Niflheim

Find four Niflheim Language Ciphers hidden inside specific Cipher Chests to complete the Favor “The Realm of Fog.” At this point you can use the Bifröst at Týr’s Temple to travel to the realm of Niflheim. The high-level realm is full of challenging enemies, valuable loot, dangerous traps, and the Cursed Mist that limits the time you can spend inside the area.

The enemies, loot, and traps all reset each time you exit the Cursed Mist, making every visit unique. Beneficial resources are found throughout the realm, allowing you to craft Epic gear that improves your odds of survival in the Cursed Mist.

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How It Works

As you cross the bridge into Niflheim, several chests and coffins provide a handful of Mist Echoes. These are the main resource in the realm, required to access the most valuable loot and craft Epic Niflheim gear. A Lore Marker offers up a message from Mótsognir, warning readers from proceeding any farther. The Cursed Mist covers the bridge, but you can easily escape it by moving up the steps on either side.

Sindri has set up a shop in a safe area at the far end of the bridge. He’s attempting to create armor that will lessen the effects of the “cursed mist.” He has three quests for you, all of which require you to reach the Workshop’s center chamber. These Favors are covered later in this section.

Move past Sindri to find another Lore Marker introducing you to Ivaldi’s Workshop. Just past the marker, the challenge begins, with the mist covering every inch of the ground.

Pay attention to the bar that appears at the top of your HUD when inside the mist. It slowly empties to the left, and once it’s gone, you begin to lose health—leading to death if left unchecked. If you do not escape the Cursed Mist before your health runs out, everything you have collected during your visit is lost. Therefore, it is imperative to keep tabs on the meter. Mimir will also warn you that you don’t “look too good” when the blight timer gets low.

The timer lasts a little over two minutes, though it can be extended by equipping Niflheim gear. Craft and equip Niflheim gear in all three armor slots with Enchantments, and you can prolong the available time to around six minutes. Opening chests also restores around 25 seconds of resistance to the Cursed Mist.

The following table lists the Epic Niflheim gear that becomes available at Sindri’s shop once you unlock the realm.

Niflheim is split into six distinct areas, which we’ve labeled A through D. These areas are connected by two trap corridors, with a typically empty zone in between. These traps are made up of either spinning blades or moving walls. You must negotiate your way through the openings in these traps, or risk death when cut by one of the blades or squashed by the moving walls.

For example, after defeating the enemies and looting the chests in Area A, you choose the left path. Spinning blades move forward and back in a staggered pattern, with a small cubbyhole in the middle. Follow the blades until you’re able to duck into the opening, then sprint out the other side when safe to do so. This next area is empty, so you have a moment to rest. Just ahead, a set of walls opens and then slams shut. Wait for it to open up, then immediately sprint into Area B, where more monsters and treasures await.

Chests and coffins are also found within the trap corridors, tucked into corners or atop ledges, out of reach of the trap. These containers typically hold fewer Mist Echoes but may still be worth looting—especially if you misjudge a trap and need to escape.

One of the safe areas in between areas A and B, or B and C, holds a Nornir Chest. (There’s a higher chance it appears between B and C.) Three rune bells sit on the surrounding walls or cliffs. Hit all three within a short time limit, and you may loot the chest for a Legendary Enchantment.

After visiting one of the back areas (D), a Nornir Chest appears in A. Memorize the runes on the front of the chest before heading out. At both B’s and C, a spinning contraption sits on the surrounding cliffs. Hit the paddles with an axe throw to change the displayed rune on each one. Match the three runes from the chest and return to the initial area to loot an Epic Enchantment from inside.

Expect to face nothing less than Level 6 monsters in Niflheim in large groups of mixed types. It’s easy to become overwhelmed, so you must learn to manage the crowd with Runic Attacks and Atreus’ arrows. Stay on the move and attempt to take them on one or two at a time. Large area-of-effect abilities are especially beneficial as you attempt to wipe out substantial groups of enemies within the time limit.

Depending on the area you loot, A through D, rare resources become available from Legendary Chests. The amount of Mist Echoes inside the chests also increases the farther you explore. Refer to the following tables for which resources are available in each area. Containers with more than one resource listed indicate an either/or situations.

Area A

Vault over the short walls to reach the first area. A pedestal sits on the far side, in front of a door. Your first objective is to craft an Entry Stone and place it on the pedestal to open the door, giving you access to the center chamber.

A random selection of enemies—such as Wolves, Dark Elves, Vikens, and Tatzelwurms—appear in the area. At first, it’s worth your time to kill them, but later on, you may want to sprint past them in order to reach the more lucrative areas. A few chests and coffins sit around the perimeter.

Area A Resources

Area B

You must pass through two sets of traps to reach this zone. There are two possible “B” areas, depending on whether you go left or right; there’s no difference between them. The enemies that spawn here tend to be a little tougher than those in the first area, and the loot is slightly better.

Area B Resources

Area C

The Niflheim path splits, with one trap corridor moving away from the loop into Area D and a second connecting to the opposite route. This is the top of the Niflheim loop. Be ready for tough battles with an assortment of enemies. While Aesirbane is primarily found in the back two rooms, it can rarely be found in this area too.

Area C Resources

Area D

The two areas marked “D” are dead ends at the farthest points from the start of Niflheim. The toughest fights are found here, with the possibility of Ogres joining the group of enemies. The highest concentration of Mist Echoes is found in these containers, with a rare chance to find Aesirbane and Anchor of Fog.

Aesirbane is required for the highest upgrades of Niflheim gear. Anchor of Fog is the rarest resource in Niflheim and is required to access the three Realm Tears in the center chamber. Note that you must open other chests to find an Anchor of Fog. You cannot simply run straight to one of the back rooms and get one.

Enter the left Area D to find a Valkyrie named Hildr, a challenging opponent who remains at this location until defeated. She’s one of the toughest Valkyries in the game and introduces a hail projectile to her move set. Remember if you die against the Valkyrie, all resources gathered to that point are lost, so consider avoiding enemies as you run back to her location. Fortunately, the Cursed Mist resets after freeing Hildr, but it does deplete while grabbing the loot that she dropped. For more information on Hildr, refer to the “Valkyries” Favors earlier in this chapter.

Area D Resources

Area E

By completing the first quest for Sindri, you gain access to the center chamber. Common chests, coffins, Legendary Chests, and Realm Tears offer some great loot and challenging rift encounters.

The common chests and coffins in the arena provide a small number of Mist Echoes. You must pay a resource cost to access the Legendary Chests and Realm Tears. These costs, along with the items looted from them, are provided in the following table. The Legendary Chests are sorted by cost, not by the order in which they’re found. Also note that monsters spawn from the rifts. These are covered with the third quest at the end of this section.

Center Chamber Loot

Favor: Ivaldi’s Workshop

OBJECTIVE: Collect Mist Echoes and Have Sindri Craft an Entry Stone

Sindri wants you to get inside the center chamber, but that requires a Niflheim Entry Stone. This key can be crafted at Sindri’s Shop by spending 500 Mist Echoes. Collect Mist Echoes by looting chests throughout Niflheim, and bring them to Sindri so that he can create the Entry Stone. Select Resources from his Buy Menu to find the item.

OBJECTIVE: Use Entry Stone and Enter Center Chamber

Once you have the Niflheim Entry Stone, kill the monsters in the first area and then use the key at the pedestal. This opens the gate, which allows you to enter the center chamber. Five Legendary Chests, three Realm Tears, and a number of other containers litter the area. Refer to the previous table for costs and contents. The Cursed Mist is thinner at this higher level, so no need to worry about the time limit.

Favor: Ivaldi’s Protection

OBJECTIVE: Return the Niflheim Armor Set to Sindri

After completing “Ivaldi’s Workshop” and entering the center chamber, collect the Rusted Royal Armor that sits next to the corpse. Deliver the armor to Sindri to gain access to the Niflheim Armor Set. Continue to loot the chests throughout Niflheim in order to find the rare resources required to craft and upgrade the armor. Niflheim Alloy Fragment, Haze Weave, and Aesirbane are found inside Legendary Chests in specific areas of the realm, as specified earlier.

Favor: Ivaldi’s Curse

OBJECTIVE: Seal the Three Realm Tears

Inside the center chamber, seal the three Realm Tears that threaten Niflheim. You must pay a fee of Mist Echoes and one Anchor of Fog each in order to spawn the enemies. Anchor of Fog is an extremely rare resource only available from Legendary Chests in the farthest areas from the start. Defeat the monsters that spawn from all three tears to complete the quest.

Tear 1

The fight starts out with a Level 8 Ogre, who’s joined shortly by a Level 7 Ogre. A Level 6 Ogre joins in after a while. Work one of the beasts down until stunned, then ride it into the others. Continue to do this until only one remains, and then finish it off.

Tear 2

The two Wulvers start as weak Level 1 Wulvers. Defeat a Wulver, and another spawns at one level higher, eventually reaching Level 8. Defeat the highest-level Wulver, and it no longer respawns. It’s best to concentrate on the Soul Devourer. If you’ve done the “Hail to the King” Favor for the Huldra Brothers or fought the miniboss at Ruins of the Ancient, you’ve already faced a Soul Devourer.

Tear 3

The battle consists of the three types of Revenants, including a Hel-Revenant and Revenant Summoner. The Summoner continues to pump out more Nightmares, so focus on her while managing the fliers. The Hel-Revenant is able to slow you down, making it tougher to evade the numerous projectiles.