As you progress in God of War Ragnarok, you will face more and more challenging enemies. Therefore, leveling up Kratos’ gear becomes crucial if you wish to defeat any foe with ease – or at least without endlessly dying in combat.
Every time you complete a quest or perform specific actions, such as eliminating enemies and collecting artifacts and other items, you will get a certain amount of XP. However, that’s not how you level up in God of War Ragnarok. You can use XP to unlock new Skills, but you must upgrade your gear to increase your overall level and strength in the game. This guide contains all the information you need on leveling up in GoW Ragnarok, along with tips and tricks to get the most out of your equipment.
How Levelling Up Works in God of War Ragnarok
You will unlock and obtain new equipment as you progress in the game. This includes armor and weapon attachments, which can be crafted and upgraded. You will find higher-level items further on, but you can also choose to select a specific gear and upgrade it from level 1 to level 9 without any substantial penalty compared to mid and late-game weapon attachments and armor. Level 9 is the level cap at this time.
Each item has unique stats and effects, and players can shape Kratos based on their preferences. Strength improves the damage dealt on all attacks and Skills, while Defense decreases any incoming damage. Higher Runic stats boost the power of Runic attacks and the elemental status damage, while Cooldown reduces the time needed for any ability to refresh after being used. Vitality increases your maximum health and stagger resistance. Finally, Luck enhances your chances of gaining additional rewards and activates chance abilities more frequently.
How to Increase Your Level in God of War Ragnarok
When you visit the Huldra Brothers’ shops, you can upgrade or craft new gear and equip it. You will see all the available options and resources needed to complete this action upon interacting with them. The stats that will be improved, along with Kratos’ overall level, are displayed at the top left of the screen. You can use R3 to compare your currently equipped item with any other gear you have.
You will obtain new gear by completing specific quests, exploring every area carefully, and defeating enemies. The higher the level of your items, the higher your overall level will be. Keep upgrading your armor and weapon attachments, as enemies will also become stronger as you progress in the game. Reaching higher levels, however, can be pretty challenging. Rare resources are needed, and you might spend some time farming the right amount. As a general rule, make sure you don’t sell any of the crafting resources you find. You might need them in the future, so you better have them at your disposal anytime.
You will find many Huldra Brothers’ workshops in God of War Ragnarok, so you can improve your equipment often without having to go back to a specific Realm. Each shop you discover is permanently marked on the map, so you can easily add it to your compass if you need help reaching it. Stats make a difference in the game, so ensure you upgrade the ones that better fit your playstyle.
If you still need help with God of War Ragnarok, you can check our guides on the best Skills to unlock early with the Blades of Chaos and the Leviathan Axe.
