lean into the ‘Realm Shift’ build to get the most out of it. The Gauntlets of Radiance and Belt of Radiance are two glaringly obvious examples that help prolong the duration of your Realm Shifts.
Best Shields
Having an exceptional shield is necessary to effectively parry attacks and protect yourself from incoming damage. The Shatter Star shield charges up energy whilst Kratos is blocking, and its L1 ability allows Kratos to punch the shield and blast that energy at enemies. This is extremely beneficial as often it grants you a way to get that extra hit in. Despite this shield being a reliable option, it is not the number one spot as far as we’re concerned.
Shatter Star Shield
The best shield in the game based on our experience is the Dauntless Shield. This is because it makes you shift your focus on parrying attacks correctly. By doing so, your well-timed parries will build up and can be released as a devastating stun attack. In terms of Ronds, we found that the Rond of Disruption is incredibly overpowered. This is mainly due to it coming with the Elemental Storm perk which grants Kratos the chance to create an Elemental Storm attack when parrying or shield attacking a blue enemy attack.
Alternatively, the Rond of Deflection is another great option as it increases the time window for parrying. As a result, you can parry more often, preventing your enemies from catching a break. Having your parries land more often than not leads to smoother gameplay that flows nicely. You’ll be able to feel more confident on the battlefield, allowing you to take risks that can result in victory.
Best Runic Attacks
Leviathan Axe
Light Runic Attacks – Winter’s Bite, Njord’s Tempest, Leviathan’s Wake. Heavy Runic Attacks – Ivaldi’s Anvil, Glaive Storm, Fog of Fimbulwinter. Both the heavy and light Runic Attacks aid with crowd control, allowing you to split up groups of enemies. The Leviathan Axe has always been a reliable weapon. This is further amplified by its consistently solid Runic Attacks that are truly versatile.
Leviathan Axe
In terms of Pommels, Grip of the Fallen Alchemist is literally lifesaving as it has a chance to grant a health burst on strikes using the Serpent’s Snare skill. Serpent’s Snare is already very strong and useful. Therefore, combining the two proves for a devastating combo. Relating back to Runic abilities, the inclusion of Winter’s Bite and Ivaldi’s Anvil is not based on their power. Instead, they are included because of the sheer quickness of attack. This way, you can quickly get in and out, performing your Runic attack with minimal injury.
Blades of Chaos
Light Runic Attacks – Rage of the Titans, Rampage of the Furies, Nemean Crush. Heavy Runic Attacks – Hyperion Slam, Tame the Beast. Generally speaking, with the Blades of Chaos, you’ll want to get up close and personal, dishing out a fury of slices. Due to the intense nature of the attacks, bigger enemies will often have a hard time dodging the swinging blades. As a result, you could theoretically trap them in place whilst you wreak havoc. These Runic Attacks truly cement themselves as essential for the best God of War Ragnarok Valhalla builds.
Blades of Chaos
Boosting Runic, Vitality and Luck aren’t the only things that the Pommels of the Nine Realms do. In fact, they make it so that activating Furious Immolation (L1 + Triangle while Immolation is full) triggers a Realm Shift. Although this may seem a bit overwhelming to keep track of at first, you’ll notice that Furious Immolation is a skill you will utilize often to maximize your total damage output. Therefore, why not have a bonus of slowing down time as well?
Draupnir Spear
Light Runic Attacks – Thrust of a Thousand Soldiers. Heavy Runic Attacks – Honour the Fallen. Combining elements from both weapons, the Spear’s Runic Attacks allow for both close-quartered and ranged combat. Regardless, Thurst of a Thousand Soldiers remains our favorite pick for the Spear’s runic attack. It is satisfying and extremely viable at higher difficulties. This is because of the amount of stabs you can perform. With a Luck build, this Runic attack will become even better!
For the Pommel, Hind of Deadly Vitality grants a Moderate Luck chance to grant a Health Burst on any successful Spear kill. This is perfect when facing hordes of enemies, allowing you to recover health easily. However, when it comes to fighting big solo bosses, a Pommel such as Hind of the Four Winds will prove more useful. It adds a Concussive Wave to the end of the Spear R2 combo, leaving bosses open for stronger attacks.
Additional Tips and Tricks
It is important to note that whichever weapon you have equipped whilst opening chests matters as your rewards will be correlated to the said weapon. Therefore, a smart strategy would be to stick with one weapon throughout your entire run (or at least the beginning) and keep on netting upgrades and runic attacks for it. If you mix and match, chances are you might not gain any useful effects and be stuck with a bunch of weak abilities.
That being said, these were the best builds in God of War Ragnarok Valhalla.
Dog
This article here is why everyone shits on gaming journalism. It’s an article about the base game in Ragnarök but it claims to be about the Valhalla DLC. I bet whoever wrote this garbage didn’t even play the game and just stole a bunch of crap from other articles and called it a day.
Youssef ElKhedry
Hello, hope all is well! Knowing the best Runic Attacks, Relics, and Shields are all essential for your Valhalla run. I clearly stated in a note that the armor is solely for cosmetics yet understanding their buffs and boons is important as they appear as stats you gather via chests in Valhalla. This is the same reason I explained the Amulet’s enchantments; to know which the effects are the best and synergize well together. Knowing this highly increases the chances you will pick better-suited buffs and boons for your specific run.
I also have this article below that covers the Valhalla mode in-depth as this was a generalization to explain what is good and what isn’t. Most players haven’t played Ragnarok for a while seeing as how it has been a year since its release. As a result, this article acts as both a refresher and a guide on what are the best Relics, Runic Attacks, and Shields to use.
https://www.keengamer.com/articles/guides/god-of-war-ragnarok-valhalla-glyphs-and-upgrades-guide-tablet-of-endeavor/
I am disappointed that you did not enjoy this article, but I can assure you that I have not only finished the game but obtained all of the trophies as well. Nevertheless, the article above showcases the Valhalla mode in-depth and explains all of the ins and outs of the mode.
Have a nice day and Merry Christmas!