Confronting the chaotic aftermath of the main story events in God of War Ragnarok forces players to clean up various dimensional rifts scattered across the realms. These dimensional fractures, known as Hel Tears, spill dangerous icy enemies into civilized areas and require Kratos and his companions to defend the portal while it is being sealed. Tracking down every single one of these rifts is mandatory for completing the Hel to Pay Favor and maximizing your character gear status.
Unlocking the Favor and Early Story Portals
The quest to seal these dimensional rifts begins automatically during your first major narrative visit to Helheim. The game introduces the mechanic directly through main story progression, forcing you to close the first portal before you can continue your journey. Successfully completing this initial confrontation gives you your first upgrade component and marks the remaining locations on your map checklist.
The second portal can also be accessed quite early during the narrative arc in the area of Sindri's House. This particular encounter tests your early game combat capabilities against aggressive waves of Hel-walkers. Sealing this portal ensures your home base remains secure from external planar invasions while rewarding you with valuable materials.
Locating the Scattered Realms Portals
Once the initial encounters are settled, you must venture out into the vast open zones of the other major realms. In Alfheim, you will find a rift manifested near the Strond region, which requires careful navigation through rocky desert paths. The enemies here utilize swift elemental maneuvers, making patient defensive parrying essential for survival.
Moving over to the industrial landscapes of Svartalfheim, another rift awaits you near the Aurvangar Wetlands. This watery region requires you to use your boat to access the specific scaffolding structure where the planar tear is active. Keeping your companion focused on the sealing process while managing the crowd control mechanics is the fastest way to succeed.
Securing the Final High Level Tears
The remaining tears are located within the endgame optional areas of Vanaheim and the freezing fields of Midgard. In Vanaheim, you need to explore the Southern Wilds to discover the hidden fracture tucked away near ancient overgrown ruins. The high density of aggressive enemies makes this particular encounter one of the toughest combat challenges in the side quest.
Your final stop will lead you to the snow-covered expanse of Midgard near the Well of Urd. Navigating the frozen cliffs reveals the last glowing anomaly waiting to be sealed by your frozen weapon upgrades. Once this final portal is closed, the overarching regional favor concludes, restoring planar balance back to the world tree.
Accumulating Your Spark Rewards and Upgrades
Every successful portal defense rewards the player with a unique material known as a Frozen Spark. Gathering all six of these individual components allows you to automatically combine them into a singular Frozen Flame. This highly coveted resource is essential for upgrading the Leviathan Axe to its maximum operational level at any blacksmith shop.
In addition to the primary weapon upgrade materials, players walk away with a massive amount of experience points for both Kratos and his active companion. The chests left behind by the sealed rifts also contain unique armor attachments and valuable hacksilver caches. Taking the time to hunt down these portals ensures you are perfectly geared up for the brutal endgame boss fights.