God of War: How to Beat the Stranger (First Boss)

How to Beat the Stranger (First Boss) in God of War

God of War is the latest entry in the action-adventure series, featuring plenty of new and powerful foes in the game. One particular challenge that lies in wait is the battle with the first boss, The Stranger. Don’t be fooled by his appearance – this mysterious figure won’t go down without a fight and won’t hesitate to take you down if you aren’t careful. If you’re having some trouble taking on God of War’s first big fight, here are some few tips on how you can beat the boss.

The first thing you need to know about this God of War boss fight with The Stranger is that it has multiple phases. During the first few phases, you won’t have access to any of your equipment save for your shield. That means you can’t go around hacking and slashing him with your axe. Instead, you’ll want to keep your shield up and block any of his attacks. Luckily, The Stranger won’t pose much of a threat here except when he uses his icy attack that will target you. When he raises his fist and you see a small red ring, it’s time to make a run for it. Just use your shield to keep track of where he is and block any of his incoming attacks to get to the third phase.

The Stranger learns a few new moves during the last phase of your first boss fight in God of War, but you’ll also have your axe with you. Keep track of when he jumps into the air – that means he’s ready to slam the ground and pelt you with a wave of ice. Look for the red directional marker near Kratos to see where The Stranger will land. You’ll also want to keep your eye out for his speedy three-hit combo. Kratos can roll out of the way, but it’s better to wait and block with your shield.

The Stranger isn’t a particularly challenging fight, but these tips should help you beat the first boss. For any other tips and tricks on God of War, be sure to check out our ever-expanding wiki.