After your heroic victory over the cauldron of a poor lonely grandmother, God of War Ragnarök offers you a much more difficult fight in order to rust this good Kratos. If you played the previous game (which we strongly recommend), you should be familiar with it, since it takes up a large part of the mechanisms and attacks of the formidable optional bosses that were the valkyries.
The objective of this guide, as well as all those dedicated to the bosses that will follow, is to help you beat them on maximum difficulty, "Only God of War", so that they are relevant for all levels.
What equipment to use?
Considering Vanadis' agility, the Blades of Chaos are probably best suited to hit her, even when she gets a little distance. But depending on your playstyle and weapon upgrade level, the Leviathan Ax is still an acceptable choice.
This fight lends itself quite well to parries if you are good, the Intrepid Shield can be a good choice in order to stun the boss more quickly, and therefore to shorten the confrontation. But if, on the other hand, the fairly fast pace and varied attacks intimidate you, the Stonewall Shield and its ability to block a yellow attack from time to time can help.
A new Spartan Rage power is unlocked during the encounter: Valor . It consumes a small bar of rage, which has the double effect of interrupting certain enemy attacks and healing you. The problem is that the interrupt effect is less powerful than Wrath, so don't rely too much on it to save your life every time. It doesn't seem possible to change powers during this fight, for those who prefer the usual effect. You will have to use it this time, which will allow you to judge what you prefer.
List of attacks and how to counter them
Like the other big bosses in the story mode, Vanadis has several phases (2), with an automatic checkpoint between two. This is good news, since the combat is really intense, and one can get a little rusty after a few hours in control of Atreus. On the other hand, Vanadis becomes much more formidable during its second phase, around 50% health.
The amount of Guard Break or Unstoppable attacks on this fight is moderate, and more importantly, none of his arrow shots are. Since she also uses big fast sword combos, which are normal too, getting into the habit of blocking the majority of attacks in combat will definitely help. Dodges and rolls are unreliable against multiple shots and attacks.
Double arrow shot (normal attack) : Very predictable, since always used from a distance, this attack shoots two arrows quickly. A lateral dodge or a blocking with the shield makes it possible to be protected from it. We advise you to block instead, since she tends to send a multiple shot afterwards.
Multiple shot (normal attack) : Also used at a distance, but sometimes also at mid-range, this ability is recognizable when she bends her bow, since a light shines at her hand . Be aware, however, that you can still block it with a shield , which is surely better, since a side dodge has the unfortunate tendency to lead you into another arrow. It also happens that she uses this ability several times in a row quickly.
Sword combo (yellow attack) : When you are in melee, this is the attack she uses most often. The first attack is indicated by a yellow circle, so you have to parry or dodge . But the continuation of the combo is of normal type. You can just block it, if you don't want to take any chances. Trying to parry the first attack is dangerous , because if it fails, the next combo will kill you.
Combat Leap (Red Attack) : The most dangerous attack she uses most often is a fairly quick forward leap. You will encounter tons of bosses with a similar attack later on. Roll diagonally down Vanadis' flanks to resume your attacks immediately after he lands. If you're worried about missing your timing, a back dodge works too, then sprint for a counterattack. Be really wary of this ability towards the end of the fight, she can then use it twice in a row, which tends to catch you off guard once you get used to her patterns.
Aerial dive (normal attack) : Vanadis flies up then rushes at you. Although very impressive, this attack is not that dangerous when you know what to do, since it is normal. She will perform a double spinning attack at your contact. The timing is a little strange, and they follow each other quickly, it is better to simply block them.
Blocking (double blue circle) : Vanadis goes into a defensive position, which will repel your normal attacks. After a few moments, she will perform a combat dive. Break his guard with the double shield hit. She rarely uses this technique.
Poison Spray (red attack) : From the second phase of the fight in the training ground, the boss will regularly use this ability. She throws 3 puddles of poison around her. Theoretically, it is possible to position yourself between two, but it is difficult to gauge in the heat of the moment, especially since even the projectile that will create the puddles is dangerous. It's better to just perform a back roll , then wait for her to come out of the puddles. She will either do a combat jump, or a dive, or send arrows. The advantage of the back roll is that you will escape danger, even if you confuse poison with the combat jump.
Tips
- Don't be afraid to use your new rage ability early on to escape a bad move, the goal is to reach the second phase for the real fight.
- Atreus is your teammate again, don't forget to use his abilities.
- Methodically blocking the majority of attacks and then counter-attacking without taking big risks is the key to success in this fight.
Each of Ragnarok's main realms includes several hidden treasures that Kratos and Atreus are eager to discover. Discover the list of treasures in the kingdom of the dwarves, as well as their position, in this guide, with a screenshot of the place, and a map.
