What Happened To Fenrir In God Of War Ragnarok?
"God of War Ragnarok" is the latest game from Santa Monica Studios that follows the god-killer Kratos and his son Atreus as they seek to survive in a hostile world inspired by Norse mythology. The previous game ended with the revelation that Atreus' mother was one of the Giants of Jötunheim and that he himself has a second name among the Giants: Loki. "Ragnarok," isn't just the title of the game. It's also the name of the Norse story for how the world of gods and men ends. The "God of War" franchise has always taken some major liberties with the mythologies that it takes its inspiration from, but it generally likes to include several of the major figures from the actual myths.
In Norse mythology, there is a wolf named Fenrir who is one of Loki's children. At least it starts out like a normal wolf, but it continues to eat until it grows to an extraordinary size. The Encyclopedia Britannica states, "According to one version of the myth, Fenrir will devour the sun, and in the Ragnarök, he will fight against the chief god Odin and swallow him."
A wolf named Fenrir makes an appearance in "God of War Ragnarok" as well, though his story isn't quite the same as the one from the myth. Major spoilers ahead!
Fenrir dies but is reborn
At the beginning of the game, Kratos and Atreus ride out to a cave using a sled that is pulled by two female wolves named Speki and Svanna. Upon their arrival, Atreus rushes to the cave where a large male wolf climbs out. The wolf is whimpering and seems to be struggling to walk. Atreus cradles its head in his lap and attempts to feed it scraps of meat. The wolf is unable to swallow the meat, however, and Kratos lets Atreus know that the wolf is dying. Atreus holds the wolf, says a few words in another language, and comforts him until he passes. Players will then see sparks of light leaving his body, presumably representing the wolf's soul. Atreus later calls this wolf Fenrir. This is not the last time players see Fenrir, however.
There is another battle against a giant wolf named Garm later in the game. Atreus attempts to befriend the wolf, but he cannot, and they are instead forced to kill it. Only Garm refuses to stay dead. In a desperate attempt to defeat the wolf, Atreus stabs it with his knife. He then explains to Kratos that he cast a spell when Fenrir died and accidentally placed the wolf's soul in his knife. He later meets with the giant wolf and discovers that the soul transplant was a success. Fenrir has now fused with Garm.