The River Pass - God of War (2018) Guide - IGN (2024)

The River Pass is one of the main Regions in God of War. It is the second region you can explore in the game, and part of your main Journey.

The River Pass can be explored shortly after starting your adventure, and includes forested areas, ruins, and a sanctuary home to a Witch of the Woods - and her cave below.

• For the main walkthrough of this area - see the pages: Path to the Mountain and A New Destination

Below you will find details on where to locate all of the collectibles in this area - but note that some may require you to come back later when you have the tools needed to get to certain areas.

Artifact Locations

• Total Sell Value - 9,000

There are 9 Artifacts to find in The River Pass - they are part of the Faces of Magic Collection.

The Faces of Magic Artifact 1

Near the first Mystic Gateway along the path after your first fight with human Reavers, drop down the chain near the ruins exit.

You can take the path to a ridge overlooking the Marketplace, and a ledge going back up to the entrance - near the ledge is a dead soldier holding one of The Faces of Magic masks, part of artifact set.

The Faces of Magic Artifact 2

At Brok's Shop at the edge of the Marketplace Ruins, go right instead near the trees you threw your axe at to find a small lower platform you can hop down to. There’s a dead soldier here holding another of The Faces of Magic artifacts, a Man Mask.

The Faces of Magic Artifact 3

On the other side of the spiked ceiling chamber past Brok's Shop, climb up to find a dead soldier that holds another of The Faces of Magic, and grab this new Mask near the exit to the cave.

The Faces of Magic Artifact 4

After the spiked chamber, there's a large plateau before the area with the first sand bowl. Head along the edge of the plateau to the far side where you’ll find a dead soldier: he holds another of The Faces of Magic. Grab this next mask.

The Faces of Magic Artifact 5

After opening the large riddle door using the sand bowl, enter the tunnel until the path swerves right, but you can go left to climb up to a small pool of water where another of the Faces of Magic artifacts lies,

Grab the mask to add it your collection!

The Faces of Magic Artifact 6

After defeating the Troll in the River Pass, head through the tunnel to a ruined village and drop down. Next to the second house with Hacksilver inside is a tiny husk of a hut you can break. Behind it you’ll find the body of a soldier holding another of The Faces of Magic, and you can add another mask to your collection.

The Faces of Magic Artifact 7

On your fist visit to the Witch's House, you'll leave by way of a large cave. Take the bridge down from her door and go left to a lower path with a pallet of large stones you can move. Now push the pallet into the water to form a floating platform.

You can cross the platform to a dead soldier who carries one of The Faces of Magic artifacts, and add it to your collection.

The Faces of Magic Artifact 8

• Pre-requisite: Light Arrows

Upon returning to the Witch's Cave after getting Light and Shock Arrows, break the red wall of sap to find a large well you can climb up to the Witch's House. As you head down the path to the house, look to the right to find the body of a dead soldier holding one of the Faces of Magic Artifacts, the Hole Mask.

The Faces of Magic Artifact 9

• Pre-requisite: Light Arrows

A final artifact can be found climbing the chain next to the Rune Reads by the turtle once you are able to revisit the forest floor around the Witch's House.

It leads to a short path with an inactive Nornir Chest, and if you look to the side you can spot one more dead body holding the last of the Faces of Magic Artifact set.

Mystic Gateways

There are 3 Mystic Gateways in The River Pass.

Mystic Gateway 1

The first Mystic Gateway you can find near the beginning of The River Pass, but it overlooks the pit where you fall from the bridge into the old market. It's just across the bridge from where Brok's first Shop is - outside the ruins where you fight human reavers for the first time.

Mystic Gateway 2

This Mystic Gateway may have to be found twice. If you pick it up before completing A New Destination, then the water level will drop and reveal a duplicate one. You'll have to find that one to re-add it to the checklist.

The second Mystic Gateway can be found in the Witch's Cave below her home at the end of the River Pass, at the bottom of the elevator. As noted above, you may have to find this one twice!

Mystic Gateway 3

• Pre-requisite: Complete The Magic Chisel

The final Mystic Gateway is located not far from the one in the Witch's Cave - as it is found in the Hidden Chamber of Odin in the same area. After the waters have gone down once, you can use Light Arrows at the lowest part of the cave to create a bridge past a Nornir Chest to find a wall of red sap - break it with Shock Arrows and climb up to find the chamber, which leads to a lift down to the gateway.

Lore Locations

There are 9 Lore locations found in The River Pass, the first area you visit once you set off from home, though only 6 count as Lore Markers tracked for 100% completion. However, not all of them are obtainable during your first visit here.

To get all the Lore in The River Pass, you'll need to have Shock Arrows obtained during Inside the Mountain. However it's impossible to access all of The River Pass at once until you complete The Sickness main quest. Luckily, you can still collect them all if you're diligent the first two times you come here.

The River Pass Lore 1 - Giants!

As you first take the path from the Wildwoods to The River Pass, you'll enter an area where you get into your first Draugr fight with multiple waves, including your first ranged Draugur up a cliff.

Once they're down, check for the cliff wall you can climb with the yellow markings. To the right of it will be the Lore Marker: press Square to have Atreus inspect the runes by the rock wall to decipher the meaning of the Rune Reads: Welcome to Jotnar.

The River Pass Lore 2 - Jotnar Marketplace

Once you fall down from the bridge into the Marketplace Ruins, defeat the Draugr, and Atreus will likely go to inspect a large column nearby that’s marked with runes of lore, over on the side lit by sunlight. Go and check it out yourself to learn more about this area: the Jotnar Marketplace, or Trade Grounds.

The River Pass Lore 3 - Svartalfheim Sealed

After fighting your first Revenant, head to the ravine you can climb up and cross a bridge to where the path splits. To the right is a gold Nornir chest with the three blue runes on front. Instead head left, and you can spot a Scroll on the floor in an alcove on your right, with a white marker letting you see it in the darkness. You'll probably have to defeat the Draugur here first, but once you do, have Atreus read the Scroll: Svartalfheim Sealed.

The River Pass Lore 4

Next to the scroll mentioned previously, head to the back of this path where it ends to find a Jotnar Shrine to reveal Hrungnir.

The River Pass Lore 5 - Prayer to Odin

In the area where you fought the Troll of the River Pass (Brenna Daudi) among the giant bones, look to the left of the Nornir Chest to find a wooden wall next to a raised chain. Throw the Axe at the planks at the top to destroy them, then boost Atreus up so he can lower the chain. Climb up, head left around the corner, and you’ll find a Lore Marker - Prayer to Odin. It'll be overlooking the area where you fought the Troll.

The River Pass Lore 6 - Keep Out

• Requires: Shock Arrows

This Rune Read requires you to return to the upper part of the Witch's meadow, which can only be done after you've obtained both Shock Arrows and Light Arrows. Once you've done this, return to beneath the turtle house via the Lake of Nine.

Near the ramp up to the house is a wall with red sap: blow it up with Shock Arrows, then start climbing up the well at the end. As you make the climb up the well, have Atreus read the runes to uncover a Rune Reading: Keep Out.

The River Pass Lore 7 - Prayer to Frigg

• Requires: Shock Arrows

As you climb out of the well to the forest around the Witch's House, next to the overlook is a Lore Marker missing its text. Look for a blue crystal stashed behind the well and bring it over. Socket it next to the marker, then activate it with a Light Arrow to reveal the text of the marker: Prayer to Frigg.

The River Pass Lore 8

• Requires: Shock Arrows

After killing the Draugr that surround the giant turtle and the Witch's House, be sure to look around for two sets of Rune Reads: A Seidr Curse is below the cliff you came down from, close to the front of the giant turtle.

The River Pass Lore 9 - Down With Odin

• Requires: Shock Arrows

The final Lore Marker for The River Pass is also outside the turtle house. You can find it in front of the turtle, close to a yellow chain you can climb. Read it to pick up Down With Odin.

Odin's Raven Locations

There are 6 of Odin's Ravens located in the River Pass, all of which are perched and not flying.

The River Pass Raven 1

After you fall from the bridge into the marketplace ruins, take out all the Draugr in the area. From where you took out the projectile-throwing Draugr, look just above along the ridge to spot a glowing green raven. This is one of Odin’s Ravens, the eyes and ears of the god himself. If you miss it, you can also find it when exiting the ruins after defeating the human Reavers.

The River Pass Raven 2

This Raven can be found in the area where you encounter your first Nornir Chest. Standing at the wooden bridge to the next area, look to the cliff to the right. Spot the yellow chain and look just above its top to spot the Raven perched on a rock.

If you can't hit the Raven from here, you'll have a chance to get it at a closer distance later on after you encounter your first shop.

The River Pass Raven 3

After opening up the large door using the sand bowl and solving the riddle, enter the tunnel and continue along the main path forward to where you can spot a large opening far up an incline.

At the top, a green raven sits along the edge - you'll need to aim your axe just a bit higher than the bird to compensate for the drop off.

The River Pass Raven 4

After defeating the Troll in The River Pass, look up at the giant bony ribcage of some long dead giant thing to spot a glowing green raven perched on one of the middle ribs. Launch your axe it to kill it.

The River Pass Raven 5

In the area beyond where you killed the Troll in The River Pass, you'll come to a ledge overlooking a destroyed village of several huts. From your vantage point above the town, look to the hut on the right to find a green glowing raven picking at the body of a man on the side of the roof, and throw your axe to kill it.

The River Pass Raven 6

• Pre-requisite: Shock Arrows

Once you have obtained the Shock Arrows, return to the Witch's Cave (that is, the cave under her house) and break open the red sap wall near the lift to climb up a well to the forest above.

Look for a yellow chain in front of the giant turtle that leads up to a ledge near the giant turtle for a path, and then look up to the left as you pass by some high rocks to find the raven perched up top.

The River Pass Raven 7

• Pre-requisite: Thamur's Chisel

After you gain Thamur's Chisel, return to the Witch's Cave and find the Hidden Chamber of Odin on the lower level of the cave past the red sap wall. Take the lift down and you'll find the Raven in the arena of the Valkyrie here, look up along the arches to find it.

Valkyrie Fight - Kara

Where to Find Valkyrie Kara

Kara's Hidden Chamber of Odin rests inside the Witch's Cave, which is the underground area beneath her turtle home. To get there, head to the Light Bridges below the ramp up to her home and look for a branch you can get some Shock Crystal from. Look for a nearby elevated wall of red tree sap to throw it at, then have Atreus ignite them with Shock Arrows. Climb up, and the ice seal will be directly in front of you.

Kara Fight Video Guide

Kara Tips and Strategies

• Recommended Level:5 for a manageable fight, Lvl. 6 for an easier one.

In addition to all of Gunnr's movies, Kara can summon additional level 4 Draugr for Kratos to deal with, which are more of a pain and distraction than a challenge, especially as the fight drags on and Shield, Speed, and Ranged Draugr starts getting thrown in. This distraction can be lethal however because it gives Kara ample space to strike with a surprise attack.

Deal with the Draugr in bulk, using runic area-of-effect attacks to make quick work of them so you can continue focusing on Kara. The Blades of Chaos also work, since despite lower damage they work great for crowd control, ensuring all targets get hit and taken out. Be sure never to take your eyes off the Valkyrie so you can be ready to parry or dodge at a moment's notice.

If you have Atreus' arrows upgraded as well, you can make swift work of them using him as an assist - Shock Arrows with Chain Lighting work wonders here against the Draugr, as do Runic Summons that hinder or damage foes in a wide area.

Thankfully, almost all of Kara's attacks are blockable, some of which can stagger you like Gunnr, although her scythe attacks have no follow-up, and her wing slices don't end in an unblockable jab.

She can however lift into the air and either toss several magical circle blades at you that snake through the air, making it a wiser choice to block than dodge. Her Heavy Attack variation is more dangerous however: it's unblockable and incredibly fast: you'll have to dodge out of the way or suffer the consequences.

Wait for her to come to you and be ready to block and parry any and all incoming attacks, and redirect them at the Valkyrie if you can. Enchantments that give you perks when you parry are also useful here given the number of opportunities you'll have to use.

Nornir Chest Locations

There are five Nornir Chests in The River Pass area.

The River Pass Nornir Chest 1 - Idunn Apple

During the Path to the Mountain first Escape the Ruins objective.

In the marketplace ruins after killing your first Revenant, climb up to where the path splits and go right to find a Nornir Chest near a bridge to the exit of the ruins. The “N” looking rune is located just behind it - throw your axe to break it.

The others lie over the bridge - head back to the cliff overlooking the bridge to spot and break both weakpoints to lower the bridge. Now you can look to the left of the bridge entrance for the “R” looking run high up on a ledge behind a chest.

The last “C” looking rune is behind a gate further past the bridge, but you can spy it through a hole looking left as you cross and hit it by throwing your axe.

The River Pass Nornir Chest 2 - Horn of Blood Mead

During the Path to the Mountain Proceed Through the Gate to the Mountain objective, inside the cave with the spiked doors and ceiling.

Entering the spike ceiling chamber after Brok's Shop, pass through to the other side where a ledge leads to the exit. Before leaving, turn around to hop up a small ledge. As the ceiling descends, a new platform appears that you can leap to and find locked Nornir Chest. The “N” looking rune is found behind you up in the top corner.

The “C” looking rune is found through the broken spiked wall on the way to a chest full of Hacksilver.

As for the “R” looking rune, it’s hidden behind wooden beams to the left of the chest - you need to raise the platform slightly by throwing your axe at the panels below.

The River Pass Nornir Chest 3 - Idunn Apple

During the Path to the Mountain Hunt with Atreus objective, right after the troll Brenna Daudi boss fight.

In the area where you kill the Troll in The River Pass, look off to the left side of the arena for a cliff overlooking the distant mountain where the Nornir Chest is. The “N” looking rune is found just behind it - but it can’t be broken. When it stops ringing, the seal will reappear so you need to be quick to find the others.

The “R” looking rune is found nearby, just to the left above the waterfall.

The “C” looking rune is located back upstream behind one of the giant ribs.

Hit them all quickly and you’ll unlock the Nornir Chest.

The River Pass Nornir Chest 4 - Horn of Blood Mead

• Prerequisite: Shock Arrows

When you can return to the Witch's Cave with Light and Shock Arrows, head down the path towards where you pushed the pallet into the water to find new blue crystals below that create a path to a Nornir Chest. The runes are quite spread out here.

The “N” looking rune is opposite the Nornir Chest, next to a coffin encased in red sap on a ledge.

Look to the right of the Nornir Chest to find a blue crystal you can shoot to make a path to a Shatter Crystal; grab one and throw it at the wall to the left of the chest to find the “R” looking rune to the left of the Hidden Chamber entrance.

Finally, the “C” looking rune is in the large well past the red sap wall next to the lift. This is the well you climb up to return to the upper area at the front of the turtle.

The River Pass Nornir Chest 5 - Idunn Apple

• Prerequisite: Winds of Hel manipulation

After you gain the ability needed to manipulate the Winds of Hel, Return to the Witch's Cave and head back up the well out to where the turtle resides, and look at the giant arch you summoned using the sand bowl near the giant turtle. The right side of the arch has Winds of Hel on it, and you can transfer it to the left side of the arch.

Now head up the chain to the high ridge above where you spotted the runes for the sand bowl, and grab the Winds before turning and running down the path and placing them below a rune mechanism for a moment - noting that it will start cycling runes.

Take them the rest of the way to a receptacle behind the Nornir Chest to activate it - revealing three “B” symbols rotated around. You'll need to make sure the top of the spinning mechanism above the Winds of Hel receptacle has the "B" looking rune, the one below it has the "^^" looking rune, then leave the winds in the final rune receptacle until it cycles to the backwards "B" looking rune before taking the Winds to the chest to open it (remember, it's sideways so the B should be pointing up to the sky!).

The Nornir Chest itself will be found in the shaded area to the left of the receptacles you just rotated.

Legendary Chest Locations

There are 5 Legendary Chests located in The River Pass.

The River Pass Chest 1

• Contains: Light Runic Attack - Hel's Touch

Found after you enounter your first lengthy attack by Draugr, including your first Projectile Draugr. Climb up the wall with the runes to the right of it, and as you travel down the path to the fallen stone block, Atreus will point out this Legendary Chest on the right. It'll have Hel's Touch, a Light Runic Attack.

The River Pass Chest 2

• Contains: Talisman - Talisman of Concentrated Vitality

After entering the Witch's Cave for the first time after exiting her house, head down the walkway and go left towards some platforms that lead to a boat. As you hop across the stone platforms, make sure to loot the Legendary Chest at the end on your left for the Talisman of Concentrated Vitality.

The River Pass Chest 3

• Pre-requisite: Shock Arrows
• Contains: Runic Summon - Murder of Crows

After obtaining both Light and Shock Arrows, return to the Witch's Cave. Head to the bottom floor and create paths using Light Arrows to a wall of sap you can shatter with nearby Shatter Crystal.

Head into the area to the left of the Hidden Chamber of Odin. The blue Hel's Bramble appear to mean that you can't do anything more - but you can. Look up to the left of the bramble to spy breakable wood that you can boost Atreus up to after you smash it.

He'll appear out on a ledge, and you can move a pallet of giant stones over to him to send him across to the other side where a sand bowl is.

After inspecting it, look up at the ceiling to spy runes behind wooden boards you can break with your axe. As Atreus solves the riddle, the platform he is on will lower, and you can jump across to find a Legendary Chest in an alcove that holds Murder of Crows - a Runic Summon for Atreus.

The River Pass Chest 4

After getting the previous chest, destroy the Red Sap Wall and climb up the well to the forest around the Witch's House. There's a Legendary Chest on the other side of the big turtle, covered in rubble, as well as a sand bowl.

Look for a chain to climb up to a ledge and head to the end of the path past the raven to an overlook of the Witch’s House that can let you plainly see all the runes upon the rocks that solve the riddle.

Head back down to the Sand Bowl and interact with it again using Atreus. This will rearrange the crumbling rocks to reveal the Legendary Chest beneath them, and you’ll gain Storm of the Elks - a Runic Summon.

The River Pass Chest 5

• Pre-requisite: Complete The Sickness
• Contains: Light Runic Attack - Rampage of the Futures

After you obtain the item needed to interact with the Winds of Hel, return down to the Witch’s Cave and head to the area where the Nornir Chest was to find the Winds of Hel. Take the Winds to a receptacle to the left of the bridge to the Witch’s House, then down below to the lone platform in the middle of the lower cave area.

Cross to the other side of the cave to place the wind on an upper platform above some Hel Bramble. Then, destroy the bramble and move the giant pallet of stones to the middle so you can grab the Winds of Hel and jump across to the other side and place it in a stone vault, which will reveal a Legendary Chest holding the Rampage of the Furies - a new Light Runic Attack.