God of War Ragnarok: The Hardest Boss Fights, Ranked By Difficulty (2024)

It’s no surprise that a title like God of War: Ragnarok would have some incredibly challenging, engaging, and entertaining boss fights. God of War: Ragnarok’s best boss fights are many, with over 50 boss fights to keep Kratos and Atreus well on their way to victory as they fight against fate and the Aesir gods that seek to stop impending doom.

The best God of War: Ragnarok boss fights are those that challenge the player, and provide an engaging and difficult experience. Some of these boss fights in God of War: Ragnarok may be extremely difficult, but they are innately rewarding and part of the intense charm that the game has to offer.

Updated October 9th, 2023 by Jake Fillery: God of War Ragnarok is nearing its anniversary. The game that was released to such acclaim in 2022 is turning one, and with that, many fans are celebrating with grand memories of Kratos and Atreus’ second journey through the Norse Mythology. A fan-favorite aspect of God of War Ragnarok comes from the intense boss fights, a signature of the series as a whole, and one that comes with an even greater challenge this time around. God of War Ragnarok has some of the best boss fights in the series, featuring a grand challenge with the best weapons the game has to offer. Whether it’s fighting literal Norse Gods, Valkyries, or the undead, there’s a range of exciting fights to remember, even with a bruise of two.

14 Vanadis

For a Valkyrie, Vanadis is a fairly easy challenge. Whilst all Valkyrie boss fights in God of War provide players with the hardest challenge, putting every single skill they have to use, fighting Vanadis is essential to the story, and one that doesn’t require too much difficulty. However, that doesn’t mean players should underestimate Vanadis’ abilities. After all, this is a disguise for the vengeful and mourning Freya.

Vanadis has quick attacks, making her agile and vicious. In order to best Vanadis, players should keep as close as possible, fulfilling their violent attacks with their weapons, rather than Atreus’ bow. Vanadis can be brutal at long-range, so it’s best to keep the pressure on.

13 The Corpse Eater

Dragons are rather scarce in God of War: Ragnarok, but when they do appear, they are not exactly the easiest of foes to battle. The Corpse Eater is one such dragon that hunts in Vanahiem. Not only is this dragon difficult for its size and aggression, but even getting to the boss can be fairly difficult for those who struggle with puzzles.

The Corpse Eater in God of War: Ragnarok requires players to mess with the time of day, and water levels, and to backtrack to kill a guarding troll. Then, the boss fights itself and sees the Corpse Eater deal with multiple and almost random attacks, with a strong health bar.

12 Garm

Garm’s nature is to destroy, and when met with the fury of Kratos, the two are in for a fierce battle indeed. However, what could be more destructive, and unkillable, as one without a soul? Garm is a difficult boss fight for the player, with fun and recognizable pattern attacks that will need to be evaded or countered. This giant monstrous wolf that wreaks havoc in the nine realms is plenty dangerous in God of War: Ragnarok.

What makes the Garm boss fight great is that Garm will continuously come back to life and regenerate health, because there is no soul in Garm to destroy. Therefore, players will need to utilize their arsenal, and Atreus’ compassion to put this boss down once and for all.

11 The Hateful

The hateful is an optional boss fight, one that reoccurs time and time again. Every time players fight The Hateful, they will become far more dangerous than their previous fight. The Hateful will provide Kratos with a challenge, due to their powerful health increases and violent swipes and attacks. The Hateful should be feared, with their fire quelled by the Leviathan Axe.

The Hateful can be found in many Draugr Holes across God of War Ragnarok, and this special Draugr may not be the ultimate killer of Kratos, but they will certainly be a threat that will require both father and son to take care of this special Draugr threat.

10 Hrist And Mist

As Ragnarok approaches, Odin will do anything to stop it. Kratos and Atreus are faced with one of their hardest challenges, as Odin sends forth two new Valkyries to stop them in the Spark of the World. Valkyries are a great challenge in God of War (2018), and fighting two at once is a greater challenge than before. However, with Atreus on Kratos’ side, this fight will show the union of father and son.

Hrist and Mist can power themselves up and regain lost health together. The sisters may be a challenge to some, but considering Kratos will have his Spartan Rage and his son as a bear, it’s safe to say that this boss fight will regret messing with Kratos and Atreus.

9 The Untamed Fury

Located in The Plains within Vanaheim, The Untamed Fury is a vicious boss fight, one that will see players attempt to hunt the hunter. This Centaur enemy has multiple phases, we can be rather bothersome for some. This boss doesn’t have the usual phases that most boss fights have, but instead, the Untamed Fury will run away, and players will have to search new areas in Vanaheim to continue the fight.

The Untamed Fury utilizes surprise attacks, kicks, and violent thrusts to try and kill Kratos. If Kratos is to fall to the Untamed Fury, then they are in trouble, as they will have to try and find the boss once again in the sprawling location of The Crater in Vanaheim.

8 The Raven Keeper

The Raven Keeper is not an easy boss to battle. Not only due to the intense fight itself but the journey to reaching the Raven Keeper is equally as hard. Players will need to claim all rewards from the Raven Tree in Niflheim and destroy 48 of Odin’s Ravens to unlock the Raven Keeper boss fight.

The arena for this fight isn’t the largest, and the boss will need to be shot with arrows to make the boss available for Kratos’ attacks with his many weapons. However, when the boss gets weaker, the Raven Keeper will summon a dragon, meaning this is a duo boss fight in one.

7 Thor, Round One

Many games suffer from a slow start, but God of War: Ragnarok is not one of them. The beginning of God of War: Ragnarok is intense, and within an hour, players are battling Thor across the skies of Midgard and crashing into statues like they are nothing. The first fight against Thor sees the god of thunder and the ghost of Sparta face off in true fierce fashion.

What makes this fight difficult is the fact that players might not be familiar with the combat yet, and will see themselves thrown around and hit by Thor. Their shield also breaks during the fight, and Thor relentlessly belittles Kratos as inferior, all whilst regaining health in each fight.

6 Nidhogg

This giant mythical Lindwyrm lives in the branches of the world tree Yggdrasil and is tasked with protecting its roots. However, when Freya meddles with the roots to try and free herself from Odin’s imprisonment in Midgard, Nidhogg comes forth to protect said roots and battles Kratos and Freya out of duty and nature.

Nidhogg is huge, and the boss takes up the majority of the arena. Nidhogg’s attacks are fast and random, and Kratos can easily fall to the great foe due to the lack of knowledge regarding blocking, evading, and parrying. It’s an intense and demanding fight and one that sees Freya freed.

5 Heimdall

It’s difficult to fight a man who can see everything that is going to happen. Heimdall can predict every move that Kratos makes, which makes for a challenging fight ahead. Not only with players need to defeat Heimdall’s stead, but the fight against Heimdall himself sees the Aesir god block and dodge every attack effortlessly.

There is only one way to best Heimdall, and that is in blind range and the use of the Draupnir Spear, which Heimdall fails to predict the pattern for. Battling Heimdall is one of aggression and timing, and is a sensational boss fight in God of War: Ragnarok.

4 King Hrolf Kraki

As the leader of the twelve Berserkers, it’s no surprise that King Hrolf Kraki in God of War: Ragnarok would be a challenging battle. The aggression and ferocity of this boss are reminiscent of the Valkyrie fights in God of War (2018), but with an extra punch. Players will need to utilize the best equipment in God of War: Ragnarok, as well as the skills they, have learned to battle King Hrolf Kraki.

It’s a true challenge to fight the Cursed King of the Berserkers, as this will be the strongest of the other foes that players have encountered. His location is in Midgard and locked until all 12 previous Berserkers have been destroyed.

3 Svipdagr the Cold and the Sisters of Illska

Replacing the Valkyrie enemies, the Berserkers in God of War Ragnarok are a challenge to marvel at. Whilst they may not fight independently, and have the spirits of the most cunning warriors of Odin’s leading generals in Valhalla, the Berserkers are a threat that players should not underestimate, especially when it comes to the set of three enemies that will fight Kratos and Atreus at once: Svipdagr the Cold and the Sisters of Illska.

To unlock the Berserker Gravestone near The Barrens of Alfheim, players need to bring everything they can to not only try and survive this boss fight but to beat it and come out victorious. Players have to fight two sisters of Illska, as well as Svipdagr, making for three strong enemies at once. The Sisters rely on long-range and furious attacks, whilst Svipdagr will chase the player down with two axes. Killing one before the other sends down a violent rage to make this one of the hardest bosses in God of War Ragnarok.

2 Odin

The final boss in God of War: Ragnarok is none other than the All-Father himself. Odin has been preparing for decades for Ragnarok, and he isn’t about to let a boy, an ex-wife, and the Ghost of Sparta ruin his life for prophecy. Odin will battle the player with everything he has, but the player will battle back even harder, with all they have throughout the course of the game.

There are multiple rounds in the Odin boss fight, where he will utilize different attacks with both magic and his spear. Players will need to stay on their toes to keep themselves aware of this intense boss encounter with Odin in God of War: Ragnarok.

1 Gna, The Valkyrie Queen

As the new Valkyrie Queen since the defeat and freedom of Sigrun, Gna has a lot to prove as a loyalist to Odin. She seethes with utter hatred for Kratos and especially Freya. Gna presents possibly the hardest challenge in God of War: Ragnarok and players will need to bring their a-game to this boss battle, considering it is only unlocked after the main game’s story.

Players will have everything accessible to them for this final fight, and they will need to utilize the different arrow types and abilities of Freya, whilst also ensuring they can correctly time the evades, blocks, and parries of the quick and fearsome Gna, the Valkyrie Queen in God of War: Ragnarok.

God of War: Ragnarok

Franchise

God of War

Platform(s)

PS4 , PS5

Released

November 9, 2022

Developer(s)

Santa Monica Studio

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