Characters & Roles

Characters & Roles in God of War (2018)

This guide covers every major character in God of War (2018), focusing on the two playable characters: Kratos and his son Atreus. While the game is single-player with a fixed protagonist, understanding their roles, strengths, and synergies is crucial for mastering combat and progression. We also detail key supporting characters and their functions.

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Kratos: The Ghost of Sparta

Background

Kratos, once the vengeful God of War from Greek mythology, now lives in Midgard with his son Atreus. He wields the Leviathan Axe (a frost-enchanted weapon given by his wife Faye) and later the Blades of Chaos (his old chained blades from his past). His primary role is melee damage dealer, tank, and crowd controller.

Strengths

• High base damage with both weapons.


• Staggering attacks – heavy hits break enemy poise.


• Stun potential – fists and runic attacks can fill the stun meter, enabling finishers.


• Defensive options – block, parry, dodge roll, and shield bash.


• Area of Effect (AoE) capabilities – especially with Blades of Chaos and runic attacks.


• Elemental damage – Frost (axe) and Fire (blades) exploit enemy weaknesses.




Weaknesses



• Slow movement compared to many enemies; relies on positioning.


• Limited ranged options – only the axe throw (can be recalled) and runic attacks.


• High stamina cost for consecutive dodges/blocks when overwhelmed.


• No self-healing outside of Spartan Rage or talismans.


• Vulnerable during long attack animations (e.g., heavy runic attacks).




Playstyle


Kratos excels in relentless aggression, using his heavy attacks to stagger enemies and his light attacks to build combo meter. Switch between axe (for single-target freeze) and blades (for crowd control). Use shield parries to counter enemy attacks, then follow up with a heavy combo. Utilize Atreus’s arrows to interrupt and build stun. Activate Spartan Rage when overwhelmed or to finish off tough foes; it grants health regen and massive damage.


• Early Game: Focus on axe throws and basic combos. Use shield to block projectiles. Upgrade axe frequently.


• Mid Game: Unlock Blades of Chaos. Use both weapons for elemental advantage. Invest in runic attacks for bursts.


• Late Game: Optimize armor sets (e.g., Sindri’s Royal Dwarven Set for defense, or Valkyrie sets for offense). Balance runic cooldowns with luck for more frequent activations.

Unlock Conditions

Kratos is available from the start. No unlock necessary. The Blades of Chaos are obtained during the story quest “The Magic Chisel”.

Recommended Equipment & Builds

Best Weapon Upgrades: Fully upgrade Leviathan Axe and Blades of Chaos. For pommels, use Retribution (axe) and Grips of the Forgotten Flame (blades).

Team Synergy (with Atreus)

Atreus is Kratos’s indispensable support. His arrows interrupt enemy attacks, build stun, and can trigger elemental effects when upgraded. Use Atreus’s Shock Arrows to stun groups, Runic Summon for crowd control, and Wrath of the Wolf for massive damage. Kratos should coordinate attacks with Atreus’s summons – e.g., use a heavy runic attack while Atreus’s wolves pin enemies. Always keep Atreus’s arrow meter full by using his abilities on cooldown.

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Atreus: The Boy

Background

Atreus is Kratos’s son, unaware of his divine heritage (he is the son of a god and a giant). He fights with a short bow and a magical knife (Talons of Chaos? – actually a dagger). His role is ranged support, crowd control, and stagger maintenance. He is always present in combat.

Strengths

• Ranged harassment – arrows interrupt enemy attacks and stun.


• Lightning damage – shock arrows can stun groups and chain to multiple enemies.


• Summons – spectral animals (wolves, boar) distract and damage foes.


• No resource cost for basic arrows (unlimited quiver). Special arrows and summons have cooldowns.


• Can be manually commanded (shortcut buttons) for precise timing.


• Passive buffs – some skills increase Krato’s combo damage or stagger.




Weaknesses



• Low direct damage – arrows are insignificant against bosses/elites without upgrades.


• Squishy – Atreus cannot be hit in combat (he is AI-controlled and invulnerable), but if he is stunned (very rare) he stops attacking briefly.


• Cannot be directly controlled – you only command his actions, not movement.


• Cooldown-dependent for special arrows and runic summons.


• Some enemies are immune to shock/stun (e.g., certain bosses).




Playstyle


Atreus is a passive assistant: keep pressure on enemies with constant basic arrows (spam R1 recommended). Use Shock Arrows to freeze large groups or Runic Summon (e.g., Wrath of the Wolf) to deal burst damage and create openings. His Talon Bow can be upgraded for more puncture. In boss fights, wait for openings and use Atreus’s abilities to interrupt dangerous attacks. He is essential for breaking enemy shields (shock arrows stun shield-bearers).


• Early Game: Only basic arrows. Use frequently to build stun.


• Mid Game: Unlock shock arrows and first wolf summon. Prioritize cooldown reduction on Atreus’s skills in his skill tree.


• Late Game: Max out Atreus’s skill tree. Equip the Fertility armor variant (if available) or Ancient armor for increased damage. Focus on Cooldown and Runic stats to reduce his ability timers.




Unlock Conditions


Atreus is available from the start. No unlock required. His shock arrows are obtained during the story quest “The Sickness” (after freeing Blue Sand). His Runic Summons are unlocked through the main story and optional favors.



Recommended Equipment & Builds


Atreus has only one weapon: the Talon Bow (upgradeable). His armor sets are optional collectibles – the best is Valkyrie+ (shared with Kratos) or Sindri’s Royal Dwarven Set for cooldown. However, Atreus’s gear is less impactful than his skills. Prioritize unlocking these skills:


• Wrath of the Wolf (summons two wolves) – best damage.


• Shock Arrows – stun all nearby enemies.


• Thousand Arrows – multiple shots for constant pressure.


• Bear Slam (late game) – heavy stun and damage.


Best Talisman for Atreus: None directly; his cooldown is affected by Kratos’s talisman? (No – Atreus has his own stats that are boosted by armor and enchantments on Kratos’s chest? Actually, Atreus’s damage and cooldown are independent and scale with story progression. The only way to improve him is via his skill tree and some enchantments that benefit “Atreus” (e.g., Atreus’s Protection). Use Enchantments that increase his arrow damage or reduce cooldowns (e.g., Heart of the Wolf, Horn of Boreas).



Team Synergy (with Kratos)


Atreus is the perfect partner for Kratos’s aggressive play. His arrows interrupt enemies, allowing Kratos to land heavy combos. Use Atreus’s Runic Summon before unleashing a runic attack to maximize damage. When fighting multiple enemies, spam shock arrows to stun several at once, then Kratos uses area-of-effect attacks (Blades of Chaos). In one-on-one fights, use Atreus’s Wrath of the Wolf to pin the enemy, then follow up with a heavy runic attack. Always command Atreus when you see a gold ring around an enemy – that means it’s stunned and ready for a grapple/finisher; Atreus can instantly trigger it.

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Supporting Characters (Non-Playable)





Freya



• Role: Witch of the Woods, mentor. Teaches Kratos and Atreus about the world. Provides key story progression and magic (e.g., the travel rune).


• Combat involvement: Sometimes casts spells to help (healing, removing poison) but not controllable.


• Importance: Essential for unlocking upgrades (e.g., to the Blades of Chaos) and lore. Protect her during “The Witch’s House” quest.




Brok & Sindri (The Huldra Brothers)



• Role: Dwarven blacksmiths. Upgrade Kratos’s weapons and armor, craft enchantments.


• Locations: Brok appears early in the Lake of Nine, Sindri at various points. Both can be found in the world.


• Services: Upgrade axe, blades, and armor; sell materials; offer side quests. Brok is more direct, Sindri is more cautious. Completing their favors unlocks unique armor sets (e.g., Ivaldi’s Mist Armor).




Mimir



• Role: The smartest man alive, advisor. Tells stories, provides lore, and offers riddles. He is basically a walking encyclopedia attached to Kratos’s belt. No combat role, but his knowledge unlocks Valkyrie locations and Legendary Chest hints.




Baldur (Main Antagonist)



• Role: Norse god, invulnerable to all threats (physical and magical) due to a curse. He is the primary boss fought multiple times. His curse makes him immune to damage until the final fight when Atreus’s mistletoe arrows break it.


• Combat: Each encounter requires specific tactics (e.g., stunning him with fists or hitting with elemental attacks after his shield is down). He is fast, strong, and uses frost attacks.




Magni & Modi (Thor’s Sons)



• Role: Secondary bosses. Magni is the stronger (uses a hammer), Modi is faster (uses a mace). They appear mid-game in the “Mountain” region.


• Fight tips: Focus on Modi first (he uses lightning and interrupts), then Magni. Use Atreus’s shock arrows on Modi to stun him, then punish.




The Valkyries (Optional Bosses)



• Role: Nine elite optional boss fights. Defeating them rewards Valkyrie armor (best in game) and the Valkyrie Summon enchantment. They are extremely difficult, requiring perfect parries, dodges, and elemental management.


• Tips: Use the Talisman of the Realms to slow time, and armor with high defense/cooldown. Study each Valkyrie’s attack patterns (they have varied moves, e.g., blinding light, aerial attacks). Atreus’s shock arrows help interrupt their combos.




Kratos’s Wife (Faye) – Deceased



• Role: Her ashes are the goal of the journey. She is a giant (Jotun) and foresaw the events. Her legacy influences the story and the Leviathan Axe.

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Summary Table: Playable Characters

This concludes the Characters & Roles guide. For more details on specific skill trees, see the Character Skills section.