This article contains lore based on real-life sources from Norse mythology as introduced from the God of War Norse era.
“ | The whole realm is a great fire... the source of fire itself, and all the sun and stars, if legend is to be believed. Well you know... I suppose it's cooled considerably since the dawn of creation, hasn't it? Niflheim isn't exactly ice these days either. It's in the nature of things—extremes are tempered by time. Fires burn colder, men grow old and grey... heads are chopped off and attached to belts. Such is life! | ” |
Muspelheim, also known as Muspell, and known in Old Norse as Múspellsheimr and Múspell, is one of the Nine Realms of the World Tree and the homeland of the legendary Fire Giants. Long ago, this fiery realm sparked the dawn of creation of the Norse cosmology when its fire met in Ginnungagap with the ice from Niflheim, the other primordial realm. The place where the two realms meet—a unique feat among the Nine Realms—then became known as the Spark of the World.
The fiery world became one of the pillars of life as its intense heat warmed up the Nine Realms through Yggdrasil, while the intensity of its fire was moderated by the cold breath of Niflheim. This might well be one of its few purposes, as ironically, while those two primordial realms provided the spark of life, they progressively fell into darkness because of the very hostility that characterized their climate. Even though the realm considerably cooled since then, Muspelheim was still too incandescent with fire to allow any prospect of development, its surface was literally covered in lava and the fury of the volcanoes quickly covered the landscape with a tick layer of ashes. Not only that, the very nature of Muspelheim rightfully frightened any potential traveller, as it was the very realm from where the legendary Ragnarök would arise to bring death and destruction. Last but not least, the idea that the Fire Giants were patiently waiting somewhere beneath its crust was no less a terryfing prospect. So much so that nowadays, you would find virtually no living soul in such hostile place, save the creatures and other monsters who adapted to the extreme heat.
Muspelheim is introduced in God of War (2018) as an optional location. Kratos and Atreus can freely access this realm at the beginning of their journey, once they learn how to travel through Týr's Temple and as soon as they have collected enough Muspelheim Ciphers in Midgard and Alfheim. While the fiery realm itself is really small and isn't relevant for the story, it is nevertheless useful if one wishes to test and improve his skills by trying to beat the Muspelheim Trials, at the end of which a powerful Valkyrie will be waiting as a final test.
Muspelheim then returns in God of War: Ragnarök as a major location. Visiting the fire realm will be mandatory this time as both Atreus and Thor will be dropped there on a mission to try and recover a fragment of Odin's mask. Much later though, Muspelheim will play a crucial part in the story as Kratos and his son will travel there to seek the help of the legendary Surtr, in a desperate attempt to bring forth Ragnarök and put an end to Odin's reign once and for all. Following the demise of Asgard, some of its Remnants can be found all over the fiery realm and for the bravest of the braves—or foolish, the Valkyrie Queen will be patiently waiting at the Crucible...
Norse Mythology[]
According to surviving legends, Muspelheim was the primordial world of fire in the cosmology of the Norse people. In the beginning of creation, the heat of Muspelheim and the ice of Niflheim had combined to create Ymir, the giant whose body was used to form the world. Sparks from the realm of fire became the sun, moon, and stars in the sky. Muspelheim was home to a race of fire giants, led by Surtr. Enemies of the gods and mankind, they would invade and burn the world at Ragnarök.
In Norse cosmology, Muspelheim was a world of fire. There were nine worlds that were supported by the great World Tree, Yggdrasil, according to Scandinavian writers. Only one of these, Midgard, was home to humans and could be seen by them. According to the most well-known sources, Muspelheim was one of the first two worlds to come into existence. In the beginning, the nearly empty void of Ginnungagap occupied the space that would later be taken up by the Nine Worlds. The well Hvergelmir that fed Yggdrasil began to drip water into this featureless space. The northern regions of Ginnungagap were so cold that the water froze into thick sheets of ice. The southern pole of the void was hotter, however, and the dripping water made sparks fly out in violent bursts.
Muspelheim was one of the two primordial realms from which the rest of the Nine Worlds were created. These worlds rose along the branches of Yggdrasil with Niflheim and Muspelheim at either end. Niflheim, the world of cold, was later made the home of Hel, the goddess of the dead. Her subjects, the decaying wraiths who had been sinners and criminals in life, resided in this frozen realm. Muspelheim, meanwhile, was the home of a race of jötnar, creatures that are usually interpreted in English translation as giants or trolls. The fire giants of Muspelheim were led by Surtr. More well-known than the Norse story of creation is the tale of how the world will be destroyed. Ragnarök, the end of the world, was foreshadowed in many of Norse mythology's legends.
The Prose Edda and other medieval sources say that Midgard and the worlds of the gods will be invaded by two armies at Ragnarök. Hel will lead the dead from Niflheim, along with her father Loki, when the serpent Nidhogg frees them from the World Tree's root. Surtr and the fire giants will invade from the south. They will bring with them the terrible fires of Muspelheim. When Surtr and the giants of Muspelheim begin to cross the Bífrost, the rainbow bridge that connects Midgard and Asgard, Heimdall will sound the horn that announces the final battle between the gods and their enemies.
As the gods join in the last battle, Surtr will face off against Freyr. Freyr will die in the fight because he gave his best sword to his servant, Skírnir. Surtr and the fire giants will burn the world as the gods die. Just as Midgard was created by the sparks of Muspelheim, its flames will destroy it. The land of Midgard will be burned away, but the Prose Edda continues to say that this will only be the end of one era. New fertile land will emerge and the surviving gods and humans will create a new world, while Muspelheim's inhabitants will once more be contained in their own world.
In the God of War Series[]
Muspelheim is known as "The Realm of Fire", stated to be the source of all heat in the Nine Realms. It is the home of Surtr the brave and his descendants, the Fire Giants, that are prophesied to burn down and destroy the God Realm of Asgard during Ragnarök. As their only purpose is to cause Ragnarök, Mimir noted that no Fire Giant will appear until it begins.
Its landscape consists of fiery volcanoes spitting ash and embers that blacken the skies, spurting lavafalls that create rivers of molten rock and what appears to be Fire Troll totems buried in the earth. Despite the realm of fire itself, it has also contains least fauna such as fiery butterflies, and squirrels.
Kratos and Atreus can collect all the Muspelheim Ciphers in Midgard and Alfheim in order to access the fiery world and traverse the mountain to retrieve the realm's exclusive materials like Smoldering Ember and Crest of Flame.
At the very top of the mountain where the Trials of Muspelheim are held is where the Valkyrie Gondul was imprisoned.
Plot[]
Backstory[]
God of War (2018)[]
God of War: Ragnarök[]
Missions[]
Main Story Quests (The Path)[]
Side Quests (Favors)[]
Regions[]
- Burning Cliffs
- Molten Lowlands
- Surtr's Forge
- Spark of the World
- The Crucible
Characters & Residents[]
Bestiary & Bosses[]
Trivia[]
- Muspelheim is one of the two primordial realms in ancient Norse cosmology, said to be the place where Surtr took form. The other primordial realm is Niflheim.
- Muspelheim continues the tradition from previous games to include a combat challenges, like the Challenge of the Gods, Challenge of the Titans, Challenge of Olympus, and the Combat Arena.
- The rune of Muspelheim is Mannaz (ᛗ), which represents mankind.
- According to Mimir Muspelheim has cooled considerably since the Dawn of Creation. He further compared this to how Niflheim isn't filled with ice anymore.
- The Realm travel door to Muspelheim shows two groups of fire giants racing towards each other, armed for war.
- The quick-travel gates in Muspelheim allows travel any other gates within the realm instead of just one-way trip back to the workshop even before said feature is unlocked in the Journey for the other realms.
- Brok claims this is due to the "heat of the place" making it possible.