God Of War Ragnarok Secret Of Sands [Guide & Walkthrough]

The Secret of Sands is the very first side quest that you will get in the game, and it is located in Alfheim. There are some favors and side quests in God of War Ragnarok that is quintessential to the story, and one of them is the Secret of Sands. The game takes about 55-60 hours for 100% completion. So, many players prefer doing the main missions first and the side ones later.

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Secret Of Sands In GOW Ragnarok

The reason it is an important quest for the story is that it is related to the noises that Atreus keeps hearing throughout the game. You will notice Atreus mentioning hearing noises in the desert of the Alfheim. However, you will not understand anything about it unless you unlock the Secret of Sands.

Unlocking The Secret of Sands

To unlock the “Secret of Sands” side quest in God of War Ragnarok, follow these steps:

1. Complete the “Groa’s Secret” main quest.
2. After completing “Groa’s Secret,” a new path will open in Alfheim due to the clashing of elves.
3. Follow Atreus to the desert. Along the way, you’ll pass through a hole, and you’ll find a treasure map on the ground. Be sure to pick up this map.
4. As you progress through the story and complete certain objectives, you’ll receive a side quest related to hunting.
5. Keep progressing in this side quest until you come across an abandoned market. There, you’ll find Sindri’s Workshop.
6. Talk to Sindri, and he will give you the “Secret of Sands” quest, which will be added to your favors list.

Completing these steps will unlock the “Secret of Sands” side quest for you to pursue.

How To Complete Secret Of Sands

Now that you have the Secret of Sands quest in your favors list in God of War Ragnarok, it is time that you complete it. The first thing you will need to do is open the Mystic Gateway and keep going toward the depths of the desert. As you keep on going, you will come across Gulon. They are two creatures who will be walking in a direction carrying a sled.

Ride On Gulon To Reach The Cave

Go in front of them and wait for them to come towards you. When they do, get on the sled and go where they take you. After a while, you will find yourself in the open desert. When that happens, open up the map, and you will see more barrens. There you will know that you need to head in the southeast direction.

You will come across a storm but do not worry. Keep heading southeast, and eventually, you will find a cave-like structure with some small towers and structures next to it, right in the middle of the sand. To continue the quest, you will need to enter it.

Clear The Path And Fight The Dark Elves

When you enter the cave, keep going forward. Eventually, you will see an area where you will need to climb down. There, you will find a ledge blocking your path. You will have to use the Blades of Chaos to get rid of the ledge and clear your path.

1. Enter the cave and follow Atreus, clearing obstacles with the Blades of Chaos.
2. Destroy Dark Elf Hive Bulbs along the way by throwing your axe at the glowing part.
3. Defeat the lone Dark Elf you encounter.
4. Continue destroying hive bulbs to clear your path.
5. Destroy three hive bulbs simultaneously by throwing your axe at the twilight stone when the pink line turns blue.
6. Face off against a group of Dark Elves who attack you.
7. Collect a Hacksilver chest and a healthstone in the area.
8. Deal with Dark Elves, including Summoners who can call reinforcements.
9. Choose between two paths: North to find the Nornir Bell or East, blocked by hive bulbs.

Collect The Loot

Climb the wall between two doors. Remove a piece of metal blocking a hook spot to destroy hive bulbs. Continue forward to find Patience, a Lore Rune, and a Red Coffin with materials. Return to the upper floor, cut down a vase for rawhide, cross a gorge via a zipline, collect Hacksilver from a wooden chest, and return to Atreus.

Complete The Exploration

Now you will need to go ahead until you find yourself surrounded by a Nightmare and Wretches. Fight against them and once you eliminate them successfully, open the gate that is near the Nornir Chest. The gate is essential in God of War Ragnarok for unlocking because later on, you will need to come back to the first chamber, and it will be the best path in Secret of Sands.

Since you are not ready for the Nornir Bell Puzzle just yet, you will need to move on and explore the path that you will just discovered. Then you need to climb up to find Kratos and talk to Atreus. After that, you will finally be at the final Bell of Nornir. Open the gate after dropping down, and it will lead you back to where you came from; however, you are ready now to unlock the Nornir Chest.

Open The Nornir Chest

Collect the N, C, and R bells quickly. Start with the N Bell, then find the C Bell near the chest. Return to the gate and hit the R Bell. Opening the Nornir Chest grants either Idunn Apples (max health increase) or Horns of Blood Mead (max rage increase).

Fight The Dark Elf Lord

Defeat the Dark Elf Lord and his companions in the den. Watch out for his blindness-inducing magic. Focus on the Lord first. Once defeated, proceed with Atreus to a tavern. Remove a golden ore obstruction by using explosives. Destroy more hive bulbs and another gold ore for a Red Coffin containing Hacksilver, rawhide, and dwarven steel. Continue with Atreus in the “Secret of Sands” quest.

The Hive Puzzles

Clear hive bulb blockades with the twilight stone and proceed. Destroy a golden ore blockade with an explosive to access a Red Coffin on the left, containing Dwarven steel, Hacksilver, and forged iron. Utilize higher vantage points for puzzles.

Hit the gold turnstile to position the twilight stone for efficient target hits. Eliminate creatures and use Blades of Chaos with L1 grab. Face Nightmares spawned by the Nightmare Nest, and eliminate the nest to stop the Nightmares from spawning.

The Bindings Of Hafgufa’s

To learn more about the storms in The Barrens, destroy Hafgufa’s Bindings by detonating the explosive behind the golden ore. Continue following Atreus after clearing more hive bulbs. Once they are destroyed, Hafgufa becomes movable. Follow Atreus out of the Dark Elves’ camp.

Climb a ledge on your way out and access the red coffin, containing Hacksilver, forged iron, and dwarven steel.

Heading Out

Head out and listen to Kratos, Atreus, and Mimir discuss Light Elves and Dark Elves. Encounter a blockage at the path’s end and use the Blades of Chaos to clear it. Inside the room, discover three bags of Hacksilver and a Legendary Treasure containing the Shoulder of Straps of Radiance and Whispering Slab.

Continue deeper into The Barrens by riding the sled. Look for a huge structure with a glowing red light beneath it. Destroy the hive bulb there to complete the Secret of Sands side quest and clear The Barrens of storms, freeing Hafgufa.

Final Words

All in all, completing the Secret of Sands side quest is very important in God of War Ragnarok, especially if you want to know about the noises that Atreus keeps hearing. Moreover, you will be able to free The Barrens from the Storms that keep occurring.

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