Like the God of War 2018, the Ragnarok sequel also features a selection of Gears that you can mix and match to improve the abilities of Kratos. One such item you can obtain in God of War Ragnarok somewhat early is the Cursed Empress Handles, which increases your Strength and Runic power with every Blade hits. Definitely a decent choice for a piece of early-game equipment considering you’ll be using the Blade of Chaos often. Here is where you can unlock the Cursed Empress Handles and how to upgrade the Gear in GOW Ragnarok.
Unlock Cursed Empress Handles – GOW Ragnarok
“Handles once belonging to an empress who sought to challenge the gods. Forged in the fires of vengeance, they continue to seek death in the hands of their new owner.”
Keep playing the game until you meet the dwarf Durlin and acquire the “In Service to Asgard” Side Quest that takes you to a place called the Watchtower at the Bay of Bounty, Svartaflheim. There, you have to defeat The Hateful mob World Boss, where three of them will spawn at the same time in a rather small arena. After The Hateful have been defeated, check the Chest in the arena and you should obtain the Cursed Empress Handles as well as the Chaos Spark Weapon Upgrade for your GOW Ragnarok playthrough.
Equipping the Cursed Empress Handles in God of War Ragnarok gives the ability called Power of the Empress, granting a Low Chance of buffing Kratos’s Strength and Runic on any Blades hit and can stack up to three times.
How to Upgrade Cursed Empress Handles – GOW Ragnarok
| Level | Stats | Materials |
| 1 | – | – |
| 2 | Strength: 4 Luck: 5 |
– |
| 3 | Strength: 8 Luck: 9 |
800 Hacksilver Rawhide x6 |
| 4 | Strength: 11 Luck: 13 |
2,400 Hacksilver Stonewood x2 |
| 5 | Strength: 15 Luck: 17 |
4,000 Hacksilver Stonewood x5 |
| 6 | Strength: 18 Luck: 22 |
6,000 Hacksilver Petrified Bone x1 |
| 7 | Strength: 22 Luck: 26 |
9,000 Hacksilver Petrified Bone x2 |
| 8 | Strength: 25 Luck: 30 |
12,000 Hacksilver Sovereign Coals x4 |
| 9 | Strength: 29 Luck: 34 |
16,000 Hacksilver Glowing Embers x3 Whispering Slab x20 |
Related:
Where to Find the Belt of Radiance in God of War Ragnarok
God of War Ragnarok is exclusive to PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4.
