God of War: Ragnarok's combat shares a similar DNA with that of its predecessor. Light attacks, heavy attacks, blocks, parries, dodges, and ranged attacks dominate the majority of the gameplay, but there's a special way that this title adds a lot of oomph to the combat. This comes in the form of powerful Runic Attacks that Kratos can unleash to decimate his foes in style. The length of the animations and the type of each attack differs with each Runic Attack, but the vast majority of them will help Kratos out in a pinch without fail.
God of War Ragnarok: How to Level Up
In order to become stronger, God of War Ragnarok players will need to increase their power level by upgrading their gear at a workshop.
That being said, there are some Runic Attacks that are bound to be more useful in combat against the game's toughest foes. After all, Runic Attacks with longer animations leave Kratos helpless if he misses an enemy and becomes a sitting duck for the attacks that come his way. Meanwhile, other Runic Attacks have Cooldowns that are so impractically long that they can only be used once in battle, forcing players to either switch weapons or rely on basic attacks for the rest of an encounter.
5 Njord's Tempest
Light Runic Attack With The Leviathan Axe
- Spin around multiple times with the Leviathan Axe, cutting down anything standing in the way
A classic Runic Attack that fans love from 2018's God of War, it's easy to see why Njord's Tempest is such an amazing move in the eyes of many despite how simple it may seem. Kratos spins around with the Leviathan Axe and moves forward, turning him into a whirlwind of death that will cut down lesser enemies and deplete the health of tougher ones.
What makes this Runic Attack so useful is the high damage and Frost buildup, especially if a single enemy is hacked with this axe swing numerous times. An upgrade ensures that players can lengthen the duration of this spin, further punishing enemies who stand in Kratos' way. However, it's important to aim this move properly, since any foe that manages to get around Kratos can punish him for this costly mistake.
4 Ivaldi's Anvil
Heavy Runic Attack With The Leviathan Axe
- Slam the axe into the ground for a quick AoE blast that can be upgraded to hit twice
The Heavy Runic Attacks players can use in God of War: Ragnarok can destroy any foe in Kratos' way. Whipping out one of these attacks will lead to enemies eating the dirt in no time, and a great way to display the strength and effectiveness of a Runic Attack is Ivaldi's Anvil. This move is quick, painless, and unleashes an AoE after Kratos jumps into the air and slams his axe into the ground, unleashing a shockwave that knocks the wind out of any enemy around Kratos.
Players can upgrade this enemy for another quick follow-up shockwave, effectively doubling the damage of this attack. A main complaint of most Heavy Runic Attacks is that their animations take way too long, which is why Ivaldi's Anvil is perhaps the perfect attack to bring out against bosses who won't be stunned by a long-lasting Heavy Runic Attack for too long.
3 Rampage Of The Furies
Light Runic Attack With The Blades Of Chaos
- Unleash a brutal flurry with the Blades of Chaos to deal immense damage on a single enemy
The Blades of Chaos serve as one of the most iconic weapons in video game history. Watching Kratos whip out this blade in 2018's God of War was a treat for the ages, and Ragnarok didn't make players wait at all before using the Blades of Chaos to show enemies who's boss. To make this weapon more deadly in Kratos' hands, players can use certain Runic Attacks to enhance their effectiveness in battle, with Rampage of the Furies being an excellent flurry that will slice and dice most enemies in no time.
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As Kratos grapples with his past in God of War Ragnarok: Valhalla, players take a trip down memory lane along with him.
Watching a hapless enemy be cut into ribbons when hit with the full force of this attack is a treat for the ages. The length of this attack's animation isn't short, but players who pick and choose their attack windows against certain bosses will land every hit of this combo and come one step closer to victory.
2 Tame The Beast
Heavy Runic Attack With The Blades Of Chaos
- Swipe at enemies with the Blades of Chaos multiple times, ending in a slam
For a hack-and-slash game, it's impressive how God of War: Ragnarok doesn't lean into the button-mashing problem plaguing most of the games in this genre. Instead, players are encouraged to diversify their attacks, ensuring that their thumbs aren't aching after a few battles. However, there are times when the catharsis of button-mashing enhances this game's combat system, and Tame the Beast is a great example of the same.
This Heavy Runic Attack compels Kratos to unleash a flurry of swipes aimed at the area in front of him, ending in a resounding fiery slam that hits for serious damage. The upgrade for this Runic Attack increases the number of swipes Kratos lands when players mash the Heavy Attack button, but this can work against the player against certain tough bosses that stop being staggered and stage a counterattack of their own. In such instances, it's better to play it safe and limit Kratos to a few swipes before shifting into a defensive gear.
1 Artillery Of The Ancients
Heavy Runic Attack With The Draupnir Spear
- Launch numerous spears on a set of enemies, stunning them from a distance
The Draupnir Spear comes later on in a player's run, making it somewhat of a challenge for players to get used to the moveset and integrate their playstyle with a new set of Runic Attacks for this Wind-infused weapon. However, one use of the Artillery of the Ancients will make it clear why it's arguably the best Heavy Runic Attack players can use for the Draupnir Spear.
Kratos throws his weapon in the air from a distance, unleashing a hail of spears in an area populated by enemies. Despite this attack being an AoE of sorts, it's perfect for a single enemy as well since the attack auto-aims and staggers foes quite a bit. This makes it a perfect Heavy Runic Attack to whip out against tougher end-game bosses who can punish players from a distance, giving Kratos some breathing room as he unleashes this attack and watches a tough boss enemy get staggered numerous times as they're impaled with numerous magical spears.
God of War Ragnarok
- Released
- November 9, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Santa Monica Studio
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
