God of War (2018): Beginner's Guide

Getting Started in God of War (2018)

You play Kratos, who lives in the Norse realm of Midgard with his son Atreus. The game teaches axe combat, Atreus's arrows and Spartan Rage early on, and difficulty can be changed in the options. It uses a single continuous camera shot, so the world is never interrupted by cuts or loading screens (Wikipedia).

Core Mechanics to Master

Axe throw and recall is your primary offensive tool: the ice-infused Leviathan Axe can be thrown to freeze enemies or mechanisms and recalled to Kratos's hand (Wikipedia). Atreus shoots arrows, distracts weaker enemies and summons spectral animals with runic attacks. Spartan Rage is a limited special ability, so save it for fights where you need it. The Blades of Chaos are acquired later in the story.

Best Early Upgrades

Spend skill points on the weapon you use most, and use your runic attacks (unlocked through runes) where they fit your play style. We have not verified specific skill or armor-set names, so read the menu descriptions before you spend resources.

Essential Tips

1. Use Atreus — his arrows and summoned animals help in combat.
2. The Valkyries are optional secret boss fights (Wikipedia); fight them when you feel ready.
3. Explore — crafting, XP and Hacksilver are part of the game, so optional areas give upgrade resources.

About Baldur

Baldur is a central antagonist. According to Wikipedia he ambushes Kratos and Atreus at the peak of Midgard late in the story, where Atreus's mistletoe arrow pierces him and breaks Freya's spell; Kratos spares him on the condition that he leave them and Freya alone, but Baldur then tries to strangle Freya and Kratos kills him. We have not verified boss tactics for the earlier encounters, so we give no strategy here. Read enemy tells, dodge or block, and use Spartan Rage when you need it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do I need to play the earlier God of War games?
A: The 2018 game is a reboot-style fresh start set in the Norse realms, so earlier games are not required.

Q: How long is the game?
A: Cory Barlog estimated the story at 25–35 hours (Wikipedia).

Q: Is it on PS5 and PC?
A: There is no native PS5 version; the PS4 game runs on PS5 through backward compatibility, with a 60 fps update on 2 February 2021. A Windows version released on 14 January 2022. Metacritic lists 94 for PS4 and 93 for PC.

Q: Is there DLC or New Game Plus?
A: There is no DLC. New Game Plus was added in patch 1.30 on 20 August 2018.