Kratos’ nemesis in God of War (2018), Baldur, plays a huge part in Norse Mythology. It is the death of Baldur that sets off the coming of Fimbulwinter. His death affects all the nine realms in the Norse pantheon.
Fimbulwinter goes on for three years, and the day it ends signals the beginning of Ragnarok, an all-out war between the Giants and the Aesir gods, which destroys the entire Norse pantheon. God of War Ragnarok’s titular event, which is the war, begins with Baldur’s death.
Kratos is forced to kill Baldur at the end of God of War (2018) due to Baldur’s quest for revenge against Freya for robbing him of his ability to feel. Throughout the game, Freya helps Kratos complete their deeply personal quest, along with Atreus. In doing so, she gains Kratos’ trust, which is why Kratos protects her.
Why does Baldur go after Kratos in the first place?
Baldur is sent by Odin early on in the game to hunt down Kratos and Atreus. At first, it’s not clear why Baldur hunts them throughout their journey. However, in the end, we find out that Baldur was searching for a living giant in Midgard, which turned out to be Faye, Kratos’ wife, who died at the beginning of the game.
He was sent to bring Faye to the realm of Asgard, home of the Aesir gods, in order for Odin to get knowledge about the Giants’ ability to foresee the future. As Faye was the last living Giant in Midgard, Odin needed her to see the future so as to influence the outcome of Ragnarok.
How does Baldur get rid of his invulnerability?
During Kratos and Atreus’ final battle with Baldur, he finally starts to feel everything after being pierced by the mistletoe that Sindri gifted to Atreus earlier in the story. It is said that in Norse Mythology, Loki stabs Baldur with mistletoe, resulting in his death. Similar to how Atreus is found to be Loki at the end, this adds up.
In Norse Mythology, Freya asked Odin and the entire Norse pantheon to pledge an oath to never harm Baldur, meaning that Baldur was immortal. However, Freya did not ask for a mistletoe plant as she deemed it inconsequential. It was later used by Loki to break Baldur’s spell and kill him.
How does Kratos kill Baldur?
After Atreus manages to break Baldur’s spell, Kratos gives him a second chance to walk away from the path of vengeance against Freya. As Baldur is about to kill Freya, Kratos grabs him and breaks his neck, leading to the death of Baldur and the coming of Fimbulwinter.
Baldur’s death caused Freya to curse Kratos and Atreus and vow revenge upon them. She disappears with Baldur’s body, leaving Kratos and Atreus to finish their journey. Three years after Baldur’s death is where God of War Ragnarok picks up the story from.
About God of War Ragnarok
God of War Ragnarok is an action-adventure game developed by Santa Monica Studio and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment. It was released on November 9, 2022, for PS4 and PS5.
Ragnarok is the ninth installment in the God of War series, chronologically, and the sequel to 2018’s God of War. Loosely based on Norse mythology, the game is set in ancient Norway and features series protagonists Kratos and his young son Atreus. The events of the game are expected to initiate Ragnarok – a series of events that, according to Norse lore, bring about the end of days and the death of the Norse gods.
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