God Of War Ragnarök: Why Freya & Odin Are (Most Likely) Working Together

The God of War Ragnarök reveal trailer from the 2021 PlayStation Showcase may have dropped a subtle detail that suggests Odin and Freya will be working together to stop Kratos. God of War Ragnarok takes place approximately three years after God of War (2018), meaning that it has been three years since Freya swore vengeance upon Kratos for the death of her son, Baldur. Baldur was the primary antagonist of God of War (2018), and the Norse God of Light is actually the son of both Freya and Odin.

Throughout God of War (2018), Baldur was dispatched by Odin to capture Kratos and Atreus and bring them to the Allfather under a bit of miscommunication. Baldur was actually looking for Faye, the wife of Kratos in God of War, but was unaware that she had passed away not long before his arrival. Odin sought Faye because she was secretly a Jotnar, so he sent Baldur after her in hopes of learning how to access Jotunheim. Thinking that Kratos and Atreus were actually the Jotnar he was sent to retrieve, Baldur worked tirelessly up until his death trying to capture the God of War and his son.

Baldur’s death plays a huge part in the possible alliance between Freya and Odin in God of War Ragnarok. In God of War (2018), Freya reveals that the thought of losing her son eventually drove him to resent her. Freya placed a Vanir spell upon Baldur when he was young that made him invulnerable, but it came at the cost of him being unable to feel anything at all. When the God of War met Baldur and Freya for the final time, Baldur accidentally impaled his hand with the tip of the mistletoe arrow holding Atreus’s quiver together, thus breaking the spell. Of course, this eventually lead to his death, and it was at this moment that seeds of a potential alliance between Freya and Odin were planted.

Everything We Know About Freya & Odin Before God Of War Ragnarok

The death of Baldur was undoubtedly impactful on both Freya and Odin. Baldur is shown to be Freya’s only child in God of War, while Mimir has explained that Baldur is Odin’s best tracker. Although Odin is never seen in-game it’s safe to assume that he was displeased with the death of his son, in addition to the earlier deaths of his grandsons, Magni and Modi, in God of War. These acts will likely play a huge part in Odin’s quest to kill Kratos in God of War Ragnarok.

Another important detail that was shared about Odin and Freya in God of War is that the two used to be married. Though the marriage was originally arranged as a peace treaty between the Vanir and Aesir gods, Mimir explained that it genuinely seemed like Odin was happily married to Freya. After Freya shared her Vanir magic with Odin, however, he began experimenting on the Jotnar in cruel and unusual ways. Freya eventually wanted to leave Odin after she had had enough, but in his wrath, Odin used Freya’s own magic against her and exploited her weaknesses. Odin crafted spells that Freya could never break in God of War, and in Mimir’s word, “Worse even, he robbed her of her warrior spirit. Freya cannot fight – even to defend herself. No living thing may she harm, by blade nor spell.”

Even as Freya raises the dead Frost Giant in the final battle between Baldur and Kratos, she never actually attacks the God of War. She purely tries to keep her son and Kratos away from one another, suggesting that the curse spell is still in effect. Additionally, as Baldur attempts to kill her, Freya’s arms are left at her side. Whether or not she wanted Baldur to feel happy at the cost of her own life remains unknown, but it’s likely that she couldn’t have defended herself even if she wanted to. Potentially sealing his own death in God of War Ragnarok, Kratos kills Baldur and Freya exclaims, “I will rain down every agony, every violation imaginable, upon you. I will parade your cold body from every corner of every realm, and feed your soul to the vilest filth in Hel. That is my promise.”

According to Norse Mythology, Freya is supposed to be one of the only gods who does not fight in Ragnarok. Desperate to prevent Ragnarok at all costs, it’s very possible Odin is just as desperate as Freya to do anything to stop Kratos, even rekindle some form of alliance between the two gods. The deaths of Baldur, Magni, and Modi are also more than likely to be important motives for Odin to want Kratos dead. Without a doubt, Freya is will do anything to avenge her son. The key piece of evidence that suggests the Freya and Odin alliance may come to fruition is in the God of War Ragnarok trailer shown at the 2021 PlayStation showcase.

God of War Ragnarok: Are Freya & Odin Working Together?

In the God of War Ragnarok trailer, Freya is seen attacking Kratos with a blade. Again, God of War Ragnarok is set approximately three years after the events of God of War (2018), enough time for a few possible things to happen. Although the spell that prevented Freya from being able to attack could have been broken by Freya, it’s more likely that Odin broke the spell himself. If this is the case, it would explain why Freya is clearly able to directly attack Kratos in the trailer, though none of this information is confirmed about the God of War Ragnarok story itself. If the spell were broken by Freya it’s likely that she wouldn’t be seen attacking Kratos out in the open, and would have possibly returned to Vanaheim to seek the help of other Vanir gods.

In addition to being unable to raise a weapon or cast a spell on another being, Odin also trapped Freya in Midgard. This prevented her from being able to leave the realm for more than a few seconds, and Odin could potentially use this as a bargaining chip to have Freya work with him to stop Kratos. Nonetheless, Freya’s quest for vengeance against Kratos and Odin’s obsession with Ragnarok is likely more than enough motivation for the both of them to put their differences aside. God Of War Ragnarök is confirmed to be the last God of War game in Norse Mythology, which means whatever happens between Freya, Odin, and Kratos will likely impact where Kratos heads next – if he survives.

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