Unlocking All 7 Nornir Chests in Alfheim: An Essential God of War Ragnarok Guide

As an experienced God of War player, I can assure you that locating and solving the Nornir chest puzzles scattered through the Nine Realms is incredibly rewarding. These special chests provide rare crafting materials, armor upgrades, and useful enchantments that aid Kratos on his epic journey. That’s why dedicated fans like myself make it a priority to uncover every single Nornir chest available.

The lush realm of Alfheim contains seven mysterious Nornir chests locked behind complex puzzles. In this comprehensive guide, I’ll show you where to find each chest in Alfheim and provide detailed solutions for conquering their tricky unlock mechanisms as efficiently as possible.

Why Nornir Chests Matter

Before we dive into locations and solutions, let me convince you why taking the time to track down Nornir chests is worth the effort:

• Valuable materials: Opening chests nets rare resources like Chaos Flames, Frozen Flames, and Unity Shards needed for crafting legendary armor and weapons.
• Player buffs: The Horn of Blood Mead and Apples of Idunn found inside chests temporarily boost Kratos’ health and rage meters for added combat power.
• Enchantment upgrades: Equipment enchantments discovered unlock powerful properties when socketed into armor like boosting runic attacks.
• Completionist appeal: Collecting all recoverable resources available fulfills gamers wanting to fully complete God of War Ragnarok.

Simply put, the Nornir chests offer tangible gameplay benefits making Kratos a formidable force. Now let’s get to locating Alfheim’s elusive seven chests!

Strond Nornir Chests (2)

The remote island area of Strond contains two Nornir chest puzzles. One chest is available right away but the second requires acquiring the handy Draupnir Spear.

Strond Chest #1

I recommend attempting this easily accessible Nornir chest soon after arriving in Alfheim for the first time. Here are simple steps for quick collection:

1. Pass large stones and instead drop left onto ledge
2. Face chest then turn around lighting first brazier on rear wooden structure with Blades of Chaos
3. Climb stones but drop left again finding third brazier; ignite it
4. Open unlocked chest containing Idunn Apple or Horn of Blood Mead

With an Apple/Horn acquired, early health/rage boosts can help tackle Alfheim’s initial story objectives like freeing the captured Light Elves.

Strond Chest #2

This Strond Nornir chest demands utilization of the Draupnir Spear gear obtained halfway through the main story. Here is how to leverage it for puzzle success:

1. Return after acquiring Draupnir Spear during main campaign
2. Throw spear at Rune Statue by chest but don’t detonate
3. Locate then spear second left Rune Statue without detonation
4. Throw final spear across at shaded statue then simultaneously detonate all spears

Managing to string this sequence without accidental detonations allows you to destroy the Rune Statues rapidly to unlock the second Strond Nornir chest!

Temple of Light Nornir Chest

An intricate bell ringing puzzle protects precious rewards within the Temple of Light’s interior Nornir chest.

Approach the chest located right of the central stairs once inside the temple. Your goal is to quickly ring three separate bells in succession by targeting Twilight stones.

Equip the Leviathan Axe and memorize the bell locations before attempting this rapid string:

1. Down aisle obstruction hindering first “N” bell (destroy with Sonic arrows)
2. Left of chest is second “R” bell
3. Balcony left houses final “C” bell

Launching your axe at the first bell’s stone buys extra seconds to manually hit the remaining two bells fast. Precise timing rings all three to unlock the temple’s chest!

Barrens Nornir Chest

Journey deeper into Alfheim’s northwest region called The Barrens for the realm’s lengthy torch-lighting puzzle chest.

Visible alongside the red hive poles, this Nornir chest requires igniting three distant braziers in a row. I recommend relying on Sigil Arrows by having Blades of Chaos fully upgraded before tackling this backtracking-heavy challenge.

Here are the steps I utilized to finally trigger chest accessibility:

1. Clear vines obstructing all brazier locations (angled axe throws)
2. North torch #1: navigate left cliffside clearing foliage until brazier is visible then ignite from afar via connected Sigil Arrow hex explosions
3. West elevated torch #2: return right and locate far-off raised brazier amongst trees nearly impossible to reach normally; launch flaming Sigil Arrow volley from large rock below to light
4. East brazier #3: traverse right from previous torch maneuvering onto log supporting final brazier embedded within cliffside; stand upon fallen tree launching last flaming Sigil Arrow to complete sequence

With Sigil Arrow paths clearing distances between braziers, all three ignite allowing the Barrens Nornir chest to open!

Forbidden Sands Nornir Chests (2)

Alfheim’s desolate Forbidden Sands wastes host two hidden Nornir chests up for grabs, each featuring back-to-back torch puzzles.

Forbidden Sands Chest #1

Visible after eliminating obstruction at the Forbidden Sands entrance, this initial chest features three braziers in close proximity.

I discovered the Blades‘ standard R1 fire attack sufficiently lights the trio once vine barriers are brought down by well-placed axe throws:

1. South brazier #1 at area entrance; use Blades to ignite
2. West brazier #2 atop high rock left of chest; connect Sigil Arrow hex line from Kratos location to brazier before catching flame with Blades
3. North brazier #3 embedded within rock formation right of chest; repeat Sigil Arrow hex line tactic then ignite with Blades

With all three torches activated simultaneously via Blades parlour tricks, the first Forbidden Sands Nornir chest unlocks!

Forbidden Sands Chest #2

Deeper in the Forbidden Sands, locating this well-hidden Nornir chest inside the underground Elven Sanctum requires both story progression and clever utilization of Sigil Arrows.

By the time you’ve completed the “Song of the Sands” favor revealing the Elven Sanctum entrance, Blades of Chaos should be fully upgraded allowing intricate Sigil Arrow volleys.

Equipped with this prowess, here are the steps I implemented for unlocking the tricky chest:

1. Destroy breakable wall northeast of sands then crawl to chest chamber
2. Clear all obstructing vines using angled axe ricochets off central Twilight Stone
3. Hex brazier #1 left of chest using triple Sigil Arrow bubble bursts
4. Connect Hex brazier #2 right of chest using dual Sigil Arrow bubble chain reaction
5. Curve sonic arrows around nest exposing distant brazier #3 then connect triple Sigil Hex bubble bursts leading to it

With all three Elven Sanctum bells rung via exploded Sigil Arrow hexes, the Forbidden Sands’ most elusive Nornir chest finally opens!

The Below Nornir Chest

Accessing Alfheim’s final Nornir chest contained within The Below requires partial completion of the “Secret of the Sands” favor unlocking this subterranean region initially.

Traversing The Below, stay vigilant for telltale wood gates barring your path. Just past them lies another bell ringing puzzle and precious chest.

Mind precision and speed by memorizing these simple steps:

1. Scale cliff grasping ledges & poles to reach highest “N” rune bell
2. Drop down to quickly ring middle “R” rune bell on level with chest
3. Dash under right arch into rear cave ringing final “C” bell left of doorway

With all three bells sounded uniformly, The Below’s Nornir chest finally opens its riches to lucky explorers!

Mastering Alfheim’s Chests

Now that locations and detailed solutions for opening all seven of Alfheim’s devious Nornir chests are fresh in mind, go forth and reap those sweet, sweet rewards!

Here are a few closing tips for mastering the hunt across this lush realm:

Optimize puzzle solving potential

• Fully upgrade Blades of Chaos and unlock all Sigil Arrow types before attempting remote brazier lighting puzzles
• Hone axe throwing aim using Mountain‘s Tempest of Fire realm tear challenge for demanding bell ringing sequences
• Always pack a Horn of Blood Mead and Apple of Idunn for an emergency combat boost when tackling chests

Employ completionist mentality

• Thoroughly explore Alfheim and speak to NPCs for clues pointing toward secret chest locations
• Collect chests alongside story missions minimizing redundant backtracking
• Finish all available favors revealing fully accessible environments and any necessary legendary gear for tricky puzzles
• Create manual saves before interacting with a Nornir chest allowing fast reloads to retry failed solutions

Treat unlocking Alfheim’s Nornir chests as a metagame persisting throughout your main campaign experience. Fully upgrade Kratos’ skills and gear before pursuing remote puzzles paired with constant environmental analysis. In other words, embrace your inner completionist and leave no stone unturned across the expansive landscapes of the Light Realm!

The satisfying clunk of thick, sturdy chest lids swinging open solidifies the tangible sense of real treasure hunting rarely matched in modern gaming. Commit with the diligence and mindset needed to uncover Alfheim’s arcane Nornir chest secrets and those metallic clunks will fill you with pride at the collector’s pieces lining your pockets.

Now get out there, tick those puzzle solutions off your list, stuff your enchantment slots full of Nornir chest-found loot, and relish upgrading the Leviathan Axe to max level using handfuls of precious Chaos Flames! Skål!