This is unfortunately an almost mandatory step from one game to another of the same license, and God of War Ragnarok is no exception. All hard-earned gear and upgrades from the previous game are lost to Fimbulvetr, the terrible winter that precedes Ragnarök. This is of course an easy excuse, used in order to privilege gameplay and progression, even if the iconic blades of Kratos must be getting tired of yo-yoing in every game in the series for many years.
At least this time, Kratos doesn't hesitate to use his Blades of Chaos, from the introductory chapter, even if they have regressed to level 1. He will be able to improve them again until level 9, with enough time and effort on your part.
Chaos Blades Upgrade
Each Chaos Blades upgrade will add +15 Runic Power to them, in addition to boosting their base damage. It will also unlock new skill tiers to invest your experience in, so you can use new attacks and powers.
A notable bonus is the evolution of the appearance of the blades. They will look more and more robust, and gilding, as well as runic marks will appear on them, when you approach level 9.
The price of blade upgrades is fixed, you need a single Chaos Flame each time, then go to a blacksmith.
Chaos Flame Location
As with the Leviathan Axe, almost all Chaos Flames are obtained as part of the main story, and they cannot be missed. If you want to upgrade your weapon, the easiest way is usually to move forward.
- 1st Chaos Flame : Kill the mini-boss Dreki, during the main chapter In Quest for Tyr in the kingdom of Svartalfheim.
- 2nd Chaos Flame : Kill the Elder of the Forest mini-boss, in Vanaheim, during the main chapter The Hour of Reckoning .
- 3rd Chaos Flame : Kill the Amalgam of Frost mini-boss in Midgard, during the main chapter A Word of Fate . It's Norns specifically, there are plenty of Frost Amalgamations in play, and not all of them give a flame.
- 4th Chaos Flame : Kill the Two Drekis attacking you together when you are on your way to Freyr's camp, during the main chapter Creatures of Prophecy . There are several other Drekis pairings in play, all in Vanaheim, but this is the only pairing that will give you a flame.
- 5th Chaos Flame: Kill the two Soul Eaters summoned by Surt in Muspellheim during the main chapter The Summoning .
Chaos Sparks
As you've probably noticed, there are more blade upgrades than there are Chaos Flame, so it's lacking. The reason is simple, you have to collect Chaos Sparks on bosses and during side activities, in order to reform the last Flames of Chaos. It takes 6 for a flame.
We don't have all the Sparks listed yet, but you can find one every time you close a Draugar Well by defeating the Malevole, for a total of 6.