Ragnarok is coming twice this year! Although it is likely not as well known as the God of War franchise, Valkyrie Elysium is the newest installment in the Valkyrie Profile series by Square Enix. While this installment is not the first, the story itself is completely independent of the previous titles, so there is no need to play those before jumping in.

Related: God of War Ragnarok Review

The game takes place in the days leading up to Ragnarok, and you are a newly created Valkyrie tasked by the All-Father himself, Odin, to purify the souls of Midgard in order to save the world from utter destruction. Before you head into the chaos and combat the undead, you’ll want to make sure you are prepared. Here’s what you need to know to start your journey off on the right foot.

5 Explore Everything

Valkyrie Elysium Maria Opening Chest In Be'elze Territory

When navigating the various maps in Valkyrie Elysium, your path is often pretty straightforward. Each area is modest in size, so you won't find yourself wandering into an area you aren’t ready for like in Elden Ring. However, tons of items and resources are scattered throughout each area, stored in destructible objects like boxes, barrels, and carts.

Related: Elden Ring: How To Reach Leyndell Royal Capital

There are also many chests, side quests, hollow blossoms, and verdant blossoms to discover as well, so it is important to spend time checking every nook and cranny, rooftop, abandoned building, and detour available. Doing so will help you acquire items and weapons, as well as important resources needed for leveling up your character and equipment. If you do end up missing something, don’t worry. You’ll be able to return to that level later, once it is completed.

4 Level Up On The Go

Valkyrie Elysium Maria Touches Sword Hilt To Awaken Einherjar Eygon

There are many types of magic gems you will acquire in the game, all of which are used to upgrade your base stats and weapons, and unlock new skills. You collect a lot of them as you explore, destroy objects, and kill enemies, so don’t be afraid to use them right away. In each chapter, you will unlock the next tier of gems which will allow you to steadily level up as you progress through the main story.

While you can wait till the end of each chapter to level up, doing so at the regular checkpoints throughout each chapter can give you the edge you need in the next battle. Additionally, leveling up weapons not only makes them stronger but also unlocks new combo moves you can use to pulverize your enemies.

3 Prioritize Side Quests Early

Valkyrie Elysium Maria Stands Before Spirit Tree To Cleanse Spirits

Within the first 30 minutes of the game, you are introduced to a lot of different game mechanics and systems, and it can be easy to forget about some of them initially. Once you complete your first chapter, you will be able to access any unlocked side quests from the world globe in Valhalla. For the most part, you will unlock these side quests by exploring the game and finding the blue lost souls. Once you have spoken to them, the quest will be available the next time you visit the world globe.

Related: Valkyrie Elysium: Best Divine Arts, Ranked

Side quests are not only a great way to get weapons, divine arts, and health, soul, and art gauge upgrades, but they also contain story details about your companions and the state of the world. Some areas of the map are also only accessible through these missions, so if you want to collect everything, you’ll need to make sure you do them all. Each mission is a relatively quick experience, clocking in about 5-7 minutes on average, so be sure to knock them out as you are progressing through the main story.

2 Talk To Your Einherjar

Valkyrie Elysium Main Characters Taika, Kristopher, Maria, Cypher, Eygon Stand Together Talking

Throughout the game, you will gain companions that will aid you in your mission to save the world. When they were alive, they were humans with particularly powerful souls, all with important roles in their respective societies. After their death, their souls lingered and became capable of being in service to the gods. Once they join your ranks, they become Einherjar and are able to fight with you in battle.

When you are in between chapters in Valhalla, make time to talk to each of them. By doing so, you’ll learn more about them and their relationship with you, as well as unlock important side quests related to their story. You will also gain access to some of their most powerful moves by completing these missions, so don’t sleep on them.

1 Keep The Ending In Mind (Spoiler Free)

Valkryie Elysium Maria Looks At Hands As She Is Reborn In Light

Valkyrie Elysium has a total of four endings, each with its own specific requirements for unlocking them. While none of them are technically bad endings, there are some that will ultimately leave you a little disappointed. To ensure you get the best ending, you’ll need to collect all nine Verdant Blossoms throughout the game and talk to Armand in each chapter.

The green Verdant Blossoms are different from the blue Hollow Blossoms you’ll find throughout the game and are initially unreadable until you have unlocked all nine of them. You can see which chapters have any undiscovered Verdant Blossoms by viewing them in the world globe in Valhalla. Armand is a recurring character you will encounter in each chapter. You can see him on the map in each chapter, represented by a “person” icon, and can talk to him using L2. Accomplish both of these goals, and you’ll get the proper closure you want by the time the credits roll.

Next: Valkyrie Elysium: Pro-Tips For Combat