Beyond the Journey

Exploration

There are plenty of activities to keep you busy outside of the main Journey. Explore every nook and cranny to find valuable loot and challenging enemies. After the water drops in the Lake of Nine, optional content becomes available, allowing you to visit more regions of Midgard. Travel around the numerous islands and beaches of the lake to earn more XP and loot. As you progress through the Journey, the water drops a second time, revealing even more.

Lore

Rune writings are found throughout your adventures, which provide additional information about the land and characters that inhabit it. As you discover Lore, Atreus translates the runes and makes an entry in the journal. These are found under the Codex Tab. There are several types of Lore:

• Jötnar Shrines: Three-paneled displays provide a scene for Atreus to make sense of. Besides XP earned, the 11 Jötnar Shrines: also count toward a Labor and Trophy.

• Lore Markers: These tall markers are covered in blue runes. Sometimes a crystal must be inserted into a nearby stand to power the Lore Marker.

• Rune Reads: A word or phrase is written in runes on a wall.

• Scrolls: Scrolls can be found lying around the environment. Instruct Atreus to collect the scroll, and he logs it into the Lore Menu. Not only do these texts provide Lore, but some may lead you to available optional content.

• Mimir’s Tales: Atreus logs some of Mimir’s tales into the journal.
• Lessons: Tutorials that pop up during the game can be reviewed from the Codex.

Favors

After Kratos and Atreus meet the World Serpent, the water level in Lake of Nine drops, revealing new locations and unlocking a type of optional content called Favors. When the water drops a second time, even more Favors become available. These Favors are tracked in Atreus’ Journal under the Favors Tab.

The Favors

Artifacts

Valuable Artifacts are scattered throughout the Norse realms. Each one provides a small amount of XP and can be sold to Brok for Hacksilver. There are seven sets in all, each with a corresponding quest. Once an Artifact is found, the quest appears under the Goals Tab of the journal. The following table lists the seven types of Artifacts, along with the region where they’re found.

Artifacts

Labors

Earn XP and valuable items by completing specific objectives called Labors. There are five categories of Labors, which are covered in detail in the Labors chapter. Check your progress by viewing the Labors Tab of the journal. Updates are also briefly shown on the right side of your HUD.

• Crafting: Upgrade the axe and Blades. Deliver valuable resources to Brok or Sindri to unlock powerful armor sets.
• Skill: Use specific abilities during combat to defeat your opponents.
• Kill: Kill minor grunts, major grunts, and minibosses.
• World: These Labors promote exploration as you travel the Norse realms. Explore the Lake of Nine, unlock the Hidden Chambers of Odin, light the realm tower braziers, release the three World Dragons, close Realm Tears, and kill Odin’s Ravens.
• Muspelheim: Complete the 11 trials as you climb Muspelheim.

Ravens

Odin has released 51 Ravens throughout the Norse realms to spy on his rivals. These green birds are found flying or perched around the environment, and can be tough to spot. Keep your eyes peeled whenever exploring a new area. They make a unique sound, so listen for their call. Hitting a Raven with an axe throw begins the Labor called “The Eyes of Odin,” which can be tracked on the Labors Tab of Atreus’ Journal. Refer to “The Eyes of Odin” entry within the Labors chapter for the locations of all 51 Ravens.

Treasure Maps

Keep an eye out for Treasure Maps as you explore Midgard. They typically lie on the ground out in the open, although you may need to enter a side room to find them. A Square button icon appears above the map when Kratos approaches one. After Atreus collects the map, you can select Treasure Maps from the Goals Tab in the journal to read its inscription, which provides a hint at a buried treasure. Behind the text, an image illustrates the treasure’s location—appearing blurred, if you haven’t been there.

There are 12 Treasure Maps in all. Use the inscription and image to figure out where the treasure is buried. At each location, find a small mound of dirt and interact with it to collect the treasure. Find locations for all 12 Treasure Maps and treasures in the Jötnar Shrines and Trophies chapter.

Realm Tears

As you explore the Norse realms, watch for small tears (represented by a blue blob) in the fabric of reality and close them. Most of the time enemies spawn from the tear. Once they’re defeated, interact with the blob to close it. There are 21 Realm Tears in all, but only 18 are required to complete the associated Labor, with three of the Realm Tears inaccessible after a certain point in the game. The Labors chapter includes a full list of Realm Tears and what to expect from each one.

Hidden Chambers

During the Journey, Kratos collects a Chisel in order to progress in the story. At this point, you can access the magically locked doors first seen near Kratos’ home in Wildwoods. Seven of these doors lead to Hidden Chambers. Each location holds valuable loot and a challenging battle, six Valkyries and a Realm Tear. Check out our Labors chapter for more information on these locations.

The Hidden Chambers

Valkyries

Eight Valkyries have been imprisoned throughout the Norse realms. Six are located inside Hidden Chambers of Odin as mentioned previously. The seventh Valkyrie is found at the top of Muspelheim, while the eighth hides in the Cursed Mist of Niflheim. Collect the helmets of all eight Valkyries and return them to the Council of Valkyries located on the north side of Lake of Nine. This gets the attention of the most powerful Valkyrie of all, the Queen Sigrun.

The “Valkyries” section of our Favors chapter provides details on how to defeat all nine bosses, as well as a list of items rewarded from each.

Muspelheim

If you feel up to a real challenge, try your hand at 16 trials inside the realm of Muspelheim. First you must collect four Muspelheim Language Ciphers found inside specific Legendary Chests, and then you can use the travel room inside Týr’s Temple to access the realm.

For your convenience, Brok has set up a shop just inside the realm; visit him regularly as you climb Muspelheim. Along the way, five arenas provide two trials each that test Kratos’ and Atreus’ fighting prowess. Make it to the top to challenge one of the toughest Valkyries in the final trial. The “Muspelheim” section of the Favors chapter provides details on every trial.

Niflheim

Niflheim is a challenging realm, where the Cursed Mist limits the amount of time Kratos and Atreus can spend there. To unlock the realm, you must first find four Niflheim Language Ciphers hidden within specific Legendary Chests. At that point, you can use the travel room at Týr’s Temple to access the realm.

Sindri has set up a shop at the end of the bridge within a safe zone. He offers three Favors that lead you through all that the realm has to offer. As you enter the fog just beyond his shop, a timer begins to count down, representing the amount of time you have remaining before the Cursed Mist knocks Kratos out. Re-enter the fog, and the enemies, traps, and loot reset, creating a unique experience every time. Refer to the “Niflheim” portion of our Favors chapter for more information on everything found in the realm.