Fraekni the Zealous Berserker Boss in Midgard

Learn how to defeat Fraekni the Zealous Berserker in God of War Ragnarök. This guide covers Fraekni's attacks, weaknesses, and the best strategies to win.

Alright, so you've made it to one of the tougher optional fights in God of War Ragnarök: Fraekni the Zealous Berserker. Don't worry, I'll walk you through this. You'll find this gravestone on the Lake of Nine in Midgard, west of The Oarsman. Just make sure you've got the Hilt of Skofnung from 'The Word of Fate' main quest before you go messing with it, otherwise, you can't even start the fight.

Stats / Weaknesses:

• Fraekni is a Berserker, meaning she hits hard and fast.
• Her attacks are telegraphed by red (unblockable) or yellow (blockable/parryable) rings.
• Dodging is key, especially for her unblockable attacks.
• Runic Attacks, Relics, or Sword Hilts can interrupt her charges if timed perfectly.

Phases:

1. Fraekni has a few main attack patterns that she cycles through. The fight is less about distinct phases and more about recognizing and reacting to her moves.
2. The fight concludes with a stun grab, so build up that stun meter when you get the opening.

Strategy:

• Charge Attack: When you see the red circle, get ready to dodge. The trick is to wait until the very last second before dodging. Dodge too early and she'll catch you. You can also try to interrupt this with a Runic Attack or a Relic/Hilt ability if you're feeling brave and timed it right, but dodging is usually safer, especially from a distance.
• Yellow Ring Charge: If you see a yellow circle, you can block or parry this. If you have a shield that can block these outright, like the Stone Wall shield, just hold it up. Otherwise, time your parry. She often follows up with a few quick melee hits, so stay alert and don't get greedy with your retaliation until you know how many she's going to throw out. You can use your shield's stun ability (double tap [Square/X]) after a successful block or parry, or go in for some melee hits yourself.
• Overhead Strike: This can also be unblockable (red ring) or blockable/parryable (yellow ring or no ring). For the unblockable version, dodge *around* her, not away. It feels weird staying close, but it actually helps you avoid her follow-up melee swings. If it's not red, block or parry it.
• General Combat: Since these are her main attacks, learning to read the rings and dodge/parry effectively is the core of this fight. Keep moving, don't overcommit to attacks, and look for openings after you successfully defend. Building up her stun meter is important for creating bigger damage windows.
• Finishing the Fight: Once her health and stun meters are sufficiently depleted, you'll get the prompt for a stun grab. Execute this to finish her off.