God of War Ragnarok offers 5 difficulty levels to suit your play style. Read on to learn the differences between difficulty levels, the best difficulty setting to choose, as well as how to change difficulty!

Difficulty Settings and Differences

List of Difficulty Settings

Difficulty Affects Enemy Aggression

Choosing a higher difficulty level will change how your enemies behave. They'll be more aggressive with their attacks, so much so that players will have to dodge and use their shield a lot more. Enemies are also less affected by stun, and can counterattack almost immediately after suffering a hit from Kratos.

Higher Levels and Stats

At higher difficulties, enemies will have much higher stats and levels than Kratos, with the highest difficulty giving the maximum available level and stats for an enemy. Therefore, you can expect them to take less damage from hits, while dealing even more toward Kratos. This will require players at higher difficulty levels to grind more in order to increase their level, and equip the right gear to match their enemies.

With the Give Me God of War difficulty, enemies can also turn into an Elite version, boosting their capabilities and aggression, with some even having new attack patterns.

Status Effects Are Deadlier and Last Longer

Status Effects inflicted on Kratos are much deadlier, having a boost in their effect depending on the difficulty. Some of these will also affect Kratos much longer than their lower-difficulty variants. On the other hand, enemies will have improved resistance to status effects, making it much harder to inflict a status effect.

Best Difficulty to Choose

Choose Balance For the Intended Difficulty

For those players who want to play the game as intended by the developers, choosing to Give Me Balance will let you experience the story with the right amount of balance for the combat experience.

This difficulty is recommended for all types of players, especially if this is your first time playing the game, to gauge if the game is too easy or hard for you as it is the middle point.

No Mercy Difficulty for Veteran Players

Players who are veterans of the God of War series who want to enjoy a more demanding combat experience should pick the "Give Me No Mercy" difficulty. This difficulty offers more challenges to players without being too frustratingly hard for players to overcome.

Enjoy The Narration in Grace or Story Difficulty

If you're here to play the game just for the story, then choosing either Grace or Story will allow you to experience the game's narrative without having to think about strategies or obtain the best armor set.

While both difficulties essentially allow the players to focus on the story, Grace will give you a little challenge when it comes to combat experience if you find the game too easy, so it provides a good gameplay experience without feeling too easy for casual gamers.

God of War Difficulty for Hardcore Gamers or Second Playthrough

Hardcore players that want to challenge themselves when playing God of War Ragnarok may want to look into the God of War difficulty. This difficulty will have players go through the most rigorous combat experience this game has to offer, requiring god-like reflexes and strategies to overcome the challenges it will throw at the player. If you have already beaten the game and want to go through New Game Plus while avoiding becoming too overpowered, this is a great option!

No Difficulty Trophy

Players aiming to get the platinum trophy for God of War Ragnarok should note that beating the game at the highest difficulty level will not reward you with a trophy. This means that players won't be forced to play through the game on God of War difficulty to get a trophy and will be free to select whichever difficulty level they are comfortable with.

Trophy Guide and List of Trophies

How to Change Difficulty

Can be Changed Under Gameplay

If you find the game too difficult or easy for you, you can change what difficulty you set for the game at the start by going through your settings. Under Gameplay > Challenge Level, you can change which difficulty you want for your game.

Give Me God of War Cannot Be Changed Mid Playthrough!

God of War difficulty can only be chosen at the start of the game, and any players who lowered the difficulty from God of War cannot set it back and will have to start the game all over again.

God of War Ragnarok Related Guides

Tips and Tricks

All God of War Ragnarok Tips and Tricks Guides