God of War Ragnarok: How to Beat Nidhogg

Looking for how to beat Nidhogg in God of War Ragnarok? Nidhogg is one of the Boss Fights you'll encounter during The Reckoning. On this page, as part of our God of War Ragnarok guide, we'll include some tips and tricks on how to beat Nidhogg. Defeating him will unlock a Trophy named Root of the Problem. For more information on the foes you'll face in Ragnarok, refer to our all enemies index.

God of War Ragnarok: How to Beat Nidhogg

Nidhogg is a real set-piece boss with multiple phases. It's a huge beast — partly obscured by a tear in the realms — but it can be hit with regular attacks just like any other monster.

Getting in close enough to actually land those hits can be difficult, though. Nidhogg likes to send projectiles tearing through the arena, which will either need to be dodged or, in some cases, blocked before you can start your approach. When you're eventually in, you really have to watch out for Nidhogg's bite. It's deceptively fast, but it's your opportunity to parry and open the creature up to a full combo. Its claw slashes are also quite quick, but they can be blocked.

Once you've dealt enough damage, Nidhogg will escape to another part of the battlefield. You'll need to be aware of new tail swipe which can swat Kratos out of his melee range, forcing you to close the gap again. The swipe can be interrupted with a shield smash, so keep an eye out for those all-important blue rings.

When Freya joins in, things get slightly trickier. Nidhogg will start spewing realm-tearing beams, which must be dodged. It'll also summon spikes of rift energy through the ground, and you'll have to dodge through the red markers if you don't want to get locked in place.

It won't be long until the overgrown lizard starts clinging to a nearby pillar, using the leverage to rain projectiles down on Kratos. This is where you'll need to bring down the pillar itself, by hurling your axe at Freya's sigils. This phase repeats a short while later, only this time, you'll need to use your blades to ignite Freya's magic.

When its defeat is near, Nidhogg will charge up powerful projectiles that are shot out of its portal. Some come out quickly and in twos or threes, while others are larger, slower missiles that are unblockable. Just remember to back up and dodge these things in between your onslaughts.

All in all, Nidhogg isn't an especially difficult boss — but it is a long fight that requires concentration throughout. Remember to unleash your most powerful runic attacks where possible, and don't overcommit in your assaults.

Do you have any more tips on how to beat Nidhogg in God of War Ragnarok? Be sure to check out our full God of War Ragnarok guide for information on how to beat every boss, and much more.