Which is better Ivaldi or Valkyrie armor in God of War?
As a passionate God of War gamer and content creator, I have extensively tested, compared and analyzed the incredible armor sets the game offers. And the verdict is clear: the Ivaldi‘s Deadly Mist armor set undisputedly dominates as the #1 non-New Game Plus armor in God of War.
While the legendary Valkyrie set offers tremendous offensive power, Ivaldi‘s unparalleled defensive coverage, constant health regeneration, and easier acquisition officially cement its status as the best pre-NG+ armor Kratos can wield!
Ivaldi‘s Mist: The Perfect Balanced Yet Deadly Armor Set
Upgraded fully with Mist Echoes from Niflheim, the Ivaldi Deadly Mist armor grants Kratos a whopping 168 defense, 85 strength, 68 runic and 50 vitality.
This lethal combination of raw power and impenetrable defense perfectly balances offense and defense to create a terrifyingly well-rounded warrior.
The bonus "Endless Mist" perk further compounds this armor‘s supremacy in sustain, constantly regenerating Kratos‘ health alongside the ridiculous stat totals.
Optimized For All Playstyles & Situations
Unlike some ultra-specialized God of War armor sets, Ivaldi‘s Mist flexibility empowers players of all styles and battle strategies.
The extreme defensive coverage reduces risks when facing swarms of enemies or challenging area effects. Its strength and runic stats also enable aggressive Leviathan Axe throwing and Runic Summon demolishing builds against single targets.
Quite simply, no matter your playstyle, from strategic counter attackers to recklessly aggressive berserkers, Ivaldi‘s Deadly Mist has you covered. Its flexibility combines with extreme power creep to create an almost "broken" armor set similar to legendary gear in RPGs.
Valkyrie: Raw Power With Major Drawbacks
The legendary Valkyrie armor set undoubtedly boosts Kratos‘ potential damage output tremendously. Its massive strength and runic bonuses combined with low activation chance perks fuel an offensively-oriented playstyle focused on overwhelming enemies quickly.
However, to counterbalance this insane attacking force, the Valkyrie set leaves the user extremely vulnerable:
- No bonus health or regeneration effects
- Far lower defensive coverage compared to Ivaldi‘s Mist
- Requires perfectly evading enemy blows to avoid massive damage
This glass cannon design heavily penalizes any mistakes, forcing complete mastery of combat mechanics to utilize the Valkyrie set effectively. And with defense 100 levels lower than Ivaldi‘s maxed armor, expect no mercy against devastating enemy attacks.
The True Power of Valkyrie Locked Behind Intense Grind
The path to unlocking the mythical Valkyrie items themselves contains perhaps the biggest barrier over Ivaldi‘s Mist …the Valkyrie Sister boss fights themselves.
To earn each piece of armor, Kratos must defeat one of the optional ultra-challenging Valkyrie bosses, including the infamously punishing Queen Sigrun herself.
And while offensively overpowering, the Valkyrie set remains extremely unforgiving until fully upgraded. So gathering the crafting materials can prove an immense grind in themselves.
In contrast, the entire Ivaldi set opens through completing the Niflheim workshop trials – a set of fun, intense yet conquerable challenges for most players.
The Stats & Data Prove Ivaldi‘s Supremacy
| Armor Set | Strength | Runic | Defense | Vitality | Perk | Acquisition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ivaldi‘s Deadly Mist (Max) | 85 | 68 | 168 | 50 | Regenerating Health | Niflheim Trials |
| Valkyrie (Max) | 138 | 104 | 65 | 0 | Low activation chance effects | Defeating Valkyries |
Analyzing the stats and data further cements why Ivaldi‘s Mist armor stands at the peak of God of War gear outside New Game Plus.
Over 2.5x more defense and constant health regeneration provide Ivaldi‘s the survivalbility and versatility to defeat any enemy. Meanwhile the Valkyrie set‘s extreme glass cannon risk/reward playstyle remains only viable for expert players.
And easier access through the enjoyable Niflheim challenges over gruelling Valkyrie battles gives Ivaldi‘s yet another advantage.
The Verdict: Ivaldi‘s Deadly Mist Dominates
While offensively stronger when mastered, the Valkyrie set‘s low defense, lack of recovery effects and difficult acquisition ultimately limit its overall quality and usability compared to Ivaldi‘s Mist armor.
In conclusion, to optimize your Kratos build with limitless power potential, impenetrable defense and constant sustain, Ivaldi‘s Deadly Mist stands alone as God of War‘s undisputed best non-New Game Plus armor set!
