Of all the challenges that await a player in the realm of Midgard and beyond in God of War (2018), none are as universally testing, punishing, and ultimately rewarding as the Valkyries. These nine optional bosses represent the pinnacle of combat mastery, and among them, Kara presents a unique and chaotic challenge. Found in the Witch’s Cave in Midgard, she is often one of the first Valkyries players encounter, and she serves as a brutal introduction to their mechanics. This guide will break down her moveset and provide a comprehensive strategy to emerge victorious.
Preparation: Gearing Up for the Fight
Before you even attempt to challenge Kara, adequate preparation is non-negotiable. She will punish any lack of discipline or underpowered gear.
- Level: Aim to be at least Level 4, but Level 5 is highly recommended. Your level is a combination of your gear's quality and enchantments, so don't neglect it.
- Weapons: The Leviathan Axe is your primary tool. Its ranged capabilities are crucial. The Blades of Chaos are less effective here but can be useful for quick crowd control if needed.
- Armor: Use the best armor you have. The Ivaldi's set from Niflheim is ideal but likely unavailable at this point. The Sindri's Royal Dwarven set or Brok's Dwarven set are solid choices, prioritizing Strength, Runic, and Defense.
- Runic Attacks: Choose attacks with high burst damage and, importantly, short animations.
- Light Axe Runic: Hel's Touch is exceptional. It's a quick, interruptive blast that can stop Kara's wind-up attacks and give you an opening.
- Heavy Axe Runic: Leviathan's Wake or Frost Giant's Frenzy. The former is good for closing distance, the latter for damage if you get a clean hit.
- Light Blades Runic: Rampage of the Furies for quick damage.
- Heavy Blades Runic: Prometheus Flame or Hyperion Slam.
- Talisman: The Talisman of the Realms is incredibly valuable. Its slow-time effect allows you to interrupt her attacks, dodge more easily, or land a full Runic combo. The Amulet of Kvasir (if you have it) is even better, automatically triggering a realm shift on a last-second dodge.
- Atreus: Fully upgrade his skills and equip him with the best armor you have. His shock arrows are invaluable for stunning Kara and interrupting her attacks. Use his wolf summon for extra stun and damage.
Kara's Moveset and How to Counter Them
Kara shares many moves with her sisters, but her unique twist is the ability to summon Draugr. This adds a layer of chaos you must manage.
1. The Valhalla Dive (The Stomp): This is her signature move. She hovers in the air, cries "Valhalla!" and dive-bombs onto your location with a devastating unblockable stomp.
- Counter: The moment you hear "Valhalla!" or see her hover, dodge to the side. Do NOT dodge backwards; the attack has a significant area of effect. A well-timed double dodge (X, X) is safe. Immediately after dodging, you can get in a few axe throws or a light attack.
2. The Scythe Dash: She flies to the side and then dashes horizontally across the arena with her wings scythes extended. This is a blockable attack.
- Counter: Keep your shield raised (L1). If you have the Guardian Shield, a perfect parry will stagger her briefly. If you miss the parry, holding block will prevent damage.
3. The Wing Stab: A quick, forward thrust with her wing. It's fast but blockable.
- Counter: Hold block. It's a good idea to default to having your shield up when you're not attacking.
4. The Unblockable Lunge: She winds up with a red-ringed attack and lunges forward with a grab. This is one of her most dangerous moves.
- Counter: This must be dodged. Sidestep at the last moment. A successful dodge leaves her wide open for a counter-attack.
5. The Meteor Shower: She flies high and launches a barrage of magical projectiles that track your location.
- Counter: Do not try to outrun them. The key is to interpose objects between you and the projectiles. Use the rock pillars in the arena. Alternatively, you can continuously roll at the last second to avoid them, but this is riskier.
6. Summoning Draugr: This is what makes her fight distinct. She will occasionally scream and summon a wave of Draugr, sometimes including a dangerous Ranged Draugr.
- Counter: THIS IS YOUR TOP PRIORITY. The moment she starts to summon, ignore her and immediately locate and eliminate the Draugr. Use Atreus' shock arrows to stun them. Use area-of-effect Runic attacks like Leviathan's Wake or the Blades' attacks to clear them quickly. Leaving them alive will overwhelm you, as you cannot focus on Kara with multiple enemies attacking.
The Winning Strategy: Phase and Pace
The fight has no traditional phases; the challenge is managing the core loop of her attacks and the Draugr summons.
Phase 1: The Opening Start the fight by running forward and immediately unleashing your most powerful Runic attacks. A sequence like Hel's Touch -> Leviathan's Wake -> switch to Blades -> Rampage of the Furies -> Hyperion Slam can take off a significant chunk of her health bar right away.
Phase 2: The Grind After your initial burst, the real fight begins. Adopt a patient, defensive posture.
- Keep Your Distance: Stay at mid-range. This baits out her Scythe Dash and Valhalla Dive, which are her most punishable moves.
- Punish the Dive: Your primary source of damage will be dodging her Valhalla stomp and responding with 2-3 light axe attacks or a heavy throw to the head.
- Manage the Crowd: The instant she begins to summon Draugr, disengage completely. Command Atreus to shoot the Ranged Draugr first. Use your axe to throw at and eliminate threats quickly. Your goal is to return to a 1v1 with Kara as fast as possible.
- Use Your Talisman: Pop your Talisman of the Realms when you have a clear opening for a Runic combo or when you need to quickly clear Draugr. The slow-mo gives you precious time to aim throws or reposition.
Phase 3: Closing the Deal When her health is in the last quarter, she may become more aggressive. Do not get greedy. Stick to the plan. A single mistimed attack can lead to a chain of events that ends in your death. Let her make the moves, you provide the answers. Continue to dodge, block, and punish. Keep Atreus' arrows constantly on her to build stun, which can occasionally open her up for a grapple attack.
Victory over Kara is a testament to your skill and patience. It teaches you the core principles needed to defeat the other, even more powerful Valkyries: reading tells, managing adds, and punishing openings. Claim your reward from the wooden Valkyrie helmet she leaves behind, and know you are one step closer to challenging the Allmother herself, Queen Gná.
