God of War Ragnarok invites players to take part in a Norse adventure packed with unforgettable locations, deep characters, and a remarkable story. It’s no wonder that it has enjoyed heaps of praise in the form of positive reviews. Ragnarok brings the heat, especially when it comes to boss fights.
If you’re looking at this guide, you’re likely facing off against Heimdall, one of the more intense fights in the game’s main campaign. Not only does this fight contain three distinct phases, Heimdall himself makes for a formidable foe, as he is incredibly difficult to hit. If you’re looking for strategies on how to take him down, you’ve come to the right place.
Phase One: Toppling Gulltoppr
Before facing off against Heimdall himself, you’ll be facing him atop his mount, Gulltoppr. This is a fairly straightforward brawl, as Gulltoppr won’t dodge your every attack. If you find yourself struggling with this stage of the fight, try slowing down and focusing on your parries and dodges. Gulltoppr isn’t incredibly quick, but he is powerful.
Interrupt On Blue
When you see Gulltoppr leaping at you, it’s usually going to be accompanied by some blue rings. Double tap L1 to use your shield as an interrupt. Not only will you stop Gulltoppr in his tracks, but you’ll leave him open for some follow-up attacks. Take advantage of this.
Parry On Yellow
When Gulltoppr lunges at you, this will usually come with a yellow ring, warning you that this attack will break your block; but it can be parried. If you parry successfully, you’ll be able to get in a few strikes on Gulltoppr. If you struggle with parry timing, you’ll want to dodge away.
Dodge On Red
Gulltoppr will occasionally charge at you like a bull. This will usually be accompanied by a red ring, which means there’s no use in blocking. You need to dodge out of the way, and fast. Once you’ve rolled away, get back on your feet and make sure Gulltoppr isn’t coming back around for another attack.
Beware Bifrost Attacks
Heimdall isn’t going to sit idly by while you battle his beast. He will throw Bifrost energy at you and use an area-of-effect attack when you’re nearby. Both of these Bifrost attacks can pack a punch, so do your best to avoid them.
Phase Two: Slowing Down Heimdall
Once you’ve taken down Gulltoppr, you’re onto Heimdall himself. Your first order of business should be throwing as many spears at him as you can and detonating them. You want to keep doing this as it will continue to leave him vulnerable, allowing you to get in some R3 attacks until, finally, you land a hit. Keep throwing spears. Keep exploding them to overwhelm him.
Eventually, Heimdall will use a move that slows down time. You’ll need to dodge or parry his attacks. Right after he slows down time, he’s vulnerable to being struck, so make the most of the opportunity while you have it.
Parry If You Can
When Heimdall moves in, he does so with incredible speed. You can attempt dodging this yellow ringed attack, but you’re probably better off going for the parry. Just remember not to try blocking it, as your block will be knocked away and leave you open to follow-up attacks.
Get Out Of The Way
Heimdall will rush in with his blade, closing the gap between you in the blink of an eye. You want to dodge away from this red ringed attack if you can, as it will deal a fair amount of damage. He will also drive his sword into the ground for an area of effect attack. This cannot be interrupted, so you’ll need to get out of the way.
Magic Armor
Once you’ve dealt a bunch of damage to Heimdall, he’ll summon his magic armor. It’s basically another health bar that you’ll need to take out before you can start damaging him properly again. While this can be annoying, it doesn’t do anything but prolong the fight. Stick to the moves that have worked for you so far, and you’ll be just fine.
Phase Three: No More Mercy
In this phase, Heimdall has a new Bifrost arm and is pretty angry about the way things are going. He becomes more aggressive, and his attacks happen very quickly. Stay on your toes for this part of the fight. You’re almost there!
Interrupt His Bifrost AOE
When Heimdall drives his fist into the ground, he’s about to unleash a powerful area-of-effect attack. This is a tricky one to interrupt, as the area of effect is quite large. You’ll see the blue rings to warn you that it’s about to happen. If you’re close to Heimdall, tap L1 twice to interrupt him. If you’re not close, try to run or dodge out of the area to avoid taking damage and being thrown back.
Avoid The Rocks
Heimdall will begin to throw rocks at you in regular intervals. You’ll want to get out of the way of these. Just be ready for him to do it a lot.
Parry His Charge
Another attack with a yellow ring that you’ll need to prepare to parry. If you can’t parry it, try to get out of the way.
Dodge His Leap
Heimdall will rush in with a leap, seeking to clobber you with his Bifrost fist. This attack will come with a red ring, meaning you have to dodge or take the full force of the damage. This is a potentially devastating attack you want to do your best to avoid.
