Lion's Mane is the ingredient that makes people raise an eyebrow at Ragnarok. A mushroom in a pre-workout? Here's what it is, what the research supports, what it doesn't, and why we chose to put 250 mg of it in every scoop.
What Lion's Mane is
Hericium erinaceus is an edible mushroom that's been used in East Asian cooking and traditional practice for centuries. It's studied today for compounds (hericenones and erinacines) that support nerve growth factor, a protein involved in the maintenance of neurons. In plain English: it's a nootropic, a compound taken to support cognitive function, not a stimulant.
What the research actually shows
Small human trials in healthy adults have reported improved speed on cognitive tasks and lower subjective stress after about four weeks of daily use. The effect is cumulative and mild, not a switch you flip. That's an important expectation to set: you won't feel Lion's Mane on scoop one the way you feel caffeine. You notice it around week three or four as a “locked-in” quality during training, which is exactly what our customers report most consistently once they've finished most of a tub.
What Lion's Mane is not: it's not a stimulant, it won't raise your heart rate, and it doesn't replace sleep. It's also not a treatment for anything, and we won't pretend otherwise.
Why 250 mg, and why in a pre-workout
Studies use ranges from 250 mg up to several grams a day of fruiting-body extract. We dose 250 mg because that's a meaningful daily contribution from one scoop without turning the tub into a mushroom supplement with some caffeine in it. Pairing it with caffeine is deliberate: caffeine supplies the drive, Lion's Mane and CDP Choline supply the focus, and L-Theanine keeps it smooth. The result is a pre-workout that feels like concentration rather than agitation. For a 55-year-old who wants to stay sharp at work after a 6 am session, that's the point.
How to get the most out of it
Consistency beats dose. One scoop on training days and half a scoop on rest days keeps your daily intake steady across the 28-day window the research points to. If you're taking Ragnarok three times a week and expecting a cognitive effect by day five, you'll be disappointed. Give it the tub. If you're not feeling more locked in by the end of it, the 30-day guarantee means you paid nothing to find out.
| Per scoop | Dose | What it's for |
|---|---|---|
| L-Citrulline | 6,000 mg | blood flow, endurance |
| Beta-Alanine | 3,200 mg | muscular endurance (the tingle) |
| Betaine Anhydrous | 1,000 mg | power output, hydration |
| Creatine HCl | 750 mg | strength, ATP |
| Agmatine Sulfate | 500 mg | pump support |
| Lion's Mane | 250 mg | focus, “locked-in” feel |
| Pink Himalayan Salt | 200 mg | electrolytes |
| Caffeine (from green coffee bean) | 175 mg | energy, drive |
| CDP Choline | 150 mg | focus, mind-muscle connection |
| Theobromine | 100 mg | smooth, longer energy curve |
| L-Theanine | 100 mg | smooths caffeine, no crash |
| Di-Caffeine Malate (sustained-release) | 50 mg | extends the caffeine curve |
Straight from the Supplement Facts panel: 12 actives, every dose printed, no proprietary blends. Total caffeine 225 mg (175 mg green coffee bean + 50 mg di-caffeine malate). No dyes, no sugar; colored with beet root.
Focus you can feel by week three.
250 mg Lion's Mane + 150 mg CDP Choline + 100 mg L-Theanine, alongside 225 mg smooth caffeine.
See Ragnarok →This guide is general information, not medical advice. Ragnarok is a dietary supplement and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. If you take prescription medication, have a heart condition or high blood pressure, or are unsure about caffeine, talk to your doctor before using any pre-workout.
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