Niflheim

Master the Cursed Mist and collect Mist Echoes in Niflheim, God of War (2018). Learn about its unique currency, hazards, and how to unlock its treasures and Realm Tears.

Niflheim, much like Muspelheim, presents a unique challenge in God of War (2018). The core gameplay loop involves gathering Mist Echoes and other Niflheim-exclusive materials from the maze to enhance your gear. This allows you to endure the Cursed Mist for longer durations. Your initial objective leads you to the central chamber, where you'll need resources to unlock valuable treasures and Realm Tears, which are essential for earning a specific Trophy. Niflheim's mazes are governed by several underlying mechanics that we will now explore.

The Cursed Mist

The Cursed Mist is the primary environmental hazard in Niflheim. While within the mist, a gauge on your screen will deplete. Once this gauge is empty, you will sustain continuous damage until you either fall in combat or leave the mist. The duration you can withstand the mist is not fixed; it can be extended through equipment, opening chests and coffers, or by acquiring Perks from Enchantments or Talismans. Your initial goal should be to craft the specific armor set, along with a Pommel and an Enchantment from the central chamber. This gear is crucial not only for extending your time in the mist but also for battling the Valkyrie residing within it.

The Currency

Mist Echoes serve as the main currency in Niflheim. Rarer materials like Niflheim Alloy, Haze Weaves, and Aesirbanes are required for upgrading Epic equipment. Additionally, you may find the extremely rare Anchor of Fogs in certain Legendary Chests, which is necessary to seal the three Realm Tears located near the area's end. You obtain these currencies primarily by opening chests within the mist. Throughout the maze, you'll encounter small chests, coffins, and Legendary Chests, all containing Mist Echoes. Legendary Chests also yield the rarer resources. The quantity of resources received depends on the number of chests opened, so it's advisable to stay in the mist as long as possible before exiting to secure your gains. Mist Echoes and other resources are only fully acquired once you escape the mist, indicated by a confirmation message. This creates a risk-reward scenario: do you risk going for an extra chest and run out of time or get killed? Initially, you will undertake many short runs until you acquire the means to stay in the mist for extended periods. You can find all of Niflheim's resources in various chests, which also replenish a portion of your mist gauge. Occasionally, you will find Nornir Chests in the area, typically containing a substantial amount of Mist Echoes or an Enchantment. The Rune Bells for these chests are usually found in the same room, with one exception: Nornir Chests at the Entrance require you to search larger rooms for Rune Spinners. It's wise to note the required Runes before proceeding.

The Area

Niflheim's layout is structured like a diamond, with two side rooms branching off to the left and right, and the Entrance at the bottom. From the Entrance, you can access Sindri's shop or proceed to the Central Chamber. From there, you can venture left or right. The Entrance area, located down the hill from Sindri's shop, is where you'll encounter your first enemies. Small chests, coffins, and a Legendary Chest can be found around the room's perimeter, with a door in the center leading to the Central Chamber. A Nornir Chest may sometimes appear here, requiring you to locate Runic Spinners high on the walls in adjacent larger rooms; remember the Runes needed. The Central Chamber is your primary destination and requires 500 Mist Echoes to enter initially. Inside, you'll find the Rusted Armor Sindri seeks, a treasure vault, and three Realm Tears. To complete Niflheim, you must open everything within this vault. Mist Echoes are needed for the Legendary Chests, and the rare Anchor of Fogs, found in the maze's depths, is required for the Realm Tears. Consult the details of each chest's contents to plan your objectives. Trap corridors connect the rooms, featuring hazards like spinning blade wheels or crushing blocks. Alcoves within these corridors may contain coffins, which are beneficial for extending your mist duration early on. These corridors lead to smaller, enemy-free rooms, sometimes housing a Nornir Chest with all its Rune Bells present. If time is short, it might be prudent to skip these, as the reward, while good, may not be worth the time compared to collecting more smaller chests. Following these are larger rooms with enemies, similar to the Entrance area, offering small chests, coffins, and Legendary Chests with better rewards but not the rarest resources. Another trap corridor follows, similar to the first.