The Leviathan Axe’s Best Runic Attacks

Highlights

  • The combat in God of War: Ragnarok offers a lot of versatility with various weapon combos and runic attacks.
  • Light and heavy runic attacks have cooldowns and can deal massive damage to enemies.
  • Some of the best runic attacks, like Skadi’s Edge and Winter’s Bite, can make Kratos feel unstoppable in battle.


There’s a lot of versatility in the combat of God of War: Ragnarok. Players will not only be able to create swift and destructive combos with the Blades of Chaos and Leviathan Axe, but they will have access to light and heavy runic attacks, which allow for a further variety of combat in God of War: Ragnarok.

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Light and heavy runic attacks each have a cooldown when used, and can be done by holding L1 + R1 / L1 + R2 respectively. These attacks can deal massive amounts of physical damage or elemental damage to groups of enemies or single targets, and some best Leviathan Axe runic attacks in God of War: Ragnarok have the power to make Kratos feel unstoppable.

Updated on December 24, 2023 by Jake Fillery: Kratos and Atreus celebrate the one-year anniversary of God of War Ragnarok, and the release of God of War Ragnarok: Valhalla, an exciting free DLC that acts as an epilogue with Kratos and Mimir, With many fans returning to the game, and some players new, it’s a good time to look back on all Leviathan Axe Runic Attacks for God of War Ragnarok and to determine which of them are the most mighty, and will help players defeat the hardest bosses with ease. Players will be able to find every Leviathan Axe Runic Attack location, as well as what each of them does, with a ranking that goes through the 5 Light Attacks first, then the 5 Heavy Attacks.


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10 Skadi’s Edge (Light Attack)

Location: Found Within a Legendary Chest in Alfheim’s The Strong Area

god of war ragnarok light runic attack skadi's edge

  • Effect: A tracking axe throw that ricochets between targets, marked by Pressing R1 repeatedly.

Kratos will show just how good and true his throwing arm is with this light runic attack. Kratos unleashes the Leviathan Axe in a tracking throw, which will ricochet between targets that are marked by pressing R1 repeatedly. Feeling the axe connect on each swing is utterly satisfying, but not the most necessary attack move in Kratos’ arsenal.

For 7,250 XP, players can fully upgrade Skadi’s Edge, with 4 points in Damage, 3 in Frost, and 1 in Stun. The ability is fairly decent, but the Leviathan Axe will be swinging at enemies without Kratos to wield it for more damage.

9 Winter’s Bite (Light Attack)

Location: Defeat The Huntress During the Surviving Fimbulwinter Quest

god of war ragnarok light runic attack winter's bite

  • Effect: Form a mass of ice around the Leviathan Axe and run up to strike a target with incredible force.

Players that seek a heavy damage output will love Winter’s Bite, a light runic attack that forms a cluster of ice around the Leviathan Axe, for Kratos to strike upwards at his enemies with an incredible and unstoppable force. This throws enemies backward, with heavy damage and Frost.

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Winter’s Bite ends out with 3 points in Damage and Frost for 7,250 XP, which is fairly decent until players account for the charge-up time for the attack that might have a rogue enemy swinging from the side at them.

8 Hel’s Touch (Light Attack)

Location: Found in a Legendary Chest In The Burrows, Close to The Forbidden Sands in Alfheim

god of war ragnarok light runic attack hel's touch

  • Effect: An extremely quick burst of energy that interrupts and knocks back all nearby enemies.

Although Hel’s Touch does not do a lot of damage for a light runic attack, its power in Stun is incredibly useful. In God of War: Ragnarok, players will notice a white meter bar that fills with every melee strike or arrow hit. This bar is a Stun meter, which allows Kratos to hold R3 for a devastating and brutal finishing move, or Stun grab.

Hel’s Touch can be upgraded for the maximum 5 points in Stun and consists of an extremely quick burst of energy that will interrupt and knock back all nearby enemies for 6,750 XP. It’s greatly efficient for the Stun build-up, as are some of Atreus’ bow abilities.

7 Wrath Of The Frost Ancient (Light Attack)

Location:

god of war ragnarok light runic attack wrath of the frost ancient

  • Effect: A powerful ice beam that Frosts enemies on contact. Hold R1 to extend duration.

This light runic attack can be rather troublesome, as it creates a powerful ice beam that deals damage and frost elemental status effect to enemies that are hit with the beam. The duration of the beam can be extended by holding R1, but problems lie from within the Light Runic Attack, due to the fact that it only focuses on one target, leaving Kratos vulnerable to other attacks.

Despite a full damage bar in the stats, players can still be hit by enemies that are not caught in the beam or those that cannot be stunned by its powerful blast. However, using this effectively in a one-on-one situation, the opponent will have their health chipped away, and they will be unable to counter its effects.

6 Njord’s Tempest (Light Attack)

Location: Found in a Legendary Chest at Althjof’s Rig, Svartalfheim

god of war ragnarok light runic attack njord's tempest

  • Effect: A rapidly spinning Melee Attack that clears out surrounding enemies and deals significant damage.

Sometimes, there’s a cluster of enemies or just a boss that players want to chip away at. With Njord’s Tempest, that enemy will quickly become cut-up meat. This light runic attack consists of Kratos spinning the Leviathan Axe with a rapid pace and precision, as he clears out the surrounding enemies with a significant increase in damage.

During this attack, enemies are stun-locked, including bosses. It can be upgraded to level 3 for 4 points in Frost and 3 points in Damage, a great light runic attack for the fact it deals high Damage and Frost, while also keeping enemies stunned from attacking during the animation.

5 Fog Of Fimbulwinter (Heavy Attack)

Location: Legendary Chest in the Myrkyr Tunnels, Svartalfheim

god of war ragnarok heavy runic attack fog of fimbulwinter

  • Effect: A massive ice wave that inflicts Frost damage and freezes enemies in its path.

Kratos unleashes a mighty wave of Frost that will ripple across the battlefield with Fog of Fimbulwinter. This heavy runic attack creates a massive ice wave, and anything caught in its path will be caught with Frost damage, and likely cause them to have the freeze elemental effect.

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For 9,000 XP, this attack can be upgraded to have 5 points in Frost and 3 in Damage, making it an effective ability to freeze enemies that just won’t stop moving. It’s a whopping cooldown of 222 seconds, and the fact it only goes forward means it’s a vulnerable but powerful heavy runic attack. It’s certainly not the best runic attack in Kratos’ weapons, due to its limited damage capabilities, and the limited effectiveness of Frost.

4 Ivaldi’s Anvil (Heavy Attack)

Location: Legendary Chest at the Derelict Outpost, Midgard after completing Sigrun’s Curse

god of war ragnarok heavy runic attack ivaldi's anvil

  • Effect: A staggering area-of-effect attack that deals Frost status to all nearby enemies.

This staggering area-of-effect heavy runic attack has Kratos swing the Leviathan Axe and leap into the air to slam it into the ground. The Leviathan Axe creates a Frost status that will damage those within the vicinity of its blast. It’s fairly effective, as it will momentarily stun enemies in the path, and deal decent damage.

At level 3, Ivaldi’s Anvil deals 4 points in Damage, 3 in Frost, and 2 in Stun. It makes for a fairly average heavy runic attack, as the stats are decently spread out for 8,000 XP, but there’s also much more to be desired with this attack.

3 Mists Of Helheim (Heavy Attack)

Location: Legendary Chest at the Drawbridge of Cliffside Ruins, Vanaheim

god of war ragnarok heavy runic attack mists of helheim

  • Effect: A lingering area-of-effect attack that creates a small hazard, inflicting Frost status to all enemies inside.

Helheim is a scary realm in God of War: Ragnarok and the Mists of Helheim prove just that. Kratos will thrust his Leviathan Axe into the ground with a hurdling war cry, and leave a lingering area-of-effect that has a freezing mist swarm the battlefield, causing Frost status to those caught inside the cold.

For 9,000 XP, this attack can deal a maximum of 5 points in Frost, 2 in Damage, and 1 in Stun. The benefit of this attack is the Frost, as it will keep multiple enemies at bay so Kratos can target them one at a time.

2 Leviathan’s Roar (Heavy Attack)

Location: Legendary Chest within Freyr’s Camp

god of war ragnarok heavy runic attack leviathan's roar

  • Effect: A powerful Axe throw that returns with devastating impact. Kratos is fully protected while shielding.

The Leviathan Axe truly comes into play with this powerful heavy runic attack. Leviathan’s Roar will see Kratos throw the Axe with all his might, and it returns to him with a devastating impact of Frost damage to the surrounding area. The damage is fairly consistent, and it can be useful to those who enjoy a bit of ranged combat from time to time.

During this attack, Kratos is fully protected while shielding. At its max level, players will have 3 points in Damage, and an entirely brilliant 5 points in Stun, meaning in no time, enemies will be executed by Kratos’ Spartan fury.

1 Breath Of Thamur (Heavy Attack)

Location: Kill 28 Odin’s Ravens, Then Unlock The Top-Right Legendary Chest at The Raven Tree, Niflheim

god of war ragnarok heavy runic attack breath of thamur

  • Effect: A massive area-of-effect attack that deals damage to all enemies within an extremely large area.

Kratos will hold the handle of his Leviathan Axe with a great power unleashed onto the battlefield. This massive area-of-effect attack has a storm surrounding Kratos, and everyone on the battlefield is caught within, causing Frost and Damage to all. Slowly but surely, chunks of health and Frost will take over enemies, all while Kratos remains invulnerable to every attack.

It’s a great move to let Kratos breathe, as no one can attack due to this move taking over the entire battlefield. It can be upgraded to level 3 with 5 points in Damage and 3 in Frost. The only downside is its intense 288-second cooldown, which means it can be used once per fight. What makes this the Breath of Thamur the best heavy runic attack comes from the fact that players have a window of invulnerability, as Kratos will stand there with a dangerous storm swarming the area, damaging everything and causing Frost to all. It can be used to wipe out swarms, and greatly damage boss fights, all whilst Kratos has time to catch his breath.