PC version:

With the release of the PC version, PC has been added as a platform. PC runs will use the IGT plugin for LiveSplit created by Dobrido, this way you can see the IGT directly on LiveSplit and will not need to open the load menu at the end of the run to check your time. The IGT plugin also works on all the categories that on console use RTA, so those categories will be timed with IGT on PC.

Another requirement for PC runs is that the framerate must be capped at 144 fps or lower. This is to maintain competition fair and to avoid runners having to play with minimum settings to get an advantage in the run. For verification, PC runs will have to either display fps on screen during the run (with an external program) or show the fps cap setting at the end of the run.

We have created PC savefiles for use on NG+ categories. They provide the max stats allowed in each NG+ category (see more below). Their use is not required but is recommended as they are an accessible and convenient way to run the game.

Since the PC version is still somewhat unstable, if your game crashes you are allowed to reopen the game and continue the run from the "continue" button. The IGT plugin has been built to resume timing from where it stopped.

Restricted and unrestricted NG+ runs:

NG+ categories have been divided into two subcategories: Restricted and Unrestricted. Restricted refers to NG+ saves prepared from a single NG+ playthrough. Unrestricted refers to NG+ saves from unlimited NG+ playthroughs, which allows you to farm stats indefinitely.

This new subdivision solves the problem of new runners having to play through the game dozens of times to accumulate stats until they get to the point they are competitive with top runners. With the PC version making it easier than ever to create hacked savefiles with very high stats, we think it's important to have an alternative way to run the game.

For verification, if running restricted, you are required to show the Codex->Resources menu at the end of the run to show that you have the correct number of Dews.

New requirement for WR runs:

WR runs now require controller inputs to be displayed on screen at all times. Since the game has a built-in option to display inputs, this is a very trivial thing to do and will make WR runs more legitimate and reproducible. If playing with mouse and keyboard on PC, this option does not work correctly, so you are required to use of an external program to display your inputs on the screen.

Rule for runs streamed directly from PS5:

This rule was already applied on all GoW games available on PS5 (GoW3, GoW2018, and Ragnarok), and now it has been made official on Ragnarök.

We require RTA categories played on stream to use a timer to track any possible frame drops. This, however, is not possible to do if you stream on PS5 using the console's own streaming option. So if you have livestreamed an RTA run using the built-in PS5 streaming feature, and your run is over 1 hour in duration (shorter runs can be recorded on video), you are required to provide a screenshot of your timer application showing splits and final time. Additionally, the run cannot have any connection drops. This rule allows these runs to remain valid while still providing an adequate level of verification.

Rules in Portuguese:

Since our community has a lot of Brazilian players, all game and category-specific rules have been translated into Portuguese, as is done on the other GoW games.

The Very Hard - NUR Glitchless category has been added to the leaderboards. NUR stands for No Upgrade Run and is a harder way to play the game for those that want even more challenge than the standard Very Hard Glitchless run. The specific restrictions for NUR can be found in the categorie's rules.

With the discovery of a big skip that saves over 10 minutes in the beginning of the game, the Svartalfheim% NG+ category has a new Standard Glitchless subcategory, for those that don't want to perform this glitch. Since this skip is only possible on NG+, the non-NG+ Svartalfheim category is unchanged.

A new skip has also been found on the Valhalla dlc, allowing you to skip the first Týr fight. Since the current Valhalla category is glitchless, a new Valhalla Any% category has been created in the category extensions board. You can find it here: https://speedrun.com/gowce

With the release of the Valhalla DLC, we have created its own category for runs.

Since the DLC has well defined start and end points, the rules are simple: The run starts in the main menu when selecting the difficulty of the run, and ends when starting the final cutscene after defeating Týr for the fourth time.

The category is divided into Standard and Very Hard difficulties.

With the first 100% run being completed by Speed Gunner, the 100% category has been added to the leaderboards. Timing uses IGT the same way as other full game runs. This category includes subcategories for NG/NG+ modes, and Standard/Very Hard difficulties, along with the platform division every category has.

With the release of NG+, new categories have been created:

• Any% NG+ • NG+ Very Hard Glitchless • Svartalfheim% NG+ • Berserker% NG+ • Muspelheim% NG+

When submitting a run of these categories, write the name of the armor kit used during the run in the "Armor Kit" field. This helps everyone see what armor each runner decides to use, especially during this early period when there is no defined meta.

We can still create more categories if there is interest. For example, something using the Spartan armor, possibly with Burdens.

Today the leaderboards are open.

We have decided to use IGT (in game time) as the timing method for the main game runs; this way we have a natural load remover and run verification is easier. Secondary categories that don't start from a new game (Berserker% and Muspelheim%) still use RTA (real time). Forum post with info on how IGT works: https://speedrun.com/gow_ragnarok/thread/46row/

The categories are divided into the three platforms the game was released on (PS5, PS4, PS4 Pro). Since each platform has a different framerate, it's best to divide the leaderboard, even if loads are not counted when timing the run with IGT.

Unfortunately the game was released without an NG+ mode or a way to skip cutscenes, so the current run is quite long and has A LOT of cutscenes. We hope a patch gets released soon, as was done with God of War (2018).

We are still open to feedback and suggestions regarding new rules and new categories, including categories for the Category Extensions page (https://speedrun.com/gowce).

The current categories are:

• Any%: The standard run of the game on the easiest difficulty; glitches are allowed, although no skips or major glitches have been found yet. If the game is like the previous entry, we predict this category will remain essentially glitchless. • Very Hard Glitchless: Full run of the game on Very Hard (Give Me God of War) difficulty. Glitches are not allowed, should any be found. • Svartalfheim%: A short category that ends upon completing the first Svartalfheim section of the game, after rescuing Tyr, with either Any% or Very Hard Glitchless rules. This category is good for players that can't or don't want to play for 10+ hours to complete a full game run. In other God of War games, the short category is in the Category Extensions page, but to increase its visibility we are testing putting it on the main board this time. • Berserker%: A challenging category that is similar to Valkyrie% from the previous game. The goal is to defeat all Berserkers, with options to play on Standard difficulty or Very Hard. • Muspelheim%: A challenging category that is similar to The Trials from the previous game. The goal is basically to complete the challenges of Muspelheim, including the Valkyrie Gná fight, on either Standard difficulty or Very Hard. Since the challenges on the side arenas are relatively easy and repetitive, this category only includes the 6 main challenges at the center arena, which are freely accessible after completing them for the first time.

To give everyone enough time to enjoy the game and discuss what the categories and rules will be, we will open the leaderboards on November 30, three weeks after the game's release. Players are welcome to start routing the game and doing preliminary runs before then. I invite everyone to join the God of War speedrunning discord where discussions will happen: https://discord.gg/RM8S7J8