Character Builds

Explore the best character builds for God of War (2018), focusing on Strength, Runic, and Spartan Rage. Optimize your gear and enchantments for any difficulty.

God of War (2018) allows for extensive customization of Kratos's playstyle through various character builds. While lower difficulties offer flexibility, higher difficulties necessitate specialization. The primary builds revolve around Strength, Runic, and Spartan Rage, which can be further enhanced with Enchantments.

Strength Build

This build focuses on maximizing regular attack damage. While it starts strong, it can be outclassed by other builds late-game, especially on harder difficulties. The Smoldering Brimstone set from Muspelheim, when fully upgraded, provides the best Strength increase, and its Perk offers a chance for further boosts. For Enchantments, prioritize high Strength and Luck to increase Perk activation frequency.

Spartan Rage Build

This build aims to increase the frequency of Spartan Rage by boosting Rage gain. The full set of Brok’s Royal Dwarven armor grants a 30% increase in Rage gain rate, which can be further augmented with Enchantments. This build is particularly effective in certain situations, such as the Muspelheim Trials.

Runic Builds

There are three distinct Runic builds, generally considered the most effective for higher difficulties.

Pure Runic

This build maximizes the Runic stat for the most potent Runic Attacks. It requires Cooldown Enchantments to ensure frequent usage, as the armor set itself offers little Cooldown. When upgraded, this build allows Kratos to reach his highest possible level.

Runic Cooldown

This build balances powerful Runic Attacks with sufficient Cooldown for regular use. The Sindri’s Royal Dwarven set offers a Perk that protects Kratos from damage during Runic Attacks when activated. Focus on Cooldown and Luck Enchantments to maximize Perk uptime and Runic usage.

Runic All Purpose

This versatile build offers high Runic damage, good Cooldown, and a beneficial waist Perk that further boosts Runic abilities. It also allows Kratos to reach Level 9 without sacrificing Strength or Defense. Prioritize Luck Enchantments to reach over 100, then focus on Runic and Cooldown. This build is recommended for the final optional boss.

Mixed Armor Build

This build combines the Sindri chest piece with Valkyrie armor pieces for a potent combination. The Sindri chest's Perk can grant invulnerability during Runic Attacks, and when paired with high Cooldown and Luck (over 100), it can make Kratos virtually invincible. Focus Enchantments on Luck first, then Cooldown. This build is highly recommended for the toughest challenges on the highest difficulty.