You're standing in Midgard. It’s freezing. You’ve probably cleared out the raiders nearby, and now you’re staring at that glowing blue chest in The Oarsmen, wondering why the heck the bells won't stop ringing or why you can't find the third one. We've all been there. It is easily one of the most frustrating puzzles in God of War Ragnarok because it relies on speed more than raw brainpower. If you're a millisecond late, the seal resets. Honestly, it’s enough to make you want to throw the Leviathan Axe into the Lake of Nine and just walk away.
But don't.
The Oarsmen Nornir chest isn't just there to annoy you. It holds an Idunn Apple or a Horn of Blood Mead, depending on how many you've already found, which are basically mandatory if you plan on surviving the endgame bosses or the Berserker souls. Most players stumble upon this area while following the "Animal Instincts" favor or looking for the Sigrun’s Curse quest items. The trick is that the puzzle is actually split between two different elevations. You can't solve it from just standing in front of the chest. It's impossible.
Accessing the Area First
Before you even worry about the runes, you have to actually unlock the full room. When you first enter The Oarsmen, you’ll see a giant chain. Kratos needs to pull that. It moves the massive oarsman statue’s base and reveals a hidden staircase leading down into the interior chamber.
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If you haven't pulled that chain yet, stop. Go up the stairs on the right side of the main arena, climb the wall, and interact with the prompt to move the statue. This opens a shortcut back to the Nornir chest and, more importantly, gives you the line of sight you need for the bells. You'll also find one half of the Fjoturlund Vault Key here, which is part of the "Sigrun's Curse" side quest.
It’s easy to get distracted by the lore markers and the legendary chest in this room. Focus. The Nornir chest is tucked away in a corner of the underground ruins, glowing with those three distinct runes that look like a 'C', an 'R', and an 'N'.
The Trick to the Three Bells
Here is the thing about these specific bells: they are timed. This isn't like the torches where you just light them and move on. These have to all be ringing simultaneously. If the first one stops before you hit the third, the chest stays locked.
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The first bell is sitting right next to the chest. It’s the easy one. You could hit it in your sleep. The second one is tucked into a small alcove just to the left of the chest, slightly higher up. But the third? That’s the "gotcha" moment. The third bell is actually behind a gate that you can only see clearly once you’ve circled around the back of the room or opened the shortcut.
The Optimized Throwing Order
Speed is everything here. If you miss a throw, just wait for them to stop ringing and start over. Don't panic-mash the R1 button.
- Start with the farthest bell. This is the one located behind the iron bars, visible from the stairs you just opened. Since it’s the hardest to hit, you want its timer to start first.
- Hit the bell to the left of the chest. It’s at a medium distance. You need to be quick with your aim.
- Finish with the bell right next to the chest. Since you’re standing right there, this should be a flick of the wrist.
If you do it in this order—farthest to nearest—you maximize the overlap of the ringing sounds. You’ll hear a heavy clunk and the blue runes on the chest will vanish. That’s your signal.
Common Mistakes at The Oarsmen
People often try to hit the bells with the Draupnir Spear. While the spear is great for many things, the Leviathan Axe is usually more reliable here because of its flight speed and the way it returns to your hand. Some players also try to use Atreus or Freya’s arrows. Save your breath. Runic arrows don't trigger Nornir bells. It has to be a physical strike from Kratos.
Another issue is the gate. If you’re trying to hit the third bell through the bars and keep hitting the metal instead, try moving slightly to the right. There’s a sweet spot where the gap is wide enough for the axe head to pass through cleanly.
Why This Specific Chest Matters
Aside from the stat boosts, The Oarsmen is a hub for Midgard exploration. Once you unlock this chest, you're usually seconds away from finding an Artifact or a piece of the "Stolen Treasures" collection. It’s also a prime spot for gathering Hacksilver and crafting materials that you’ll need for the mid-game armor upgrades.
Actually, the "Steinbjorn Armor" hunt often brings people back through this region if they missed the slumbering trolls earlier. Having the extra health from the Idunn Apple found in this Oarsmen Nornir chest makes those fights significantly less punishing.
Midgard is a vertical map. You're constantly going up and down. If you feel like you're missing a rune, always look up. Sony Santa Monica loves hiding these things just above eye level or behind "breakable" wooden boards that don't look breakable until you throw an axe at them.
Real Talk on the Timing
If you’re struggling with the speed, check your settings. Sometimes the "Aim Assist" can actually pull your axe toward the wrong target if the bells are close to other interactable objects. Turning it down or off for thirty seconds might give you the manual control you need to nail the sequence. Also, make sure you aren't using a heavy axe knob that slows down your recovery time. Use something balanced.
Actionable Steps for Completion
- Move the Statue: You cannot complete the puzzle without pulling the giant chain at the top of the cliff to reveal the inner chamber and shortcut.
- Clear the Mobs: Don't try to do this while Raiders are shooting at you. Kill everything in the room first so you can aim in peace.
- Positioning: Stand roughly halfway between the chest and the gated bell. This minimizes the distance your axe has to travel for each hit.
- Sequence: Hit the "hidden" bell through the bars first, then the high-left bell, then the one touching the chest.
- Check the Loot: Open the chest immediately. If your inventory is full of health/rage, the Apple or Mead will still apply to your permanent stats.
- Finish the Favor: While you are here, ensure you grab the "Sigrun's Curse" item nearby so you don't have to make a second trip back to this frozen corner of the map.
Once that chest is open, you’ve cleared one of the more annoying hurdles in the Lake of Nine. Head back out to the sled, give the wolves a pat, and move on to the next Raider camp or the King's Grave. You're going to need that extra health for what's coming next in the story.