Armed with his Leviathan Axe, Blades of Chaos, and boy, Kratos in God of War Ragnarok is prepared for the end of Asgard and the apocalypse of the Nine Realms more than Odin himself. Yet, as players start the adventure, regardless of difficulty, they are going to find that there is no issue with some extended upgrades at the start of their run.
The best early upgrades in God of War Ragnarok will give players the start they need to ensure Kratos and Atreus have a relatively smooth ride through Fimbulwinter, and these upgrades provide vital skills that will still be used during the endgame.
6 Frost Awaken 1
Unlocks Violent Melee Cleave Attack That Provides High Frost
- Hold Triangle to imbue the Leviathan Axe with ice and power up the next Melee or Ranged Attack with high Frost.
The Leviathan Axe is the perfect weapon for players who prefer a mix of offense and defense, for it can be used perfectly with the shield to lay down some devastating attacks while also preparing for a quick counter. With Frost Awaken 1, players can hold Triangle to charge the Leviathan Axe, imbuing it with ice so that the next attack that hits an enemy deals more damage and provides further Frost.
Charging an attack requires a precise hand, as players will need to make sure it’s safe to charge and even safer to attack an enemy to build up a Frost meter. It’s the best starting upgrade for it unlocks further versatility in combat, especially when fighting enemies weak to Frost.
5 Freezing Throw 1
The Leviathan Axe is Thrown to Freeze Targets in Place
- Aim and Press R2 to throw the Leviathan Axe forward with force. Can freeze weaker enemies for a short duration.
One of the most satisfying aspects of God of War Ragnarok comes from the ability to throw the Leviathan Axe. The throw and the catch are equally satisfying, especially when it embeds into an enemy. Players can see further reward from these throws with Freezing Throw, which means that each heavy throw from R2 will freeze weaker enemies for a short duration.
Frozen enemies can be great to stop Kratos from being overwhelmed, as the axe can stay embedded so it’s one less enemy to worry about. Alternatively, it can also be used while Kratos charges towards them and prepares to beat them to a bloody pulp with his fists.
4 Flame Whiplash 1
The Blades of Chaos Provide Extended Fire Damage
- Mash Trianlge to imbue one Blade of Chaos with fire. Fully charge for follow-up attacks to have maximum effect.
Kratos might not be the biggest fan of the Blades of Chaos due to how they have plagued his centuries as a monster, but they sure are fun to use. The Blades of Chaos are available to Kratos from the beginning of the game, so it’s wise to invest early by unlocking Flame Whiplash, which will see players mash the Triangle button to spin a single Blade of Chaos and imbue it with fire.
Once imbued with fire, the Blade of Chaos is charged up and can be used to strike and whip opponents for harsh damage and set them on fire, which will deal damage over time. Considering Kratos is going to fight enemies weak to the Blades of Chaos in Midgard early on, this is a helpful investment.
3 Battlefield Awareness
Atreus Extends Melee Combos With Kratos
- Atreus watches for moments to follow up on Kratos’ attacks, extending his combo.
Atreus has learned more combat skills from his father in the build-up to Fimbulwinter, and the Battlefield Awareness perk is going to greatly benefit Kratos during combat, since as Kratos juggles enemies and repeatedly hits them with violent combos, Atreus will confidently join in to provide precise strike with his bow.
Atreus uses Battlefield Awareness to better prepare his AI for combat, and with his help, players are able to deal more damage to enemies and stun them faster, since they are going to have an ally to help them in the dangerous fights ahead.
2 Watchful Protector
Atreus Takes Enemies Attention Away From Kratos
- Atreus draws enemy aggression when Kratos is under pressure.
Sometimes, especially early on, Kratos can easily be overwhelmed by an abundance of violent enemies that want his blood. As such, it’s helpful that Atreus has become stronger, more nimble, and confidence as he grows up into godhood, and with that, there’s a new ability that really helps.
Atreus can see greater use as an AI partner with Watchful Protector, which will have him draw enemies away from Kratos by distracting them with his own attacks, allowing Kratos to free himself from enemies to better place his focus.
1 Entangled Grip 1
Allows Freya to Freeze Enemies
- Freya can spawn vines from the ground that root enemies in place.
Freya might not be an ally straight away, but the moment players do acquire her as a friend they should invest immediately into Entangled Grip. With this ability, Freya will be able to spawn vines from the ground and use them to root enemies in place, trapping them momentarily to take the aggregation off of Kratos, and also provide him with a frozen target.
Entangled Grip is extremely helpful for subduing enemies to ensure Kratos is never too overwhelmed, and it’s always nice to have an enemy stuck on the spot so Kratos can tear them apart with his rage.
