Garden for the Dead

Follow this guide to complete the Garden for the Dead favor in God of War Ragnarök. Learn how to destroy all three poison totems and claim your reward.

Alright, so you're looking to wrap up the 'Garden for the Dead' favor in Vanaheim? It's a pretty straightforward one, mostly involving a bit of puzzle-solving around Noatun's Garden. You'll need to take out some pesky poison totems. Don't worry, I'll walk you through exactly where everything is and how to deal with it.

How to Start the Favor:

First things first, you need to have completed the main story quest called 'The Reckoning.' Once you're done with that and are leaving Vanaheim with Freya, she'll enchant your chisel. This lets you use those little mirrors you've seen around. Keep an eye out for one in Vanaheim; it'll open up a path to a boat. Take that boat to a shore with a Mystic Gateway. While your main objective might be to head back to Sindri's House, you can totally explore Vanaheim first. Look for a log you can break with a Sonic Arrow to open up more areas. You'll eventually find a spot to dock your boat called Noatun's Garden. As soon as you land, you'll have to fight some enemies, so clear them out. After the dust settles, look for a spirit named Astrid standing by a tree. Talk to her, and she'll give you this favor.

Completing the Garden for the Dead Puzzle:

Here's a cool thing: you can actually destroy all the poison totems *before* you even talk to Astrid. All the objectives are right there in Noatun's Garden. Your main goal is to destroy three poison totems that are spewing out that nasty gas. Just freezing them with your axe won't cut it; they need to be completely destroyed. Luckily, there are explosive pots conveniently placed near each one. You just need to hit those pots to take out the totems.

Destroying the First Poison Totem:

When you first arrive and dock your boat at Noatun's Garden, you'll see a mirror that needs the chisel way off in the distance. To the left of that, and a bit closer to you, is the first Poison Totem. This one's the easiest to deal with. Head to the dead end just north of the totem. From there, you'll have a clear shot at the explosive pot hidden behind some rocks. Just toss your axe at the pot, and boom – totem gone!

Destroying the Second Poison Totem:

Now, face that mirror again. The second Poison Totem is to the right of it. The catch here is that the explosive pot is behind a metal grating, which is attached to a runic disc. So, you can't just hit it directly. To get around this, head southeast of the totem. You'll find a wall you can climb. Once you're on top of the nearby ruins, look back towards the totem. You should see the runic disc holding the explosive pot. You can hit it from up here, which will drop the pot and destroy the totem.

Destroying the Third Poison Totem:

The third Poison Totem is located right next to the ruins where you found Astrid. At first glance, it might seem like there's no way to get to the explosive pot. But if you circle around that ruin, you'll find a small opening on one side. This opening is just big enough to line up a shot with your axe at the explosive pot. Toss your axe through the opening to destroy the totem.

Finishing the Favor:

Once all three poison totems are toast, head back to Astrid. She'll wrap things up, and you'll get the Svartalfheim's Safety Amulet Enchantment as your reward. Nice!