Midgard Lore - God of War Ragnarok Guide - IGN (2024)

Lore in God of War: Ragnarok encompasses the various world-building texts you can find in the game world, including Rune Reads, Scrolls, Lore Markers and Treasure Maps, which flesh out the peoples and places you visit throughout the story. This page of IGN’s God of War Ragnarok guide details all the Lore locations in Midgard, the opening area of the game.

The sections on this page are ordered by when you can visit them earliest in the game. Additionally, there’s no Lore to be found in the Upper Wildwoods region of Midgard.

Use the table below to jump to a specific item you're looking for:

Lower Wildwoods - Lore 1 - Winter-Man?

This Lore is untracked, and is not required for 100% completion.

• Type: Rune Read

This Rune Read is found as you follow Atreus to the ruined temple, just after you slide down the zipline rope, fight some enemies, slip through a small gap, and encounter your first Hel-Raider Scout. It’ll be visible to the right of the icy cliff you have to climb up.

Lower Wildwoods - Lore 2 - The Ashen God

This Lore is untracked, and is not required for 100% completion.

• Type: Scroll

Found close to the ruined temple after you fight the Stalker, aka the Huntress centaur boss who breaks Kratos’ Guardian Shield.

Once you climb up the ice wall to the dark entrance inside the ruined temple, take the left and drop down onto the ruined bridge to find the scroll at the end.

Lake of Nine - Lore 1 - Tyr’s Left Bracer

• Type: Rune Read

This Lore is part of the Guiding Light Favor, and can be found on the bracelet of the Tyr statue’s arm close to the Lake of Nine Mystic Gateway.

While you’re here, don’t forget to dig up the glowing spot here to get the Gauntlets of Guiding Light.

Lake of Nine - Lore 2 - Tyr’s Helmet

• Type: Rune Read

This Lore is part of the Guiding Light Favor, and is found at Tyr’s Helmet. It can be spotted in the ice close to the North-East side of Tyr’s Temple, the large structure in the middle of the lake. The runes will be inside the bent right cheek of the helmet.

While here, make sure to dig up the glowing spot inside the chest near the campfire to get the Breastplate of Guiding Light.

Lake of Nine - Lore 3 - Tyr’s Spear

• Type: Rune Read

This Rune Read is part of the Guiding Light Favor, and is found just East of the frozen lightning bolt just South of the Tyr’s Temple realm bridge. You’ll find it on the East wall of the snowy path that makes up the South-Eastern area of the Lake of Nine.

While you’re over here, don’t forget to dig up the glowing spot to get the Jotunheim’s Essence Enchantment and 30 Whispering Slabs!

Lake of Nine - Lore 4 - Receipt of Purchase

• Prerequisite: Complete the Forging Destiny main quest
• Type: Scroll

This Scroll is found South-West of Tyr’s Temple, directly between it and The Lost Treasury building. However, you cannot access it until you complete the Forging Destiny main quest.

Once you’ve done this, sled out to the spot on the wall of ice South-West of Tyr’s Temple. You should be able to find a yellow Wind Fissure: destroy it using the new equipment you got during Forging Destiny.

Head through and you should see the Scroll on your left. Next to it is the Mystical Heirloom, a Relic that has rather unknown properties, outside of perhaps counteracting a sleeping curse.

Also in the area is a Coffin, behind the gas of a Scorn Pole. To get past it, you’ll need to set up a chain of Hex Bubbles, as it’s otherwise blocked by the ice.

Shores of Nine - Lore 1 - Tyr’s Right Bracer

• Type: Rune Read
• Prerequisite: Complete the Into the Fire main quest.

This Rune Read is in the Shores of Nine that you can initially explore as Atreus, however since it’s hidden behind some Hel’s Bramble, it cannot be accessed until you’re able to explore the area as Kratos.

Once you’re able to do this, head for the Northern area of the Lake of Nine and look for a wide beam you can vault over. Slip under the fallen rock, then retrace your steps by creeping through the wreckage of the arm of Tyr’s statue.

On the other side, you’ll have to fight a pair of Frost Gradungr before you can continue. Once they’re down, face the arm and you’ll see the lore glowing behind some Hel’s Bramble. Burn it down with the Blades of Chaos!

While here, make sure to dig up the glowing spot to get the Waist Guard of Guiding Light.

Raider Fort - Lore 1 - Viking’s Gift

• Type: Treasure Map

This Treasure Map is the only collectible in the Raider Fort. This is the enclosed arena of ice close to the giant rib bones, which is where you enter the Lake of Nine from the Lower Wildwoods where Kratos’ house is.

Once you’ve cleared the fort of Raiders, check near the lit campfire to find the Treasure Map sitting out in the open. It’ll lead you to a Buried Treasure spot in the North-East area of the Lake of Nine, close to the Raider Hideout.

The Derelict Outpost - Lore 1 - Bjarg Stormr

• Type: Lore Marker

The first Lore Marker of The Derelict Outpost is found in the opening area of the level. From the entryway, head directly forwards to where the Wisp Totem is.

Here at the corner, turn left to spot the Lore Marker!

The Derelict Outpost - Lore 2 - An Accursed Name

• Type: Lore Marker

This Lore Marker is found at the end of The Derelict Outpost level. After moving the third wooden crane into position (using the chain in the lower level to lower it so you can turn it), grapple across the gap, and leap up the cliff.

When you get to the top, and it’ll be over to your left.

The Oarsmen - Lore 1 - The Death of Helgi

• Type: Lore Marker

This Artifact is found at the end of the path in The Oarsman. After pulling the chain to move the boat, head down the staircase, and it’ll be visible on the back wall.

The Lost Treasury - Lore 1 - Love's End

• Type: Lore Marker

This Lore Marker is a lengthy one, because you have to complete the lengthy Tyr’s Shield puzzle that is the showcase of this area. The goal is to roll the shield just enough that a hole at the bottom lets you enter the gate of the building. This requires moving a makeshift stopper into position.

To begin, yank the shield to the right, then climb up it to the right-hand side of the ruins.

At the top, break the black pot to destroy the gold rocks, felling a stone column. While you can try and move the column with the Blades of Chaos, Tyr’s shield is in the way!

Head through the open doorway, defeat the Wisps that show up with the help of Hexes, then drop down the side of the building (don’t forget to loot the Coffin for 1 Petrified Bone and 871 Hacksilver). From here, latch onto the left-hand side of the shield and tug it to the left. This moves it out of the way so you can put the stone column into position.

Next, climb up the left-hand side of the shield to get back up to the left-hand side of the building, then cross over through the doorway back to the right side where the stone column is. Yank the stone column to the left, and it’ll now be sticking out over the edge of the roof. This will stop the shield from rolling too far! Loot the Hacksilver Chest, then drop down the edge of the roof back to solid ground.

Yank to shield to the right (knocking into the column) to get it into position, then man the wheel crank and turn it to open the gate. Now comes the second conundrum: you have to freeze both of the gears on the left and right sides of the shield to keep the gate from closing.

You can do this with a Hex Bubble, which is able to retain the Axe’s freeze for 10 seconds. Fire a Sigil Arrow at one of the gears, then quickly throw the Axe into it, recall it, then throw the axe into the other gear and leave it there. You’ll have only a couple of seconds to sprint inside!

Once you’re in, look left to spot a door blocked by Red Fungi Bramble. Hit it with a Sigil Arrow, then use a Blazing Surge to burn it away.

On the other side you'll be up against a Traveller. These are tough opponents with slow, easier-to-read attacks, but if you are hit, you'll be hit HARD.

Once the Traveller is down, check the corner to the right of the entry door to find the Lore Marker! Phew!

The Lost Treasury - Lore 2 - Lost Page 3

• Type: Scroll

This Lore is found in the final room of The Lost Treasury. Because of this, however, you'll need to complete the lengthy puzzle required to get inside. You can read the entry for the first Lore in The Lost Treasury to learn how to get inside.

Once you've done this, climb up the Southern wall to get to the roof, then turn around. You'll see that you can jump down and breach a point in the floor.

Once you've broken through, the Scroll will be directly in front of you!