Kratos’ Iconic Weapon: The Mythology and Combat of the Leviathan Axe in God of War

Introduction to God of War and the Leviathan Axe

The God of War video game franchise features Kratos, a brutal Spartan warrior on a quest for vengeance against the Greek gods who betrayed him. In the original trilogy on PS2 and PS3, Kratos wielded the chained Blades of Chaos as his signature weapons.

In the 2018 God of War reboot on PS4, Kratos has moved from Greece to the world of Norse mythology. After his wife’s passing, Kratos goes on a journey with his young son Atreus to spread her ashes from the highest peak of the nine realms. Defend himself in this new land of Nordic beasts and gods,

Forged by the Huldra Brothers, two talented dwarven blacksmiths, the Leviathan Axe becomes Kratos’ primary offensive weapon in the new setting. Its design combines a hand-axe with a curved blade, carved with Norse runes and symbols. This mystical weapon grants Kratos powerful ice-based magic abilities to strike down his foes. As Kratos and Atreus embark on their quest, the Leviathan Axe serves as a symbol of Kratos’ desire to leave his blood-soaked past behind and build a new life with his son.

Physical Description and Abilities

In the God of War series, the Leviathan Axe is depicted as a one-handed battle axe with a metal handle wrapped in a brown leather grip. The axe head is made of silver icy metal and has Nordic runes etched into the blade. According to the God of War Wiki, the Leviathan Axe stands about 3 feet tall.

The Leviathan Axe was forged by the Huldra Brothers, Sindri, and Brok, two dwarven blacksmiths. They imbued the axe with magical abilities. The main power of the Leviathan Axe is the ability to harness the primordial element of ice. Kratos can swing the axe to create bursts of icy energy to freeze enemies. He can also throw the axe and have it freeze enemies from a distance before returning to his hand.

One of the Leviathan Axe’s signature moves is the ability to throw it at enemies and have it return to Kratos’ hand, like Thor’s hammer Mjölnir. This gives the axe almost boomerang-like qualities in combat. The axe is also bonded to Kratos and will return to him when called. These ice powers and throwing/recall ability make the Leviathan Axe a versatile and mythical weapon.

Origins in Norse Mythology

In Norse mythology, the Leviathan was a gigantic sea monster or serpent that dwelt in the ocean that surrounded Midgard, the realm of humans. The Leviathan was so massive that its body could wrap around the entire world and grasp its tail (Mythos and Legends Wiki). This image of a gargantuan serpentine beast is likely one inspiration for naming Kratos’ axe after the legendary Leviathan.

The Leviathan Axe the dwarven brothers Brok and Sindri, in Norse legends for their skill in crafting powerful magical weapons and artifacts. The most famous dwarven-forged weapon is Thor’s hammer Mjolnir, a destructive warhammer said to level mountains when thrown. Mjolnir shared some qualities with the Leviathan Axe, like returning to the owner’s hand when thrown (Quora). But while Mjolnir channels lightning, the Leviathan Axe channels icy elemental magic.

In the God of War universe, the Leviathan Axe was likely crafted to be comparable in power and magic to Mjolnir itself. When Thor and Kratos clash, the Leviathan Axe proves capable of standing up to Mjolnir’s devastating blows. But like the myths, only the most skilled dwarven smiths could forge such an extraordinary weapon.

Unique Powers

The Leviathan Axe grants Kratos a variety of unique powers to wield in combat. One of its most notable abilities is its power over ice magic. The axe can freeze enemies solid when thrown or slammed into the ground, allowing Kratos to shatter them with devastating blows. As described on the God of War Wiki, “Frost amassed in the Leviathan Axe during its creation bestows powerful ice magic upon the weapon. These icy powers can also imbue Kratos’ strength-based attacks with bonus frost damage.

Another iconic power of the axe is its boomerang-like ability to be thrown long distances and then return to Kratos’ hand. This gives him impressive ranged combat options to go along with his close-quarters brawling style. The axe acts as a mystical homing beacon, allowing it to be recalled from anywhere. According to the VS Battles Wiki, this return power comes from the axe’s runic magic making it “forever bound to the owner.

As Kratos levels up the axe throughout the games, he unlocks new runic attack abilities and upgrades. These give the axe electricity, wind, and fire powers through magical runes and upgrades crafted by the dwarves Brok and Sindri. The Leviathan Axe’s runic powers can unleash devastating area-of-effect attacks, execute powerful combo finishers, and build Kratos’ fury meter.

Comparisons to Mjolnir

The Leviathan Axe is often compared to Mjolnir, the mighty hammer wielded by Thor in Norse mythology. In many ways, these legendary weapons are counterparts to each other, representing the conflicts between Kratos and Thor in the God of War franchise.

Raw power and strength, the Leviathan Axe is said to be equal or even superior to Mjolnir. According to fans on Reddit, “The axe has clashed with the face of the hammer many times yet it has not faltered once. It’s a testament that it is not weaker.”

The major clash between Mjolnir and the Leviathan Axe occurs in God of War Ragnarok. Players finally get to see Thor wield Mjolnir against Kratos and his axe. While the results of their epic battle remain to be seen, the Leviathan Axe proves more than capable of standing up to Mjolnir’s brute force.

Whereas Mjolnir relies on heavy crushing blows, the Leviathan Axe has more abilities like its power over ice. This magic grants the axe and Kratos more versatility in combat. In the hands of Kratos, the Leviathan Axe is a weapon worthy of challenging even the great Mjolnir.

Significance in the God of War Franchise

The Leviathan Axe is significant in the God of War franchise, especially the 2018 reboot and sequel God of War Ragnarök. As Kratos’ primary weapon, the axe is iconic and synonymous with his character in the new Norse saga.

Fans love the Leviathan Axe for its unique design and powers. It’s engraved in our hero’s weapon. And most, if you don’t know the meaning you can make it whatever you want. The axe has become beloved for its ties to Norse myth and as a signature part of Kratos’ new journey.

The Leviathan Axe allows for innovative combat and traversal mechanics. Players can throw, freeze enemies, unlock special Runic attacks, and upgrade the weapon. According to God of War Wiki Fandom, “forged by the blacksmiths Brok and Sindri to in the deicide of Aesir, the Leviathan Axe allows for swift and powerful attacks. The axe makes Kratos feel powerful and responsive during gameplay.

The Leviathan Axe is significant for Kratos as a character, the fans who admire it, and as an integral part of the God of War reboot gameplay and story.

Kratos’ Use of the Axe

In the God of War games, Kratos utilizes the Leviathan Axe as his main weapon in combat. Its lightweight design allows Kratos to wield the axe with immense speed and dexterity, swinging and throwing it at enemies.

Kratos can perform a variety of combat moves and techniques using the Leviathan Axe. He can swing the axe in wide arcs to strike many enemies. Kratos can also throw the axe at enemies, freezing them on impact. One of his signature moves is throwing the axe, having it strike enemies and then return to his hand.

The Leviathan Axe allows for fluid, uninterrupted combos. Kratos can transition between swinging the axe up close, throwing it from a distance, and using his fists and shield for a varied offense (Combat Warriors). His skill with the Leviathan Axe only improves throughout the games as the player unlocks new abilities and upgrades.

Fans on Reddit have noted how the Leviathan Axe allows for uninterrupted combos compared to the Blades of Chaos (Reddit). Kratos’ mastery and fighting style with the axe have become iconic parts of the new God of War combat gameplay.

Upgrading the Leviathan Axe

In the God of War games, the Leviathan Axe can be upgraded and enhanced over time to increase its power and unlock new abilities. This is done through finding special crafting resources scattered throughout the world.

To upgrade the axe in God of War (2018), Kratos must find Frozen Flames — rare, mystical items that can be used by the dwarven blacksmiths Brok and Sindri to improve the axe. With each Frozen Flame found, an attribute like strength or runic can be upgraded. Finding all the flames maxes out the axe’s stats.

In God of War Ragnarök, the axe is upgraded using Frozen Sparks. Collecting 6 Frozen Sparks forms 1 Frozen Flame, which can then be used to upgrade. There are also weapon pommels and talismans that boost axe abilities.

Additionally, the axe’s Runic Attacks can be swapped out and upgraded. These special moves unleash elemental ice damage or spinning attacks. New runic abilities can be from side quests, optional realms, or purchased from brokers.

The Leviathan Axe powers up frost damage and allows Kratos to take advantage of the weapon’s iconic abilities. The axe is one of the most versatile and customizable weapons in the new God of War games.

Art and Craftsmanship

The Leviathan Axe is a work of incredible art and craftsmanship. According to Norse legends, it was forged by the Dwarven Huldra brothers Brok and Sindri, known for creating some of the greatest weapons in the Nine Realms.

The axe head features intricate Nordic artwork and motifs. The double-bladed axe head has a beautiful icy aesthetic, with stylized snowflake designs etched into the metal. The handle is wrapped in detailed leather straps and has Norse runic script carved along its length, including Elder Futhark runes spelling out the name Leviathan (ArtStation).

As a Dwarven weapon, the Leviathan Axe is a crafted and balanced throwing axe. It feels weighted in Kratos’ hands, allowing for devastating spinning melee attacks as well as a boomerang throw-and-recall ability. The icy blue glow along the blades and handle highlights the axe’s magical origins.

The Leviathan Axe evolves throughout the God of War games as Kratos unlocks new abilities. More ornate gold and silver accents are added, increasing the grandeur of the axe as it becomes empowered (Pinterest). This reflects the axe’s growing mythic status as Kratos’ signature God-slaying weapon.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Leviathan Axe has deep roots in Norse mythology as a powerful weapon forged by the legendary dwarves. In the God of War franchise, it takes on even greater importance as Kratos’ signature weapon and a fan favorite. Its icy elemental powers and ability to be thrown and recalled make it invaluable in combat. While like Mjolnir in some ways, the Leviathan Axe stands on its own with its sleek design and unique capabilities.

Looking ahead to the God of War series, the Leviathan Axe seems destined to remain as Kratos’ weapon of choice. As referenced in discussions on gaming forums like this Reddit thread, the Leviathan Axe has become too iconic to be replaced. Much like Mjolnir is tied to Thor, the Leviathan Axe is now synonymous with Kratos. Its significance in the new God of War saga solidifies its place by Kratos’ side as he continues his adventures. As the axe has served Kratos well so far, it will likely aid him again in future installments of the acclaimed franchise.