How to Beat Alva: Boss Fight Guide

Alva is a main story boss in God of War Ragnarok (GoW Ragnarok). Read on to learn about her attack patterns, rewards, and the best tips and strategies for how to beat Alva!

Alva Overview

Information

Alva
Recommended Level	Level 2 (All Difficulties)
XP Rewards	500 Kratos XP 335 Atreus XP (Give Me Balance)
Bestiary Entry
Winters ago we defeated the Dark Elf king Svartáljǫfurr. It appears in his absence, a new guardian of the Temple of Light was anointed. Her swordsmanship and command of her form was unlike any I have gone up against. She was the aggressor, but once again Atreus questions if we have "helped the wrong side," referring to the struggle between the Light and Dark Elves. The only side we can take in this conflict is our own.

Rewarded Resources

Resource	Type
Frozen Flame x1	Weapon Upgrade

Rewarded Attachments

Name	Type
Rond of Expedition	Shield Attachment

Alva Location

Location Summary

Location Summary
Alva is encountered while descending the Temple of Light in Alfheim during Gróa's Secret.

Groa's Secret Quest Walkthrough

How to Beat Alva

Battle Tips and Strategies
Interrupt Blue Ring Attacks Prepare for Extended Combos Frost Up the Leviathan Axe Utilize Atreus and His Bow

Interrupt Blue Ring Attacks

Alva constantly uses blue ring attacks throughout the fight, which cannot be blocked or parried. When these attacks occur, tap L1 twice to perform a Shield Bash that knocks Alva out of the attack and leaves her open for a short while.

Prepare for Extended Combos

As the fight goes on, Alva tends to extend her combos with more attacks, including unblockable strikes. Stay vigilant while evading and parrying Alva's attacks, and only commit to counterattacks during clear-cut openings.

Shield Bash After Parrying Multiple Hits

After successfully parrying Alva's multi-hit combos with the Dauntless Shield, exploit her staggered state with an empowered Shield Bash to rapidly fill up her stun meter.

Frost Up the Leviathan Axe

We recommend maintaining the Frost Awaken buff on your Leviathan Axe throughout the fight to slow down Alva. Doing this makes it easier to maintain and build up Alva's stun meter and keep up with her swift attacks and movements.

Utilize Atreus and His Bow

After getting hit by a long string of attacks, Alva tends to create a lot of space and use ranged attacks from afar. Maintain your damage output and stun build-up while closing the gap by commanding Atreus to shoot Alva with his bow.

Alva Attack Patterns

Twin Sword Slam

Alva slowly spins both of her blades, empowering them with light before slamming them into the ground to release an unblockable blinding shockwave. React to this attack's blue ring indicator and interrupt it with a Shield Bash to avoid getting hit.

Lunging Slashes

Alva rapidly spins her blades from a distance before lunging towards Kratos to slash at him twice, dealing moderate damage on hit. This attack comes out quickly and covers plenty of ground, so prepare to block or parry it even at farther ranges.

Later in the fight, Alva can continue this combo with a Twinblade Sword Slam Combo, so always be prepared for follow-up attacks when she performs this move.

Spinning Rush

Alva raises both of her swords to one side before unleashing two spinning slashes as she closes the gap toward Kratos. React to the attack's long wind-up and block or parry the incoming slashes to avoid getting hit.

Upward Slash Combo

Alva enters a stance before slashing upward once with each of her blades, dealing moderate damage with each hit. Block or evade each upward slash to effectively deal with this combo.

Later in the fight, Alva can continue this combo with a Spinning Rush, so always be prepared for follow-up attacks when she performs this move.

Thrust and Slash Combo

Alva combines both of her blades, thrusting the weapon toward Kratos before spinning it around to land an unblockable overhead slash.

To deal with this attack, block the initial stab and immediately dodge out of the second strike's path when its red ring indicator comes out.

Twinblade Sword Slam Combo

Alva merges her blades, performing three quick slashes before ending her combo with a sword slam that releases an unblockable shockwave.

We recommend blocking the first two attacks and parrying the third slash to interrupt the combo and leave Alva open for a counterattack.

Twinblade Throw

Alva rises up into the air, combining both of her blades before throwing them toward Kratos, dealing moderate damage on hit and breaking Kratos' guard.

React to this attack's yellow ring indicator and parry it when it occurs to leave Alva open for a counterattack after throwing her weapon.

Cross Blade Shot

Alva crosses her blades, launching an unblockable projectile toward Kratos from afar. React to the attack's red ring indicator and Immediately roll sideways out of its path to avoid getting hurt.

Later in the fight, Alva can perform this attack twice in a row, so prepare to dodge again when a follow-up Cross Blade Shot occurs.

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