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Mastering the art of combat is crucial for defeating the tougher enemies in God of War Ragnarok. One of the most potent weapons at your disposal is the Heavy Runic Attack. These devastating abilities possess the potential to turn the tide of battle in your favor.
Today, we will explore the secrets and strategies behind unlocking and unleashing the power of Heavy Runic Attacks. Get ready to delve into the world of divine devastation and learn how to harness its might in God of War Ragnarok.
What is a Heavy Runic Attack?
A Heavy Runic Attack refers to a powerful combat ability that is unleashed by Kratos. These attacks are executed using special runic abilities tied to his weapons, such as his Leviathan Axe or Blades of Chaos. These are characterized by their devastating impact and often deal substantial damage to enemies within a specific range or area.
You can unlock and upgrade various Heavy Runic Attacks throughout the game, each with its unique effects, animations, and strategic advantages. These attacks are triggered during combat by combining specific button inputs or meeting certain criteria, such as filling a meter or charging up the attack.
Using these attacks allows you a significant advantage in battle, to turn the tide against overwhelming foes or deal decisive blows to tough enemies. They enhance the combat experience by providing a sense of power and control. You need to strategically choose when and how to deploy these devastating abilities.
The Importance of Heavy Runic Attacks

Here is why heavy runic attacks are really important and why you should spend your time upgrading:
A Game-Changing Arsenal
In the world of God of War Ragnarok, where danger lurks around every corner, having a powerful arsenal is essential. Heavy Runic Attacks play a pivotal role in Kratos’ arsenal, offering a game-changing advantage in combat. These devastating abilities possess incredible destructive potential, allowing players to unleash chaos upon their adversaries with unparalleled force.
Unleashing Unrivaled Power
When facing hordes of enemies or formidable bosses, the sheer power of Heavy Runic Attacks can turn the tide of battle. These attacks deal substantial damage, often hitting multiple foes simultaneously. With their devastating force, Heavy Runic Attacks enable you to obliterate enemies swiftly and efficiently, providing a satisfying and empowering gameplay experience.
Versatility in Combat
What sets Heavy Runic Attacks apart is their versatility. They come in various forms, ranging from devastating area-of-effect attacks to focused strikes that can break through enemy defenses. This versatility allows players to adapt their combat style to different situations, whether it’s clearing groups of weaker foes or dealing a decisive blow to a single, resilient adversary. The ability to switch between different Heavy Runic Attacks adds depth and variety to combat encounters, ensuring that players are equipped to handle any challenge that comes their way.
Overcoming Formidable Foes
God of War Ragnarok is populated by a diverse array of mythological creatures and gods, each with their unique strengths and weaknesses. Heavy Runic Attacks provide a means to overcome these formidable foes by exploiting their vulnerabilities. Whether it’s stunning a massive troll with a devastating shockwave or interrupting a boss’s devastating attack with a well-timed heavy strike, these attacks can be the key to victory in the most intense battles.
Strategic Depth and Customization
Unlocking and upgrading Heavy Runic Attacks not only enhances their power but also adds a layer of strategic depth to the gameplay. As you progress, they can discover new Heavy Runic Attacks and customize their loadout to suit their preferred playstyle. This customization allows for a personalized combat experience, enabling you to fine-tune your approach based on their strengths and weaknesses. Experimenting with different combinations of Heavy Runic Attacks adds replayability and encourages you to explore various strategies to overcome the challenges.
How Do You Unlock Them?

You might be wondering how you can find these heavy runic attacks. Unlocking Heavy Runic Attacks in God of War Ragnarok follows a similar pattern to unlocking Light Runic Attacks. However, Heavy Runic Attacks are not available to obtain until later in the game, unlike their lighter counterparts.
While some Heavy Runic Attacks are obtained as rewards for defeating bosses that are part of the game’s main story, the primary way to unlock them is by discovering Legendary Chests. These chests can be found scattered throughout the various Realms in the game, holding valuable and potent rewards for players.
Locating these Legendary Chests is a challenging task as they are often cleverly hidden or placed in obscure locations. It’s crucial for to explore every nook and cranny of the Realms to increase their chances of stumbling upon these chests and unlocking the coveted Heavy Runic Attacks. Therefore, patience, thorough exploration, and a keen eye for detail are essential to uncovering these Legendary Chests.
How Many Runic Attacks Are There?
Across various weapons in the game, you can access a total of 14 Heavy Runic Attacks. These attacks are distributed between the Leviathan Axe, the Blades of Chaos, and the Draupnir Spear. While the Leviathan Axe and Blades of Chaos offer a larger selection of Heavy Runic Attacks, the Draupnir Spear provides two unique Heavy Runic Attacks of its own.
Early Heavy Runic Attack Locations
You will have the opportunity to obtain one of the earliest Heavy Runic Attacks in God of War Ragnarok from a Legendary Chest located at the Cliffside Ruins in Vanaheim. Accessible after completing a main story mission, this Legendary Chest is situated near two side quests in the area. Players who happen to be undertaking those quests should keep a keen eye out for the Legendary Chest near the drawbridge.
Exploring and uncovering Legendary Chests throughout the Realms will grant players access to a wide array of Heavy Runic Attacks. Each attack offers unique combat advantages and unleashes devastating power, ensuring that players have the tools needed to overcome the challenges that lie ahead.
How Do You Upgrade Them?

The journey of mastering Heavy Runic Attacks doesn’t end with their discovery. You have the opportunity to further enhance these powerful abilities through the game’s upgrade system. Upgrading Heavy Runic Attacks allows players to amplify their effectiveness, making them even more devastating on the battlefield.
Upgrading Heavy Runic Attacks with XP
Unlike Light Runic Attacks, which typically require resources like Hacksilver for upgrading, Heavy Runic Attacks follow a different upgrade path. These powerful attacks can be upgraded using Experience Points (XP), earned through combat and various other activities in the game. By investing XP into Heavy Runic Attacks, you can unlock additional tiers of power and unlock new features, maximizing their potential.
For example, the Heavy Runic Attack “Mists of Helheim” can be upgraded with 3,250 XP for the first enhancement. This initial upgrade brings enhanced damage or additional effects, making the attack even more devastating. The second and final upgrade for the same Heavy Runic Attack requires 9,000 XP, further augmenting its power and unlocking additional bonuses.
Importance of Luck for Earning XP
Given the significant XP requirements for upgrading Heavy Runic Attacks, you can benefit from increasing the Luck stat. Luck affects various aspects of gameplay, including the likelihood of earning bonus XP. By obtaining gear or utilizing enchantments that boost Luck, you can increase your chances of gaining more XP with each combat encounter or completion of tasks.
Focusing on Luck as a secondary attribute can prove beneficial in the long run, as it helps players accumulate XP at a faster rate. This, in turn, expedites the upgrade process for Heavy Runic Attacks, allowing players to unlock their full potential sooner and gain a significant advantage in battles.
Mastering Heavy Runic Attacks

In order to master the heavy runic attacks, you can do the following things:
Experiment with Different Heavy Runic Attacks
Each Heavy Runic Attack in God of War Ragnarok offers unique properties and effects. Take the time to try out different attacks and find the ones that complement your playstyle the best. Some attacks may have area-of-effect damage, while others focus on single-target damage or crowd control. Mix and match them strategically to adapt to different combat scenarios.
Timing is Key
Heavy Runic Attacks often have longer wind-up times compared to Light Runic Attacks. It’s crucial to time your heavy attacks carefully, considering enemy movements and attack patterns. Wait for the opportune moment to unleash your attack for maximum impact, such as interrupting an enemy’s devastating attack or when enemies are grouped together for a devastating area-of-effect strike.
Upgrade Wisely
As you accumulate XP, invest it wisely in upgrading your Heavy Runic Attacks. Prioritize the attacks that align with your preferred combat style or those that offer the most utility in challenging encounters. Upgrading not only increases their damage but may also unlock additional effects or bonuses, enhancing their overall effectiveness.
Utilize Cooldown Reduction
Cooldown reduction can significantly impact your ability to use Heavy Runic Attacks more frequently. Look for armor or enchantments that offer cooldown reduction bonuses, allowing you to unleash devastating attacks more frequently during battles. This can give you an edge in dealing with tough enemies or overwhelming encounters.
Plan Combos and Synergies
Combine Heavy Runic Attacks with other combat abilities and maneuvers to create powerful combos and synergies. Experiment with chaining attacks, using Atreus’ abilities, or incorporating dodges and parries into your attack sequences. These combinations can amplify your damage output and control over the battlefield.
Conclusion
Heavy Runic Attacks in God of War Ragnarok are powerful combat techniques that add an extra layer of devastation to your arsenal. Unlocking and upgrading these attacks through Legendary Chests and strategic XP investments allows players to unleash their full potential. By mastering the art of Heavy Runic Attacks, players can dominate battles and overcome all the challenges. So, harness their power, refine your combat skills, and become an unstoppable force in the realms of God of War Ragnarok.
Which heavy runic attacks have you found so far? Let us know in the comments!