This article contains lore based on real-life sources from Norse mythology as introduced from the God of War Norse era.
| “ | Mistress of War. After any conflict, big or small, she would be first on the scene, sussing out the worthy spirits for a free trip to Valhalla. A gruesome task, but she took great pride in it. Her judgement of the fallen was unparalleled, and an invaluable resource to Odin. She was one of his favorites. | ” |
–Mimir’s remarks about Gunnr | ||
Gunnr is a Valkyrie introduced in God of War (2018). She is one of the nine Valkyries who have been cursed by Odin to remain in a corporal form, eventually driving them to insanity. As she became too dangerous, Gunnr eventually found herself sealed away by the Valkyrie Queen in Midgard. She is nevertheless freed by Kratos and Atreus after they engaged and defeated her physical form. Blessing them with her eternal gratitude, her spirit vanished and eventually reunited with her sisters.
Gunnr returns in God of War: Ragnarök as a Shield Maiden, having regained a pure physical form thanks to Freya and her Vanir magic. Grateful for having been freed from Odin's curse and having acknowledged Kratos as her General, she actively participates together with her freed sisters to the final assault against Asgard during Ragnarök.
Norse Mythology[]
Gunnr (alternatively guðr) is an Old Norse term meaning "battle". It is the name of a Valkyrie in Norse mythology, and was also used as a feminine given name. The modern forms Gun and Gunn remain in use as a feminine given name in Scandinavia.
Gunnr is also mentioned in the Völuspá in a list of valkyries, Gunnr, Hildr, Göndul / ok Geirskögul. The Darraðarljóð gives Guðr as one of six names of Valkyries.
In the Prose Edda, Gunnr is one of three Valkyries who always ride out to choose the slain and decide the outcome of the battle. The others are Róta and Skuld.
Biography[]
Early Life[]
Gunnr was born to unknown parents but she was abandoned and left behind at an inn in Blackheart Alley, where an innkeeper raised her as his own. Throughout her life, Gunnr proved to be completely fearless and didn't even hesitate to punch someone in the face when asked for it, starting fights in the process, though this got her into trouble, but despite this, she learned how to fight. If there is a fight that she didn't start then she will be the first to charge in and join it. This earned Gunnr her reputation but this ended up being a problem to her. A bully, whom she humiliated, held a grudge for her and tried to track her down to exact revenge. Easily finding out her identity and where she lived, he and his gang proceeded to set the inn on fire while under the dead of night by throwing a bottle through a window. In no time, the entire inn was set ablaze.
Though the bully though that Gunnr was hiding under her bed like a coward, he was unaware that she was just returning home. Seeing the rising flames surrounding her adoptive father's bedroom, Gunnr immediately charged into the fire and rescued the innkeeper, though the two got burned in the process. Filled with anger over the bully's actions, she charged into his lair in the slums of Blackheart Alley and faced off against him and his gang. During the fight, which turned out violent and chaotic, the Valkyrie Sigrún appeared, who was at the time the best fighter the Valkyries had in memory.
Though Gunnr was awestruck to see her, Sigrún was confused, as she thought that the violence and mayhem she sensed would lear her to a battlefield filled with worthy and honorable dead, but it instead led her to a fight in a hideout in the slums. Though Gunnr apologized for not letting her send worthy souls to Valhalla, Sigrún offered to take her under her wing, as she thought that the former had potential, after seeing her in action, and wanted to train her in the ways of the Valkyries. Despite this thrilling offer, Gunnr was hesitant of having to serve for a higher cause, in which she has to take on the responsibility of choosing the worthy dead, but Sigrún tells her to put everything out of her mind with the exception of the duty.
During her training with Sigrún and her fellow Valkyries, Gunnr learned how to control her anger and harness her combat skills. As she mastered each of them, through discipline and focus, she discovered on what she is truly capable of and her only reward was excellence. During that time, Gunnr never felt so challenged and such belonging but part of her still couldn't believe that she deserve to be in Valhalla. All the community and purpose would be hers if she could master the one thing that she is afraid of: Herself. However, when she focused on her intentions and preparation, that was when she was truly able to master herself.
God of War (2018)[]
When Kratos, Atreus and Mimir arrive in her chamber, she attacks the trio remorselessly. She is eventually killed by Kratos, who tears the wings from her back. This frees her spirit from her corrupted form, enabling her to communicate with the trio. Before passing on, she requests the trio free her sisters from their respective curses, offering her helm to aid Kratos in his task.
God of War Ragnarök[]
Gunnr, along with some of her fellow Valkyries were founded by Freya. She and her sisters were then reincarnated in new physical forms by the Vanir Goddess. That way, they'll never be corrupted again. During Ragnarök, Gunnr joined with the Valkyries in attacking Asgard by leading Helheim's forces. Later, she is one of the survivors of the apocalypse.
Appearance[]
God of War (2018)[]
Like all Valkyries, Gunnr's face is never shown and each Valkyrie would wear a very different type of helmet, the helmets would be themed together based upon a different creature. Gunnr wears a golden helmet inspired by a Raven, these masks are extenuate in all different directions, from various color choices to metalwork designs. The masks emitted regal beauty, while still being creepy in nature. Due to her corruption, her skin is an unhealthy pale blue. But one of the most striking elements of the Valkyries came in the design of their wings. Like the other Valkyries Gunnr had extremely large mechanical wings, Gunnr's wings were black, they are covered in golden metal plates as armor thus why they are mechanical in the first place. Like her sisters, her design showed her both skilled and refined. With each Valkyrie, hints of their past would be shown off in their armor sets – not looking completely polished and showcasing a long-and-tired past, such as in the torn feather designs on the helmets.
God of War Ragnarök[]
After Freya resurrected Gunnr and her sisters with Seidr magic, their skin returned to its original healthy color. Additionally, like all Shield Maidens, her original Valkyrie wings were replaced with more organic-looking birdlike wings.
Combat[]
Gunnr is a fairly easy Valkyrie to take down, possibly due to the fact that she's likely the first of the 8 hidden Valkyries that players might find without prior extra challenge (Gondul being at the peak of Muspellheim gauntlet should have players anticipate a fight tougher than usual). She has a relatively low health and stagger resistance.
Gunnr's strategy all comes to her closing in on Kratos and slicing him with her Scythe, be it on the ground or from the air, both of which are susceptible to Guardian Shield's counter. While her Scythe attacks wont exactly go through Block, it can break one, making Kratos vulnerable to follow up slashes.
She might occasionally attacks with her blockable Wing Slashes and finish the combo with a close-range and rather telegraphed Wing Thrust, which is the only attack from her that player should dodge.
Gallery[]
Concept art[]
Trivia[]
- In legend, Gunnr is the Mistress of War. She would appear during the aftermath of any conflict, big or small, as the first to arrive and search for worthy souls for a trip to Vahalla. It was considered a gruesome task but she did it with pride. Her judgement of the fallen was unparallaled and an invaluable resource to Odin, thus making her one of his favorites.
- Gunnr's armour design is based on a raven.[1]
- Gunnr indirectly alludes Mortal Kombat series by arguing that she finds the idea of Kratos and Freya rip Gná's spine off more deserving than having her wings painfully torn off her body when latter two bringing her, Eir, and Sigrún the news about the renegade Queen Valkyrie's defeat. The finishing move in question is none other than Sub-Zero's infamous Fatality from aforementioned series. Interestingly Kratos himself was a playable character in the PlayStation versions of Mortal Kombat 9.
References[]
- ↑ The Art of God of War