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As for Kratos, no mere sword and shield would befit the newest servant of the God of War. The Blades of Chaos, forged in the foulest depths of Hades. Once attached the blades remained so, chained and seared to the flesh, a part of the bearer's body. A permanent reminder of Kratos' pledge.

–Gaia

The Blades of Chaos are introduced in God of War as Kratos’ signature weapons throughout the Greek Era. Forged in the depths of the Underworld and personally offered to Kratos by Ares himself, the Blades became a symbol of the Spartan’s servitude to the Olympians, emphasized by the chains bound to the very flesh of his arms. Widely feared throughout Greece, the Blades of Chaos personified what Kratos had become during the darkest period of his life: a monster who killed his own family out of bloodlust, turning him into the infamous Ghost of Sparta.

The old Blades later return during the Norse Era in God of War (2018) as Kratos’ secondary weapons. Symbols of a shameful and particularly painful past, Kratos indeed swore to bury them forever, never to be used again. Although these cursed weapons have been replaced by the Leviathan Axe, the Spartan reluctantly carried them once more out of his love for his son, eventually saving the latter's life.

History[]

The Blades of Chaos were forged in the darkest depths of the Underworld by smith god Hephaestus in the furnace of Hades himself. They were imbued with primordial fire, which allowed them to ignite with every attack that the user performed. The Blades' chains would stretch out for a set distance with each attack, allowing for fluid movement no matter who wielded them. The chains of the blades were permanently seared onto the forearms of the wielder, which served as a reminder of their oath to the God of War, and could only be removed either by the God of War himself or when the wielder's time of servitude ended. However, when their creator is dead with the servant still owning them, they can be removed or equipped, whenever needed.

HarpyChaos

The Harpies bringing the Blades of Chaos to Kratos.

After Kratos pledged his life to the God of War, Ares had his Harpies fetch the Blades of Chaos and bestowed them on the Spartan, claiming they were weapons truly worthy of a God's champion. After Ares decimated the Barbarian forces, Kratos used his new weapons to slay the Barbarian King, Alrik, in single combat. Kratos continued to utilize the Blades during his time of servitude to Ares and the Gods - even against his own wife, Lysandra, and daughter Calliope, whom he unknowingly killed while he was in a god-driven rage that was set by Ares.

Kratos, at the peak of his task to kill the God of War, had the Blades of Chaos stripped away from him after he defended his family in one of Ares's Illusions. With the Blades taken away from him, Ares manipulated the Blades to once more kill Kratos' family, while a helpless Kratos watched in horror. After the fall of Ares, the Blades were believed lost, but Kratos was soon granted the similar Blades of Athena.

After killing Ares and taking his place as the God of War, Kratos gained all of Ares' weapons, including the Blades of Chaos, though he vowed never to use them again.

GW4 - Blade's of Chaos (1)

The Blades of Chaos when recovered by Kratos in God of War (2018)

Several years later, Kratos had found the Blades of Chaos and brought them with him to the Norse realm, where he hid them, wrapped together in a thick red cloth with a simple Grecian pattern on it, under the floorboards of his cabin, hoping never to use them again.

The novel explains why Kratos kept the Blades of Chaos despite their painful history. He could not be rid of them at all; the blades always found their way back to him under the most contrived circumstances. For example, he tried to dump them in the ocean but the ocean itself rejected them and destroyed his boat. He washed up ashore with the blades next to him. After this incident, he gave up and hid them beneath the floorboards as a forced reminder of his tragic history and explosive rage.

Eventually, however, Kratos's son Atreus falls ill due to the conflicting natures within him. Learning that the main ingredient needed to treat Atreus was in Helheim—where the ice magic of the Leviathan Axe was useless due to the unyielding cold of the realm as no enemy can be killed with such a weapon—Kratos retrieved the Blades from their hiding place and grimly rebound their chains to his forearms in order to use them once more.

As opposed to the ice-aspected Leviathan Axe, the blades give off the element of fire. Once upgraded progressively with Chaos Flames, the Blades change gradually in appearance, restoring the cracked Greek blades into a more refined, Nordic style, adding Nordic glyphs similar to the Leviathan Axe. These glyphs glow fiery orange when ignited, and small runes written in Old Nordic decorate the edges of each Blade. Additionally, each upgrade was accompanied by an increasingly more intricate motif of a serpent or dragon just beneath the blade. The hilts become gold in color and gain two slots on the skulls' eyes for Runic Attacks; one for light and one for heavy, while also allowing Kratos to change the pommels for different attributes. Kratos can also infuse the fire of his left Blade to his shield, before slamming it into his foes, dealing massive damage. The Blades, via a Runic Attack called Meteoric Slam, can summon a meteor shower of fire that deals Burn damage to enemies. After meeting Brok in Helheim, the blades are also upgraded to temporarily channel the Winds of Hel.

By the time Ragnarök begins, the magic-weakening effects of Fimbulwinter had reverted the Blades of Chaos back to their cracked, rusted state. However, like before, Brok and Sindri (and later on Lúnda) were able to upgrade the Blades once again by using Chaos Flames. The skull design of the Blades’ hilts undergoes a drastic transformation, bearing a more Nordic motif than their original form. When fully upgraded, the flats of the Blades are outlined with gold, most intricately along the very edge of the Blade, and the glyphs become golden as well. Along with being weapons, Kratos also uses the Blades as a means of climbing and maneuvering high cliffs, as well as pulling down certain blockades.

Atreus asked his father, noting that he looks at his Blades as though he hates them, why he doesn’t just throw them away. Kratos tells his son that even hateful things can be useful, and reveals he had tried to dispose of them before, but the Blades came back to him. This is proven to be true, as during Kratos’ departure from Greece and his journey to the Land of the Pharaohs, he tried numerous times to be rid of the Blades only to have them magically reappear before him. Kratos has noted that although he cannot truly be rid of them, he can at least use them for good and no longer shows that much shame in them as he did in the past.

Surtr, the first Fire Giant, sensed the primordial fire within the Blades of Chaos, and while the fire was from a foreign realm, Surtr believed that their origin should not matter and would be essential in turning him into Ragnarök without the need to sacrifice Sinmara. When reaching the Spark of the World, Surtr imbued his fire into the Blades of Chaos and through them caused some pain to both Surtr and Kratos. Following Surtr's instructions, Kratos used his Blades to stab Sinmara's heart within Surtr's body, empowering the First Fire Giant to become Ragnarök.

Attacks[]

Ascension[]

Ascension Blades of Chaos LV1

Orb Costs

  • Level 1 - N/A
  • Level 2 - 3,000 Orbs
  • Level 3 - 5,000 Orbs
  • Level 4 - 12,500 Orbs
  • Level 5 - 25,000 Orbs

Level 1

  • Olympic Fury - A quick combo that hits surrounding enemies. PS3 Square, PS3 Square, PS3 Square
  • Olympic Fury (Air) - While Airborne, a quick combo that hits surrounding enemies. PS3 Square, PS3 Square, PS3 Square (Air)
  • Bravery of Hercules - A powerful but slow overhead attack. PS3 Triangle
  • Bravery of Hercules (Air) - While Airborne, a powerful but slow overhead attack. PS3 Triangle (Air)
  • Olympic Ascension - A powerful attack to launch enemies and jump into the air. Hold PS3 Triangle
  • Plume of Prometheus - A quick and powerful combo ending in an explosive finish. PS3 Square, PS3 Square, PS3 Triangle (Note: can stun enemies when performed sometimes, allowing Kratos to use them as a battering ram)
  • Icarus Lift (Air) - While in the air, press PS3 Cross to gain more height. PS3 Cross
  • Hyperion Charge - A powerful sprint. PS3 Left Stick Click
  • Hyperion Ram - (While sprinting) A powerful ram attack that sends enemies flying back. PS3 Square
  • Hyperion Slam - (While sprinting) A powerful ground slam that clears enemies. PS3 Triangle
  • Hyperion Uppercut - (While sprinting) A powerful punch that lifts enemies off the ground. PS3 Circle
  • Spartan Escape - Kratos evades out of the way. PS3 Right Stick
  • Orion's Harpoon - Kratos throws out his chain to harpoon an opponent. PS3 R1
  • Orion's Harpoon (Air) - Kratos throws out his chain to harpoon an opponent. PS3 R1 (Air)
Ascension Blades of Chaos LV2

Level 2

  • Spartan's Revenge - Kratos performs a powerful counterattack when hit during this stance; Can also deflect back enemy projectiles. PS3 L1 + PS3 Cross
  • Cyclone of Fury (Ground or Air) - A flurry of hits that pushes enemies away. Hold PS3 Square
  • Increased Damage
Ascension Blades of Chaos LV3

Level 3

  • Spirit of Hercules - (While rage is active) A powerful but slow multiple hit combo with an explosive finish. PS3 Triangle, PS3 Triangle, PS3 Triangle
  • Valor of Hercules - (While rage is active) A powerful but slow multiple hit combo with an explosive finish. PS3 Triangle, PS3 Triangle, PS3 Square
  • Falling Helios - Kratos performs a powerful multi-hit attack in mid-air. Hold PS3 Triangle (Air)
  • Increased Damage
Ascension Blades of Chaos LV4

Level 4

  • Athena's Wrath (Evading) - A powerful chain attack after evading. PS3 Right Stick, hold PS3 Square
  • Rising Helios (Evading) - Kratos performs a powerful multi-hit attack after evading. PS3 Right Stick, hold PS3 Triangle
  • Apollo's Ascension (Evading) - Simultaneously launches Kratos and enemies into the air. PS3 Right Stick, hold PS3 Cross
  • Increased Damage
Ascension Blades of Chaos

Level 5

  • Athena's Blessing - Magic orb release when Rage of the Gods is active. Rage Upgrade
  • Athena's Revenge - Increase Stun amount delivered to enemies. N/A
  • Increased Damage


Chains Of Olympus[]

Orb Costs

  • Level 1 - N/A
  • Level 2 - 2650 orbs
  • Level 3 - 4850 orbs
  • Level 4 - 8750 orbs
  • Level 5 - 11250 orbs

Level 1

BoC 1
  • Icarus Lift (Air) - While airborne, press Vita Cross to gain more height. Vita Cross, Vita Cross
  • Hyperion Ascension - Hold Vita Triangle to launch enemies and jump into the air. Hold Vita Triangle
  • Orion's Harpoon - Press Vita Circle while enemy is airborne to slam them back to the ground. Vita Circle
  • Plume of Prometheus - A quick and powerful combo ending in a fiery finish. Vita Square, Vita Square, Vita Triangle

Level 2

BoC 2
  • Cyclone of Chaos - Rapidly swing your blades, hitting all surrounding enemies multiple times. Vita Bumper Left + Vita Square
  • Cyclone of Chaos (Air) - While airborne, rapidly swing your blades, hitting all surrounding enemies multiple times. Vita Bumper Left + Vita Square
  • Increased Damage

Level 3

BoC 3
  • Spirit of Hercules - A slow but powerful multiple hit combo with an explosive finish that launches enemies into the air. Vita Triangle, Vita Triangle, Vita Triangle
  • Valor of Hercules - A powerful but slow multiple hit combo that sends enemies flying back. Vita Triangle, Vita Triangle, Vita Square
  • Hyperion Might - Hold Vita Square to slash your blades in an arc. Hold Vita Square
  • Increased Damage

Level 4

BoC 4
  • Rampage of the Furies - Focus your rage on one enemy with this multiple hit attack. Vita Bumper Left + Vita Circle
  • Rampage of the Furies (Air) - Quickly swing your blades in this multiple hit aerial attack. Vita Bumper Left + Vita Circle
  • Hermes Rush (Evading) - While evading, hold Vita Square to slam your shoulder into an enemy. Vita Square
  • Athena's Rise (Evading) - While evading, hold Vita Triangle to deliver an uppercut to launch enemies. Vita Triangle
  • Increased Damage

Level 5

BoC 5
  • Tartarus Rage - Swing your blades down onto multiple enemies, launching them into the air. Vita Bumper Left + Vita Triangle
  • Tartarus Rage (Air) - While airborne, rain down multiple attacks and land with an explosive finish, launching enemies. Vita Bumper Left + Vita Triangle
  • Increased Damage

God of War[]

Orb Costs

  • Level 1 - n\a
  • Level 2 - 1,500 Orbs
  • Level 3 - 2,250 Orbs
  • Level 4 - 3,750 Orbs
  • Level 5 - 9,000 Orbs

Level 1

  • Icarus Lift (Air) - While in the air, press PS3 Cross to gain more height. PS3 Cross, PS3 Cross
    Blades of Chaos LVI
  • Ascension - Hold PS3 Triangle to launch enemies and Kratos into the air. Hold PS3 Triangle
  • Orion's Harpoon - Launch an enemy and tap PS3 Circle to slam them back to the ground. PS3 Circle
  • Hades' Reverse - Tap PS3 L1 just before an enemy's attack connects to parry. PS3 L1
  • Plume of Prometheus - A quick and powerful combo ending in a fiery finish. PS3 Square, PS3 Square, PS3 Triangle

Level 2

  • Increased Damage
    Blades of Chaos LVII
  • Apollo's Ascension - Simultaneously launches Kratos and enemies into the air. PS3 L1 + PS3 Cross
  • Apollo's Offensive (Air) - Slam enemies back to the ground with this powerful attack. PS3 L1 + PS3 Cross
  • Hermes Rush - Ground dash attack. PS3 R1
  • Hermes Stomp (Air) - Air attack that drives Kratos quickly to the ground. PS3 R1
  • Rage of the Gods

Level 3

  • Increased Damage
    Blades of Chaos LVIII
  • Cyclone of Chaos - Kratos swings his blades around him multiple times. PS3 L1 + PS3 Square
  • Cyclone of Chaos (Air) - 360 spin attack in the air. PS3 L1 + PS3 Square
  • Spirit of Hercules - Slow but powerful combo. PS3 Triangle, PS3 Triangle, PS3 Triangle
  • Valor of Hercules - Slow but powerful combo. PS3 Triangle, PS3 Triangle, PS3 Square
  • Hades Revenge - A counterattack after parrying your foe. PS3 Square or PS3 Triangle or PS3 R1

Level 4

  • Increased Damage
    Blades of Chaos LV4
  • Rising Helios - A Multi-hit attack that targets a single enemy. PS3 L1 + PS3 Triangle
  • Falling Helios (Air) - A Multi-hit air attack ends with an explosive finish. PS3 L1 + PS3 Triangle
  • Hermes Fury - Multi-hit dash attack. PS3 R1, PS3 R1, PS3 R1
  • Achilles' Flip - While Evading, press PS3 Cross to perform a backflip attack. PS3 Right Stick + PS3 Cross
  • Tempest of the Fates (see Rage of the Gods)
  • Unnamed attack PS3 R1, PS3 R1,PS3 Square

Unnamed attack PS3 R1, PS3 R1,PS3 Triangle

Level 5

  • Increased Damage
    Blades of Chaos LV5
  • Lance of the Furies - Kratos slams the ground to send a shockwave that damages enemies caught within. Continue to hold PS3 Circle for an even greater attack. Hold PS3 L1 + PS3 Circle
  • Lance of the Furies (Air) - In the air continue to hold PS3 Circle for an even greater attack. Hold PS3 L1 + PS3 Circle
  • Might of Hercules - Hold PS3 Square during combo to unleash a powerful attack. PS3 Square, hold PS3 Square
  • Athena's Blessing (see Rage of the Gods)

God of War (2018)[]

Level 1[]

(Melee Combat)

GW4 - Blades of Chaos LV1
  • Rushing Chaos - While sprinting, Press PS4 R1 to execute a powerful double-slash attack that staggers an enemies. PS4 R1 (XP Cost: 500)
  • Rising Fury - Hold PS4 R2 to performs a powerful attack that launches enemies into the air. PS4 R2 (XP Cost: 500)

(Elemental Combat)

  • Spear of Chaos - While aiming, Press PS4 R1 to impale an enemy and yank them towards Kratos. PS4 R1
  • Immolation - Perform attacks in quick succession without sustaining damage to power up the Blades of Chaos and inflict BURN damage on every hit. Bonus ot LUCK and RUNIC. (XP Cost: 1500)
  • Elemental Slash - Aim and Press PS4 R2 to perform a powerful sweeping attack that inflicts heavy BURN damage. PS4 R2 (XP Cost:1500)

Level 2
GW4 - Blades of Chaos LV2
[]

(Melee Combat)

  • Plume of Chaos - Press PS4 R2 during the second-to-last light attack combo to add a Heavy Combo Finisher. PS4 R2 (XP Cost: 1000)
  • Whriling Chaos - Hold PS4 R1 to perform a powerful attack that strikes all enemies around Kratos. PS4 R1 (XP Cost: 1000)

(Elemental Combat)

  • Furious Immolation - Increase the amount of Immolation gained on every successful Blades hit. (XP Cost: 2000)

Level 3
GW4 - Blades of Chaos LV3
[]

(Melee Combat)

  • Chaos Slam - While sprinting, Press PS4 R2 to leap into the air and perform a powerful chain-slam attack. PS4 R2 (XP Cost: 1500)
  • Spinning Chaos Strike - While evading, Hold PS4 Left Stick forward and press PS4 R1 to perform a leaping spin attack. PS4 Left Stick + PS4 R1 (XP Cost: 1000)
  • Retreating Slash - While evading, Hold PS4 Left Stick back and Press PS4 R1 to attack all enemies in a large radius. PS4 Left Stick + PS4 R1 (XP Cost: 2000)

(Elemental Combat)

  • Elemental Surge - After impaling an enemy with the Spear of Chaos attack, Hold PS4 R1 to send an Elemental wave of energy down the chain, blasting and launching the enemy into the air. PS4 R1 (XP Cost: 3000)
  • Elemental Explosion - Increases the size and damage caused by the Elemental Surge explosion, launching all enemies in range and inflicted BURN damage. (XP Cost: 2000)
  • Elemental Charge - Aim and Hold PS4 R2 to charge up BURN damage that is inflicted on impact. PS4 R1 (XP Cost: 2000)

Level 4[]

(Melee Combat)

GW4 - Blades of Chaos LV4
  • Chaotic Ramage - Switch stances by pausing momentarliy after any Blades of Chaos attack. Once in a new stance, Press PS4 R1 to perform a flurry of close-range attacks. PS4 R1 (XP Cost: 3000)

(Elemental Combat)

  • Engulfing Spear - The Spear of Chaos attack creates a minor fire explosion on contract, lnflicting BURN damage. (XP Cost: 3000)
  • Elemental Overcharge - While aiming, Hold PS4 R2 to charge the Blades of Chaos even further and release a powerful Elemental Slash inflitcting massive BURN damage in a wide area. PS4 R2 (XP Cost: 4500) 

Level 5[]

GW4 - Blades of Chaos LV5

(Melee Combat)

  • Chaotic Frenzy - Increases the number of strikes in the Chaotic Ramage attack. (XP Cost: 1000)
  • Chaotic Flurry - Switch stances by pausing momentarliy after any Blades of Chaos attack. Once in a new stance, Press PS4 R2 to perform an explosive triple-stab dash attacks. PS4 R2 (XP Cost: 1500)
  • Chaotic Concussion - Press PS4 R2 after the Chaotic Flurry attack to perform a powerful follow-up stab that plants a detonating bomb on any enemies hit, inflitcting additional BURN damage. PS4 R2 (XP Cost: 1500)

(Elemental Combat)

  • Essence of Athena - Permanently increases LUCK by 10. (XP Cost: 10,000)
  • Essence of Ares - Permanently increases STRENGTH by 10. (XP Cost: 10,000)
  • Essence of Zeus - Permanently increases RUNIC by 10. (XP Cost: 10,000)

God of War Ragnarok[]

Skill Trees[]

Technique[]

  • Flame Whiplash 1:
    • Mashing the PS5 Triangle button imbues one of the Blades of Chaos with flames. Fully charging this ability allows for follow-up attacks to be stronger.
  • Vaporize Frost:
    • Melee Attacks with the Blades of Chaos deal additional damage against Frosted enemies.
  • Scorched Sweep 1:
    • Pressing the PS5 R1 button during Flame Whiplash will slash at enemies and apply moderate Burn. If Flame Whiplash was fully charged when the PS5 R1 button was pressed, a wave of fire is created at the impact site.
  • Scorched Earth 1:
    • Pressing the PS5 R2 button during Flame Whiplash will spike the Blade downward and create a hazardous Burn explosion. If Flame Whiplash is fully charged, a hazard of smaller follow-up explosions also occur.
  • Scorched Sweep 2:
    • Striking an enemy during its attack with Scorched Sweep will significantly increase the damage that Scorched Sweep does.
  • Scorched Earth 2:
    • Striking an enemy during its attack with Scorched Earth will significantly increase the damage that Scorched Earth does.
  • Immolation:
    • Rapid melee attacks against enemies without taking damage will power up the Blades to active Immolation, letting the Blades of Chaos inflict Burn damage on every hit and giving a bonus to Luck and Runic stats while active.
  • Furious Immolation:
    • While the Immolation bar is full, press the PS5 L1 and PS5 Triangle buttons to consume the bar and activate Furious Immolation for a duration. While Furious Immolation is active, all Blades of Chaos melee attacks are enhanced with Burning explosions, building additional Rage.
  • Scorched Sweep 3:
    • The fire wave created by a fully charged Scorch Sweep is stronger and extends farther.
  • Scorched Earth 3:
    • The fire hazard created by a fully charged Scorched Earth has increased damage and size.
  • Flame Whiplash 2:
    • Flame Whiplash can be instantly charged when the PS5 Triangle button is pressed momentarily after any Blades of Chaos attack.

Ranged[]

  • Hyperion Pull:
    • While aiming, pressing PS5 R1 impales a grounded enemy and yanks them forward, launching weaker enemies when they are within reach. Airborne enemies are instead slammed to the ground.
  • Blazing Surge:
    • While aiming, press PS5 R2 to impale an enemy and to send a fiery pulse down a chain, dealing Burn damage.
  • Hyperion Grapple 1:
    • After impaling an enemy with Hyperion Pull, holding the PS5 R1 button launches Kratos forward towards grounded enemies to cause an impact with high Stun. Airborne enemies are instead slammed to the ground.
  • Blazing Explosion 1:
    • After impaling an enemy with Blazing Surge, holding the PS5 R2 button will send the other Blade into the same target. Fiery pulses are then sent down both chains, resulting in a damaging explosion dealing massive Burn.
  • Hyperion Grapple 2:
    • Striking a grounded enemy with Hyperion Grapple causes a fiery impact that sends burning sparks forward to damage enemies behind the victim.
  • Blazing Explosion 2:
    • The blast radius of Blazing Explosion is significantly increased.

Melee[]

  • Rushing Chaos:
    • While sprinting, pressing the PS5 R1 button will cause a leap forward towards an enemy that results in a rapid spinning slash that hits multiple times.
  • Spinning Chaos:
    • While evading, hold PS5 Left Stick up and press the PS5 R1 button for a leaping spin attack. This attack is good at knocking falling enemies back into the air.
  • Chaotic Rampage 1:
    • Holding the PS5 R1 button unleashes a flurry of high damage attacks on a single enemy with the Blades in hand.
  • Chaos Slam:
    • While sprinting, pressing the PS5 R2 button will cause a leap into the air and a powerful chain slam attack, launching nearby enemies.
  • Evasive Embers:
    • While evading, hold PS5 Left Stick down and press the PS5 R1 button to send out a burst of sparks that apply Burn damage to a large area in front. Increased damage is dealt to enemies directly in front.
  • Chaotic Rampage 2:
    • Extends Chaotic Rampage with an additional attack.
  • Rising Chaos:
    • Holding the PS5 R2 button will cause the Blades to be swiped upward, Launching nearby enemies into the air.
  • Chaotic Rampage 3:
    • Chaotic Rampage now ends with a powerful finisher.
  • Plume of Chaos:
    • A Heavy Attack finisher that deals massive Burn damage and launches enemies can now be done at the end of a Light Attack combo. To enact, the following button combo must be enacted: PS5 R1, PS5 R1, PS5 R1, PS5 R1, PS5 R1, PS5 R2.

Gallery[]

Trivia[]

In General[]

  • The Blades of Chaos and the Leviathan Axe were the only primary weapons that Kratos wielded in the series that were not given to him by Athena and were instead given to him by Ares, and the latter by his second wife.
  • The Blades of Chaos were the most used pair of blades in the series and were used as main weapons in 5 occasions: God of War: Ascension, God of War: Chains of Olympus, God of War (2005), God of War (2018) and God of War: Ragnarök, tying with the Blades of Athena and the Blades of Exile. There are several models of the Blades of Chaos: (Also note that upgrading the blades also changed their models.)
    • The in-game models from God of War & God of War: Chains of Olympus, the HD cutscene model.
    • The revamped model from God of War: Ascension.
    • The Nordic model, of varying pommels from God of War (2018).
    • The revamped Nordic model, of varying pommels from God of War: Ragnarök.
  • In the HD cutscenes of God of War (2005), the Blades are shown to have silver blades and gold X guards and pommels, whereas in God of War (2018), they have become cracked and heavily rusted after roughly a century of lack of use.
  • In every God of War Game, the Health/Magic/Red Orb Indicator was shown in front of a blade model. In God of War, God of War II, and God of War: Chains of Olympus, it was most likely to be one of the Blades of Chaos, but in God of War III and God of War: Ascension, it seemed to be a non-specified blade. It was interesting to notice that in Chains of Olympus, once Kratos started to slice his enemies, the Health/Magic/Red Orb Indicator started to get stained with blood, which grew in intensity as Kratos continued to hit his enemies, only to get "clean" again after a certain amount of time elapsed after not attacking.
  • After Kratos attacked with the blades, he still held them, but when Kratos moved (jumped, walked, or ran, but did not evade), the blades then instantly rested on his back and his hands did not actually move when that happened. However, that was fixed in God of War III, and God of War: Ascension. God of War (2018) fixed the goof of the blades instantly being held when attacking, the same with the Leviathan Axe, animations of him sheathing his Blades and the Axe were made when opening chests, climbing ledges etc., unsheathing his weapons after doing these activities.
  • When any of the Blades rested on Kratos' back, no chains appeared to connect them to his wrists. It was possible that the magic of the blades, and all of Kratos' blades, that the chains on his wrists connected to the blades only when the blades were held in hand. It should also be noted that the blades rested on Kratos' bare back with no way of being held there, though that was most likely by the developer's choice.
    • When the blades rested on Kratos' back, in-game, they were positioned with the ending points of the blades pointing sideways or away from each other and one of the skulls were atop of the other. But in pre-rendered cutscenes, the points face each other, in God of War (2018), the Blades slant on the left, the right blade upside-down.
  • The Blades of Chaos also secretly appeared in specific scenes in God of War II and God of War III. That was either an Easter Egg that was left by the developers or were unnoticed goofs.
  • In God of War II, all power levels of the Blades of Athena went back to the minimum when Kratos drained his powers into the Blade of Olympus. The same happened in God of War III when Kratos fell into the River Styx, but it was not known how and why the same happened to the Blades of Chaos between God of War: Ascension, God of War: Chains of Olympus, God of War and God of War (2018).
  • According to the European PlayStation Blog, Kratos was set to use "the deadly chained Blades of Chaos" in Ghost of Sparta, despite the fact that Kratos lost them in the previous game. That was shortly thereafter corrected to the Blades of Athena.
  • The Blades of Chaos appeared in Calypso's Trophy Case in the ending of Twisted Metal (2012), which was a part of another franchise that was directed by David Jaffe.
  • The "Whirling Chaos" finisher in Destiny 2 is direcly based on the Blades of Chaos, released alongside a Kratos-themed armor set in Season of the Deep, on May 23rd, 2023.

In God of War (2005)[]

  • In the pre-rendered cutscenes of God of War, the design of the blades was rather inconsistent as they appeared unfinished in certain cutscenes. That was probably an oversight of the developers.
  • With each level upgrade, the Blades of Chaos changed shape slightly, as did the color of the flame that surrounded the chains and the Blades themselves. That persisted in subsequent God of War Games.
  • Those blades had a demonic red-orange glyph pattern on them in-game and grew in size and area as they leveled up. However, in the pre-rendered cut-scenes, they did not appear, except in God of War: Ascension.
  • In the Novel, it was revealed that the Blades of Chaos were forged by Hephaestus, but in the first game, it was mentioned that they were made in the Underworld by Ares. It was unknown which of those claims was canon. The Forge was located in the Underworld, so both could have been accurate.
  • The Rampage of the Furies Move in the Blades of Chaos differed largely from the Blades of Athena. Using BoC, Kratos swung his blades in a sideways, but downward slashes; with the BoA, Kratos swung his blades in uppercut slashes. That difference in the moveset was maybe due to a slight difference in shapes.

In God of War: Chains of Olympus[]

  • In Chains of Olympus when executing a cyclone of chaos, if done at a close enough distance from an enemy, it decapitated them and yielded magic orbs.

In God of War: Ascension[]

  • In God of War: Ascension, the looks of Blades altered drastically when they leveled up.
  • In every God of War Game, including Ascension, Kratos always had the tradition of holding his blades in forward position. However, in one of the pre-released video captures (requested by Sony) where Kratos was at one point of fighting the infected head of Aegaeon the Hecatonchires, he was seen pointing his blades backwards.
  • The final unlockable attack for the Blades of Chaos in God of War was "Lance of the Furies" (PS3 L1 + PS3 Circle). That was very similar to the "Rage of Ares" magic attack in God of War: Ascension.

In God of War (2018)[]

  • In God of War (2018), Kratos once again wields the Blades of his own volition, though it is entirely because he has no other choice in completing his journey. He even demonstrates noticeable trembling in his hands when uncovering them, indicating it is a choice he grapples with severely but ultimately must accept.
  • In contrast to how they were initially bestowed to him, the Blades' chains are not re-branded onto Kratos' arms. Instead they are wrapped around his gauntlets. Like previous games, the blades disconnect themselves from the chains when not in use, however, unlike previous games, a short length of chain will dangle down from the pommel of each blade and back up to Kratos' arm, of which likely magically connects with the longer chains when he needs to use them to execute his array of combat techniques.
  • The Blades appear to be in their cutscene Greek model design albeit with noticeable cracking and rusting, before Brok and Sindri upgrade them into their Nordic look. This can be possibly explained as either, when Ares ripped them off Kratos' arms, it took away their powers, or they simply weathered over a long period of time and lack of regular use.
  • The flame emitted by the Blades is the only thing known to be able to burn in Helheim whereas no fire from the Nine Realms could. Whether this is a testament to the Blades' power, or simply because of their being of magical nature foreign to Hel is unknown. The likelihood, added to the fact that the Blades of Chaos can burn Helheim residents, may be explained as, because Helheim is the Nordic equivalent of the Underworld, the location where the Blades were first forged, and both of them being their pantheon's respective land of the dead, their magic, albeit of opposite elements, is similar in nature.
    • Freya has stated in the novel, however, that in order to create fire in Helheim will take power even greater than that of the Leviathan Axe. Similarly, Brok expressed utter awe at seeing the power and magic of the Blades of Chaos, stating he had never seen such a weapon before, going as far as to say it would be special even compared to Mjölnir, which he and his brother made, indicating the Blades of Chaos are in fact more powerful than both superweapons of the Norse Gods.
  • Interestingly, during the vision in Hel where Kratos kills Zeus, he is shown holding the Blades of Chaos rather than the Blades of Exile, which were the primary weapon used throughout God of War III. This was most likely a developer choice to appeal to newcomers to the franchise who would only know from the mainstream that Kratos' signature weapon is the Blades of Chaos.
  • Unlike previous games, the flames of the Blades of Chaos can actually burn enemies, depending on a specific Runic Attack. This was meant to demonstrate an opposite in terms of combat to the Leviathan Axe which has ice- and frost-based attacks.
  • When fully upgraded, there is a stanza in Elder Futhark written on the Blades.

In God of War Ragnarök[]

  • The Blades' role in creating Ragnarök could be considered an ironic and benevolent mirror to what happened to Kratos; whilst the Blades were unknowingly used by the Spartan to kill his beloved wife and daughter in order to create "a perfect warrior" out of him, in Surtr's case, the Fire Giant deliberately chose to use the Blades to become a monster in a way that would spare his love, Sinmara, from a prophesied death.
  • Mimir asks Kratos if he has ever thought of using the Blades to cook meat, to which Kratos replies that the blood on them (which were from many victims including some Greek gods he had slain) would spoil and foul the meat if he did.
  • Atreus tells Kratos that sometimes he notices the way his Father look at the Blades like he hates them and asks why he don't just throw them away. Kratos simply replies that "even hateful things have their uses" And he had tried to get rid the Blades but they always came back.
    • This is a reference to the novel and the comic that tells Kratos' journey before he arrives on Norse lands where he would constantly try to get rid the Blades but whenever he woke up after sleeping or being rendered unconscious, the Blades appeared before his eyes.
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