This article contains lore based on real-life sources from Norse mythology as introduced from the God of War Norse era.
| “ | To fight two Valkyries in tandem is to face both the sea and the sky as they crash down as one. Their coordination in battle was unmatched. It is a pity their fealty to Odin is by choice, and not a corruption abated by their death. I would always prefer a Valkyrie fight on my side. Their aim was to take the mask back to Odin and perhaps Atreus with it. I hope news of their demise travels swiftly to Asgard. | ” |
–Kratos after killing Hrist | ||
Hrist is a Valkyrie introduced in God of War: Ragnarök. She is one of the last Valkyries who remained loyal to Odin, despite the defection of many of her sisters who were freed because of Kratos and Atreus. Ruthlessly carrying forth the All-Father's will and vowing to fight for Asgard, she and her sister Mist serve as minor antagonists and enforcers of Odin.
Hrist and Mist are fought in tandem at the Spark of the World, ambushing the Ghost of Sparta and his son on Odin's orders. Even though the Valkyries proved themselves to be formidable opponents and nearly succeeded in killing the two, they were ultimately overwhelmed and killed. Their deaths deprived Asgard of some of its last valuable assets before Ragnarök.
Norse Mythology[]
Hrist (pronounced as "Rist"), meaning "the quaking one" is a legendary Norse Valkyrie. The names of the Valkyries vary in the surviving literature. Among them were Hrist (Shaker) and Mist (Mist), who brought Odin his horn, Skeggjold (Ax Time), Skogul (Raging), Hild (Warrior), Thrud (Might), Hlokk (Shrieking), Herfjotur (Host Fetter), Goll (Screaming), Geirahod (Spear Bearer), Randgrid (Shield Bearer), Radgrid, Reginleif, Gunn (Battle), and Rota. Skuld, the youngest of the Norns, also rode with the Valkyries. The goddess Freya also surveyed the battlefields seeking valiant souls, in a chariot driven by two cats; in agreement with Odin, she was entitled to half of the dead heroes herself, bringing them not to Valhalla, but to her own banquet hall, Sessrumnir.
Hrist is mentioned in Grímnismál 40–41.
I wish that Hrist and Mist would bring me my horn! Skeggjöld and Skogul, Hildr and Thrud, Hlokk and Herfjötur, Göll and Geirölul Randgrid and Radgrid, and Reginleif they bring mead to the Einherjar.
In some Norse sources, Hrist is also called Valkyrie of Escorting Souls to Valhalla.
In the Nafnaþulur addition to Snorri Sturluson's Prose Edda the following sections references Hrist.
- Mank valkyrjur Viðris nefna. Hrist, Mist, Herja, Hlökk, Geiravör, Göll, Hjörþrimul, Gunnr, Herfjötur, Skuld, Geirönul, Skögul ok Randgníð. Ráðgríðr, Göndul, Svipul, Geirskögul, Hildr ok Skeggöld, Hrund, Geirdriful, Randgríðr ok Þrúðr, Reginleif ok Sveið, Þögn, Hjalmþrimul, Þrima ok Skalmöld.
I will recite the names of the valkyries of Viðrir (Odin). Hrist, Mist, Herja, Hlökk, Geiravör, Göll, Hjörþrimul, Gunnr, Herfjötur, Skuld, Geirönul, Skögul and Randgníð. Ráðgríðr, Göndul, Svipul, Geirskögul, Hildr and Skeggöld, Hrund, Geirdriful, Randgríðr and Þrúðr, Reginleif and Sveið, Þögn, Hjalmþrimul, Þrima and Skalmöld.
In the God of War Series[]
God of War: Ragnarök[]
Hrist, alongside her sisters Mist and Gná, were first seen flying down to Asgard as Heimdall and Atreus descended to Glaðsheim via an air lift. She and Mist were later seen instructing and training some of the Einherjar, and were reprimanded by Odin, who thought their training methods were too lethal.
Hrist and Mist later accompanied Sif to Niflheim with the goal of arresting Atreus after it was discovered that his father Kratos had killed Heimdall in Vanaheim. However, Hrist and her sister were taken aside by Odin for a talk and were thus unable to assist Thor in preventing Atreus' escape with Odin's mask.
She and Mist were later sent by Odin to the Spark of the World to kill Kratos, possibly capture Atreus, and retrieve the mask as the two waited for Surtr to become Ragnarök. The two valkyrie sisters ambushed the duo and proceeded to engage them in a ferocious battle. Eventually, Hrist and her sister managed to subdue Kratos, but Atreus leapt atop Mist's back, rendering her unable to aid her sister. The Spartan and his son proceeded to give into their rage, allowing them to break free. Atreus, having transformed into a bear, overpowered Hrist and tore her left wing off before savagely tearing her in two, killing her.
Appearance[]
Like all the other Valkyries, Hrist is a very tall and slim woman whose most obvious characteristic remains her majestic Valkyrie wings, fashioned of a bronze metal. These wings are as sharp as razors and as sturdy as steel. While the primary goal of such attributes is indeed to allow Mist to fly as fast as possible, she does not hesitate to use them as weapons if necessary. Her face remains hidden and protected behind a masked helmet with upward-curving horns, likely designed with one purpose: to personify death. While it is true that all Valkyries wear a unique and intimidating helmet, Hrist's particularly demonic mask is likely a testament to the darkness and evil that the Valkyries have succumbed to after serving the All-Father for centuries.
While her face cannot be seen, her rather light outfit reveals a strange skin tone reminiscent of the corrupt Valkyries. Even though Hrist has never been cursed by the All-Father like most of her sisters, such skin colour is possibly due to the fact that she has maintained a corporeal form for a very long time, thus affecting her body as much as her sanity.
Personality[]
Hrist is fanatically loyal to her master, Odin, to the point of being only one of three Valkyries that continue to serve him after the liberation of the Valkyrie Council. Her devotion to the All-Father is such that despite Freya being revered by the rest of the Valkyries, she continues to follow Odin and the new queen, Gná.
She is additionally quite violent and cruel, with even Odin, a prominent torturer and sadist himself, believing that her and Hrist's training methods were too far. When Kratos was temporarily knocked out of their fight, Hrist pummeled and slapped Atreus non-lethally while her sister held him in place, demonstrating that the two were more interested in causing pain than killing one of their opponents.
She and Mist refer to Kratos as a "worthless" or "pretender" god, implying that the only gods they see as worthy of worship or as being “true” gods are the Aesir pantheon. This also goes to show their highly-confident attitudes in battle.
Powers and Abilities[]
As a Valkyrie, Hrist is an immensely powerful being. Alongside her sister, she was able to challenge Kratos and Atreus for some time, before eventually meeting her end when the father and son gave into their rage.
Powers[]
- Superhuman Strength: As a Valkyrie, Hrist holds superhuman strength, allowing her to contend with a holding-back Kratos and easily overpower Atreus, though she was ultimately overwhelmed by them when Kratos became enraged and Atreus transformed into a bear.
- Superhuman Durability: Hrist has incredibly high durability, allowing her to take attacks from Kratos and Atreus. However, her durability still has its limits, since she was ripped by Atreus in his bear form.
- Superhuman Speed: Hrist can move at high speeds, allowing her to keep up with Kratos and Atreus in combat.
- Valkyrie Wings: Hrist possesses a pair of metallic bird-like wings which double as weapons thanks to their feathers that can be deployed as slashing weapons and hurled as projectiles.
- Immortality: As a Valkyrie, Hrist is immortal. Only a sufficiently powerful weapon or an extremely powerful being can kill her.
- Bifrost Energy Manipulation: Like all Valkyries, Hrist can manipulate the energy of the Bifrost to travel between realms. She can also call upon Bifrost energy and invoke the All-Father to heal herself, a power she shares with her sister.
Abilities[]
- Master Combatant: Hrist is highly skilled in combat, using an atgeir and the metallic feathers of her Valkyrie Wings to attack her enemies. Kratos noted in the Codex that fighting two Valkyries at once is "to face both the sea and sky as they crash down as one" and "their coordination was unmatched".
Quotes[]
- "Watch my hands."
- "Terrible."
- "Pathetic."
- "Weak!"
- "All-Father, grant us the strength we seek. In your name..."
- "Yield!"
- "Kneel!"
- "Submit!"
- "Tremble!"
- "Die! Now!"
- "Now attack!"
- "Pretender god!"
- "Cursed runt!"
- "Traitor child!"
- "Dishonorable!"
- "Unworthy!"
- "You're mine, child..."
Trivia[]
- Hrist is, along with Mist and Vanadís, one of the three Valkyries with whom confrontation cannot be avoided, as they play a role as story mode bosses.
- Hrist and Mist share the same healthbar during their battle against Kratos and Atreus.
- While the mechanic of Atreus being potentially grabbed by the enemy and killed if not interrupted has mostly disappeared in Ragnarok, Hrist and her sister are the only enemies in the game that retain this mechanic (although this time Atreus will be temporarily knocked out rather than killed if the Valkyries aren't interrupted by Kratos).
- Hrist and her sister Mist are, together with Gná, the only Valkyries who have never been cursed by Odin. The reason why the All-Father spared them is unknown, though it might well be because of their beliefs and above all, their unbreakable loyalty to Asgard.
- They are also the only Valkyries fought in tandem, eventually making the fight much longer and harder than most others (major exceptions being Sigrún and Gná).
- Of all the Valkyries ever fought, Hrist and Mist get the most brutal ends at the hands of Kratos and Atreus. While the Valkyries fought in the prequel only got their wings torn off, Mist's neck is brutally snapped by Kratos while Hrist is literally torn in half by a transformed Atreus after the two Valkyries' wing got ripped off.
- Hrist, Mist, and Gná are the only Valkyries permanently killed after their battles with Kratos, as all the others are resurrected by Freya in new, uncorrupted forms.
- Despite their loyalty to Odin, Kratos praises them for their discipline and skills in combat, acknowledging Mist and Hrist as formidable combatants that worked exceptionally well together.
Gallery[]
Concept Art[]
