Let's be honest. Most people skipped this one. When we talk about Kratos, we usually jump from the original trilogy straight to the 2018 Norse reboot, leaving the 2013 prequel, Ascension, to collect dust in the "oh yeah, that existed" corner of PlayStation history. But if you’re actually sitting down with a God of War Ascension walkthrough in 2026, you've probably realized something: this game is weirdly difficult. It’s not just the combat. It’s the puzzles, the tethering mechanics, and that one specific elevator sequence that made people rage-quit ten years ago.
Kratos isn't the God of War here. Not yet. He’s just a guy—albeit a very angry, supernaturally strong guy—trying to break a blood oath with Ares. This means the gameplay feels different. You don't have a massive arsenal of secondary weapons like the Nemean Cestus. Instead, you have the World Weapons and the elemental infusions for your Blades of Chaos. If you approach this like God of War III, you're going to die. A lot.
The Early Game Trap: Getting Used to the Nuances
The opening act in the Prison of the Damned is a cinematic masterpiece, but it’s also a mechanical tutorial that most players ignore. Big mistake. You need to master the tether mechanic immediately. Unlike previous games where the circle button was basically a "grab and kill" move, in Ascension, it’s a tactical tool. You can hook one enemy and keep them at bay while you pummel another.
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It’s about crowd control. Honestly, the biggest hurdle for newcomers is the lack of "invincibility frames" during certain animations. In earlier games, you could often cheese your way through by triggering a grab animation. Here? The Furies' minions will just smack you mid-move. You have to be cleaner. Use the Fire of Ares early on because it provides the most straightforward damage buffs, but don't sleep on the Ice of Poseidon. It's not about the damage; it's about the orbs. Specifically, the red ones you get from shattered frozen enemies.
The Hecatonchires and the First Real Boss Fight
Fighting Megaera while sliding around the shifting architecture of a giant, multi-armed titan is peak God of War. But here's the thing: people get stuck because they try to stay too close. You've got to watch her telegraphs. When she jumps onto the background walls, focus on the parasites she spawns. If you let the small fry overwhelm you, the boss will finish you off while you're distracted.
Basically, keep your distance. Use the R3 + L3 rage mode only when the meter is actually full—don't waste it on the small mobs. Save it for when she's stunned to maximize damage. It’s a rhythmic fight, more like a dance than a brawl.
Navigating the Oracle’s Temple and Those Damned Puzzles
The middle section of any God of War Ascension walkthrough is dominated by the Temple of Delphi. This is where the puzzles get legitimate. We’re talking about time-manipulation mechanics using the Amulet of Uroborus.
Most players get stuck on the "Gas" puzzles. You'll encounter green mists that age or decay the environment. The trick is usually timing. You decay a platform, jump on it while it's falling, and then heal it while you’re standing on it to rise to a higher level. It sounds simple. In practice, with the camera angles spinning around, it’s easy to lose your footing.
Why the Amulet of Uroborus Changes Everything
This isn't just a puzzle tool. In combat, the Amulet is your best friend. You can literally "slow down" high-threat enemies like Juggernauts or Sirens. If you find yourself surrounded, tap the L2 + Square combo. It creates a localized stasis field. It’s basically a "get out of jail free" card that the game doesn't remind you to use nearly enough.
- Heal/Decay: Use it on bridges, gears, and even certain chests.
- Combat Stasis: Slows down bosses, making their unblockable attacks easy to dodge.
- Scenery Manipulation: If a path looks blocked, look for the "glow." If it glows green, you can mess with its timeline.
The Infamous Trial of Archimedes
We have to talk about it. If you’ve searched for a God of War Ascension walkthrough, this is likely why. The Trial of Archimedes. For years, this was considered the hardest encounter in the entire franchise. Sony Santa Monica actually had to patch it shortly after launch because the difficulty spike was so vertical it looked like a wall.
Even with the patch, it’s a nightmare. Three floors of absolute chaos with no checkpoints in between.
On the first floor, you're dealing with Gorgons and Sirens. This is a lethal combination. If you get turned to stone while a Siren is mid-scream, it’s game over. You have to prioritize the Gorgons. Use the Oath Stone of Orkos (which you get later in the game) to create a clone of Kratos to distract the Sirens.
The second floor introduces the Fire Talos and those annoying Harpies. Use the environment. There are spikes. Use your tether to throw enemies into the hazards. Don't try to be a hero; play dirty. The third floor is mostly a test of patience with the Centaurs. Parry. Just parry. If you haven't mastered the parry timing by this point, the Centaurs will poke you to death before you can even get a combo off.
The Elemental Infusion Strategy
One thing that often gets lost in translation is how the elemental levels work. You shouldn't spread your Red Orbs thin. Pick one or two elements and max them out.
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- Fire of Ares: Great for pure damage and the "Rage" explosion.
- Ice of Poseidon: Essential for farming Red Orbs (shattering enemies gives a bonus).
- Lightning of Zeus: Best for building the Rage meter quickly due to the high hit count.
- Soul of Hades: Summons arms from the underworld to help with crowd control.
Most expert players stick with Zeus for the meter build-up and Ares for the finishing blows. The Soul of Hades is cool, but at higher difficulty levels like Titan, the damage output just isn't fast enough to keep you alive.
The Final Confrontation: The Furies
The end of the game pits you against the three Furies. It’s a multi-stage fight that requires you to use everything you’ve learned. The biggest mistake here is focusing on the wrong sister. In the final phase, when they’re using the giant sea monster (Aegaeon the Hecatonchires) to smash the platform, you need to stay mobile.
Use the Amulet of Uroborus to lock down the sisters whenever they land. Use the Oath Stone to keep one busy while you wail on the other. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. If you rush, you'll get caught in a combo and lose 70% of your health in seconds.
Collectibles You Can't Afford to Miss
Unlike the main numbered entries, Ascension hides its Gorgon Eyes and Phoenix Feathers in some truly devious spots. Check behind the camera. Often, the developers hide a chest right "in front" of the camera where you can't see it unless you walk toward the screen.
Specifically, look out for the Artifacts. There are ten of them, like the Prisoner's Device or the Orkos' Cloak. These don't just give you trophies; they unlock "New Game Plus" cheats like infinite magic or health regeneration. If you’re struggling with the Trial of Archimedes on a second playthrough, these artifacts make it a joke.
Essential Tactics for a Smooth Run
To truly master the God of War Ascension walkthrough, stop playing it like a button-masher. This game rewards precision.
- Slide, don't just roll: The slide move has a slightly different recovery time and can get you out of corners faster.
- The World Weapons: Pick up the Javelin. It is arguably the most broken item in the game for taking out flyers and snipers from a distance. The Shield is okay for defense, but the Javelin is a game-changer.
- Magic Management: Don't hoard your magic. The elemental attacks often clear the screen and give you breathing room. If you’re at 50% health, use your magic to create an opening.
- Watch the floor: Many boss arenas have environmental indicators for where an attack is about to land. Ascension uses a lot of ground-burst effects.
Actionable Steps for Your Playthrough
If you're currently staring at a loading screen or stuck on a boss, here is exactly what you need to do next to progress:
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- Check your upgrades: If you haven't maxed out the Blades of Chaos to at least Level 3, go back and find any missed chests. The damage jump is significant.
- Practice the Parry: Go to an early-game area or use the first few enemies in a room to get the L1 + Square timing down. It is the only way to survive the late-game gauntlets.
- Remap your brain for the Tether: Stop pressing Circle to grab. Start pressing it to "hold" enemies. This shift in mindset makes the combat flow much better.
- Focus on the Amulet: In every single fight from the midpoint onwards, use the Amulet of Uroborus on cooldown. There is no penalty for using it, and it makes the AI significantly less aggressive.
- Prioritize the Gorgon Eyes: Health is more important than Magic in this specific game because of the lack of checkpoints in the final acts.
Ascension is a technical marvel that was perhaps a bit too experimental for its own good at the time. By focusing on the tethering mechanics and time manipulation over raw aggression, you'll find the game much more manageable. The combat is deeper than the original games, but it requires a level of patience Kratos himself usually lacks. Stick to the elemental strengths, utilize the artifacts on subsequent runs, and don't let the Trial of Archimedes break your spirit.