How to Upgrade the Blades of Chaos (Chaos Flame and Spark Locations) - God of War Ragnarok Guide - IGN (2024)

Like the previous God of War, Ragnarok will have you upgrading your main weapons over the course of your adventure with Kratos. Doing so will not only let you deal more damage to you opponents, but it instrumental increasing your overall Power Level. This page contains information on all the ways you can upgrade the Blades of Chaos in God of War Ragnarok.

• See Also: How to Upgrade the Leviathan Axe

Upgrading the Blades of Chaos

While you do gain experience from combat encounters and quests, experience does not measure Kratos’ overall level - rather, it is a type of currency only used to unlock skills in your skill tree, as well as upgrading abilities like your Runic Attacks and Spartan Rage. Instead, upgrading both your weapons and main equipment (like armor and weapon attachments) will measure your overall power levle (seen in the top left corner when in the menu).

The Blades of Chaos starts back at level 1 when you obtain it after your first big battle in the prologue, and is also tied to unlocking further skills in the Blades of Chaos Skill Tree - all the way to the level 6 upgrade.

In order to upgrade the Blades of Chaos, you will need to find unique resources - either a Chaos Flame, or by finding 6 Chaos Sparks (which will automatically become a Chaos Flame).

Where to Find Chaos Flame

Fortunately, many of the Chaos Flame can be found as you progress the story, allowing Kratos to naturally upgrade his power level over the course of the game even if you don't explore off the beaten path. However, those who wish to maximize their power will want to take on optional challenges, which you can see from the list below:

The very first upgrade you can get for the blades is part of the story - one you'll find early in your adventure into the first main realm of Svartalfheim. Once you reach The Forge on your way to the pitmines in The Quest for Tyr, you'll be forced into a confrontation with this huge beast. Defeat it to claim the Chaos Flame, and check out our guide if you're having trouble.

The next upgrade you can find is also story-based, but you won't get it until much later - the realm of Vanaheim to be exact. All the way in Chapter 6 - The Reckoning, you'll visit the lush jungles of Vanaheim, and be drawn into a fight with a foe you might recognize from the previous game - an Ancient Soul Eater. Defeat it when its core opens and you'll earn another Chaos Flame. See our guide to the boss fight if you run into trouble!

Another story upgrade can be found during Chapter 9 - Word of Fate, as you venture back into Midgard and explore the mysterious Well of Urd. During this journey you'll face off against a boss known as the Frost Phantom, and must stun it before destroying its Runic Springs. Do so, and you'll not only get a Frozen Flame, but a Jewel of Yggdrasil to boot! If you're having trouble, check out our guide.

While technically one of the first Chaos Flame you can get that's not part of the main story, the soonest you can attempt this one is after completing Chapter 10 - Forging Destiny. You'll need to find both Muspelheim Seed Halves, and then travel to the realm to take on 6 optional Crucible Trials. Complete them all, and a special Nornir Chest will unlock that holds the Chaos Flame. See our guide for completing the six Crucible Trials here.

Back on the Main Story path, you'll return of Vanaheim during Chapter 13 - Creatures of Prophecy. Along the way, you'll travel back to Freyr's Camp through a familiar ruin that spans the river delta, only this time not one but TWO Dreki will ambush you here. Defeat them both and the Chaos Flame will be yours, and check out our Walkthrough guide if you're running into trouble.

The last Chaos Flame that can be obtained while on the main story path is found near the very end of the story, upon venturing to Muspelheim in search of Surtr to start Ragnarok. Before you can speak with Surtr, you'll have to defeat his guardians, which come in the form of a deadly Soul Eater backed by many Draugr. Hit their exposed points and throw the explosive orbs back in to weaken and destroy them both to claim the reward. See our guide for The Summoning for more tips.

The last whole Chaos Flame you can obtain is from an optional (and dangerous) challenge that requires you to take on one of the Berserker Gravestones and defeat the formidable Haklangr the Bearded.

This berserker waits in a large arena in Vanaheim's Sinkhole which itself a large hidden region that can only be reached by undertaking the sidequest Scent of Survival to unlock The Plains, Sinkhole, and Jungle. Even then, this Berserker Gravestone cannot be reached due to a large gorge, requiring you to explore southwest of The Plains at night to cross a gorge into The Jungle, and undertake the side quest Favor, Return of the River, to destroy the dam and flood the three regions.

Only then you can take a boat now found in The Sinkhole and row over to the far side of the arena to reach the Berserker, and defeat him in combat - but be warned, you'll want a power level of around 8 to stand a chance of defeating him.

Unlike the main upgrade, a Chaos Spark by itself won't upgrade your axe. Think of it instead like a Piece of Heart - you'll need enough fragments to form a full resource to make use of: six, to be exact. Luckily, you can find them all by undertaking a specific Side Quest Labor that appears early, and can be progressed as you explore more realms and regions.

Upon reaching Svartalfheim in The Quest for Tyr, you have the option to explore the Bay of Bounty, where you may stumble upon a mini-boss Draugr called The Hateful. Each time you defeat this boss by finding a new Draugr Hole, you'll gain another spark to add for a total of six. See each location below:

The first instance of The Hateful can be located in Svartalfheim, soon after you arrive in the region. Take the boat out into the Bay of Bounty and sail to the middle island called the Watchtower. There's a path to climb up to the left of the Dwarven Shop, and on other side of the tower you can face the mighty Draugr.

Also located in Svartalfheim early on, you can first reach this Draugr Hole while still on The Quest for Tyr. The confusing mine has several false doors you must enter on the lookout for where Tyr is kept, and one door can be found at the top of the spiral path in the main section of the mine - by swinging across a waterfall and dropping down to a ledge with a large door. This will lead you to a large storeroom room with a Draugr Hole in it. Defeat this boss again, and you'll earn another Chaos Spark.

First available after concluding Chapter 4 - Groa's Secret, a new path in Alfheim will open up to The Barrens as you get to the Mystic Gateway to leave. The Barrens is home to a large sandstorm that has covered certain areas rendering them impassible.

Once you clear the sandstorm by completing the side quest Secret of the Sands, explore the western edge of the Barrens of a small hill where another Dragur Hole is hiding, and face The Hateful another time to claim the next Chaos Spark.

Upon arriving in Vanaheim for the first time in Chapter 6 - The Reckoning, you'll be able to locate another Draugr Hole when exploring the Abandoned Village in the northeastern edges of the River Delta. When at the village, explore the far edge of the settlement by swinging across the river to find a path behind some falls where The Hateful guards a path back to a house with a Legendary chest. Defeat her once more to earn another Chaos Spark.

This Chaos Spark can be found at another Draugr Hole, one that is available as soon are you are able to fully explore the Lake of Nine in Midgard during Chapter 9 - Word of Fate.

Search far to the northwest on your journey to the King's Grave, and a long the left walls below a large cliff you can find the spot where the Hateful Draugr will attack you once again. Defeat this mini-boss again to earn another Chaos Spark.

The final Chaos Spark needed can be found much later in the game, and hides in a secret region known as The Crater that can only be accessed after you have completed Chapter 13 - Creatures of Prophecy. After concluding the chapter and returning to Freyr's Camp, you'll run into a small optional sidequest upon leaving - The Scent of Survival - and it has a bigger impact than you'd expect. Completing this favor will unlock a huge set of regions known as The Crater to explore, and contains many hidden quests within.

The Draugr Hole itself lies on the other edge of a dried up gorge in the nothern section of The Plains, so in order to make it across you must find a way to alter the terrain. Change the time of day to night using one of the Altars in the crater, and travel across the gorge in the southwest part of the Plains to reach an area known as The Jungle. Here you can undertake yet another side quest - Return of the River - to bring water back to this region.

Once this is done, take the boats now available all overs these regions to sail across the gorge to were a red coffin is, and climb the steps to meet The Hateful in battle one last time. Defeat her, and your 6 Chaos Sparks will form the last Chaos Flame needed to fully upgrade your Blades of Chaos!