Runic Attacks are special weapon skills that can be equipped by Kratos in God of War Ragnarök. Each weapon has two available runic slots, one for light attacks and the second for heavy attacks. Each Runic Attack can be leveled up to increase their damage and effectiveness. Additionally, his companions can equip Runic Summons, to support him in fights, and Atreus gains Bow Abilities for his own use.
Runic Attacks can result in increased levels of physical damage, elemental damage, and/or stun attached to each attack. Each Runic Attack has different functionality and properties, and are limited by cooldowns.
Runic Attacks[]
The fifth main game integrates several moves and abilities that were formerly Runic Attacks for the Leviathan Axe and Blades of Chaos in the previous game into unlockable abilities for both weapons (e.g. the Glacial Rake ability functions similarly to River of Knives H. Runic Attack, and Glacial Permafrost functionally stands in for Blessing of the Frost).
Thus, whilst there are fewer Runic Attacks to unlock and use per weapon, many of the ones missing from the 4th game are actually now always available to use as abilities without having to be switched in pre-battle; though understandably with toned-down effects or adjusted execution requirements because they're no longer bound to the cool-down limitation of Runic Attacks.
Leviathan Axe[]
The Leviathan is a two-handed war axe that is one of Kratos' offensive weapons in God of War Ragnarök. The axe channels the frost element.
Light Runic Attacks[]
- (NEW) Winter's Bite (Runic Attack)
- Njörd's Tempest (Runic Attack)
- (NEW) Skaði's Edge (Runic Attack)
- Wrath of the Frost Ancient (Runic Attack)
- Hel's Touch (Runic Attack)
Heavy Runic Attacks[]
- Mists of Helheim (Runic Attack)
- Ivaldi's Anvil (Runic Attack)
- (NEW) Fog of Fimbulwinter (Runic Attack)
- (NEW) Leviathan's Roar (Runic Attack)
- Breath of Thamur (Runic Attack)
Blades of Chaos[]
The Blades of Chaos are blades imbued with the power of the Underworld, a relic from Kratos' past. The blades channel the burn element.
Light Runic Attacks[]
- (NEW) Flames of Anguish (Runic Attack)
- (NEW) Hades Retribution (Runic Attack)
- (NEW) Helios Flare (Runic Attack)
- Rampage of the Furies (Runic Attack)
- Cyclone of Chaos (Runic Attack)
Heavy Runic Attacks[]
- Nemean Crush (Runic Attack)
- Tartarus Rage (Runic Attack)
- Atlas Eruption (Runic Attack)
- (NEW) Tame the Beast (Runic Attack)
- Meteoric Slam (Runic Attack)
Draupnir Spear[]
The Draupnir Spear is an infinite amount of spears at Kratos' disposal in God of War Ragnarök. The spear channels the wind element.
Light Runic Attacks[]
- (NEW) Huldra Charge (Runic Attack)
- (NEW) Mountain Splitter (Runic Attack)
- (NEW) Thrust of a Thousand Soldiers (Runic Attack)
- (NEW) Whisper of the World (Runic Attack)
Heavy Runic Attacks[]
- (NEW) Artillery of the Ancients (Runic Attack)
- (NEW) Honour the Fallen (Runic Attack)
- (NEW) Vindsvalr's Windstorm (Runic Attack)
- (NEW) The Finger of Ruin (Runic Attack)
Bow Abilities[]
Atreus becomes a playable character for certain parts of the story, with his own melee and defensive combat and abilities to complement his archery skills. As such, he gains Bow Abilities, which in-essence act like his Father's light runic attacks, except for his bow. He can only obtain and use them during his playable story segments.
- (NEW) Stinging Barrage (Bow Ability)
- (NEW) Sharpshooter Stare (Bow Ability)
- (NEW) Splintered Sigil (Bow Ability)
- (NEW) Falling Sky (Bow Ability)
Runic Summons[]
Atreus[]
Just as he could when he was younger, Atreus can summon spectral animals to aid him and his father in-battle. Three of the summons he used as a child return to help him during the events of the story, whilst gaining an entirely new one. They can only be obtained during his playable segments, in which they act as his "heavy runic attacks."
- (NEW) Rampaging Ibex (Runic Summon)
- Falcons' Dive (Runic Summon)
- Wrath of the Wolf (Runic Summon)
- Bitter Squirrel (Runic Summon)
Freya[]
After journeying to Vanaheim to undo the curse Odin placed on her a century ago, Freya and Kratos reconcile with each other, after which she becomes his primary ally, during Atreus' absences throughout the story. However, unlike the spectral animals Atreus calls into battle, Freya's "Runic Summons" instead make use of her Valkyrie Combat Prowess and Vanir Witchcraft. Her Runic Summons are obtained by completing Favors which are very personal to her.