WELCOME, WARRIOR

On the snowy drifts

The brutal Norse wilds are a fearsome place for those unprepared to face its denizens. To ensure you’re ready for your odyssey, familiarise yourself with the basics of combat, explore the lore of Midgard’s legendary setting and discover the enemies you’ll face while you’re there.

DEFAULT CONTROLS*

Firing a bow

Move left stick
Sprint B button
Rotate camera right stick
Toggle lock-on N button
Evade S button
Command Atreus F button
Interact A button
Recall axe D button
Equip/Sheathe axe X directional button
Quick turn V directional button
Switch arrow type C directional button
Light attack E button
Heavy attack R button
Block/Parry Q button
Aim W button
Open map touch pad button
Pause menu OPTIONS button
Take screenshot/video SHARE button

*Controls listed are the default/recommended settings. These can be changed via the in-game options menu.

DON’T BE SORRY. BE BETTER

Blocking and Dodging

Blocking and Dodging

Holding down the Q button raises Kratos’ Guardian Shield – providing an impregnable defence in most situations. A yellow circle appearing around an enemy attack indicates one which can be blocked, but a red circle indicates an attack which must be evaded.
Quickly double-tap the S button with the left stick held in a direction to roll away from an unblockable attack.
 

Parrying

Parrying

Rather than simply keeping the Guardian Shield raised in combat, tap Q right before a blockable attack hits Kratos and he’ll parry it – knocking back the enemy and leaving them wide open for a brutal follow-up.

 

Commanding Atreus

Commanding Atreus

Atreus’ long-range support can be an invaluable asset in tough encounters. Simply tap the F button and Atreus will fire a shot from his Talon Bow. By default, he’ll target the enemy Kratos is locked onto, but you can command him to fire at a specific target by aiming with the W button first.

As you progress through the game’s story, Atreus will gain access to different arrow types, each with their own unique effects. Simply tap the C directional button to switch between arrow types.

As the boy grows more confident in combat, he’ll also be able to subdue enemies with melee attacks, leaving them open to follow-ups from the Leviathan Axe. You’ll first have to unlock this ability through the Skills tab in the pause menu.

 

Atreus’ Bestiary

Atreus’ Bestiary

If a particular creature is giving you trouble, Atreus’ bestiary can be an invaluable source of information. From the pause menu, navigate to the Codex tab and then select Bestiary. Here, Atreus logs all of the enemies encountered along the journey, and adds notes on enemy-specific strategies with repeated encounters.

 

Enemy Levels

Enemy Levels

Blocking, dodging and parrying like a god? Clued-up on the best strategies from the bestiary and still getting destroyed? You might just be under-levelled for the fight.

Note that by each enemy’s health meter is a number indicating its level. If their level is higher than Kratos’, you’re likely to struggle with the encounter. Explore the world further, upgrade your gear and come back later to stand a fighting chance.

READY UP FOR WAR

As you explore Midgard (and beyond), you’ll come across new pieces of gear for Kratos which enhance his core stats. By upgrading gear at the blacksmith’s to improve these stats further, you’ll find encounters much easier to manage. Be sure to pick the right gear and enhance the right stats for the situation.

Strength

Determines Kratos’ raw power. A higher strength stat results in increased damage for all standard, non-Runic attacks.

Runic

As above, but reversed. A Higher Runic stat equals stronger Runic attacks and elemental damage, but does not increase the damage of normal attacks.

Defence

Reduces damage received from all attack types.

Vitality

Increases Kratos’ maximum health, and makes Kratos more resistant to being staggered by enemy attacks. You can also boost Kratos’ maximum health by collecting Iðunn Apples, found in locked Nornir chests around the world.

Luck

Increases the chance of Kratos’ perks being activated in combat. Perks are additional abilities which trigger automatically based on certain conditions, and can be added to armour and weapons with enchantments. An increased luck stat also improves the amount of XP gained (essential for buying new abilities), as well as the volume of Hacksilver (the in-game currency) found throughout the world.

Cooldown

A higher cooldown reduces the wait time needed to activate Runic attacks, summons and talisman abilities. These special abilities are unlocked gradually as Kratos and Atreus progress though their journey.

A WORLD OF MYTHS AND LEGENDS

Combat

Discover some of the terrifying creatures you’ll encounter on your perilous journey. Witness their transformation from sketch, to digital painting, to fully animated in-game character.

Draugr

Undead warriors whose souls were too fierce and stubborn to leave the mortal realm, their twisted forms have rendered them slow and predictable. Use this to your advantage as you parry their sluggish attacks.

Trolls

It is said that no one troll in Midgard is the same, but each of these monstrous creatures shares something in common: immeasurable power. Even the Guardian Shield will struggle to deflect their mighty blows, so watch for their attacks, dodge and counter.

Revenant

Vile witches deformed by their zealous devotion to Seiðr magic, these creatures are too nimble even for the swiftest cleaves of the Leviathan Axe. Use Atreus’ arrows to stun them before moving in for the kill.

Discover development secrets and explore the lost pages of Norse myth with more behind-the-scenes podcasts, videos and articles.

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