How to defeat Nidhogg in God of War Ragnarok

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This guide will show you how to defeat Nidhogg in God of War Ragnarok.

Nidhogg is one of the bosses you will encounter during “Payback”, the game’s story quest in God of War Ragnarok.

Nidhogg is a standard boss with multiple phases. It’s a huge beast partially hidden by the worlds gap, but it can be hit with normal attacks like any other monster.

However, getting close enough to land those blows can be tricky. Nidhogg likes to send projectiles that pierce the arena, which you need to either dodge or, in some cases, block before you can begin your approach. You also really need to be wary of Nidhogg’s bite. The bite is deceptively fast, but it’s your opportunity to parry Nidhogg’s attack and open up the creature to hit it with a combo. Nidhogg’s claw strikes are also pretty fast, but they can be blocked.

Once you deal enough damage, Nidhogg will flee to another part of the battlefield. You need to be aware of a new attack in his arsenal, the tail swipe, which can knock Kratos out of close range, forcing you to close the gap again. The tail swipe can be interrupted with a shield strike, so keep an eye on the all-important blue rings.

When Freya joins in, things get a little more complicated. Nidhogg will start spewing world-shattering beams that you have to dodge. He’ll also summon bursts of rift energy through the ground, and you’ll have to dodge the red markers if you don’t want to get stuck in place.

Soon, an overgrown lizard will start clinging to a nearby pillar, using leverage to rain projectiles down on Kratos. Here you’ll need to destroy the column itself by throwing your axe at Freya’s symbols. This phase repeats after a while, only this time you’ll need to use your blades to ignite Freya’s magic.

When his defeat is near, Nidhogg will charge powerful projectiles that fly out of his portal. Some come out quickly and in twos or threes, while others are larger, slower projectiles that are impossible to block. Just remember to back up and dodge these things between your attacks.

Nidhogg isn’t a particularly difficult boss, but it’s a long fight that requires concentration throughout. Remember to use your most powerful rune attacks where possible, and don’t overdo your attacks.