God of War Ragnarok Hel Tears Locations

In God of War Ragnarok, closing dimensional rifts is a crucial endeavor to restore order across the Nine Realms. The Hel Tears manifest as icy tears spilling frost-based enemies into various regions following major story events in Helheim. Sealing all six rift locations completes the Hel to Pay Favor, rewarding players with valuable frozen sparks and essential upgrading resources for Atreus and Kratos.

Story-Mandatory Hel Tear Encounters

The first two Hel Tears are encountered naturally as you progress through the main storyline mission Reunion. The initial rift opens at Sindri's House, introducing the defense mechanic where Atreus must seal the tear while Kratos fights off waves of invading foes. Completing this combat section automatically triggers the overarching side quest to locate and seal the remaining breaches.

Shortly after the encounter at the house, a second tear must be sealed during your journey through Helheim in the Gleaming Bale region. Because this rift is part of the central path, players cannot miss it while advancing the campaign. Defending Atreus here establishes the pattern required for all subsequent encounters across the realms.

Finding Tears in Midgard and Svartalfheim

Navigating to the realm of Svartalfheim leads players to a rift hidden within the Aurvangar Wetlands. You can reach this spot by taking a boat through the southern channels toward a small beach landing. Defeating the high-level Hel-walkers in this marshy terrain requires quick crowd control and effective use of runic attacks.

In Midgard, another dimensional rift lies waiting in the Well of Urd area located near the northwestern reaches of the map. Traversing the snowy cliffs allows Kratos to spot the glowing blue anomaly resting in a narrow canyon pass. Preparing high-damage area-of-effect abilities helps clear the defensive waves efficiently while Atreus works on closing the gap.

Uncovering Rifts in Alfheim and Vanaheim

Journeying through Alfheim brings players to a Hel Tear situated near The Strond region along the path leading toward the Temple of Light. This location features aggressive Hel-archers and heavy foes that attempt to interrupt the sealing process. Maintaining situational awareness and prioritizing ranged threats ensures Atreus remains undisturbed while closing the breach.

The final rift resides deep within Vanaheim near The Southern Wilds riverbank area. Navigating the dense foliage brings you face-to-face with tough enemies capable of inflicting severe frost status effects. Successfully defending this point completes the quest objectives, yielding rare crafting materials necessary for maximizing gear performance.

Rewards and Combat Tips for Closing Rifts

Every closed tear yields a Frozen Spark, six of which combine to form a full Frozen Flame used to upgrade the Leviathan Axe. Beyond weapon upgrades, players receive substantial experience points and realm-specific resources that aid end-game preparation. Equipping armor sets that boost defense against frost damage significantly simplifies these timed horde battles.

To handle the relentless enemy spawns, focus on keeping foes away from Atreus using shield bashes and heavy Spartan Rage attacks. Utilizing elemental synergy by freezing or burning targets keeps the battlefield controlled throughout each sixty-second timer. Sealing every single rift ensures full completion of the realm maps and brings Kratos closer to total mastery over the Nine Realms.