God of War Muspelheim guide - How to get to the Realm of Fire and earn Smouldering Embers

Early in the game, you learn that the realm of Midgard isn’t all that God of War has to offer. After Kratos and Atreus return from Alfheim - home of the Light and Dark Elves - they discover a cypher that lets them travel to Muspelheim, the realm of fire. Here’s how to get to Muspelheim in God of War, and complete the arena challenges to earn Smouldering Embers.

God of War Muspelheim guide:

Getting to Muspelheim:

Kratos and Atreus can visit Muspelheim after they’ve solved the Witch’s Cave puzzle and returned to visit The Witch for the second time.

The pieces of the Muspelheim Cypher that you need to access the Realm of Fire are hidden around the world in special chests.

Muspelheim Cypher Locations:

The first is hidden just after you’ve open the gate at the end of the bridge across from Tyr’s Temple. Once you’re through, turn right and freeze the poison totem. Continue on, drop down the ledge, kill any enemies you come across and freeze the next poison totem. The first Muspelheim Cypher chest is here.

To find the second chest, kill the Dark Elves that attack you as soon as you enter Alfheim, then destroy the pulsing nodes that block your path using your axe. Go through the opening you create and turn right - what you need should be here.

For the third chest, follow the path that leads back down The Mountain after you’ve spoken to Mimir for the first time. As it curves around, you should see a fork on the left. Take the fork, and there should be a chest containing a piece of the Cypher at the end.

The final piece of the Muspelheim Cypher is located in a chest hidden behind the World Tree sap obstacle in the Witch’s cave, which is only accessible when you return there with Mimir after the water level has dropped. The sap is on the right as you take the elevator up. Then as you enter the hole you’ve created, turn right to find the chest.

Now that you’ve got it all, return to Tyr’s Temple and enter Brok’s shop.

From here, walk to the back of the shop and cross the light bridge that The Witch created to first take you to Alfheim. Once you’re in the realm traversal room, approach the centre console and rotate the wheel to select Muspelheim.

In Muspelheim:

When the process is finished leave the Tyr’s Temple, walk forward across the bridge and open the gate. Once you’re through, press on and you’ll meet Brok again. Have a chat with him and he’ll tell you about how Magic Gates work in Muspelheim.

After you’re done, follow the path around and climb the wall in front of you. About half way up, you’ll be able to climb left or right - tack right first and you’ll come to a chest with some items in, including your first taste of sweet, sweet Smouldering Embers; more on those later.

Climb back onto the wall and head left. When you’re back on solid ground, you’ll enter a clearing with what looks like a giant sword lodged into the ground. Press circle on it, and you’ll be invited to take part in Muspelheim Arena Challenges.

These challenges are a series of tough fights that reward Kratos with Hacksilver and rare materials, the most useful of these being Smouldering Embers.

Smouldering Embers:

Smouldering Embers are used by the dwarven smiths Brok and Sindri to craft some of God of War’s most powerful armour sets, as well as pommels and talismans. They’re also used to upgrade them.

You earn Smouldering Embers by completing arena challenges, as well as grabbing a few from the environment in Muspelheim like in the chest from earlier.

Muspelheim Arena Challenges:

The challenges at the Muspelheim Arena can be tough, but aren’t a massive amount harder than the crazier battles that crop up during the main story.

They take on all sorts of forms, from simple beat ‘em ups where you have to kill a certain number of enemies, to time trials and regenerating wave modes.

We’ve listed a few tips on how to beat each challenge we’ve faced below, and will keep updating the list as we complete more.

Remember to equip a resurrection stone, they’re allowed so you might as well use them. Restocking is easy too, with portals to Brok’s shop within a few seconds walk from the arena.

Muspelheim Arena 1 Challenge - Normal:

This challenge is pretty straightforward. Kratos only has to defeat 15 enemies within the time limit, which is doable if you keep up the aggression and try to stick to high damage melee combos, rather than tickling enemies with ranged blows from afar.

Muspelheim Arena 1 Challenge - Hard:

The second stage of this arena is much, much harder than the last. What you have to do here is try and clear waves of enemies quickly, because every few seconds while a monster is alive, they’ll revive a fallen ally.

This is doubly annoying when Tatzelwurms burrow underground so that you can’t hit them.

The trick with this challenge is to weaken multiple enemies at once, so that they only need one or two hits to go down. Otherwise you’ll be slogging away at a fresh enemy for too long and another will spawn.

Muspelheim Arena 2 Challenge - Normal:

The first stage of the second arena is quite straightforward again, all you have to do is survive for five minutes.

It’s easier here if you don’t get drawn into melee slugging matches, because things will get too hectic around you.

Keep your distance, and be wary of fire-throwers spawning from the cliff-edge side of the arena. If you get surrounded, don’t be scared to sprint away to the other side of the battleground.