The Leviathan Axe is a two-handed war axe that is Kratos' main offensive weapon in God of War.
About
It was forged by the Huldra Brothers, Sindri, and Brok, who also forged Thor's hammer, Mjölnir, after feeling responsible for the destruction brought about by Thor. As a weapon made to oppose the power of Mjölnir and inspired by the epic size of Jörmungandr, Brok suggests the axe be named Leviathan.[1] According to Sindri when first meeting him, the blade was made for and given to Laufey who passed it on to her husband Kratos, before her death.
The axe has several runes inscribed on the blade that grants it different powers, among them the use of ice, and the ability to recall the weapon from any distance. It also has two slots for Runic Attacks to placed in, a heavy and light attack for each slot. The Axe Pommel is customizable with pommels found throughout the Realms or bought to Brok and Sindri.
During Kratos' journey to spread Faye's ashes, he encounters Brok and Sindri, who each upgrades the axe, improving its magic and attack strength. Upon bringing one of the brothers a Frozen Flame, the axe can be further upgraded, increasing the size of the blade and adding ornate gold to the blade and handle.
Move List
Unlocked from start
Light Attack:
- Description: A standard attack that deals some damage and allows a quick parry if needed. (R1)
- Cost- N/A
- Bonuses- N/A
Heavy Attack:
- Description: A stronger attack that deals a lot more damage but leaves you exposed for longer after performing. (R2)
- Cost- N/A
- Bonuses- N/A
Light Throw:
- Description- A throwing attack which causes the axe to bounce off the target. (L2 Hold, Right Stick to Aim, R1)
- Cost- N/A
- Bonuses- N/A
Heavy Throw:
- Description- A throwing attack which causes the axe to stick into the target and freeze the target. (L2 Hold, Right Stick to Aim, R2)
- Cost- N/A
- Bonuses- N/A
Note: Throw Attacks disarm you.
Level 1 Skills
Executioner's Cleave:
- Description- A brutal cleaving axe attack that deals massive damage. (R2 Hold)
- Cost- 500 XP
- Bonuses- Shortens Charge Time - Requires 100 Cooldown
Grinding Storm:
- Description- An axe attack that hits enemies multiple times and locks them down. (R1 Hold)
- Cost- 500 XP
- Bonuses- Inflicts additional Frost Damage during the attack - Requires 125 Runic
Pride of the Frost:
- Description- A Heavy Attack finisher at the end of the Light Attack Combo. (R1, R1, R1, R2)
- Cost- 500 XP
- Bonuses- Adds an explosion of Frost Damage on impact - Requires 200 Runic
Level 2 Skills
Freezing Burst:
- Description- A charged up variant of the heavy throw that causes an explosion on impact that inflicts Frost Damage. (L2 Hold, Right Stick to Aim, R2 Hold)
- Cost- Axe Upgrade 2, 1,000 XP
- Bonuses- Shortens Charge Time - Requires 100 Cooldown
List of Axe Pommels
Common
Name | Description | Location |
Wooden Grip | Family Heirloom: Crude wooden axe grip. It cannot be sold. | Players start with this pommel |
Curved Recovery Handle | Marksman’s Cooldown: High Perk activation chance to grant a Blessing of Cooldown on any successful precision throw. | Brok and Sindri’s Shops. |
Curved Grip of Fury | Marksman’s Rage Burst: Low Perk activation chance to grant a Rage Burst on any successful precision throw. | Brok and Sindri’s Shops |
Curved War Handle | Marksman’s Strength: High Perk activation chance to grant a Gift of Strength on any successful precision throw. | Brok and Sindri’s Shops |
Curved Runic Handle | Marksman’s Runic: Low Perk activation chance to grant a Blessing of Runic on any successful precision throw. | Brok and Sindri’s Shops. |
Weighted Recovery Handle | Executioner’s Cooldown: High Perk activation chance to grant a Blessing of Cooldown on any successful Executioner’s Cleave. | Brok and Sindri’s Shops |
Weighted Runic Handle | Executioner’s Runic: High Perk activation chance to grant a Blessing of Runic on any successful Executioner’s Cleave. | Brok and Sindri’s Shops |
Weighted War Handle | Executioner’s Strength: High Perk activation chance to grant a Gift of Strength on any successful Executioner’s Cleave.. | Brok and Sindri’s Shops |
Versatile Warrior’s Handle | Adept Warrior: Increases Strength, Defense, and Luck. Upgrade to increase additional Stats. | Unlocked after completing favor ‘Unfinished Business’ |
Rare
Name | Description | Location |
Grip of Völunder | Warrior’s Protective Barrier: Very low Perk activation chance to grant Protective Barrier, preventing damage from enemy attacks, on any successful axe hit. | Unlocked after completing favor ‘Second Hand Soul’ |
Ymir’s Breath | Ymir’s Vengeance: Low Perk activation chance to create a Frost explosion on any successful axe hit. | Obtain it from Isle of Death Legendary Chest. |
Curved Grip of Restoration | Marksman’s Health Burst: High Perk activation chance to grant a Health Burst on any successful precision throw. | |
Deadly Grip of Fury | Slayer’s Rage Burst: Successful axe kills grant a Rage Burst. | Obtain it from Stone Falls Legendary Chest. |
Deadly Grip of Vitality | Slayer’s Health Burst: Successful axe kills grant a Health Burst. | |
Light Grip of Protection | Rising Protective Barrier: High Perk activation chance to grant Protective Barrier, preventing damage from enemy attacks, after launching an enemy into the air. | Brok and Sindri’s Shops |
Light War Handle | Rising Strength: High Perk activation chance to grant a Gift of Strength after launching an enemy into the air. | Brok and Sindri’s Shops. |
Weighted Grip of Restoration | Executioner’s Health Burst: High Perk activation chance to grant a Health Burst on any successful Executioner’s Cleave. |
Legendary
Name | Description | Location |
Surtr’s Grip of Flame | Wrath of Flame: Low Perk activation chance to grant Wrath of Flame on any successful hit. Wrath of Flame greatly increases Strength, restores a small amount of Health, and fires a wave of energy on normal attacks. | Get if from the Muspelheim Shop |
Grip of Tanngiost | Fist of Thor: Low Perk activation chance to strike with an explosion of lightning that inflicts Shock damage to all nearby enemies on any successful axe hit. | Complete the Hammer Fall favor in Veithurgard |
Hræzla Farmaðr’s Grip | Warrior’s Health Burst: Low Perk activation chance to grant a Health Burst on any successful axe hit. | Complete the Family Business favor. |
Forbidden Grip of the Ages | Word of Ages: An ancient relic that increases all of Kratos’ Stats. Adds a concussive wave to the end of the R1 combo. | Obtain it after completing the Secret Caldera Realm Tear |
Grip of the Maze | Cleansing Light: Very high Perk activation chance to restore some protection against the Cursed Mist of Niflheim on any successful kill. Passively grants resistance to the Cursed Mist. | Brok and Sindri’s Shops. |
Epic
Name | Description | Location |
Retribution | Queen’s Wrath: R1 axe throw and recall become incredibly powerful. Low Perk activation chance to strike with a massively damaging explosion on any successful hit. | |
Wing of the Fallen | Power of the Valkyrie: Moderate Perk activation chance on any successful kill to grant Power of the Valkyrie, increasing RUNIC and STRENGTH. (Stacks up to 3 times) |
Trivia
- The "Leviathan" is a sea monster mentioned in the Hebrew Bible and although it has nothing to do with Nordic Mythology, it is very similar to Jörmungandr, which ends up being the reason for the name lore-wise. According to Creative Director Cory Barlog, however, there's a reason why they (the writers) chose that name.[2]
- The name Leviathan is strictly tied to the Judeo-Christian religions, so its use to describe the World Serpent is unusual.
- It is speculated that this is related to the original ending David Jaffe intended for God of War III, where monotheism is established. In Barlog's words, "it's a name that […] is carried through-out history, so it might have some intersections with later parts of history, perhaps".[2] This implies that monotheistic religions are actually inspired by the different mythological worlds and the Leviathan survive Ragnarok.
- According to The Lost Pages, Brok and Sindri suggest they name it after Jormundgandr, citing that it is "without equal" to anything else in the Nine Realms.[3]
- Kratos can throw and call back the Leviathan Axe similar to Thor's hammer, Mjölnir. This is not surprising considering both weapons were forged by Brok and Sindri.
- The Leviathan Axe is very rarely, if not never, mentioned by its name in the 2018 game. It is mostly referred simply as " axe" or "frost axe" by characters in the game. A similar case happens to the Blades of Chaos.
- Cory Barlog said that he always wanted Kratos to wield an axe as his main weapon after the end of his Greek Era. He wanted him to be able to throw the axe, but during the alpha-stage, it became a hassle for testers to have to pick up the axe from wherever they threw it to, creating the need to be able to recall it from anywhere as Thor could.
- Brok and Sindri's brand bears resemblance to the Ingwaz rune (ᛝ).
- While resting on Kratos' back, the Leviathan Axe hangs from a hook that is shaped as the serpent-like Greek letter Omega, which has always been incorporated in the "God of War" titles' graphic.
Template:Weapons and Magic
References
- ↑ The Lost Page "The Forging of Leviathan"
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Game Informer Interview with Cory Barlog.
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6WwJ_vOMVY