How to Upgrade the Leviathan Axe (Frozen Flame and Spark Locations)

Like the previous God of War, Ragnarok will have you upgrading your main weapons over the course of your adventure with Kratos. Doing so will not only let you deal more damage to you opponents, but it instrumental increasing your overall Power Level. This page contains information on all the ways you can upgrade the Leviathan Axe in God of War Ragnarok.

While you do gain experience from combat encounters and quests, experience does not measure Kratos’ overall level - rather, it is a type of currency only used to unlock skills in your skill tree, as well as upgrading abilities like your Runic Attacks and Spartan Rage. Instead, upgrading both your weapons and main equipment (like armor and weapon attachments) will measure your overall power levle (seen in the top left corner when in the menu).

The Leviathan Axe starts back at level 1 when you first begin your adventure, and is also tied to unlocking further skills in the Leviathan Axe Skill Tree - all the way to the level 6 upgrade.

In order to upgrade the Leviathan Axe, you will need to find unique resources - either a Frozen Flame, or by finding 6 Frozen Sparks (which will automatically become a Frozen Flame).

Fortunately, many of the Frozen Flame can be found as you progress the story, allowing Kratos to naturally upgrade his power level over the course of the game even if you don't explore off the beaten path. However, those who wish to maximize their power will want to take on optional challenges, which you can see from the list below:

The very first upgrade you can get for the axe is part of the story - and it's an early one. During the Surviving Fimbulwinter quest, you'll return to a Jotnar Shrine in the Upper Wildwoods, only to be ambushed by a mini-boss fight. Defeat this Stalker, and the resource will be yours.

The next upgrade you can find is also story-based, but you won't get it until reaching Alfheim. During the Groa's Secret main story, you'll be attacked by a Light Elf Commander named Alva as you try to leave Alfheim's Temple of Light. Defeat this fearsome foe, and you'll gain another Frozen Flame. Be sure to see our strategy for defeating Alva if you're having trouble.

This upgrade will be found much later in the story, during Chapter 6 - The Reckoning, upon your first visit to the realm of Vanaheim. Once you reach your main objective far in the north at the Abandoned Village, you'll have to face off against the fierce serpent known as Nidhogg. Defeat it, and you'll earn a Frozen Flame for your trouble - and be sure to check out guide if you're having trouble!

Another upgrade you can't miss lies in a later Chapter 12 - Reunion, as you'll travel through the realm of Helheim only to have a Hel-Traveler Miniboss blocking your path to the goal. These extremely armored brutes must be handled with care, as they can shrug off most attacks and fight with nearly unstoppable swings of their sword. Whittle down it's armor and then drive your weapons home to take back a Frozen Flame for yourself.

This Frozen Flame can be found off the path of the main story, and is first available after completing Chapter 13 - Creatures of Prophecy. Once you arrive back at Freyr's Camp, you'll be able to accept a small side quest, Scent of Survival, which will open up a large new area to explore known as The Crater.

Once here, you can plan a rescue attempt by undertaking another side quest, For Vanaheim!, and hunt down a large dragon known at The Crimson Dread, which can be found to the northwest after turning the time of day to night at one of the altars.

Defeat this mighty dragon, and you'll gain a Frozen Flame for your effort!

One of the last upgrades you can find as part of the main story comes during your adventure into Muspelheim in Chapter 16 - The Summoning. On your quest to find Surtr and jumpstart Ragnarok, you'll have to contend with a Flame Phantom who will try and block your progress. Weaken and stun the primordial creature and then destroy each of the springs, and you'll earn a new Frozen Flame. See our guide to the quest for more tips.

This important Frozen Flame can only be gained by taking one a very tough and challenging optional boss fight - located at one of the Berserker Gravestones located in The Barrens of Alfheim. It can only be accessed after clearing the sandstorm - but the real threat lies in the fight itself, as you'll have to contend against 3 bosses at once! It's highly recommened you save this for when your power level has risen to at least level 7, as the fight is very tough, but completing it will gain you a new Frozen Flame.

Unlike the main upgrade, a Frozen Spark by itself won't upgrade your axe. Think of it instead like a Piece of Heart - you'll need enough fragments to form a full resource to make use of: six, to be exact. Luckily, you can find them all by undertaking a specific Side Quest Labor that appears later in the story.

Unlike tracking down The Hateful for the individual Chaos Sparks that are optional encounters all across the realms, the first two Frozen Sparks can't be missed, as they are tied to the main story until you unlock the side quest Favor to track down the rest.

The very first is unlocked at the tail end of Chapter 11 - Unleashing Hel and into Chapter 12 - Reunion when you arrive back at Sindri's House to find all Hel breaking loose. After defeating waves and waves of Hel-Walkers, Atreus will close the first gate, and you can check the remnants of the collapsed gate to find the loot that includes your first Frozen Spark.

Like the first Frozen Spark, you'll have to get rid of this Hel Tear as part of the main story before you get the Side Quest to go close the rest of them. You'll find it early in Chapter 12 - Reunion in The Gleaming Bale as soon as you leave the first region of Helgrind behind and approach a series of large bridges. Like before, you'll need to keep the waves of level 4 and 5 Hel Walkers focused on you and away from Atreus before he can collapse the gate to get your Frozen Spark prize. This will start the Hel to Pay Side Quest Favor to track down the rest after you leave Helheim behind.

The first optional Hel-Tear is located in the climb up to the Well of Urd, which is where you went to during The Word of Fate main quest to locate the Norns. Climb up the cliffs as before and shuffle through the crack in the ice, and you'll see the Realm Tear ahead.

The Hel-Tear in Svartalfheim is found in Aurvangar Wetlands, the rocky river area you traveled through when you first arrived in Svartalfheim. Head to the Wetlands' Mystic Gateway, then hop into the boat and sail North. You'll want to dock at the beach on your right, just before you pass through the wooden wheel.

From here, leap up to the top of the wooden structure on your left, then drop down off the other side. The Hel-Tear will be directly ahead of you, just across the water pool.

The Hel-Tear in Alfheim is found in The Strond, but luckily it's pretty close to the Mystic Gateway. Head through the circular doorway to the right of the large statue with the Rune Read at its base, then drop down the ledge, to the end of your escape route after the Temple of Light. The Hel-Tear will be here.

The final Hel-Tear is located in Vanaheim's The Southern Wilds. Head to the Mystic Gateway at the Southern end of this region, then head North. You'll spot it along the right as you head along the path.