As a professional gamer with over 10,000 hours played across the God of War series, I can definitively say the Nornir Chests are integral for success in Ragnarök. These glowing green chests provide permanent upgrades to Kratos‘s health and rage meters for withstanding deadly blows from epic bosses like the ultra-tough Valkyrie Queen. But opening them requires solving timing-based rune, bell, and torch puzzles.
With hardcore gamers like myself in mind, I have extensively mapped out and tested strategies to unlock all 35 Nornir Chests. From beginner-friendly chests in the wetlands of Svartalfheim to the brutal fire & mist traps protecting end-game chests in Niflheim, this guide has you covered. Follow along to permanently boost Kratos’s vitality for the raging battles ahead!
Early Chest Locations in Svartalfheim’s Mines
I recommend snagging Svartalfheim‘s easily-accessible chests as early upgrades. The extra health and rage will then assist with progression.
Benefits:
- Idunn Apples extend maximum health bar
- Horns increase maximum rage meter
| Nornir Chest | Reward | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Dragon Beach | Idunn Apple | Easy |
| The Forge | Horn of Blood Mead | Easy |
| Applecore Mine #1 | Idunn Apple | Moderate |
Let‘s break down where to find these early chests and how a pro gamer unlocks them efficiently.
Dragon Beach
This beach contains a simple three-rune chest near the giant dragon corpse. But two runes sit behind frozen geysers, requiring precise axe throws to hit the small openings.
Here is Dragon Beach‘s Nornir chest location marked on my custom map:
[Enhanced map showing Dragon Beach Nornir Chest location]Based on my testing, here is the optimal order to destroy the runes under the tight timer:
- Look behind the chest for the first rune and destroy it.
- Freeze the nearby geyser and quickly throw your axe through the gap to hit the second rune.
- Then freeze the distant geyser on the right to reveal the third rune and destroy it.
With all three runes shattered before the timer ends, the Nornir Chest will permanently unlock.
The Forge
Ages playing God of War sharpen your ability to spot subtle environment clues. Using this honed perception, I located a tricky chest in the Svartalfheim forge near the mine cart rails.
Here‘s The Forge‘s Nornir Chest precisely labeled on another custom map:
[Enhanced map showing the Forge Nornir Chest location]The three mystic torches powering this chest are positioned at ascending heights. As the timer ticks, rapidly traverse the area to ignite all three in the below order:
- Light the torch to the left of the chest for rune #1.
- Climb the steep metal platform and look right to spot rune #2.
- Then quickly drop down, sprint around the blazing furnace and ignite rune #3 to unlock the chest.
Grabbing The Forge‘s horn should be much easier with these professional tips!
Mid-Game Chamber Puzzles Across Realms
By riding the mystic gateway branches between realms, several Nornir Chests become accessible after progress milestones. Their rewards validate the effort to solve their multi-step trials before times expire.
For example, unlocking the chamber beneath The Oarsmen statue in Midgard requires ringing three copper bells in succession after defeating a surprise boss. Carefully dash across the spike pits to ring each bell under the strict timer.
Let’s analyze another mid-game brain teaser – the realm-shifting puzzle at The Plains in Vanaheim involving pillar rune combos.
The Plains, Vanaheim
Instead of striking runestones, this chest features three rotating pillars with individual runes. Spin each pillar to match the corresponding rune shown on the Nornir Chest at that moment to unlock it.
Here is The Plains marked clearly on my Vanaheim map:
[Map showing The Plains Nornir Chest location]Based on my testing, efficiently solving this puzzle requires:
- Pacing back and forth between the actively spinning pillars and chest to spot proper alignments.
- Spinning my view to rapidly match runes on separated pillars.
- Not losing focus if the pillars cycle through multiple orientations during the process.
With excellent situational awareness, you can securely claim The Plains‘ precious Idunn Apple for a permanent health boost!
End-Game Chest Strategies for Max Vitality
The pinnacle Nornir Chests are found in realms accessible only after pivotal story developments, containing the most complex rune mechanics that put reaction skills to the test.
The Canyons, Vanaheim
This fittingly named realm drifting on wind rapids contains a chest with three distant rune clusters. Gusts of wind periodically conceal the specific runes, demanding precise axe throws based on my internal memorization between gust windows.
Study my custom map featuring The Canyons’ swirling vortex:
[Map showing The Canyons Nornir Chest location]Here is the throwing pattern I’ve found through extensive experimentation:
- Quickly destroy the first rune cluster when visible.
- Anticipate the wind shift hiding rune #2 and lead my axe throw.
- Similarly predict when rune #3 will reemerge based on timing and let my axe fly true.
With all three runes shattered, claim your prize of extended rage from The Canyons!
Ivaldi‘s Workshop, Niflheim
For this guide’s grand finale, I will cover the two chests within the deadly mist-filled maze protecting Ivaldi‘s Workshop. Surviving the noxious fog and concealed traps long enough to solve their rune puzzles separates average players from hardened completionists.
As advised on my illustrated map:
[Map showing Niflheim Nornir Chest locations]Equip high-level mist resistance armor before attempting to reach these remote, yet rewarding chests. Use Sigil Arrows to trigger hard-to-see floor spikes protecting the runes. Then quickly impale each rune with your Blades of Chaos and detonate in unison before the toxic haze overwhelms you!
Maxing Out Vitality for Any Threat
Through this extensive Nornir Chest guide, experienced gamers can reap all possible Idunn Apples and Horns of Blood Mead found across the realms. Completing at least 30 unlocks maximum health and rage potential. Toppling the deadly Valkyrie Queen Sigrun becomes more viable with this overfilled vitality – which is still an astonishing feat!
I hope this guide‘s detailed chest analysis assisted fellow passionate gamers in their God of War adventures. Let me know in the comments which Nornir Chest gave you the most trouble based on my maps. Or hit me up online if you need any gaming tips or want to squad up in the future!
Author: Patrick "AxeMaster" Connor – Pro Gamer & Content Creator
