Combat Tips and Techniques

This is a guide to Combat Tips and Techniques for God of War (2018) for the PS4. Check out our tips to successfully control combat grounds.

Types of Combat

Leviathan Axe Combat

The Leviathan Axe is the main offensive weapon in God of War (2018). It enables Kratos to engage in both ranged combat and close combat.

The available attack list from the start of the game is:

Move	Command
Light Attack
Heavy Attack
Light Throw	Hold +
Heavy Throw	Hold +

Additonal movesets can be unlocked as you level up and unlock and discover Runic Attacks.

Leviathan Axe Guide

Blades of Chaos Combat

Blades of Chaos will also appear in a much later part of the game. This signature weapon of Kratos is perfect for ranged fights.

The available attack list from the start of the game is:

Move	Command
Light Attack
Heavy Attack
Light Throw	Hold +
Heavy Throw	Hold +

Additonal movesets can be unlocked as you level up and unlock and discover Runic Attacks.

Blades of Chaos Guide

Bare-Handed Combat

Bare-Handed Combat will allow Kratos to utilize his Fists, Legs, and Shield. This type of combat is especially effective for building up Rage Meter and Stun Meter.

Move	Command
Light Attack
Heavy Attack
Block/Parry

Guardian Shield Guide

Leviathan Axe Combat Guide

Create Space

If you are faced with a large group of opponents circling nearer, you can utilize Runic Attacks, such as Hel's Touch, to create space between Kratos and your opponents.

Trip Opponents

You can trip opponents by chopping at their feet when you throw the axe. This will momentarily incapacitate an enemy and leave it open to attacks.

Throw and Roll

Another way to control grounds even if you are outnumbered is by throwing the axe at a more distant opponent to keep them at bay, and then rolling away from another opponent to reposition yourself to a more dominant stance.

Leave the Axe Frozen in an Enemy

You can leave the Leviathan Axe frozen in an enemy using the Heavy Throw as you finish off another opponent in Bare-Handed combat. Either stun this opponent or kill them, and then recall the axe to inflict more damage to the other opponent.

Throw and Recall with Accuracy

If your opponent consistently stays in your crosshair, you can Light Throw the axe at them and then recall so that the axe hits the opponent again as the weapon hurls back towards Kratos.

Stun Heavy-Hitters

It is difficult to get inside heavy-hitters' pockets, what you'll want to do is to try stunning them with Heavy Throw. Once they're incapcitated, you can close in on them and deal more damage or perform a Takedown.

Freeze then Follow Up with Heavy Attack

Freezing an opponent with Heavy Throw can open up opporunities to deal damage in different ways. You can follow up with a Heavy Attack and send opponents hurling into a wall or into other opponents.

Blades of Chaos Combat Guide

Simultaneously Engage with Multiple Opponents

Try herding opponents together instead of isolating them. Blades of Chaos will give you enough range to inflict damage on multiple opponents.

Use on Distant Opponents

You can inflict damage on distant opponents by aiming at them and throwing Blades of Chaos. Likewise, you can bait mobile opponents from a distance and keep throwing the weapon at them.

Especially Effective Against Ice Opponents

Kratos will start using Blades of Chaos when you start journeying through Helheim as it is powerful against opponents with Ice affinity. Use this to your advantage and finish off targets quickly.

Sweeping Slash to Create Space

Another way to create space when multiple opponents are closing in is to Hold R1 to perform a sweeping slash. This will send opponents reeling back a bit and create some much needed space.

Bare-Handed Combat Guide

Throw and Stun

If you are unable to recall the axe right away, you can resort to stunning your opponent with the shield, additionally causing damage onto them, then you can recall the axe or opt to engage in a bare-handed fight.

Capitalize on Building Up Stun

As Kratos is able to build up opponents' Stun Meters much more quickly in this type of combat, try to capitalize on it to make your opponents more vulnerable to your attacks.

Capitalize on Building Up Rage

As Kratos is able to build up Rage much more quickly in this type of combat, try to capitalize on it to give Kratos that extra virility in battle.

Dispatch Weaker Enemies Quickly

You can dispatch weaker enemies more quickly with your Bare-Hands alone. At the same time, you are also building up Rage Meter.

Square Up with Armored Opponents

More likely than not, you may not be able to inflict damage using Leviathan Axe or Blades of Chaos on heavily-armored opponents. Your best option would be to go bare-handed.

Dodge, Parry, Roll, Attack, build up that Stun Meter quick and go in for more damage.

Atreus Talon Bow Combat Guide

Complement Runic Attacks

If you equip Kratos with Runic Attacks that stun opponents, you can complement that by equipping Atreus with Runic Attacks that have a large area of effect, such as Wrath of the Wolf.

Build Up Stun Meter

Combining Bare-Handed attacks with Atreus offense can build up an opponent's stun meter much more quickly whilst dealing damage.

Throw and Shoot

This will come in handy with distant opponents you can't necessarily engage up-close. Either do a Light Throw or Heavy Throw all the while spamming the Square button for Atreus to let arrows loose.

Distract Opponents

When a particular opponent is proving to give you a much tougher time, you can opt to let Atreus distract them by letting him attack. There are also opportunities Atreus will be able to Stun opponents when he's been upgraded enough.

Talon Bow Guide

God of War Related Links

Beginner's Guide: Tips and Tricks

Game Mechanics
Controls and Best Settings	Difference Between Difficulty Settings
What is New Game+	Stats Explanation
How to Level Up	Is God of War Open World?
Tips and Tricks
Combat Tips	Healing Items and How to Heal
How to Break Into the Hive	How to Solve the Seasons Puzzle
Best Builds for Kratos
Farming Guides
Hacksilver Farming Guide	XP Farming Guide
Collectibles
Odin's Ravens	All Valkyrie Locations
Yggdrasil Dew Locations	All Jotnar Shrine Locations
Nornir Chest Locations	How to Unlock All Trophies
All Dragon Locations	List of Treasure Maps and Treasure Locations