PLEASE NOTE: This article contains MAJOR spoilers for God of War Ragnarok.

Proceed at your own risk.God of War Ragnarok paints a fitting end to the Norse saga of the series as Kratos and Atreus take the fight to Asgard in the hopes of freeing the nine realms from its rule. While Odin is revered in mythology, he serves as God of War Ragnarok’s main antagonist, trying to convince Atreus of leaving his father’s side all so that he may prevent Ragnarok and survive. God of War Ragnarok’s take on Odin is fresh, and while it differs greatly from his role in mythology, it presents one of the best antagonists the series has seen.

In mythology, Odin is revered as one of the most important gods and is often worshiped during times of war. Along with his Valkyrie warriors, Odin possesses the most formidable army in all Norse mythology, and that is also true for his version of God of War Ragnarok. While the two versions of the All-Father have their differences, at their core, they have a single common goal, to prevent or delay Ragnarok for as long as possible and hope that the survivors are able to rebuild in its wake.

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Odin in Mythology

odin-mythology

In mythology, Odin leads the Asgard forces against the Jotnar army and Loki. He eventually fights with and is defeated by Fenrir, the wolf child of Loki. He is considered as one of the main gods of Norse Mythology and has various attributes including the use of all different types of magic, seemingly limitless wisdom, and his association with ravens. He is seen as benevolent and all-powerful with his demise being the greatest loss during Ragnarok.

During Ragnarok, Odin is destined to fight the great wolf Fenrir and will ultimately be swallowed by the giant beast, marking the end of his life. Odin was responsible for chaining Fenrir, throwing Hel into Niflheim, and tossing Jormungandr into the sea. His long line of sons and daughters make up most of the Aesir gods and his hatred of the Jotnar is eventually what leads to the start of Ragnarok.

Odin in God of War Ragnarok

God of War Ragnarok Odin

In God of War, Odin plays a similar role to that portrayed by Zeus in the original series, one that has a hold on every other god and the one that Kratos ultimately kills at the end of the saga. Odin's fear of Ragnarok has caused him to do unthinkable damage, such as ordering the death of every Jotnar, binding Freya to Midgard, and using his own family for his gain. In God of War Ragnarok, it is revealed that Odin has been obsessed with a mask and a tear in reality that he thinks will give him infinite knowledge, including how to beat fate.

Odin employs Atreus in the hopes that he can keep a closer eye on him and use his Jotnar abilities to uncover the truth of the mask. He was the one that ordered Baldur to eliminate Kratos and Atreus in 2018’s God of War and continued to target Kratos’ allies in God of War Ragnarok, eventually leading to the war he was trying to prevent. He is eventually defeated by Kratos, Atreus, and Freya, and his soul is sealed in one of the Jotnar spheres that Atreus found, which is eventually destroyed by Sindri out of revenge for the death of his brother, Brok.

As the final obstacle in God of War Ragnarok and the main villain in the Norse saga of the series, Odin was a vital character for the growth of both Kratos and Atreus, which ultimately leads to the pair finally forming a closer bond built on love and mutual trust. As the ruler of Asgard, his effects were felt throughout both games in the saga, from his never-ending bout with Freya to the corruption of the Valkyries. Ultimately, Odin turned into one of the most memorable villains in the God of War mythos, one that united Kratos and his allies, and one that was a great final enemy to close the chapter of the Norse saga of the God of War series.

God of War Ragnarok is available now for PS4 and PS5.

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