God of War Guide Lake of Nine Exploration

Ruins of the Ancient

First Available	Second water drop
Enemies	Soul Devourer
Notable	Mystic Gateway, Treasure Map (The Historian), Niflheim Language Cipher (“The Realm of Fog”)
Artifact	No
Loot	Legendary Enchantment (if Niflheim Language Cipher already complete)

High Water: The ruins are fully covered by water until the second water drop.

Low Water: In the northwestern reaches of the lake, dock at a small beach on the north side of Ruins of the Ancient. A Mystic Gateway sits next to the boat, a Treasure Map is located on the right side of the beach, and a Cipher Chest sits across from the entrance.

A Soul Devourer patrols the area, though the fight is completely optional. You must attack before it retaliates. You also fight the Soul Devourer during Brok and Sindri’s final Favor, “Hail to the King.”

Soul Devourer

The Soul Devourer is similar to the Ancients, with its impenetrable rock exterior and four attacks. Wait for it to expose its heart before you throw your axe into the chest cavity. This causes a core chunk to fly out onto the beach. Wait for a respite in its attacks, and swoop in to grab the explosive. Heave it at the miniboss to stagger it, then go after its exposed heart.

Use the stone pillar in the middle of the beach for protection. Remain on the opposite side from the Soul Devourer, and peek out when its chest is exposed for a quick toss of the axe. Only run out into the open to grab the chunk and hit its exposed heart.

Once it’s stunned, hit its vulnerable spot a couple times before performing the stun grab. Continue to attack the heart whenever possible, until finally it collapses in defeat.

Northri Gorge

Continue boating past the Ruins of the Ancient into the far northwest corner, and you reach Northri Gorge, which leads to Northri Stronghold. This location is your destination for Sindri’s second Favor, “Family Business.”