| “ | A dangerous beast, We will take him down together. | ” |
–Kratos | ||
Wulver are ferocious enemies that appear in God of War (2018) and God of War: Ragnarök.
Quick Answers
What role do Wulvers play in the God of War games?
How does the portrayal of Wulvers in God of War differ from their depiction in Celtic mythology?
What makes Wulvers unique compared to other werewolves in mythology?
What is the origin of the Wulver in folklore?
Are Wulvers considered to be immortal spirits in mythology?
Mythology[]
In Celtic Mythology, the Wulvers are a kind of werewolf that is part of the folklore of the Shetland islands off the coast of Scotland. In history, the wulver kept to itself and was not aggressive if left in peace, which is ironic considering it is an enemy in-game. Unlike most werewolves the Wulver is not a shapeshifter and is not, nor was it ever, a human being. It appears to be a sort of immortal spirit.
In God of War Series[]
Wulvers are powerful, formidable beasts resembling werewolves that possess immense strength and speed. They can attack Kratos by charging at him, swiping at him with their paws, or extending their claws and going berserk. They also have a grab attack that cannot be blocked and inflicts continuous damage. The player needs to rapidly shake the beast off or use Spartan Rage to break free.
Kratos can grab a stunned wulver and beat it into submission. If enough damage is done, Kratos can kill it by brutally ripping its jaws apart, splitting it in half to the waist and exposing its organs.
in the sequel, Wulvers are found living in Vanaheim and Jötunheim, with the ones in Vanaheim led by the powerful alpha-wulver named Blatönn.
Codex[]
God of War (2018)[]
Of all the things that would remind me of home, it's these mangy malcontents. The isles of my childhood had creatures of a similar build. They were relatively friendly though, often sharing fish and other goods with the locals. A far cry from these vicious bastards. Now would think something so lanky and lumbering would be slow, but they are quicker than expected. Their teeth, thick fur, and a nasty set of claws, make for a tough fight.
(About Fierce Wulver) All the joys of a Wulver, just a bit bigger and meaner . I would add "with more claws," but I don't think that's true. Certainly feels like it when they take a swipe at you. I can only speculate on what facilities the transition from a wulver to one of the more fierce in nature---perhaps it's down to ancestry, or perhaps it's down to some ineffable law...Survival of the fiercest...?
God of War Ragnarök[]
They look like wolves, but they stand upright like humans and are a lot smarter. And stronger. And faster. Their fur is so dense, it makes them tough to put down. They remind me a little of those Berserkers that Father put down last summer... but wolves instead of bears.
(About Fierce Wulver) This looks like an even tougher breed of Wulver. They're smarter, too. Really, really dangerous creatures. Glad my bowstring has some magic in it, otherwise I'm not sure how we'd bring these stronger ones down.
Types of Wulver[]
Wulver's come in a two different classes
- Wulver - Standard form. They usually stalk Kratos and are able to dodge Kratos' Axe throw unless already staggered. If the Beast extends its claws, they become more powerful and can perform heavier attacks, including an unblockable combo.
- Fierce Wulver - Tougher, stronger and more aggressive than standard wulvers. Some of their attacks are too powerful to block.
Notes[]
- When half of their health bar is gone, Wulvers will enter a berserked state in which additional protrusions will grow from their forelimbs. Their damage output increases dramatically at this state and they will become more aggressive.
- Wulvers will only enter berserked state if given opportunity for the animation to play. Stunning, immobilizing or dealing enough damage to kill the Wulver quickly can prevent the transformation.
Gallery[]
Concept art[]
Behind the scenes[]
In game[]
Trivia[]
- The Wulvers are creatures that do not originate from Norse Mythology. They originate from the Celtic Mythology, much like the Banshee from previous games.
- Wulvers can be considered the Nordic equivalent of Satyrs from the previous game as they both have great combat capabilities, often encountered in pairs, are considered to be one of the tougher enemies in the game and both have several unblockable attacks.