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.
| Move | left stick |
| Sprint | button |
| Rotate camera | right stick |
| Toggle lock-on | button |
| Evade | button |
| Command Atreus | button |
| Interact | button |
| Recall axe | button |
| Equip/Sheathe axe | directional button |
| Quick turn | directional button |
| Switch arrow type | directional button |
| Light attack | button |
| Heavy attack | button |
| Block/Parry | button |
| Aim | 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.
Holding down the 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 button with the left stick held in a direction to roll away from an unblockable attack.
Rather than simply keeping the Guardian Shield raised in combat, tap 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.
Atreus’ long-range support can be an invaluable asset in tough encounters. Simply tap the 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 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 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.
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.
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.
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.
Determines Kratos’ raw power. A higher strength stat results in increased damage for all standard, non-Runic attacks.
As above, but reversed. A Higher Runic stat equals stronger Runic attacks and elemental damage, but does not increase the damage of normal attacks.
Reduces damage received from all attack types.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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