By now, Atreus’s secret alternate identity as Loki, the Norse god of mischief, is pretty well known and is one of the major points of speculation for God of War: Ragnarok. The twist, revealed at the end of the 2018 game, has some major implications for the upcoming God of War title. Perhaps more importantly, it has some major implications for who Atreus is and what fans can expect from him.
Loki has a certain reputation as the trickster god that Atreus doesn’t quite live up to - at least, not yet. But even though he’s got some more character development to do before he fully embodies what what players would expect of Loki, Atreus already demonstrates many of the characteristics of the mythological Norse god.
Atreus Has a Dark Side
Atreus’s darker side comes out when Kratos finally reveals that they’re gods. Atreus doesn’t handle the news well, becoming extremely arrogant and thinking himself to be above others. He puts his own needs and desires first and becomes surprisingly sadistic. At first it seems like he's just a kid acting out, but knowing that Atreus is the trickster god Loki puts his behavior in an entirely new light.
The MCU has made Loki famous and popular in pop culture, but he is not an all-around good guy. There's really no version of him that is, and Atreus is unlikely to be the first. Loki has been known to do good things, but only when it helps him. If harming someone (or stabbing someone in the back) offers more benefits for him, he’ll take that action instead.
Loki is known for his ability to trick and betray others. Atreus hasn’t done a whole lot of this yet, but the end of God of War suggested that Atreus may end up killing Kratos. If that happens, “betrayal” would be a gross understatement. While it would be heartbreaking to see that happen, it wouldn’t be out of character for Loki, assuming that Kratos’s death somehow benefits him.
Loki is a Morally Ambiguous Character
Loki is a character who is out only for himself, and he’ll help or hinder whoever he needs to if there’s something in it for him. The benefits reaped from his often morally ambiguous actions may be genuinely necessary, but sometimes they may just seem more fun or helpful than the alternative. A good example of Atreus carrying out this trait is the killing of Modi. Atreus didn’t need to kill Modi, but he wanted to and felt like it was his right. By not showing mercy, Atreus also ensured Modi didn't come back to haunt them.
Atreus hasn’t developed a full “trickster” personality yet, and players haven’t seen what he’s capable of as far as manipulation and backstabbing are concerned. However, it’s been hinted at. Atreus proved in God of War that he is more than capable of being impulsive, volatile, and self-centered.
Loki isn’t all evil, of course, but he is self-absorbed and has a pretty weak moral compass. Kratos keeps his son in check, but with sources suggesting that Kratos and Atreus might become separated sometime in God of War: Ragnarok, players might see Atreus take a dark turn that would be characteristic of his Loki persona.
While Loki is manipulative and generally considered to be evil, it'll be interesting to see how Santa Monica chooses to treat its version. There's a lot of space for creativity in mythology, and the game hasn't been a hundred percent faithful so far. With that in mind, there is room for Atreus to demonstrate more of Loki's characteristics without becoming an antagonist.
Atreus is Playful, But Not Goofy
As the Norse god of mischief, Loki is commonly known as the trickster god. The words “mischief” and “trickster” imply a fun and playful personality, but the reality of Loki’s mischief isn’t quite as lighthearted. Atreus doesn’t go out of his way to play pranks on others like Loki typically does, but he’s still a playful character and provides a lot of comic relief.
Atreus also has a big imagination and is curious about his powers as a god. Traditionally, Loki can shapeshift and even change from male to female in some instances. With that in mind, it’s not surprising that Atreus’s first question upon discovering he’s a god is whether or not he can turn into an animal.
What sounds like an innocent child’s question has a much deeper meaning. Right away, Atreus is thinking of more “fun” ways he can use his powers - and Loki can turn into an animal, as a matter of fact. After all, this explains how he would be able to father Jormungandr the World Serpent. Atreus hasn’t discovered all of his abilities yet, but shapeshifting is certainly going to be one of them.
While Atreus is lighthearted and playful for much of the game, it’s not over the top. He’s not the class clown by any means and doesn’t crack jokes like Nathan Drake or Peter Parker. That’s actually a good thing, because that’s not who Loki is supposed to be. He’s not goofy; rather, much of the story emphasizes Atreus’s curiosity and intelligence. Intelligence might be even more important than wit when it comes to being a master manipulator, and that’s really what Loki boils down to.
Atreus Has Already Fulfilled One of Loki’s Responsibilities
Loki is one of the major gods in the Norse pantheon, and as such there are a few specific responsibilities he has in Norse prophecy. One of Loki’s most important roles has already been fulfilled by Atreus: the death of Baldur.
In Norse mythology, Loki discovers Baldur’s weakness to mistletoe and tricks the blind god Hodr into throwing a mistletoe spear at Baldur. Obviously, it happens a little bit differently in God of War, but the detail of Atreus being the one with the mistletoe that finally harms Baldur is a significant one.
Baldur’s death is a sign of Ragnarok, which Loki is directly involved in. Atreus discovered Baldur’s weakness on accident while the mythological Loki intentionally exploited it, but this is one of the major ways in which Atreus fulfills his role as Loki. Only time will tell if he'll fulfill other prophecies concerning Loki, but it seems very likely.
Atreus Still Has Some Growing to Do to Become Loki
Even though Atreus has begun to embody many of the roles and personality traits that define the Norse god of mischief, or at least show that he could if given the right push, Loki hasn't been fully realized yet. When players leave Atreus and Kratos at the end of God of War, Atreus seems to have straightened out his rebellious streak and is once again the sweet boy everyone knows and loves. He’s proven that he’s capable, but he hasn’t gone full Loki.
Much of that character arc will probably happen in God of War: Ragnarok. Assuming the story picks up at the end of Fimbulwinter, Atreus should be five years older than he was in the previous game. A lot can change for an adolescent in five years, and the Atreus in Ragnarok might be very different.
Loki has some major roles to fulfill in the prophecy of Ragnarok, one of which includes leading the Frost Giants against the Aesir. Atreus is not ready for that yet, but perhaps Fimbulwinter, the inevitable threat of Ragnarok, and the events of the upcoming game will push him over the edge to truly become the Norse god of mischief.
God of War is available now on PS4.