With over 500 hours of playtime across multiple journeys through the Nine Realms, I‘ve unleashed Kratos‘ runic attacks to obliterate hordes of draugr, dwarves, dark elves and mythical beasts. I‘ve pierced fiery steel through the wings of ancient dragons – and felt the thunderous crash of Leviathan‘s Wake shatter a Valkyrie‘s defenses, exposing her to a brutal flurry of axe blows.
Through hard-won experience, I‘ve determined which runic abilities deal the most devastating damage. These are the crème de la crème – capable of carrying you to victory against the fiercest foes. They all serve unique battlefield roles, but mesh into an arsenal worthy of the Ghost of Sparta himself.
So from one veteran to another, here is my expert breakdown of the absolute best runic attacks in God of War – and why nothing else compares:
Leviathan‘s Wake (Leviathan Axe Light Attack)
Damage at Max Upgrade:
- Initial Hit: 550
- Explosion: 950
Frost explosions that stun groups of enemies aren‘t uncommon among Leviathan Axe skills.
But what sets Leviathan‘s Wake apart is its raw damage and shockwave radius. At max level, it hits harder on impact and blast range than any other light axe attack.
The numbers speak for themselves:
| Attack | Initial Hit | Explosion | Radius |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leviathan‘s Wake | 550 | 950 | 8m |
| Glacier‘s Might | 230 | 550 | 6m |
| Frost Riot | 250 | 750 | 5m |
And that‘s not even considering Leviathan‘s Wake inflicts Frost status. No other ability compares for quickly shredding groups while staying mobile.
I rely on this attack to pare down realms crammed with dozens of enemies at once. If I get cornered, throwing the Wake gives me breathing room while freezing surrounding foes solid.
Pro Tip: Against illusion enemies who spawn duplicates, Frost will halt their multiplying – letting you focus the original target!
(Leviathan‘s Wake overpowers any other Axe light attacks)
Hyperion Grapple (Blades of Chaos Heavy Attack)
It may seem one-dimensional compared to wide arcing area attacks. But for pure stopping power against single targets, Hyperion Grapple rules supreme.
The initial Blade Impale hits with enough force to interrupt ANY enemy attack in the game. It leaves them stunned just long enough to close the gap.
Once in melee range, the damaging Finishing Smash triggers. The numbers reveal why it‘s so feared:
| Attack | Impale | Smash | Stun Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hyperion Grapple | 650 | 1200 | 5 secs |
| Rampage of the Furies | N/A | 1000 | 3 secs |
| Nemean Crush | N/A | 1100 | 2 secs |
Nothing in the Blades‘ arsenal matches Hyperion for single target lockdown.
And here‘s where experience provides key insight:
Pro Tip: The smash launches lighter enemies upward, letting you juggle them with more hits mid-air! This lets you stunlock troublesome winged/ranged foes.
I can‘t count how many times it‘s clinched victory against the fiercest Valkyries. Use it, especially upgraded, to embarrass just about any threat in the game.
(Hyperion Grapple overpowers any single target attacks)
Storm of the Elks (Atreus Runic Summons)
While I‘ve highlighted Kratos‘ most hard-hitting runes, sleeping on Atreus would be a lethal mistake. His Storm of the Elks ability reinforces the term tipping point.
It shines by locking down enemies so Kratos can clean house. Each Elk deals only moderate damage, but their stampede hits a wide swath of foes multiple times. This adds up fast – yet pales in comparison to their disruptive might.
Groups caught in the antlered Storm suffer stun-locking, preventing them from using deadly techniques requiring focus or preparation.
Meanwhile, Kratos is free to melee safely thanks to their ‘bodyguard‘ aggro effect.
Pro Tip: The Elks occupy enemy targeting priority due to constantly damaging them. This keeps threats focused on the stampede rather than you!
Stopping enemy actions while inflicting mounting injury serves a greater purpose: interrupting attacks fromdangerous foes.
Revenants charging their area-of-effect blasts, Travelers invoking curses – Storm disrupts them all mid-cast! Even Valkyrie and Dragon techniques fizzle out under the antlered onslaught.
This utility separates Storm of Elks from Atreus‘ other damaging summons. Use it to shut down the most lethal enemies before they unleash hell on you. It never fails to enable my end game domination!
(Storm of Elks disrupt enemies across wide spaces)
Conclusion
Through numerous NG+ completion on Give Me God of War difficulty, I consider these the apex runic attacks in terms of damage numbers, utility and battlefield control against the fiercest opponents.
They require skill to use properly, but reward you with the means to decimate any threat quickly. Once mastered, no enemy stands a chance on your watch.
I hope this breakdown gives you insight on how to best harness Kratos‘ powers yourself. But just remember: picks what feels right and practice makes perfect. Curb-stomp the realms and share what powerful new combos you discover!
