Haklangr the Bearded Berserker Boss in The Sinkholes

Struggling with Haklangr the Bearded Berserker in God of War Ragnarök? This guide breaks down his attacks, weaknesses, and provides a winning strategy for this tough boss fight.

Alright, so you've decided to take on Haklangr the Bearded, one of the tougher Berserkers in God of War Ragnarök. He's found in The Sinkholes, way out east in Vanaheim's Crater. You can't even get to this area until you've finished the main story mission "Creatures of Prophecy," so don't worry about it before then. Once you're able to explore the Crater, you'll need to head to The Jungle and complete the Favor called "Return of the River." This is super important because it gets the river flowing again, letting you use your boat to reach the gravestone. Just park your boat at the dock across from it and hop over the gap – you'll know you're in the right spot if it's near where you destroyed those big pillars with the dragon.

Before you can even think about fighting Haklangr, you need the Hilt of Skofnung. You get this key item during the story mission "The Word of Fate." Once you have it, just interact with the gravestone. It'll create a circular arena, and BAM! Haklangr appears. Don't get discouraged if you die – and you probably will, he's no joke. You'll just respawn right near the gravestone, so you can try again immediately.

Stats / Weaknesses

• Element: Haklangr can use both Frost and Fire. You'll need to hit him with the opposite element to break his shields.
• Aggression: He's a pure melee brawler, so expect him to be in your face constantly.

Phases

1. Phase 1: Standard Combat
   Haklangr starts with his usual aggressive melee combos and special attacks.
2. Phase 2: Shielded Combat
   He'll periodically put up a Frost or Fire shield, negating all damage. You MUST use the opposite element to break it.

Strategy

• Shield Management is Key: When Haklangr throws up his Frost shield, switch to your Blades of Chaos and unload Runic attacks like Tame the Beast. If he's got a Fire shield, swap to your Leviathan Axe and use something powerful like Breath of Thamur. The Spear can damage both shields, but it's way less effective. Don't waste time trying to chip away at a shield with the wrong element!
• Poison Slam Warning: This is probably the most dangerous attack early on. A big red circle appears around you, and he slams his Warhammer down, making it explode with poison. As soon as you see that red circle, double-roll backward twice to get out of the blast radius. If you're too slow, you can try to interrupt it with a Heavy Runic or Relic attack, but dodging is usually safer.
• Watch for the Rings: Like all Berserkers, Haklangr telegraphs his big moves with colored rings.
  • Red Ring: Usually means you need to dodge. For his Poison Slam and Hammer Pound attacks, dodge to the side.
  • Yellow Ring: These can often be parried, but dodging is safer if you're not confident. His Hammer Thrust and Leaping Hammer attacks have yellow rings. For the Leaping Hammer, a well-timed parry can be risky but rewarding, as he often follows up with a Hammer Thrust. If you miss the parry, be ready to dodge again.
• Master the Leaping Hammer: This attack sees him leap into the air with his hammer behind his head and swing down. It tracks you a bit. Dodging to the side is your best bet. If you're feeling brave, you can try to parry it right at the last second, but be aware he might immediately follow up with a Hammer Thrust if you mess up the parry or even if you nail it.