How to Beat Garm: Boss Fight Guide

Garm is a main story boss in God of War Ragnarok (GoW Ragnarok). Defeating him unlocks the trophy Off the Leash. Read on to learn about his attack patterns, rewards, and the best tips and strategies for how to beat Garm!

Garm Overview

Information

Garm
Recommended Level	Level 4 (All Difficulties)
XP Rewards	2500 Kratos XP 1250 Atreus XP (Give Me Balance)
Trophy	Off the Leash

Garm Location

Location Summary

Location Summary
Garm is encountered at The Silent Clearing in Helheim during Reunion. You encounter him again a short distance away from The Silent Clearing after defeating him for the first time.

Reunion Quest Walkthrough

How to Beat Garm

Garm Tips and Strategies
Play Defensive Against Garm Freeze Garm's Chain Throw Draupnir at Glowing Shackles

Play Defensive Against Garm

Throughout the fight, Garm follows a pattern of retreating from Kratos to perform a far-reaching move before following it up with one of his close-range bite attacks.

We recommend avoiding rushing in toward Garm and instead playing defensively. React to and dodge the beast's attacks and counterattack him during his openings.

Avoid and Counter Garm's Bites

After dodging or parrying Garm's Roaring Bite attack or Triple Bite Combo, immediately counterattack to stagger Garm. Doing this leaves him open for a short while, allowing you to perform a short combo before he recovers.

Freeze Garm's Chain

When Garm performs its Chain Smash attack, freeze the tip of the chain with a thrown Leviathan Axe to keep Garm in place, then grab the chain to stun the beast instantly. Garm will then be vulnerable for an extended period, allowing you to deal massive damage before he recovers.

Throw Draupnir at Glowing Shackles

During Garm's second encounter, portions of his shackles will glow yellow, indicating that they've become active weak spots. Throw Draupnir toward the glowing parts and activate Draupnir's Call to inflict massive damage toward Garm.

Garm Attack Patterns

First Phase

Frost Stomp

Garm infuses its paws with ice before stomping on the ground, sending a shockwave of frost toward Kratos that breaks his guard on impact. React to the attack's yellow ring indicator and parry or dodge sideways out of the shockwave's path to avoid getting hurt.

Later in the fight, Garm can follow this attack up with an unblockable Roaring Bite, so prepare to evade sideways when it occurs.

Chain Smash

Garm flicks its chain upward before slamming it down to land an unblockable overhead smash on top of Kratos, dealing heavy damage and knocking Kratos backward on hit.

To deal with this attack, react to the attack's red ring indicator and evade sideways to avoid getting hit. Afterward, freeze and grab the chain to stun Garm for an extended period, leaving him open for massive damage.

Double Chain Whip

Garm picks up its chain and whips it from side to side, dealing moderate damage and breaking Kratos' guard with each hit. When this attack occurs, dodge sideways twice or parry each chain swing to avoid getting hurt.

Note that Garm can sometimes follow up this attack with an unblockable Chain Smash, so prepare to evade sideways when it occurs.

Roaring Bite

Garm rushes toward Kratos, opening its mouth wide to let out a mighty roar before quickly lunging forward and performing an unblockable bite.

To deal with this attack, react to its red ring indicator and dodge sideways to avoid the linear bite, then immediately counterattack to stagger Garm momentarily.

Triple Bite Combo

Garm quickly lunges toward Kratos to perform three quick bites, with the third bite capable of breaking Kratos' guard. This combo comes out very quickly and covers a lot of distance, so prepare to block or parry each bite even at farther ranges.

Later in the fight, Garm can perform an unblockable Roaring Bite in place of its regular third bite, so stay alert for this attack variation when it occurs.

Second Phase

Triple Frost Stomp

In the second phase, Garm can perform his Frost Stomp attack three times in a row. React to the attack's yellow ring indicator and parry or dodge sideways out of each shockwave's path to avoid getting hurt.

Charged Icicle Shot

Garm charges up frost magic in its mouth before releasing up to two unblockable icicle shots toward Kratos, dealing heavy damage on hit. React to the attack's red ring indicator and run and evade sideways to avoid each projectile as it comes out.

Third Phase

Icicle Shot Barrage

Garm perches itself outside the arena before firing five unblockable Charged Icicle Shots toward Kratos. To deal with this attack, run laterally and evade sideways to avoid each icicle shot as it comes out.

Body Slam

Garm perches itself outside the arena, letting out a mighty roar before slamming its body down on the ground, releasing an icy shockwave that deals heavy damage and builds up Frost on hit. Move out of the attack's red impact zone and prepare to block or evade the incoming shockwave to avoid getting hurt.

Triple Chain Smash

In this phase of the fight, Garm can perform its unblockable Chain Smash three times in a row. React to the attack's red ring indicator and dodge sideways out of each overhead slam's path to avoid getting hit.

God of War Ragnarok Related Guides

List of All Bosses

Main Bosses

All Story Bosses
Bjorn	Thor
The Huntress	Dreki
Alva	Gryla
Vanadis (Freya)	Forest Ancient
Fiske	Nidhogg
Frost Phantom	Garm
Gulltoppr	Heimdall
Frost Ancient	Flame Phantom
Soul Eater	Hrist and Mist
Odin

Optional Bosses

All Optional Bosses
The Hateful	Slag Horn
Crag Jaw	Ash Tyrant
The Corpse Eater