Chapter 1: The Marked Trees 2

Follow the path leading to the old temple. Interact with the door to open it. Jump off the gap and follow the path downstairs to reach the main temple area where more draugrs await. Engage them in battle then take them all out.

Before interacting with the contraption in the middle of the room, turn around and find a large door. Open it to reach a frozen waterfall. Kill the wolves and another draugr that will appear shortly after then pick up the warrior figurine near the rocks to complete the artifact collection for this region. (Lost Toys 4/4) Pick up the hacksilver pouch beside the healthstone by the bridge then open the coffin by the edge of the waterfall to get more hacksilver.

Return to the temple’s main hall then interact with the contraption. Pull the chain all the way down then while holding it, hold L2 to aim then throw your axe to the blue-lit wheel above the gate to freeze it in place. You’ll be using this mechanic to solve similar puzzles as you continue with your adventure.

While the inner gate is up, the other gate with the coffin inside should be opened as well. Look up to the right of the dual gates to find another suspended bucket above. Head to the other gate and loot the hacksilver of the coffin inside. Regroup with Atreus then recall your axe to open the outer gate.

Atreus will lead the way ahead but don’t follow him yet. Turn to the left and pick up the hacksilver pouch on the ground. There’s another coffin by the rock alcove ahead so open it as well to get more hacksilver.

From the coffin, turn around to find another path leading to a chain. Head there and use the chain to climb up the ledge back to the old temple. Look to the right to find rock deposits and a red jar. When hit by Kratos’ axe, these jars explode and clear out a good portion of the debris near it. Keep an eye out for these since they can reveal new passages, hidden rooms, doors, etc.

The first jar outside doesn’t really clear anything but if you look past it, you’ll find a gate blocked by debris. Look up the gate and you’ll find a bucket and an explosive jar hanging above the debris. Hit the light-blue colored part of the rope to get more hacksilver from the bucket and to clear the debris blocking the gate. Open the gate to loot the wooden chest and pick up the hacksilver pouches inside.

Backtrack to the ledge then take the stairs next. There’s a boarded up path ahead and another wooden chest by the wall to the right. Loot the hacksilver from the chest then destroy the obstacle ahead to reveal the first Jotnar shrine in the game. Interact with it for Atreus to read and update his journal. There are 11 Shrines like this in the World and the corresponding Labor for finding all of them will be added to your goals.

Backtrack to the main path and continue following Atreus until you finally spot the deer. Hold L2 to steady his aim and use the right analog stick to move the cursor. Align your shot until the reticule is red, then press square to fire an arrow. This should be enough to down the deer. Follow it to the end of the path and wait for the cutscene to finish. Shortly after finishing off the deer, you’ll be in a mini-boss battle.

Defeat Daudi Kaupmaor

This is one of the many trolls you’ll encounter in your adventure. Its attacks deal massive damage but can be easily predicted and evaded. You cannot block or parry its attacks and if you get within melee range, it will attempt to stomp you. While not glorifying, the cheapest way to win against this monster is to keep your distance and use your axe as a homing projectile. It doesn’t do that much damage but at least you’ll be consistently safe almost all the time.

In this battle, Atreus can also shoot at the troll. You don’t need to worry about him since he can’t be hit, damaged, or killed. He can be still be captured temporarily by some enemies which you’ll have to free him by attacking the enemy holding him. His arrows won’t do that much damage to the troll but he’ll be effective in distracting the monster, giving you a much needed breathing space if you’re getting cornered, in need of healing, or if you want to get up close and land a few melee hits.

Keep repeating this until the troll’s HP bar is depleted. By then, Kratos should be able to finish it off by getting up close and pressing R3. Hit the attack button to complete the finishing move and defeat the troll. After defeating the troll, pick up the items it left behind and you’ll have to return to the house next.