Can you complete Beyond Ragnarok in God of War Ragnarok?
Konungrs and shieldmaidens, lend me your ears! For countless moons, I have traversed the realms of Midgard and beyond on an epic quest to complete the revered "Beyond Ragnarok" favor in God of War Ragnarök.
After toppling the Allfather himself and bearing witness to a bittersweet yet fitting conclusion, I realized my journey was not yet over. More trials remained – world events and favors left unfinished, chambers still sealed, items uncollected.
Thus I set my sights past Ragnarök itself to conquer ALL this content-rich masterpiece has to offer. Let my wisdom and experience guide you on this glorious, yet grueling path!
Chapters 1-9: Finishing the Main Story Campaign
Our saga begins in the familiar woods of Midgard. Off the bat, expect SSM Santa Monica‘s signature storytelling prowess – 30+ hours of dense Norse narrative filled with jaw-dropping spectacle and heartfelt characterization.
From the lush jungles of Vanaheim to the scorched earth of Muspelheim, each realm radiates an epic sense of adventure. Take time to soak in the vistas!
But be warned – the apocalyptic stakes escalate dramatically in the finale. You‘ll need lightning reflexes and strategic mastery to overcome the trilogy of bombastic boss battles awaiting you.
Once the sweet strains of Bear McCreary‘s score fade, you might be tempted to put down the leviathan axe for good. Resist that urge! Your quest is only just beginning…
Estimated hours: 35 (Average main story playthrough)
Favors – Unlocking the Rich Tapestry of Side Content
Dotted across the realms lie 45 optional Favors. Unlike the intimate story focus of the main campaign, these offshoot adventures showcase Ragnarök‘s gameplay variety.
I found myself brawling fire trolls in Muspelheim one minute, then sailing across a glittering lake the next. From white-knuckle boss rushes to tranquil puzzle-solving, completing all Favors takes you on a 15+ hour tour of Santa Monica Studios‘ design chops!
Top favorites include the poignant "In Service of Asgard" which united me with my old comrade Sigrun, along with the vault of endless combat arenas in "The Crucible" – a particular treat for battle connoisseurs.
Just be sure to revisit realms later in the story to unlock Favors as you progress. No rewards are missable though – piece them together at your leisure post-game!
Estimated additional hours: 15+
Total Favors: 45
Example Favors:
| Favor | Location | Quest Type |
|---|---|---|
| In Service of Asgard | Vanaheim | Narrative-Driven |
| The Crucible | Alfheim | Combat-Focused |
| Hello, Old Friend | Svartalfheim | Puzzle-Based |
Berserker Souls & Gna – Conquering the Elite Opposition
You‘ve hacked down a world tree, clashed with the Allfather himself… but can you overcome God of War‘s ultimate optional challenges?
Venture to the scalding depths of Muspelheim post-game to unlock "Destroying the Berserker Souls" – a favor pitting you against 13 deadly mini bosses in combat.
While individually easier than prior Valkyries, besting them successively with no chance to heal pushed even my godly strength to its limits!
Yet greater threats lie ahead. Upon victory, the door to Queen Gna‘s chamber creaks open. Billed as Ragnarök‘s toughest foe, she instantly bombarded me with unblockable attacks that drained my health faster than I could utter "boy!" 15 excruciating tries later, her crystalline wings finally fractured under my blades.
Beating Gna and her ruthless berserkers cemented my status as a true God of War. But my fulfillment of "Beyond Ragnarok" still lacked one final component…
Bosses Defeated:
- 13 Berserker Souls
- Valkyrie Queen Gna
Gearing For Greatness – Maximizing Your Build
Though skilled reflexes and strategic mastery got me this far, even that wouldn‘t cut it on The Crucible‘s daunting Tower of Trials.
To conquer its nigh-endless string of enemies with no healing, I needed to prep the absolute strongest build possible for our father-son duo.
Here‘s what I aimed for to max out their potential:
Kratos:
- All primary Runic Attacks upgraded to "Epic" status
- Legendary armor sets fully upgraded
- Stats boosted to cap via Idunn Apples
- Versatile enchantments maximizing strength, defense and vitality
Atreus:
- Both Runic Summons sporting "Epic" status
- High level armor granting protective wards
- Max arrow capacity via fully-upgraded quiver
- Enchantments boosting ranged damage and runic
- Skills like "Spartan Fury" adding stunning hack n‘ slash abilities
Check vendors regularly and keep an eye out for rare crafting components. Distributing those final skill points is deeply satisfying – further cementing your fearsome father/son duo as a force to be reckoned with across all Nine Realms!
New Game+ (optional): Carry over powered gear to trivialize early fights!
Average Gear Level By Endgame: 7-8
Collectibles – Completionist‘s Pride
While beefing up our arsenal, you‘ll doubtless uncover clues pointing to Long Lost Pages, sealed Realm Tears harboring forbidden knowledge or mythical ravens fluttering just out of reach.
Make uncovering these secrets a priority! Photos, audio files and other narrative collectibles enrich God of War‘s already phenomenal storytelling. Post battle, I‘d eagerly pore through Atreus‘ journals, gleaning insights on obscure lore.
Use a guide if need be – a completionist playthrough demands scouring every nook and cranny across the realms. Expect to backtrack often! By the end, I felt that satisfying rush of 100%ing every last collectible category.
Total Collectibles:
- 48 Ravens
- 28 Lost Pages (+ Entries)
- 22 Artifacts
- Etc.
Average Collection Rate (casual play): ~50%
The Secret Ending – Well Deserved Dénouement
Having heard the bittersweet finale notes and witnessed the threads of this legendary Norse saga tied, I assumed credits were my last reward.
Not so! One final favor titled "A Viking Funeral" unlocked upon the prior quest‘s completion. After reuniting once more with Brok and Sindri to pay respects, the scene shifted to a new, quiet moment with Kratos and Atreus.
Without spoilers, their conversation brought profound closure – resonating with the game‘s themes of fatherhood and fate. It marked a perfect, poignant end note to cap off the Hundred Hours War…
I cannot recommend completing this favor enough. God of War fans – you owe it to yourselves!
Closing Thoughts – Worth the Long Journey?
And so, after 140+ hours across the epic Nine Realms, the illustrious favor finally shone onscreen – "Beyond Ragnarok", my ultimate quarry. Was it worth this mythic-scale investment?
In a word – absolutely. Across difficulty tweaks, New Game+ replayability and sheer wealth of content, God of War Ragnarök stands firm as a titan amongst its peers.
Few games can match its craftsmanship, scale and storytelling prowess. I daresay it deserves a pedestal alongside established greats like The Witcher 3 and Elden Ring as an open-world masterpiece.
So fellow gamers – dismiss that side content and you forgo countless moments of gaming greatness! Heed my call, steel your wills… and I‘ll see you beyond Ragnarok.
