You’re standing in the woods. Kratos looks older, more tired, and honestly, a bit out of his element. If you just picked up the 2018 soft reboot, you probably realized pretty quickly that this isn't the button-mashing chaos of the older games. It’s different. It’s slower.
A lot of people get stuck early on. Not because the combat is impossible, but because the world is a giant, shifting puzzle. Following a god of war ps4 walkthrough isn't just about finding out where to swing the axe; it’s about understanding when the game is lying to you about where you can actually go.
Sony Santa Monica built this world with a "Metroidvania" heart. You’ll see a chest behind some red vines or a blue crystal you can’t interact with and spend twenty minutes trying to "pro gamer" your way past it. Don't. You can't. You’re just going to give yourself a headache.
The First Big Hurdle: The Stranger and the River Pass
The game starts with a literal funeral. Then, a fight that breaks the geography of the map. When the Stranger knocks on your door, the combat tutorial officially ends and the real game begins.
Most players struggle with the River Pass section. It’s the first time the game opens up. You’ll find the "Wildwoods" hidden chamber—ignore it. You don't have the chisel yet. If you waste time trying to open those glowing diamond-shaped doors in the first three hours, you're doing it wrong. Just keep moving toward the mountain.
Combat tip: Use the walls. Seriously. In the early game, Kratos is actually somewhat fragile on Give Me a Challenge or Give Me God of War difficulty. Pinning a Draugr against a wall and hitting them with the heavy axe throw (R2) freezes them instantly. It’s a life-saver.
Why the Lake of Nine Changes Everything
Once you reach the Lake of Nine and meet the World Serpent, the game's scale triples. The water level drops. This is where a god of war ps4 walkthrough becomes essential because the game suddenly says, "Go wherever."
But here is the catch: You shouldn't go everywhere immediately.
The main story—the Journey—is your primary source of Experience Points (XP). Side quests, or "Favors," are great for crafting materials, but if you do too many early on, you’ll find yourself over-leveled for the story bosses, which kind of ruins the tension. Stick to the path until you get the Cipher pieces for Muspelheim or Niflheim.
The Alfheim Detour
Alfheim is the first major realm travel. It’s beautiful, bright, and annoying. Those Dark Elves are arguably the most frustrating enemies in the entire game because of their blind status effect.
- Look for the Light: When the screen goes dark, stop swinging. You're just wasting stamina.
- Atreus is a Weapon: Early on, people treat the kid like an escort mission. He isn't. His arrows interrupt enemy attacks. Spam the Square button. Honestly, by the end of the game, Atreus is more of a DPS machine than Kratos is.
- The Ceiling Vines: In the Ringed Temple, you have to line up your axe throws to hit multiple glowing "cores" at once. If you can't see the line, you're standing in the wrong spot. Move ten feet to the left.
Mastering the Leviathan Axe and Runic Attacks
Forget everything you know about combos from GOW3. This game is about cooldown management. Your Runic attacks (L1+R1 and L1+R2) are your "get out of jail free" cards.
I’ve seen players go through the whole game using the same starting heavy attack. That's a mistake. Go to the shop. Talk to Brok or Sindri. Look for "Hel’s Touch." It’s a fast, area-of-effect stun that interrupts almost any boss's unblockable (red circle) attack.
Stats matter more than level. This is something the game doesn't explain well. If you have a high "Strength" but low "Defense," you're going to get one-shotted by the Valkyries later. "Cooldown" is arguably the most important stat for a smooth god of war ps4 walkthrough experience. Being able to use your heavy summons every 30 seconds instead of every 60 makes the late-game mob fights trivial.
Those Annoying Nornir Chests
You know the ones. Three runes, one chest, and a lot of frustration.
Some are simple: smash three pots. Others are timed: hit three bells before the first one stops ringing. If you're struggling with a timed bell chest, the solution is usually the order. Find the bell furthest away first. Hit it. Then hit the two closer ones.
The most "expert" advice I can give here? Don't stress if you miss one. There are more Nornir chests in the game than you actually need to max out your Health and Spartan Rage. If one is making you want to throw your controller into the TV, just walk away. You’ll find another one in the next realm.
The Mid-Game Shift: No Spoilers, But Be Ready
About halfway through, the gameplay loop shifts. You’ll get a new tool that allows you to travel faster and deal with elemental shields. Suddenly, those frozen enemies that were immune to your axe become targets.
This is the point where you should start focusing on the "Ancient" and "Traveler" armor sets. Travelers are those big guys with the shields on their backs. They look scary, but their patterns are slow. Bait the overhead swing, dodge to the right, and punish. Collecting their shards allows you to craft armor that basically turns Kratos into a tank.
The Valkyries: The Real End Game
You’ll find your first Valkyrie in a Hidden Chamber. You will likely die in about six seconds.
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That’s normal.
The Valkyries are the "optional" content that is actually the best part of the game. Do not attempt them until you have at least Level 6 or 7 gear. Each one has a "gimmick." One focuses on fire, one on blinding light, and one on summoning minions.
The trick is Atreus. When a Valkyrie flies into the air and starts glowing, it’s usually an unblockable AOE attack. Hit her with an arrow. It knocks her down. It’s the only way to survive the "Valhalla!" stomp on higher difficulties.
How to Handle the "Point of No Return"
The game will tell you when you're reaching the end of the story. Unlike some RPGs, God of War lets you keep playing after the credits roll. You can go back and finish every side quest, find every Raven (those green translucent birds), and kill every Valkyrie.
The real "ending" of the game isn't just the final boss. Once the credits finish, go back to Kratos’s house and interact with the bed. Trust me.
Actionable Steps for Your Playthrough
To get the most out of your time in Midgard, follow these specific priorities:
- Prioritize the "Weightless" Skill: In the skill tree, get the one that allows you to switch stances after a hit. It changes your move set and does massive damage.
- Sell Your Old Gear: You don't need to hoard. Sell your old armor to Brok and Sindri for Hacksilver. You can always buy it back later if you’re a completionist, but you need the cash for upgrades now.
- Upgrade the Talon Bow First: Kratos is strong, but Atreus’s crowd control is what keeps you alive. Focus on the "Stun" upgrades for his arrows.
- Listen to Mimir: The severed head isn't just for lore. When you're in combat, he will literally yell "Behind you!" or "Fire from the left!" He is your radar.
- Check the Map for "Undiscovered": If a region says 90% but you see no icons, look for the "Mystic Gateways." Often, there’s a small path hidden right next to the fast-travel point.
The journey to the mountain is long, and the emotional weight is heavy, but by focusing on stance-switching and utilizing Atreus as a primary weapon, the combat becomes a dance rather than a chore. Keep your axe sharp and your eyes on the ravens.