New Combat Options

Discover the exciting new combat abilities and shield mechanics in God of War Ragnarök. Learn how to use Frost Awaken, Flame Whiplash, and new shields like Dauntless and Stonewall to dominate your foes.

Alright, let's talk about the fresh ways Kratos and Atreus can dish out pain in God of War Ragnarök. The first game really nailed that weighty, impactful combat, and Ragnarök is building on that foundation with even more tricks up your sleeve. Your trusty Leviathan Axe and the fiery Blades of Chaos are back, but they’ve got some cool new moves.

Remember how the Triangle button used to just recall your axe? Well, now it does way more! When you've got the Leviathan Axe equipped, hitting Triangle before your next attack (melee or ranged) will imbue it with a Frost Awaken effect. It’s a nice little boost to your damage. Plus, if you press R1 while the axe has Frost Awaken active, Kratos will unleash Frozen Breach – a wide, arcing attack that coats enemies in Frost. And if you throw the axe while it's Frost Awakened, it'll create a frost explosion on impact, called Frozen Spike. Little touches like these give you more ways to control the battlefield.

The Blades of Chaos got a similar upgrade. Pressing Triangle with the Blades out activates Flame Whiplash, giving your fiery attacks an extra kick.

New Shields

It's not just about your weapons, either! Kratos has some new shield options that totally change how you approach combat. If you're someone who loves to time your blocks perfectly, the Dauntless Shield is for you. It lets you parry incoming attacks, opening enemies up for a brutal counter-attack. On the other hand, if you prefer a more defensive style, the Stonewall Shield is your best friend. You can't parry with it, but you'll absorb incoming damage. Once you've soaked up enough, you can unleash that stored energy as a shockwave, blasting enemies away.