Vanaheim is one of the key realms explored in God of War Ragnarok. As the largest realm featuring verdant forests, rocky cliffs, and lush jungles, Vanaheim contains a plethora of collectibles and side content to discover. Most notably, scattered across the realm are 11 Nornir chests waiting to be opened by the keen-eyed player.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover the locations of every Nornir chest in Vanaheim and provide detailed solutions for the various puzzles barring each one. From lengthy torch puzzles to quick bell rings, prepare for a true test of observation, logic, and skill in your hunt to unlock all of Vanaheim’s Nornir rewards.
Overview of Nornir Chests
For those new to the God of War series, Nornir chests are locked puzzle chests that require some effort to open. Solving the puzzle associated with the chest will unlock rewards inside, usually either Idunn Apples for health upgrades or Horns of Blood Mead for rage upgrades.
These chests are marked by runes on their exterior. The puzzles involve interacting with the runes in some way, like lighting up corresponding runes or destroying matching totems. You must complete the puzzle within a short time limit to successfully unlock the chest.
Now that you know the basics, let’s begin our journey through each and every Nornir chest location in Vanaheim.
Nornir Chest Locations in Vanaheim
The realm contains a total of 11 unlockable Nornir chests scattered across 9 major locations:
- The Abandoned Village
- The Southern Wilds
- Cliffside Ruins
- The Veiled Passage
- Goddess Falls
- Eastern Barri Woods
- The Plains
- The Sinkholes
- The Jungle
Below we’ll go through each area one-by-one, showing screenshots highlighting the exact chest placement and detailing the steps to open them.
The Abandoned Village
Our first stop in Vanaheim is the abandoned village located in the Northeast part of the realm. Proceed uphill until you reach the village outskirts and spot the chest location underneath a wooden bridge:
This chest features a torch puzzle. Start by grabbing the hanging fire bucket and swinging it with your Blades of Chaos to light the torches lined up throughout the area.
- The N torch lies just left of the chest. Light it first.
- Turn right and throw the fire bucket to ignite the R torch in the distance.
- Finally, swing the bucket left to hit the C torch and complete the puzzle.
With all three runes lit, the Nornir chest will unlock.
The Southern Wilds
Venturing south of the Abandoned Village takes you into the Southern Wilds. The chest here sits out in the open on a clifftop overlooking the realm’s lake region:
However, opening it requires manipulating three switches puzzlingly spread across the environment.
- Start with the C switch high up on the rocks left of the chest.
- Hit the R switch behind bramble growths on the opposite cliffs.
- Lastly, locate the N switch even farther south near the giant tree and rotate it.
Align all three letters to complete this lengthy switch puzzle.
Cliffside Ruins
The next two Nornir chests lie within the Cliffside Ruins along Vanaheim’s northern coast.
Both chests in this area feature environmental switch puzzles. For the first chest visible on approach through the mystic gateway, simply locate and hit the matching switches to complete the puzzle:
- The R switch hides behind red bramble near the chest. Use Sigil Arrows to ignite it.
- Track down the F switch atop the broken bridge columns farther back.
- Finally, nail the D switch from a boat even farther north.
Rotate each one to show the correct rune and unlock access to the goods inside.
The Veiled Passage
Before heading to the Goddess Falls, hang a quick left into the narrow river channel known as the Veiled Passage. Sail your boat inside and dock it before a sealed off wall covering the chest.
The puzzle here provides a change of pace by having you ring three bells in tandem instead of lighting torches. Take note of their placements throughout the rocky walls and use Sigil Arrows and fire bombs to hit them simultaneously. A bit of strategic positioning is key to lining up your shots just right.
Time your explosions properly to ding all three within the tight time limit.
Goddess Falls
In the south of Vanaheim lies the Goddess Falls, identifiable by the water flowing from three separate rivers on high ground. Dock your boat at the base and work upwards to find the Nornir chest.
Yet another torch puzzle blocks the way, though spread across hard-to-reach cliffsides. Once more, Sigil Arrows prove invaluable for linking distant targets together.
- Use arrows and cliffs to jump and ignite the R torch to the north.
- Repeat the process doubling back to light the N torch left of the chest.
- Lastly, spot the unobstructed C torch southeast and ignite it with your Blades.
It’s a tricky set of jumps and aim, but the reward outweighs the effort.
Eastern Barri Woods
A set of switch puzzles also hamper access to the chest hidden in Eastern Barri Woods. Situated atop winding stairwells, you’ll want to tackle these targets in a logical order:
- Rotate the D switch visible from the stairs.
- Next hit the F switch left of the chest.
- Finally, locate the distant C switch down the north path.
Get all three to show their runic letter and the Nornir chest will pop wide open.
The Plains
Perhaps the most arduous Nornir chests to unlock rest in the sprawling central Plains of Vanaheim.
The first chest encountered features another bell puzzle to solve. Rush between the two bells initially in view towards the obscured third bell hidden in bramble growths to the north. Clearing the bramble and ringing all three in conjunction opens up your prize.
For the second chest, you’ll need to complete several prerequired tasks first:
- Change the time of day to night at a Celestial Altar.
- Fight past new enemies and poison obstacles leading north.
- Locate and destroy three essence totems to actually unlock the chest itself.
This lengthy series of tasks again ultimately pays off nicely once the chest finally pops open.
The Sinkholes
In the Sinkholes region directly west lies another two Nornir chests up for grabs, beginning with yet another torch puzzle.
Mind your footing as you swing and climb your way towards hitting all three distant braziers in time:
- Light the N brazier to the south first.
- Ignite the adjacent C brazier with Sigil Arrows.
- Finish off the hidden R brazier using arrows to extend your Blades’ range.
For the second Sinkholes chest accessible only after completing the “Return the River” favor, prepare for another environmental hunt for essence totems:
- Locate and impale the B totem left of the chest.
- Scout out and hit the E totem right from the chest.
- Lastly, find the T totem out of view to the north.
Surprise, surprise – another variety of puzzle challenge to keep you alert!
The Jungle
Finally, at the end of the long winding river running through Vanaheim lies the wide jungle.
Before the chest enclosed between rock walls, three switches await along the adjacent mountainside.
- Target the E switch right above you first.
- Locate the N switch farther north after turning the corner.
- Spot the B switch around the corner left from the N switch.
With all three runes properly oriented, the final Vanaheim Nornir chest unlocks.
Conclusion
And there we have it – all 11 collectible Nornir chests uncovered across the wondrous realm of Vanaheim! As you can see, each puzzle shows some creativity with plenty of twists and variant mechanics at play.
Stay observant of environmental clues and employ Kratos‘s full array of gear like his Blades and Sigil Arrows to manipulate targets from afar. Completing adjacent favors also serves to unlock new paths and chest access at times.
But now the generously-filled Nornir chests of Vanaheim lie ripe for the taking! Best of luck uncovering all these puzzle-locked treasures as you adventure through the God of War Ragnarok cosmos. Let us know if you have any other questions arising from your own journeys into the Norse wilds!
