God of War Valhalla Changed Kratos Forever

Kratos’ greatest battle isn’t against gods—it’s against himself. God of War Ragnarök’s Valhalla DLC transforms combat into a metaphor for therapy, self-improvement, and redemption.

What does it take for a God of War to become a God of Hope? In the free Valhalla DLC for God of War Ragnarök, Kratos embarks on a journey that’s less about combat and more about confronting his actions from previous games. This isn’t just a rogue-lite challenge mode—it’s one big metaphorical therapy session, and Kratos definitely needs it.

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Trust The Process

Following the climactic events of Ragnarök, Atreus, embarks on his own path, and Kratos is left to face the echoes of his past. The DLC presents Valhalla not as a warrior's afterlife but as a symbolic realm where Kratos confronts his past transgressions and seeks redemption.

The questline is aptly named "The Work," which refers to the ongoing process of personal growth. The rogue-lite gameplay mechanics, where each death signifies a new beginning, mirror the therapeutic process: confronting challenges repeatedly, each time with enhanced understanding and resilience. This cyclical journey emphasises that progress is iterative and demands dedication.

Central to the narrative are Kratos's recurring encounters with Týr, the Norse God of War. After each trial, Týr engages Kratos in dialogues that peel back the layers of his past. And who better to play therapist than an enlightened god of war—one who understands that true strength is found, not on the battlefield, but through the war within.

The War Within

In Valhalla, Kratos is forced to reckon with the two most defining aspects of his past: becoming the God of War and the destruction that followed. Týr, acting as both guide and therapist, pushes Kratos to reflect on these moments, not just as a warrior but as a man burdened by regret.

Their first conversation centres on why Kratos chose to take over the role of The God of War from Ares.

The second session with Tyr touches on the fall of Kratos’s homeland, a moment that defined his descent into rage and vengeance. Týr’s probing questions strip away Kratos’s defences, forcing him to confront the emotional truth behind his actions.

Týr: "Tell me, Kratos—truly, how did it feel to plunge your homeland into darkness?"  

Kratos: "I did not intend the land to suffer. But I was indifferent, consumed only by rage and retribution!"  

Týr: "That is not what I asked. How did it feel, in that moment, your soul given over to darkness, bringing a darkness over everything you could see?"  

Kratos: "It felt... true."

This exchange reveals Kratos’s struggle to reconcile the man he once was with the man he’s trying to be. His admission that his actions “felt true” underscores the depth of his internal conflict—he was once a man who found purpose in destruction, and now he must grapple with the consequences of that identity.

Chasing Hope

In the pivotal fourth session, Týr guides Kratos to confront the emotional aftermath of his vengeance.

Týr: "Let's see what your mind has worked out. When the evils of the Box were purged, what remained was hope—which you chose to release back to the world."  

Mimir: "Yes—after everything, you came back full circle to sacrificing yourself."  

Kratos: "My death would have been just... but it was not to be."  

Týr: "Yes, you lived. And hope still lived inside you, from that day to this one. One might say you brought hope back to these realms, after a long slumber. Box or no Box, Kratos, hope and fear and love and hate exist in every one of us. The question is, which will you choose to let guide your actions? Each choice we make shapes our world."  

Kratos: "Hmm... I see the truth of it."

This conversation underscores the duality of human emotions and the conscious choices that define one's path. For Kratos, it’s a moment of clarity: he can’t change the past, but he can choose hope over hatred moving forward.

Weapons Of Change

Throughout his trials in Valhalla, Kratos faces Týr in combat, each encounter marked by a different weapon. These weapons aren’t just tools of war—they’re symbols of the lessons Kratos must internalise on his path to redemption.

The Norse spear and shield represent the balance between aggression and protection. For Kratos, this duality mirrors his struggle to reconcile his violent past with his desire to protect those he loves. It’s a reminder that true strength lies not in unchecked rage, but in knowing when to fight and when to shield.

The Aztec club, the Macuahuitl, with razor-sharp obsidian blades, crafted from the resources available in their environment, symbolises resilience and ingenuity—qualities Kratos must embrace as he confronts his own past. The weapon’s design, allowing for both slashing and bludgeoning, mirrors the duality of Kratos’s journey: the need to balance destruction with purpose.

The sickle-shaped Egyptian khopesh represents the cyclical nature of justice. For Kratos, it’s a metaphor for the balance he must strike between acknowledging his past wrongs and forging a new path forward. Justice, as Týr teaches him, isn’t about punishment—it’s about balance.

The massive Japanese nodachi embodies discipline and honour. As Kratos faces this weapon, he’s reminded that true mastery isn’t just about skill in battle, but about controlling one’s emotions and actions. It’s a lesson in restraint and wisdom—qualities Kratos must embrace to fully transform.

Confronting The Self

After the fourth session, Kratos is finally ready to open the mysterious doors behind the arena. What he finds beyond is his younger self, seated upon the throne he once claimed as the Greek God of War. This confrontation forces Kratos to vocalise his remorse and grapple with the duality of his nature.

Kratos: "What can I say to you? I remember how it felt to take that throne. All that it meant. And all that it did not. A god of war... a god of pain. Of suffering. Of destruction. The Norns said I chase a redemption that I know I can never deserve. What does that make me? God of fools! A god of...! [pauses, examining the bronze statue of Pandora] Hope. 'When all else is lost...'"

This face-to-face is a clear metaphor for looking inward and confronting his past self. The monologue signifies Kratos's acceptance of his past and the realisation that hope has always been a part of his journey.

The "Valhalla" DLC not only enriches Kratos's character arc but also serves as a testament to the arduous journey of self-forgiveness and transformation. By confronting his former self and accepting his past actions, Kratos embodies the essence of redemption—that it is an ongoing process requiring unwavering effort and introspection.

As for the franchise's trajectory, the conclusion of the DLC leaves room for speculation. Egypt, in particular, has long been speculated as a potential setting, given its deep mythological ties to death, judgment, and rebirth—concepts that align closely with Kratos's ongoing transformation.

In a poll here on the channel even you guys wanted to visit Egypt as the next setting for the God Of War franchise. 

Wherever the story takes him next, Valhalla reinforces that Kratos is no longer just the God of War—he is a God of Hope. The question is no longer whether he can change, but rather, how he will choose to wield that change moving forward.

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