Hardrefill the Callous is one of the Berserker Souls you’ll encounter inGod of War Ragnarok, and defeating him is no easy task. As part of the Berserker Gravestone encounters, Hardrefill presents a brutal challenge that demands fast reflexes, solid gear, and a clear understanding of his move set. If you’re playing on normal or higher difficulties, this fight can feel like hitting a wall unless you’re well prepared. Timing, patience, and awareness of his combat patterns are key to claiming victory over this tough opponent.
Where to Find Hardrefill the Callous
Location and Preparation
You can find Hardrefill the Callous by interacting with one of the Berserker Gravestones, which are scattered across the realms. Specifically, he resides in Svartalfheim, near the location called Nidavellir. Once you activate the gravestone, he’ll appear and initiate a high-stakes duel with Kratos.
Before initiating the fight, it’s highly recommended that you:
- Reach at least level 6 or higher.
- Upgrade your Leviathan Axe, Blades of Chaos, and Atreus’ abilities.
- Equip Resurrection Stones in case of a fatal blow.
- Slot enchantments focused on cooldown reduction, defense, and Runic attack boosts.
- Carry healing items if possible and prepare your Spartan Rage meter.
Understanding Hardrefill’s Moveset
Attack Patterns and Strategy
Hardrefill is extremely aggressive and favors relentless melee attacks. He uses a mix of wide swings, lunges, unblockable strikes, and area-of-effect shockwaves. The key to surviving his onslaught is reading his tells and knowing when to dodge, parry, or counter.
- Unblockable Charge: Hardrefill will glow red and charge at you. Dodge sideways immediately; blocking this will fail and result in heavy damage.
- Spinning Axe Combo: He performs a series of rapid slashes that end in a heavy spin. Keep your distance or time your parry if you’re confident.
- Shockwave Slam: A ground slam sends shockwaves forward. Jump back or roll away to avoid the area of effect.
- Teleporting Strikes: Occasionally, he’ll vanish and reappear mid-attack. Stay mobile and don’t get caught standing still.
- Elemental Infused Attacks: Some of Hardrefill’s strikes carry elemental effects, so equip gear with resistance if you notice fire or frost appearing.
Watch his movements carefully his wind-up animations are key indicators of what’s coming. Patience is crucial; overcommitting to offense will often result in getting caught in his combos.
Recommended Gear and Skills
Best Armor and Weapons for the Fight
Your success against Hardrefill heavily depends on your loadout. Here are recommended builds and equipment for tackling him more effectively:
- Armor Set: The Lunda’s Lost Armor Set is strong for poisoned damage and defense. If you’re more offense-driven, go with the Berserker Armor Set.
- Leviathan Axe: Upgrade it fully and use Frost Awaken to interrupt some of Hardrefill’s slower moves.
- Blades of Chaos: Ideal for mid-range combat. Equip Runic Attacks that deal crowd-control or stun damage.
- Shield: Use the Dauntless Shield for high-risk parry rewards or the Stone Wall Shield for heavy blocking.
Runic Attacks and Spartan Rage
Equip Runic Attacks that offer quick execution and stun potential. Some excellent options include:
- Leviathan’s Fury: A heavy ice throw to interrupt Hardrefill mid-animation.
- Flames of Anguish: Blades-based AoE flame burst to control space.
- Wrath of the Frost Ancient: A high-damage beam that can be used when he’s stunned or locked into an animation.
Save Spartan Rage for one of two scenarios: either to deal massive burst damage during a stagger phase or to use it defensively if you’re critically low on health.
Combat Strategy
Early Fight Tactics
At the beginning of the fight, focus on keeping distance and studying his pattern. Don’t rush in with attacks. Let him open with his first combo and observe the timing. The goal early on is to chip away at his health using quick Runic Attacks and dodge-heavy tactics.
Mid-Fight Adaptation
As Hardrefill’s health drops below 50%, he becomes more aggressive, mixing faster attacks with short teleports. Keep moving. Do not stay locked in animations, and keep Atreus active with sonic or hex arrows to provide a momentary stun or enemy debuff.
- Use Atreus’ abilities to draw aggro or interrupt attacks.
- Rotate between weapons to keep pressure without risking long cooldown gaps.
- If you’re confident in your parry, time it during his yellow-ringed attacks.
Endgame Pressure
When his health reaches the final quarter, you’ll need to stay laser-focused. This is when one mistake can cost you the fight. Save your Spartan Rage or strongest Runic combo for this phase. Keep circling him and avoid being trapped against a wall or terrain feature.
If you go down to a fatal hit, having a Resurrection Stone can allow you to come back for a final push. Use the brief moment after revival to activate Spartan Rage for emergency healing and damage output.
Post-Fight Rewards and Tips
What You Get After Defeating Hardrefill
Beating Hardrefill the Callous rewards you with several valuable items:
- Unique enchantments for your amulet.
- Berserker-themed gear components.
- Souls tied to the Berserker King questline.
- A hefty XP reward for both Kratos and Atreus.
His soul contributes to unlocking the final Berserker encounter. Completing all Berserker gravestone battles unlocks additional endgame content and some of the most powerful items inGod of War Ragnarok.
Tips for Future Berserker Battles
- Each Berserker has a unique fight style. Study and adapt rather than brute-force every battle.
- Upgrade gear between each fight. Use the resources you gain to improve survivability.
- Mix up your strategy. What worked on Hardrefill might not apply to the next Berserker.
Defeating Hardrefill the Callous inGod of War Ragnarokis a test of your skill, patience, and preparation. He’s not a foe you can simply overpower his attacks require precise responses and solid gear. But with a good understanding of his moveset, effective use of Runic Attacks, and strategic use of Atreus’ support, victory is within reach. This encounter is part of what makes the Berserker battles so rewarding and challenging, adding depth and excitement to the late-game experience. If you’re looking to prove yourself as a master of Kratos’ combat system, Hardrefill is the perfect test.