To upgrade the Blades of Chaos to their maximum level (level 5) in God of War (2018), you need to acquire four Chaos Flames through specific boss encounters and challenges. Here is a detailed breakdown of how to obtain each Chaos Flame along with essential notes regarding the process:

Chaos Flames Acquisition Guide

1. First Chaos Flame
– Boss: Máttugr Helson
– Location: Helheim
– How to Obtain: Defeat Máttugr Helson, a troll found in Helheim. After defeating him, the Chaos Flame will drop and can be picked up immediately.
– Notes: If you accidentally miss collecting it, the Chaos Flame will be available in the Lost Items section of any shop.

2. Second Chaos Flame
– Boss: Frost and Ash Grendels
– Location: Temple of Týr
– How to Obtain: During a story quest, you will encounter and need to defeat both Frost and Ash Grendels. The Chaos Flame will drop after the battle is won.
– Notes: If you fail to pick it up right away, similar to the first, it can be retrieved from the Lost Items in shops.

3. Third Chaos Flame
– Boss: First Traveller
– Location: Helheim (second visit)
– How to Obtain: On your second visit to Helheim, you will face your first Traveller. Defeat him, and you will automatically receive the Chaos Flame.
– Notes: This item is also a guaranteed drop and can be retrieved from Lost Items if you do not collect it immediately.

4. Fourth (Final) Chaos Flame
– Requirements: Complete the Muspelheim challenge realm
– Boss: Valkyrie
– How to Obtain: After you finish the main story, unlock the Muspelheim challenge area. Complete Trials 1 to 5 and then defeat the Valkyrie at the end. The Valkyrie drops the Raging Inferno of Muspelheim.
– Exchange: Take the Raging Inferno to any shop to trade it for the final Chaos Flame needed for the upgrade.
– Notes: This step is part of the endgame and is essential for unlocking the maximum upgrade for the Blades of Chaos.

Summary of Upgrade Steps

| Chaos Flame | How to Obtain | Notes |
|————–|—————————————————|————————————————-|
| 1 | Defeat Máttugr Helson in Helheim | Dropped by boss; available as Lost Item if missed |
| 2 | Defeat Frost and Ash Grendels in Temple of Týr | Dual troll fight drops the Flame |
| 3 | Defeat first Traveller on second Helheim visit | Story boss drop |
| 4 (Final) | Complete Muspelheim challenges and defeat Valkyrie; trade Raging Inferno at shop | Post-game requirement to access final upgrade |

Conclusion

After you have collected these four Chaos Flames, visit any shop to upgrade the Blades of Chaos. The first three flames are essential to your progression in the story and cannot be missed, while the fourth requires completing Muspelheim challenges as part of the endgame content. Successfully upgrading the Blades of Chaos to maximum level also unlocks the trophy “Why Fight It?” which celebrates your accomplishment in fully upgrading this iconic weapon.