This article contains lore based on real-life sources from Norse Mythology as introduced from the God of War Norse Era.
| “ | Home of the illustre Aesir gods, Asgard is the most exclusive destination in the nine realms. The eponymous capital city, shielded by the Great Wall of Asgard, is accessible by invitation only. Should you receive one, be sure to visit the legendary Great Lodge, and the no less legendary Mead Hall. Other notable locales include Valhalla - though invitations to visit there should be correctly interpreted as threats. | ” |
–Description of Asgard on the Field Notes | ||
Asgard, also known in Old Norse as Ásgarðr, was one of the Nine Realms of the World Tree and the fabled home of the Aesir gods from where they watched over the other eight realms. High up in the crown of Yggdrasil, Asgard was ruled with cunning by the vicious All-Father from his hall since time immemorial and was also the final home of the bravest fallen warriors from Midgard, to which Asgard remained connected via the legendary rainbow bridge. Traditionally associated with knowledge, war and power, Asgard was nevertheless promised to certain doom at the hands of the Jötnar at the time of Ragnarök, which drove the Asgardians to turn their homeland into a fortress and caused the spark of a ruthless campaign of conquest and genocide against all the other realms.
The sheer power of the Aesir gods and their seemingly endless military resources allowed the Asgardians to progressively subdue the Nine Realms, putting their enemies under firm political and economical dominance for the sole benefit of Asgard. As for the All-Father, his utmost desire to prevent Ragnarök from happening fuelled by his obsession for knowledge led him to greedily steal and plunder every bit of lore from all the realms he could possibly find. However, the Aesir finally met their match upon invading Vanaheim, the home of their steadfast rivals. In spite of their brute power, the Aesir severely underestimated the Vanir response to their invasion, leading both sides to a stalemate after centuries of war.
Consequently, they concluded an uneasy truce in the form of a marriage between Freya and Odin, the two main leaders of their respective camp. But after a long period of peace, the fallout of their union drove the Asgardians to take advantage of Freya's banishment by Odin, and resume their military conquest, this time with success. Their brutal dominance eventually came to an end with Ragnarök, the onset of which was accelerated by the prophesied foreign intervention of Kratos and his son. The Ghost of Sparta united the Norse realms and used the legendary power of Gjallarhorn to successfully lead the invasion of Asgard, putting an end to the rule of the Aesir for good. In the wake of its destruction, its burning remnants fell all over the other realms and became the rallying point to Odin's last servants.
Asgard is a major location introduced in God of War: Ragnarök, though it can only be visited by Atreus a few times during the main storyline. Not only does the realm of the Aesir offer a singular and rather refreshing perspective of the Asgardian way of life, this is also the place where the character of Loki as well as his relationship with Odin and the Aesir gods are developed in depth.
Norse Mythology[]
Asgard was typically described as a golden and heaven-like land.
Asgard (Old Norse: Asgardr; "enclosure of the Gods") is a cosmic location that is associated with the Æsir, and is their fortified home. Some of the most well-known Aesir gods who dwelt there are Odin, Thor and Loki.
The home of the Aesir is also where some godly abodes are located such as Valhalla, the magnificent golden hall where the Einherjar live and train, Þrúðvangr, the home of Thor and his wife Sif, Himinbjörg, the home of Heimdall, the whitest of the Gods. and Breiðablik, the home of Baldr, the Norse God of Light.
While the realm of Asgard was being built, an unnamed builder with his stallion Svaðilfari, arrived and he offered to build the Gods a high fortification around their home to keep invaders out. In exchange, he asks for Freyja the most beautiful Goddess of the Vanir, along with the sun and moon. While Freyja strongly objects this, Odin and the other Gods agreed, however, they placed numerous restrictions on the builder: he should complete the job in one season and should accomplish without the assistance of any man. In response, the builder asked if he could let Svaðilfari help him on the job. Thanks to the influence of the trickster God, Loki, the gods allowed this.
As the builder and Svaðilfari were doing about their work, the gods, overtime, grew distressed and were surprised when Svaðilfari performed twice the builder's deeds of strength by hauling enormous stones. The builder and his stallion, immediately made fast progress on the wall and three days before the deadline, which is in summer, they're almost at the entrance. Seeing this, the Gods fearfully gathered and agree that Loki was to blame for allowing the builder to use his stallion. The gods threatened Loki that they'll give him several punishments if he didn't come up with a way to prevent the builder from finishing the job. In fear, Loki swore to come up with a scheme that would make the builder forfeit his payment no matter the cost.
That night, as the builder and Svaðilfari went out to fetch more stone, Loki, in the guise of a beautiful mare, came out of the woods and neighed at Svaðilfari, causing the stallion to become frantic with desire. He tore apart his harness and began chasing after the mare, who ran into the woods, with the builder close behind. This caused the work to be put on hold throughout the rest of the night. Knowing that he could not finish his work on time, the builder went into a rage, revealing himself before the gods as a giant. Seeing the builder's true form, they immediately disregard their oaths and called upon Thor, who immediately arrived, and the Thunder God kills the builder with his hammer Mjölnir. Because of his ramp with Svaðilfari, Loki gave birth to a foul with eight legs, who eventually became the legendary Sleipnir, Odin's prized horse.
After Asgard was made, the Aesir constructed a pagan temple called Glaðsheimr, in the very center, which is where the high seat of Odin along with twelve other seats are placed. It was described as golden on both the inside and outside and is the best of all buildings in the world. A hall for the goddesses, Vingólf, was also built along with a forge, where the gods could craft objects/items from gold.
In the God of War Series[]
Government[]
- Main article: Odin
| “ | You don't talk. You don't think. I think, YOU kill! It's a simple FUCKING concept. | ” |
Odin spent a great deal of time working in his secret study, searching for what he calls the "truth of creation".
The All-Father may be a self-appointed title, but there is no mistaking the fact that Odin displays enough charisma, authority and power to effortlessly rule over the Norse Pantheon as well as the Nine Realms as a whole. Behaving with subtlety and willing to keep an absolute control in every circumstances, Odin prefers very much to work behind the scenes by letting his henchmen do his bidding, while he focuses on gathering even more knowledge. However, the burden of power together with the fear of a prophesied demise inevitably took its toll on the powerful Aesir god, making him increasingly greedy and paranoid. Such behaviour would prove to cause great harm to the ruling family, as Odin did not have qualms to sacrifice even his closest followers when he saw fit. So much so that some prominent gods such as Týr, Sif and even Thor himself would ultimately turn on the All-Father by openly disobeying, albeit with dire consequences. Nevertheless, Odin has proved to be a pragmatic and efficient ruler, as demonstrated when he willingly made an alliance with Vanaheim in the form of a marriage with Freya, thus putting an end to a devastating conflict that lasted way too long. In the meantime, he progressively bribed the Dwarfs with the help of Mimir and established a total economical and political control over Svartalfheim, ensuring an endless supply of high quality weapons and raw materials to Asgard. But all in all, Odin used fear to keep on a leash those beneath him: the All-Father could be virtually everywhere at once thanks to his sly little spies, and knew everything. Ultimately, he ruled for the sake of his power, not for his people or even the Nine Realms.
Military[]
- Main article: Einherjar
| “ | Asgard's finest. A warrior of Midgard wants nothing more than to fall in battle. It would ensure passage to Valhalla, a promised land where the honorable and wretched alike are sent. There, Odin selected the best and gave them another chance to die for him, thus creating the Einherjar. | ” |
–Description of the Einherjar by Atreus | ||
The Einherjar are formidable foe, not to be underestimated.
The bulk of Asgard's military is constituted by the Einherjar, who were the fallen warriors from Midgard. Following their death, they have been brought to Valhalla by the Valkyries and upon receiving the All-Father's blessing, they become bound to him and Asgard until Ragnarök comes. But contrary to myth, the Einherjar don't spend all their time feasting or drinking in Asgard: their new meaning is now to train endlessly in order to prepare for Ragnarök. The All-Father needs the best soldiers at his disposal and as such, an adequate training is required. This is where the Valkyries come to the fore, providing their new students advanced combat techniques by emphasizing the use of Bifröst. The Einherjar are generally equipped with heavy weapons and more importantly, their structure is very hierarchical. Indeed, each of them is specialized in a specific area: one would become captain, while the others would be archers or even thieves. Under the supervision of the Valkyries, not only do they hone their ability to work in a team and coordinate, they also strengthen their fealty to their new homeland. Beside, many Einherjar are found patrolling key areas, whether in Asgard or anywhere else in the Nine Realms. Their biggest strength lies in their ability to respawn in Valhalla as soon as they are "killed" again, meaning that Odin basically never runs out of reinforcements.
Society & Culture[]
- Main article: Black Thunder
| “ | Let it be known that the God of Thunder is good for two things: killing Giants, and PISSING mead! | ” |
–A drunk Thor in the Black Thunder | ||
Aesir in the Great Lodge
The Aesir certainly aren't subtle or refined people. According to Cory Barlog, they are hard drinking, proud-to-be-the-dirtiest-and-nastiest, down-to-fight and they enjoy every second of life. That is much clear when one comes to Asgard: the Aesir typically eat and feast together around a big table, and the mead being the national drink, it is not uncommon to witness sudden and brutal fights. These rustic people enjoy traditions and are usually covered in Norse runes and tattoos of great significance to them. The Asgardians do not pay much attention to the quality of their attire, and their outfit seemingly reflects their position into the society. For instance, where Baldur or Thor were mere henchmen thrown into the thick of the battle, Heimdall or Odin enjoyed a higher standing due to their sheer role in Asgard.
Infrastructures[]
- Main article: The Great Lodge
Settlements in Asgard are reminiscent of a Viking town, with big and sturdy wooden abodes.
As shown in God of War: Ragnarök, the Aesir built the hall of Gladsheim with the Great Lodge as a hub, a place traditionally reserved for the chieftain. There s no grand palace nor statues to the glory of the gods in Asgard: instead, the city is made up of numerous big and sturdy wooden abodes, in the purest Viking style. Heimdall mentions that Odin doesn't have grand palaces as the truly strong don't need to flaunt or be flashy, instead letting their strength speak from themselves. Given Odin's penchant for intentionally presenting himself as simple and humble, in order to manipulate others into following him by making himself seem approachable. It is possible that Asgard's simplistic look is meant to encourage this facade. Especially since Heimdall explains that not all Aesir are gods meaning Odin has average people to appeal to. However, despite how it looks Asgard is quietly an incredibly advanced civilization. The Aesir also make ingenious use of the limited geographical space at their disposal with many tunnels and rooms carved into the rock. Numerous scaffoldings and wooden cranes are seen throughout the city, a sign that the hall is well maintained and constantly evolving. It is worth pointing out that this scheme is followed by the Midgardian refugees building up their settlement outside the wall, implying that there isn't much difference between the Aesir gods and the mortals.
Geography[]
While Asgard is never seen in God of War (2018) and remains shrouded in mystery throughout the game, the realm is shown for the first time in God of War: Ragnarök as a heavenly, green and rather steep world with little to no vegetation at all. Surrounded by snow-capped mountainous ranges, Asgard is traversed by vast expanses of water and virtually uninhabited highlands called the Plains of Ida. The most stunning sight undoubtedly comes from the Walls of Asgard, a massive raw rocky belt strewn with giant, rusty nails driven into the rock long ago by the giant Hrimthur. Not far off the wall, the Temple of Týr can be seen half immersed, with the Realm Towers all around it. Interestingly, the Asgard Tower is found into the wall - this is the secret location of Hrimthur's Flaw, and the only weakness of the enormous wall. All around is also the location of Vigrid, a large field foretold to host the final battle between the Aesir and the Giants. This area is where the host of Asgard will eventually gather, be equipped with war machines and reinforced with trenches in order to contain the incoming assault. By looking at the sky, one can easily spot the Bifröst, the burning rainbow bridge that reaches between Asgard and Midgard. Although there are some dangerous creatures wandering around, Asgard is much safer than any other realm and is virtually unaffected by Fimbulwinter.
Lushful plains, rivers and glaciers make up the Asgardian landscape.
This is further corroborated by the fact that there are also many people from Midgard - seemingly brought here by the All-Father himself - now settling in the safety and shadow of Hrimthur's Wall, roughly towering a few hundred meters above the floor. However, no mortal is allowed within the walls themselves as Heimdall keeps a watchful eye on them. Just behind lies Gladsheim, one of the two main halls of Asgard inhabited by Aesir gods and subjects alike. The most important place there is undoubtedly the Great Lodge, the very home of the Allfather, his ravens Huginn & Muninn and the other Aesir gods. Located at the edge of a cliff, The Great Lodge most notably shelters Odin's Study and the Rift, where the King of the Aesir spends much of his time gathering as much knowledge as possible. Nearby is Black Thunder, a popular pub Thor regularly frequents - much to his daughter's dismay. There are also training areas where the Valkyries teach the Einherjar advanced combat techniques and even an area where the war machines built by the Dwarves are stored and under maintenance.
Plot[]
Backstory[]
The home of the Aesir is where the great hall of Valhalla is located, the magnificent golden hall where the Einherjar live and train, and most likely the place where Odin's court gathers as well. Asgard was also one of the battlefields in the Aesir's raging war against the Vanir, thus it was ravaged after the centuries-long war. It was the marriage of Odin, the King of the Aesir, with Freya, one of the leaders of the Vanir, that finally brought peace to Asgard and the rest of the Nine Realms. During Thor's genocidal campaign against the Jötnar, Asgard's walls were in need of fortifications, but none of the Aesir wanted to take care of such a menial task until one day a strange man made a bet with Odin. In exchange for reinforcing Asgard's walls in a near-impossible timespan, the stranger, actually the Jötunn Hrimthur in disguise, would be allowed to talk to Freya. According to Mimir, Hrimthur hid a weak spot in the walls' defenses and entrusted the secret only to Freya before being discovered and killed by Thor.
God of War (2018)[]
Realm Travel Door of Asgard remains locked througout the whole game.
Unfortunately, the access to the realm through Týr's Temple has been sealed by Odin, thus allowing nobody to visit it. The Aesir stronghold is nevertheless mentioned several times throughout the game and is notably the place where Magni, Modi and Baldur attempt to take Atreus and Kratos to when they hunt them down. The son of Odin notably initiates the sequence to open the Realm Travel Door of Asgard, but is interrupted in extremis by the Ghost of Sparta. Generally speaking, Kratos and his son conscientiously avoid hanging out too close to this door as it is leads directly to the homeland of their enemies. Nevertheless, taking a closer look at the carvings give us a pretty good idea of how Asgard might look like. One could notice Hrimthur's Wall still under construction, with its builder on the left side and a horse carrying enormous stones on the other side. Towering behind the structure is the Great Lodge, with four other Viking abodes of much smaller size. Last but not least, many Einherjar can be seen guarding the sanctuary.
God of War Ragnarök[]
While Kratos and Thor were engaged in a furious brawl on the frozen Lake of Nine, Odin seized the opportunity to invite Atreus in Asgard. Even though the young man refused at first, he remained haunted by the prophecy announcing the death of his father. While Atreus never seriously considered visiting Odin, he grew increasingly frustrated by his inability to find the answers to his questions. What if he could find them in Asgard, the very place where the All-Father spent a lifetime gathering his knowledge?
,,Not a sign of Fimbulwinter here!''[]
A flabbergasted Atreus discovers the enormous Walls of Asgard.
When Atreus tells Sindri that he wants to go to Asgard, this left the dwarf greatly troubled and believed Atreus has gone mad. Following a bitter dispute with his father, Atreus runs away from Sindri's House and heads back to Midgard by using the Mystical Gateway. His escape eventually leads him to Sanctuary Grove, Freya's abandoned home. There, a discouraged Atreus is met by Huginn, who has been somehow expecting the boy's arrival. As Atreus ask him to transport him to Odin, the ravens oblige and promptly teleport him to Asgard. Atreus then found himself dropped in the cold water of the Ifing river, and briefly struggled to reach the safety of the shores. Having caught his breath, he took some time to look around him, wondering where he was, and the first thing he noticed was the Bifröst, a rainbow bridge stretching on the sky, far above him. Although he wasn't sure yet, Atreus already had a pretty good idea of where he ended up.
The absolutely lushful and breath-taking landscape also made him realize that Fimbulwinter never affected the realm: although the weather was still fairly cold, it felt so much warmer than in Midgard. When Atreus followed Huginn, who kept a watchful eye on him at a respectful distance, he saw an enormous wall in front of him, Atreus realized that he had reached his destination. Having contemplated it for a few seconds, he kept going and had to fight off a series of hostile creatures until he reached a small settlement not far off the Niflheim Tower, near the half-immerged Temple of Týr. There, he met Skjöldr, a refugee from Midgard who explained that he – as well as the other people – have been brought in Asgard by the All-Father himself, following the Desolation. It is worth to point out that Skjöldr may have been the first friendly person Atreus ever met since years, and the young man genuinely felt pleased to share a conversation with him. He could not resist either to pretend that he was Odin's apprentice, which sincerely impressed a gullible Skjöldr – much to Atreus’ pleasure.
| “ | Well, Loki, you seem like a good guy. I hope I'm not about to watch you die. | ” |
The Bearer of Gjallarhorn[]
- Main article: Heimdall
Heimdall holding Atreus
However, he now faced a predicament: how could he possibly reach the All-Father with such a gigantic wall in front of him? As Skjöldr rightfully pointed out a few moments ago, there was virtually no entrance, nor possibility to bypass this obstacle unless you're an Aesir god. However, Atreus takes a gamble and decided to push on by climbing the enormous wall. He knew he had become particularly skilled at rock climbing, by Kratos’ own admission. He then began climbing the wall, taking a break from time to time to catch his breath and admire the sight that was offered to him. Still closely followed by Huginn, he managed to reach the top of the wall. But at this very moment, an Aesir Stranger showed up and grabbed his wrist, without pulling Atreus up though. Smiling at the young Jötunn, his appearance was quite intimidating because of his glowing Bifröst-imbued eyes. Although he displayed a seemingly friendly stance, it turned out that this Stranger was toying with Atreus and had no intention in saving him. Unsatisfied by the confused explanations of his prey, he decided to let him fall from he wall, only to change his mind when Atreus, claiming to be of the Jötnar, desperately mentioned Odin's wrath should anything happen to him. The Aesir Stranger reluctantly pulled Atreus up, and as the latter noticed Gjallarhorn on his belt, he quickly understood he was facing Heimdall, the legendary Bearer of Gjallarhorn.
| “ | You literally know nothing of our culture, do you? | ” |
The beginning of a hate story
Upon reaching the opposite side of the wall, Atreus got the privilege to admire the hall of Gladsheim – a rare sight for Giants, according to his host. As they used a gondola to reach the ground in safety, Heimdall starred at Atreus and seized the opportunity to read his guest's mind to try and learn more about him. The God of Foresight quickly noticed the conflicted inner nature of Atreus and started lecturing him, rightfully guessing that he wasn't exactly here to aid Asgard. Heimdall nevertheless brought Atreus with him on Gulltoppr, his personal steed. As they slowly made their way throughout the city, the two of them kept arguing about piteous stuff, further emphasizing their rivalry to the point of hate. But upon arriving in front of the Great Lodge, the Watchman of the Aesir decided it was time to toy with his guest. He summoned several Einherjar for what he called “dummy practice”, before facing Atreus in person. For all his skills, the son of Kratos was no match to Heimdall, the latter effortlessly throwing his opponent on the ground. He was then about to finish him off, only to be stopped just in time by Thor himself. The God of Thunder explicitly made Heimdall step down when Odin himself showed up, back from Sindri's House. The All-Father immediately adopted a benevolent attitude towards his guest, and publicly lectured his two sons for the treatment inflicted to Atreus. Heimdall ultimately backed up and bowed to Odin, though he intended to keep an eye on the boy.
| “ | But you, you're curious. Open-minded. That's important. | ” |
A Major Learning Opportunity[]
Training camp
As the ruler of the Nine Realms, Odin had much to do and he asked Atreus to come with him. They first went near the training camp of the Einherjar, where the latter were improving their combat skills with Hrist and Mist, the two last Valkyries who remained loyal to the All-Father. This area of Gladsheim was full of Odin's dead soldiers, who were either patrolling and exercising, paying a particular attention to their new Bifröst-powered weapons. As the All-Father berated Hrist and Mist for their brutal training tactics, the Valkyrie Queen – much to Atreus surprise – approached and informed Odin that the Einherjar were ready for his blessings. The following scene gave us the opportunity to learn about how the All-Father proceeds, only to return to the Great Lodge a few seconds later. Odin then introduced Atreus to his home, which shows on how the Aesir lived an Asgardian lifestyle. They first reached the feasting hall, and went down the stairs beneath the Great Lodge. For the first time, Odin mentioned the project he has long been working with, presenting it as a “major learning opportunity” for both of them. There, an incredulous Atreus realized that his room was ready – the room of Modi, the very demigod he personally killed three years ago. They were quickly joined by Sif, who coldly welcomed Atreus into her home. After this awkward moment, Odin and Atreus made one last stop to visit Durlin, who was working on the Bifröst-fueled War Machines. Dissatisfied with the repeated delays, the All-Father nevertheless remained lenient – showing evidence of the long lasting collaboration between Asgard and Svartalfheim - but urged the Dwarf to stay on line. Finally, he brought himself and Atreus back home and diligently asked Atreus to join him in his study as soon as he was ready.
The Mask of Creation[]
Odin intended to use Atreus as a means to unveil the secrets of the mask.
The reason behind Odin's invitation to Atreus, as well as his benevolence towards the latter lie beneath the Great Lodge, in a secret underground known as the Rift. After the All-Father slayed Ymir long ago, a strange green and unnatural light suddenly appeared out of nowhere, in the form of a small rift seemingly floating in the air. The impact on Odin was such that he quickly became obsessed with one idea: to discover and learn the secrets within the rift. More importantly, this source of light shares a strange connection with a wooden piece of mask, whose pieces are missing and seemingly scattered in other realms. Much to his frustration, Odin proved to be unable to decrypt the ancient writings engraved on the piece of mask he possessed.
| “ | I have a project I think you'll be interested in. A major learning opportunity for both of us. | ” |
But he sensed that Atreus, gifted with undeniable skills in ancient and forgotten languages, could possibly help him. Presenting this task as a “major learning opportunity” for both of them, Odin ingeniously told Atreus what the latter wanted to hear; a chance to possibly save his father from his fate promised by the prophecy of Ragnarök. However, the All-Father kept his own plans for himself, only promising Atreus to tell him everything once the mask would be whole again. Having figured out that the first missing piece was located somewhere in Muspelheim, Odin summoned Thor to go with and assist Atreus. Although the alliance between the God of Thunder and the young Jötunn proved to be particularly uneasy, but the two of them nonetheless accomplished their mission. Back in Asgard, they found out that the rift was getting bigger as they started completing the mask. Dismissed, Atreus spent most of his free time studying in his room or training to try and control his emotions.
Not long after, Odin decided it was time to go after the second missing piece. After a brief argument with Thor, the All-Father summoned Atreus and Thrud to go together in Helheim, where they believed they could find the next missing piece. However, they were soon joined by Heimdall – although the latter was going there for a secret mission on behalf of Odin. The expedition in the realm of the dead proved to be a disaster, as not only they failed to recover the missing piece, but they have also unleashed Garm, not knowing the havoc this giant wolf would bring to all the realms, save Asgard. The All-Father first had a private talk with Heimdall in his study, then he joined Atreus in his room to hear what the latter had to say. Disappointed but still confident that Atreus would eventually come back, Odin eventually let him return home.
When Atreus finally returned to Asgard, he joined Odin in his study. The two of them understood that the last piece of the mask was located somewhere in Niflheim, but Thor was nowhere to be seen. Atreus then sought the help of Thrud to try and find him. Aware of her dad's recent struggle with alcohol, Thrud went with Atreus to the Black Thunder, a famous pub daily frequented by drunk Einherjar... and Thor. The conversation became heated, and a brawl quickly broke out, destroying much of the pub while sending many Einherjar back to Valhalla. Profoundly saddened by the behaviour of her father, Thrud urged him to stand up and oblige to the All-Father's orders. Thor eventually managed to get up, and summoned Huginn to travel to Niflheim with Atreus at once. While Atreus successfully recovered the last piece of the wooden mask, the quest as a whole proved to be a failure for Odin, as Atreus managed to keep it for himself because of Thor's interference.
Preparing for War[]
As Ragnarök was dangerously approaching, the Asgardians didn't rest on their laurels as they prepared their defences for the incoming assault. Although he tried everything in an attempt to prevent Ragnarök from ever happening, the All-Father himself had nevertheless been anticipating this war since a long time, and he intended to use the Dwarven war machines he ordered long ago to bolster Asgard's defences. While the Einherjar would make up the bulk of his forces under the command of Queen Gná, the refugees from Midgard were to pilot the war machines. Odin had saved them from the Desolation and as such, contributing to the war effort was – as he reminded them – the least they could do, as they owned him their lives. Trenches were dug while the war machines were to be installed all around Asgard's Travel Door, a critical spot known as Hrimthur's flaw. This flaw, the only weakness in the thick walls protecting Asgard, was precisely the target of the forces led by Kratos.
The Doom of Asgard[]
Although Ragnarök is to happen as expected, it wasn't Heimdall who was supposed to use Gjallarhorn. Instead, the horn is blown by Kratos in Tyr's Temple. As the horn-blast boomed across the Nine Realms, Odin's seal, which prevented any travel between the realms was utterly broken, and all the Realm Travel Doors opened at once. At that moment, the joint armies of Alfheim, Helheim came flooding out of their respective realm gates onto the plains of Asgard and collided with Odin's legions of Einherjar and war-beasts arrayed in front of Asgard's wall. This strange and unexpected alliance of Dark and Light Elves, the Dead and the Vanir was soon reinforced by Kratos, his son Atreus, Freya and Freyr, Hildisvini and the Shield Maidens as well as the giants Fenrir, Angrboda and Jörmungandr, whom the latter quickly engaged in a brutal slugging match with Thor.
The Asgardians, weakened by the recent losses they suffered since Magni, Modi and Heimdall were no longer there to help defend the once peaceful and lushful realm, now devastated by war once again. As the presence of the World Serpent kept the God of Thunder out of the main battlefield, Kratos seized the opportunity to attack what he considered the most urgent threat: the Bifröst-powered war machines, since they were being used to destroy the realm travel towers, hoping to prevent enemy reinforcements from pouring into Asgard, although they only succeeded in destroying the realm travel towers of Muspelheim and Niflheim. Meanwhile, the Einherjar were battling waves of Light and Dark Elves over the battlefield and on the very walls of Asgard, as the Bifröst itself was slowly disintegrating, yet another sign of the realm's near collapse. They were led by Gná, who actively participated As the Ghost of Sparta reached the row of war-machines with Atreus and Freya, Surtr, who had achieved a monstrous and primordial form, was immediately attacked, but a careless Sindri – likely the only of his kind present in the battle – easily took down the Dwarven war machines, killing and wounding many Midgardians in the process.
| “ | You do not get to use us anymore. | ” |
–Sindri's vengeful thought about Odin | ||
Ragnarök finally shows up
Upon reaching the Asgard Tower, they were met and temporarily stopped by an enraged Thrúd. As Atreus attempted to explain himself, they were joined by Sif and a wounded Skjöldr. Given the circumstances, the fact that the wife of Thor finally backed up Atreus was a game changer, and Thrúd knew it. Believing that her presence would make Thor think twice, Sif advised her daughter to help Atreus and his father find Odin. Finally, Sindri exploited the flaw and as Atreus shot it, a huge hole in the thick wall was made, breaching the once impregnable fortress of Asgard. The group, led by Kratos, then fought their way throughout a devastated Gladsheim in order to find Odin. Waves of Einherjar suddenly showed up among the rubbles, However, before they could reach the Great Lodge, Thor finally emerged victorious from his duel with the World Serpent – sending Jörmungandr back in time. The Ghost of Sparta urged his allies to hold back Ragnarök long enough so that as many refugees as possible could be saved, while he would deal with Thor for the second and last time. As for the Asgardians, their situation was grim, if not desperate. Despite the efforts of Thor, the War Machines have been destroyed, the wall breached and now, the bane of Asgard was slowly but surely advancing towards Gladsheim.
Fathers' Love[]
| “ | You attack my daughter, you bring this to MY HOME?! To MY FAMILY?! | ” |
Thor fought hard to try and save his homeland. Ultimately, his efforts weren't enough and he would meet a cruel end.
The clock was ticking. Convinced that Kratos and Atreus were a threat to his daughter, the infuriated God of Thunder rushed at full speed towards them and caught the Spartan mid-flight, eventually sending the two of them in front of the Great Lodge where they brutally landed. Thor immediately engaged Kratos in a much more brutal duel than their first encounter, blaming him for the destruction he brought to Asgard and the danger he put his family in. Kratos first stabbed Thor with his blades in the very wound the latter received during their first fight, causing him to burst into fury and unleash the real extent of his powers. The whole area quickly became a no man's land shaken by waves of lightning and ice, damaging the Great Lodge in the process. But once again, the two gods were evenly matched and despite the God of Thunder's fury, a more focused Kratos ultimately emerged victorious.
However, much to Thor's surprise and frustration, the Ghost of Sparta spared him and convinced his rival that they needed to be better, for the sake of their children. In spite of all his past deeds and his anger, Thor was also a father who loved his family, and this love finally overwhelmed his hatred. Unfortunately, sparing Kratos meant he was going against his father's will, and as Odin showed up he promptly urged his son to resume his fight against the Spartan. Upon the God of Thunder's refusal, Odin immediately impaled him with his spear, punishing his son's disobedience with death. As Atreus and Thrúd arrived just in time to witness the scene in horror, the latter desperately tried to get Mjölnir to avenge her father's death. But Odin reacted so fast that he used the hammer to promptly send his granddaughter into oblivion, preventing her from helping her new allies in the battle ahead.
| “ | Thrúd... this was all their fault. They've done this to us. To our family. | ” |
Odin made himself many enemies, including his ex-wife.
All-Father's Last Stand[]
Kratos and Atreus then faced the All-Father himself, but quickly found Odin to be a phenomenally deadly foe, especially with the father and son duo having been worn out from their previous battles whereas Odin was at full strength. The King of the Aesir wasn't a warrior like his son was, but the latter's premature death forced him to come to the fore and personally deal with the situation. Odin had a kingdom to save from destruction, and he would deal with Kratos and Atreus before to face Ragnarök. He immediately blamed his opponents for his son's death, notably accusing the Spartan of having brought the apocalypse to his kingdom. Odin cast deadly spells over Kratos and Atreus, even using Gungnir to engage the Ghost of Sparta in a hand-to-hand duel. To try and undermine their resilience, the All-Father managed to split the arena into several pieces, without much success.
However, following a long and vicious struggling that saw Odin impaled on the shoulder by the Leviathan Axe, he eventually managed to stun Kratos and Atreus long enough for him to activate a binding spell to trap them and hold them still, granting him a brief victory. But his victory was short lived as he did not expect Freya to show up with, in her hands, the very noose he used long ago to hang himself in his endless quest for knowledge. His madness was now backfiring at him, as Freya used the noose to craft a binding spell meant to magically strangle the All-Father to death - a testimony of her hatred towards her ex-husband. Unable to react, Odin quickly found himself on his knees as Freya, who has long waited for this moment and proceeded into torturing the man who had a hold on her for so long. Although he was unable to free himself from Freya's magic directly, the All-Father had more than one trick up his sleeve, and he merely bought just enough time to throw Muninn at Freya, thus distracting her and weakening her hold on him to give him the time needed to cast a powerful spell to collapse the floor and send all four of them falling into his secret study.
| “ | Why did you DO THAT? What was it all FOR? You choose to be NOTHING? | ” |
–Odin blaming Atreus for destroying the mask | ||
Odin made a last attempt to corrupt Atreus, uring the latter to put on the mask.
A thick cloud of dust filled the atmosphere as Atreus struggled to his feet, an intense green glow emanating from both the mask clinging to his waist and from the rift itself. Upon noticing this, the boy slowly advanced towards the source of creation, only to be joined by Odin. The All-Father dreamed of this moment, he had spent a lifetime hoping that the mask would be whole once more and now, he was about to finally have the answer to his questions. All he had to was to convince Atreus to put on the mask and fulfill his destiny as the Champion of the Jötnar. But the intervention of Kratos, who trusted in his son's choice, convinced the latter that they could not let Odin get what he wanted. As Atreus suddenly broke the mask, its pieces were sucked into the rift who instantly vanished and with it, its darkest secrets.
Odin then went berserk and let explode his rage, producing a shockwave who further devastated the area. In a desperate attempt to save not only his crumbling kingdom but also his life, the All-Father thrown all what he had at his opponents, using the magic he had learned and stolen from all the realms throughout his despotic rule. However, even with all three of his enemies not at the height of their powers, their combined strength and skills proved too much even for the All-Father to handle, and despite putting up a remarkable struggle, even managing to impale Kratos on Gungnir and temporarily force him down, Odin was eventually utterly defeated and brought to his knees. Unable to listen to reason as his kingdom was on the verge of annihilation, the All-Father collapsed in the arms of Atreus, as the latter managed to capture and trap Odin's soul. Although Kratos and Freya were finally willing to show mercy, returning to Atreus the marble used to trap Odin and giving him the freedom to decide what to do with Odin's soul, a vengeful Sindri didn't intend to show such benevolence towards the one who killed his brother Brok, and promptly put an end to Odin's existence by smashing the stone containing his soul – effectively killing him for good.
Fulfilling the Prophecy[]
Ragnarök fulfilled his destiny by obliterating Asgard, killing himself in the process.
Asgard's fate was ultimately sealed when Ragnarök delivered the final blow to the realm of the Aesir, right after Odin's death. While Kratos, Freya and Atreus were busy fighting the All-Father, Ragnarök conscientiously destroyed the Wall of Asgard and brought havoc with him while advancing virtually unopposed throughout Gladsheim. As Odin met his demise at the hands of his enemies, the terrifying creature glared madly at the tiny survivors of the onslaught and raised his gigantic sword into the sky before plunging it straight into Asgard's crust. The first blow nearly killed Kratos and his allies, only to be temporarily held back thanks to Freyr's effort with his sword. But Ragnarök raised his sword once more and delivered the final blow to the Aesir realm, causing a cataclysmic explosion that killed both Freyr and himself in the process. As it has been prophesied, the realm imploded and the reign of the Aesir came to an end much earlier than expected because of Kratos and Atreus’ actions.
Aftermath[]
The destruction of Asgard forced the survivors to take shelter in Vanaheim.
The detonation of Asgard shook Yggdrasil down to its very roots. Although the complete destruction of Asgard means that the realm is no longer a component of the World Tree, its remains – the Remnants of Asgard – eventually fell all over the other eight realms and can be explored after the end of Ragnarök. The death of Odin as well as the destruction of Asgard had tremendous consequences for the Nine Realms; the power of the Aesir was utterly broken, which led to the immediate end of the political and economical grasp the Asgardians held for so long over the other realms. Moreover, this allowed the rest of the other realms to achieve full independence, after centuries of being ruled over by the Aesir. However, the complete annihilation of Asgard did not deter the most loyal partisans to the All-Father. Following his death, there was no leader left to perpetuate Odin's legacy, but this role was immediately claimed by the Valkyrie Queen Gná. While she no longer had the Valkyries nor the seemingly endless Asgardian resources at her disposal, she viewed herself as the legitimate successor of Odin as ruler of Asgard - or in her case, the Remnants of Asgard. Not only that, many Asgardians survived the onslaught and found themselves without home. As they rejected Odin's ways and did not recognize the leadership of Gná over the Remnants, the Aesir were willing to find a new meaning to their life. After the death of both the All-Father and Thor, it was Sif who naturally became the new leader of the Asgardians, as they finally found shelter and peace in Vanaheim.
Missions[]
Asgard is unlocked and visited for the first time during the seventh story quest, while playing as Atreus. The final mission of the campaign also takes place in Asgard, during the events of Ragnarök.
Main Story Quests (The Path)[]
The Runaway[]
Following a bitter dispute with his father, Atreus runs away from Sindri's House and desperately tries to find shelter somewhere in Midgard. But the realm has become too dangerous and as his path crosses that of Huginn, Atreus decides it is time to follow his destiny and travels for the first time to Asgard, where the All-Father awaits him.
The Realms at War[]
The time to set up Ragnarök into motion has come. Kratos finally uses Gjallarhorn and takes command upon the unified armies of the realms in their assault against Asgard, in a desperate attempt to take down the All-Father and the ruling Aesir once and for all. But they lost the element of surprise and Odin himself has long been preparing for war. This is the point of non return: they either succeed, or forfeit their lives.
Side Quests (Favors)[]
There are no Favors in Asgard.
Regions & Interesting Areas[]
The realm of Asgard plays a crucial role in God of War's lore, not only because this is where the events of Ragnarök will ultimately take place, but also because this is the place where Atreus – encouraged by Odin – will finally shape his identity as Loki while collaborating with the All-Father. Not all these regions can be visited throughout the journey, but Atreus will nevertheless discover most of them during his first visit.
Plains of Ida[]
If one is wondering how Asgard looks like, he will find his answer in the so-called Plains of Ida. Mimir once described Asgard as a “golden land”, and such qualifier perfectly fits the reality: green and peaceful landscapes as far as the eye can see, vast streams of clear and pure water, not to mention the beautiful snow-capped mountain ranges. As for the sky, no one can miss the rainbow bridge stretching between Asgard and Midgard. In one word, this place is heaven.
Hrimthur’s Wall[]
The enormous wall protecting the hall of Gladsheim from the Giants, but also from any intruder who would be foolish enough to try and climb it. The top of the wall offers a breath-taking sight over the vast Plains of Ida on one side and, on the other side, on Gladsheim itself. No wonder why the Watchman of the Aesir swore to protect his beloved homeland, considering the great deal of time he spends on the wall and the incredible view he enjoys day after day.
The Bifröst[]
The legendary and seemingly endless rainbow bridge that crosses between Asgard and Midgard through magical means is used by the Asgardians to come and go when they need to. Extending above the wall of Asgard, the Bifröst is virtually the only way to access to Gladsheim from the outside, not to mention that at the very end of the bridge awaits Heimdall himself, who kept a watchful eye for centuries while making sure that no intruders try and cross it.
Gladsheim[]
Within the enormous wall of Asgard lie Gladsheim, the main hall from which Odin rules over the Nine Realms. However, unless you arrive by crossing the Bifröst, there is virtually no way, nor entrance to access it and visitors are not welcome – save the Aesir or the lucky guests of Odin. As for the hall itself, it is a faithful representation of a typical Viking settlement both in architecture and lifestyle, although the standard of living here is undeniably higher than in Midgard.
The Great Lodge[]
Ever wondered from what kind of palace Odin ruled over the Nine Realms? Here comes the Great Lodge, a massive but rustic abode built by the All-Father himself in the purest Viking style. Not only does it shelter the centre of his power, it is also the very home of the Aesir gods themselves. Unbeknownst to those who are not part of is inner circle, beneath the Great Lodge lies yet another bit of Odin's treachery, the very source of his obsession with knowledge: the Rift.
The Rift[]
Secretly accessible from Odin's Study, this strange and ancestral location is the very place where the King of the Aesir once slayed the First Giant. From this murder remains a magical and unnatural rift of light, something that would drive the All-Father to seek his answers. However, he does not have the means – yet – to get what he wants, and this is where he needs the help of Atreus, whose gifts in ancient languages would certainly be helpful.
Black Thunder[]
Perhaps the most popular place in Asgard, this pub is intensively frequented by Einherjar who make up most, if not all of the customers. However, it is not rare to see the Aesir have a drink and relax here too. For obvious reasons, weapons are not allowed inside and the visitor must let his equipment to the Einherjar Captain at the entrance. Even so, this place filled with drunk dead warriors is far from being recommendable, particularly if you notice Thor nearby...
Vigridr[]
Located right between the Temple of Týr and the Wall of Asgard, this place is foretold to become the main battlefield during Ragnarök. As such, the Asgardians prepared themselves by fortifying the whole area with trenches, whose defences are bolstered with Bifröst-fuelled war machines provided by the Dwarfs. While the Einherjar will make up the bulk of Asgard's host, the refugees from Midgard too will have the chance to prove their gratitude to the All-Father...
Shores of Ifing[]
Located all around the Temple of Týr, the rocky shores are the place where Jörmungandr will show up, and where he will engage Thor in battle. Ironically, Ifing is symbolically the very river seemingly separating Asgard from Jötunheim, preventing the Giants from crossing it. This is also the place where the Army of the Dead from Helheim will attack the Asgardian defences.
Valhalla[]
The legendary place where all the warriors from Midgard dream to end up after their death in battle, but the reality is a bit more complicated since only a part of them are brought there by the Valkyries. Those who have the honour to enter Valhalla are blessed by the All-Father himself, and they would all stay here until it is time for Ragnarök. Unless you are killed and chosen by Odin, you cannot possibly visit this golden hall.
Characters & Residents[]
Asgard is the kingdom from which Odin rules over all the Nine Realms and as such, it is the place where the Norse Gods, Demi-gods and even some Mortals are living, not to mention the numerous Einherjar and other deadly creatures. Not all of them are seen or mentionned in the God of War Series but on the basis of the information we currently possess, it is safe to establish the following list:
Gods[]
- Odin (God of Wisdom, King of the Aesir and Ruler of Asgard) (deceased)
- Thor (God of Thunder, Lightning and Strength) (deceased)
- Heimdall (God of Foresight, Surveillance and Order and Herald of the Ragnarök) (deceased)
- Baldur (God of Light and Peace) (deceased)
- Sif (Goddess of Wheat, Earth, Harvest and Family)
- Nanna (Goddess of Joy, Devotion, Peace and Moon)
- Forseti (God of Justice and Reconciliation)
- Bragi (God of Poetry and Music)
- Gná (Goddess of Wind and Fullness, Valkyrie Queen) (deceased)
- Hœnir (God of Silence)
- Höðr (God of Darkness) (deceased)
- Iðunn (Goddess of Spring and Eternal Youth)
- Ullr (God of Archery, Hunt and Skier)
- Vé (God of Contenance, Speech, Hearing and Sight)
- Viðar (God of Vengeance, Space, Silence and Footwear)
Demigods[]
Valkyries[]
- Eir
- Geirdriful
- Gná (deceased)
- Gondul
- Gunnr
- Hildr
- Hrist (deceased)
- Kara
- Mist (deceased)
- Olrun (deceased)
- Róta
- Sigrún
Others[]
Creatures[]
- Dagsetr (Baldur's flying mount) (deceased)
- Huginn & Muninn (Odin's personal spies)
- Gulltoppr (Heimdall's steed) (deceased)
- Sleipnir (Odin's steed) (deceased)
Former Residents[]
- Freya (Vanir Goddess, ex-wife of Odin and Former Queen of the Valkyries)
- Mimir (Advisor and Ambassador of the Aesir gods)
- Týr (God of War, Law and Honor)
Bestiary & Bosses[]
- Cursed Grim
- Cursed Gulon
- Dodher Gradungr
- Dodher Wyvern
- Einherjar
- Fierce Ogre
- Grim
- Huginn & Muninn
- Nightmare
- Wight
- Wisp
- Heimdall (Boss)
- Thor (Boss)
- Odin (Final Boss)
Trivia[]
- The landscape of Asgard visually mimics the real world Scandinavia region where Norse mythology originated from
- Asgard's rune is Gebo (ᚷ), which translates to "gift".
- According to Mimir in the book God of War: Lore and legends, Asgard is described as a beautiful place and a golden world. This is indeed a metaphor as Mimir simply meant that Asgard is a rich, fertil and peaceful land, especially compared to the other realms.
- The Realm Travel Door to Asgard shows beautifully crafted houses, the one in the middle surrounded by soldiers, likely the Einherjar of Valhalla. In front of the building is Hrimthur with his horse, building the walls to protect the realm. There is also a tree nearby which shows Odin's two ravens Huginn and Muninn watching him.
- Only those directly invited by Odin are allowed to travel to Asgard. Since the All-Father never invited Kratos, all the sequences in Asgard are played with Atreus - the exception being when Kratos leads the final assault on Asgard during Ragnarök.
- The Walls of Asgard have a weakness called Hrimthur's Flaw, right behind Asgard's Realm Tower.
- When he is in The Great Lodge, Atreus can discreetly listen at the doors and catch snippets of private conversation between - for example - Thor and his wife Sif, Thrúd and Sif, or Odin and Heimdall.
- In the Great Hall of the lodge, he can also listening to a two female Asgardian gossiping - such as a rumour about someone trying to poisoning Thor.
- Travelling to Asgard via the Travel Room in the Temple of Týr is impossible to all, save the Aesir gods. This is demonstrated when Baldur seemingly used his Bifröst to open the path in an attempt to bring Kratos and Atreus there. As such, the Aesir can still come and go between the realms as they please.
- In God of War (2018), Odin has locked the path to Asgard, making it impossible to visit the realm.
- Asgard is the fourth realm to be visited in God of War: Ragnarök after Svartalfheim, Alfheim and Vanaheim.
- Since Atreus cannot use the Realm Travel Door to go to Asgard on his own, he is directly teleported there by Odin's powers when necessary.
- The only way to open the Realm Travel Door of Asgard is to sound Gjallarhorn. However, doing so will not only open all the Realm Travel Doors but also summon the armed forces of all the other realms and have them pour into Asgard.
- The realms of Jötunheim, Midgard, Muspelheim and Niflheim do not send any invading forces in Asgard, as they have virtually no army. This means that only the realms of Alfheim, Helheim and Vanaheim actively participate in the assault against Asgard. As for Svartalfheim, Sindri was the only Dwarf present on the battlefield.
- In an attempt to shut down Ragnarök, the Asgardians tried to destroy all the Realm Towers. This proved to be a failure as they only succeeded in destroying the Realm Towers of Muspelheim and Niflheim. Alfheim's tower was destroyed when Jörmungandr fell on top of it, in his fight with Thor, when the God of Thunder knocked him down. Helheim's army was bombarded in their ship before they reached land. At the end of the war, Surtr, turned into Ragnarök, destroyed Asgard itself with all the remaining Realm Towers.
- Asgard is totally destroyed by Surtr, and is the only realm who does not survive Ragnarök. Because of this, it can no longer be visited at the end of the game. Instead, only its last remnants can be found and explored in all the other realms.
- Following the events of Ragnarök, the surviving Asgardians are invited to settle in Vanaheim.
- Interestingly, Asgard is the second pantheon wiped out by Kratos' actions, the first one being Mount Olympus. As such, Kratos directly put an end to the reign of the Aesir and the Olympians gods throughout the whole series.
- Asgard is also the first pantheon Kratos destroyed out of noble cause instead of vengeance as in this case, the former Ghost of Sparta could no longer ignore Odin's destructive and tyrannical rule over the Nine Realms. Unlike his war against Olympians, he ensured the evacuation of civilians who got caught in the crossfire which included Sif and Thrúd.
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