Hardrefill the Callous is one of the optional bosses in God of War Ragnarök, and he can pose a significant challenge if you’re not prepared. Found as part of the Berserker Gravestone encounters, Hardrefill embodies the spirit of an ancient, brutal warrior who won’t go down without a fight. His relentless aggression, quick attacks, and area-of-effect damage make him a formidable opponent even for experienced players. To defeat him, players need to bring not only powerful gear but also the right strategy and patience. This battle is all about precision, timing, and knowing when to strike and when to defend.
Where to Find Hardrefill the Callous
Hardrefill the Callous can be found in Svartalfheim, near the Nidavellir Beach area. To initiate the fight, you must interact with a Berserker Gravestone located nearby. This gravestone only becomes accessible after you acquire the Inert Hilt of Skofnung, which is unlocked later in the main story. Once obtained, you can activate gravestones across the realms to summon powerful Berserker spirits like Hardrefill.
Before heading into battle, make sure you’ve completed a significant portion of the main story, have upgraded weapons, and equipped powerful armor. This boss is not meant to be tackled early on, and underestimating him will almost certainly lead to a quick defeat.
Hardrefill the Callous: Combat Overview
Hardrefill is an aggressive boss who uses high-speed melee attacks, unblockable strikes, and crowd control moves. He constantly pressures Kratos and gives very little room to breathe. Unlike some other bosses, he doesn’t rely on long-range magic or summons. Instead, he stays up close and personal, overwhelming you with raw power and speed.
Key Combat Traits:
- Uses dual axes for fast, close-range attacks
- Employs unblockable red-ringed attacks that must be dodged
- Chains multiple combos, especially after dodging or parrying
- Occasionally uses an area-of-effect shockwave attack
- High mobility, dashing frequently across the battlefield
Recommended Gear and Abilities
To survive and ultimately win against Hardrefill, you need a loadout that maximizes survivability and allows for consistent damage. Choosing gear with high defense and cooldown stats can help reduce damage taken and allow for frequent use of abilities like Spartan Rage, Runic Attacks, and relic powers.
Recommended Weapons and Skills:
- Leviathan Axe: Ideal for precise, heavy hits. Pair with Runic attacks like Frost Awaken and Ivaldi’s Anvil for crowd control and damage bursts.
- Blades of Chaos: Good for quick strikes when Hardrefill gets close. Use Hyperion Grapple to close gaps or escape pressure.
- Draupnir Spear: Excellent for maintaining space and charging explosions from a safe distance.
Best Armor Sets:
- Steinbjörn Armor Set: Extremely high defense, perfect for soaking up Hardrefill’s heavy attacks.
- Berserker Armor Set: Offers high risk-high reward playstyle with increased damage output, but requires skilled dodging and aggression.
- Vidar’s Armor: Balanced set with strength and cooldown benefits, good for runic-heavy builds.
Strategy to Defeat Hardrefill the Callous
Defeating Hardrefill is not just about raw power it’s about learning his attack patterns and exploiting his few vulnerabilities. The key is to stay alert, punish when he overcommits, and use Runic abilities during openings. Trying to brute-force this fight will likely lead to failure.
Step-by-Step Strategy:
- 1. Observe His Openers: Hardrefill often begins with a fast lunge or combo. Immediately prepare to dodge backward or sideways. Never block red-ring attacks they are unblockable and will deal massive damage.
- 2. Stay Mobile: His combos come quickly and frequently, so don’t stand still. Use the environment to your advantage, circle around him, and always be ready to dodge roll.
- 3. Use Spartan Rage Wisely: If you’re low on health or need to break his momentum, activate Spartan Rage. Choose between Fury for damage or Valor for healing if you’re in a critical condition.
- 4. Watch for Combo Gaps: After Hardrefill finishes a string of attacks, there’s a brief moment when he’s vulnerable. Use that opportunity to deal Runic attacks or heavy strikes.
- 5. Parry Normal Attacks: While red-ringed attacks must be dodged, you can parry standard strikes with a well-timed shield block. This can interrupt his flow and give you a free counter-attack.
Useful Relics and Runic Attacks
Relics and Runic Attacks are critical to tipping the scales in your favor. With the right timing, you can interrupt Hardrefill’s offensive and deal significant damage in return.
Top Relics for the Fight:
- Hilt of Skofnung: Appropriate for the thematic matchup, this relic unleashes spectral swords that hit in a wide area.
- Hilt of Hofud: Slows time momentarily, giving you breathing room and a chance to strike or reposition.
- Glaive of Dodher: Deals a blast of area damage good when Hardrefill’s combo ends and he’s standing still.
Best Runic Attacks:
- Leviathan Axe Ivaldi’s Anvil: A shockwave of ice that deals AoE damage, excellent for punishing post-combo downtime.
- Blades of Chaos Tame the Beast: Rapid multi-hit strike that can stagger him if timed correctly.
- Draupnir Spear Thrust of a Thousand Soldiers: High-damage move that can be used from a safe distance.
Post-Battle Rewards and Significance
Defeating Hardrefill the Callous is more than just another tick on the checklist. He’s one of several Berserker Spirits you must defeat to complete the Fit for a King favor. Once all Berserkers are slain, you’ll unlock a confrontation with King Hrólf Kraki, the most powerful of them all.
The rewards for beating Hardrefill include:
- Berserker Waist Guard (armor piece)
- Temper Flames and Shattered Runes (upgrade materials)
- Experience Points (XP for both Kratos and his companion)
Completing this fight also contributes to your overall realm completion in Svartalfheim, which helps unlock additional achievements and exploration bonuses.
Tips for Repeated Attempts
Don’t expect to beat Hardrefill on your first try. Most players will need several attempts to learn his moveset and adapt their strategy. Make sure to:
- Replenish your resurrection stones from Brok or Sindri’s shop before retrying.
- Refine your armor enchantments to match the encounter favor cooldown and defense.
- Switch companions between Atreus and Freya depending on your preferred combat synergy.
Every run teaches you something new, so don’t be discouraged. This is a test of endurance, skill, and game knowledge, and victory will feel well-earned when it comes.
Hardrefill the Callous is a tough but fair boss fight in God of War Ragnarök, offering a true challenge for players seeking to conquer all Berserker Gravestones. With the right equipment, careful observation, and tactical use of Kratos’ abilities, even this relentless spirit can be put to rest. Take your time, plan your attacks, and stay sharp victory is within reach for those who master the rhythm of battle.