While many fans expected to see Kratos die in God of War Ragnarok, the Ghost of Sparta manages to change his fate and survive the sequel's events. A mural found at the end of 2018's God of War teases Kratos' demise, which both he and his son Atreus struggle to subvert throughout the sequel. While the game never directly states how he did it, Kratos' change of heart in God of War Ragnarok appears to shift his destiny.
[Warning: the following article contains spoilers for God of War Ragnarok.]
The death of Kratos was heavily teased in 2018 by God of War ending runes, with the prophetic Jotnar mural being revealed more clearly in Ragnarok. The mural accurately depicts Kratos and Atreus' adventures across the Nine Realms, but this illustrated quest eventually leads to Atreus cradling his father's dead body. Ragnarok's mural reveals that Thor is present during this event, indicating that Kratos was expected to die in battle against the unstoppable God of Thunder. A subsequent part of the prophecy shows Atreus joining forces with Odin in Asgard, suggesting that the young God of Mischief would join the All-Father once his real father was out of the picture.
GoW Ragnarok Changes Kratos' Deadly Fate
While the wise Jotnar correctly predict many events across both games, the mural in Jotunheim was wrong about God of War's Kratos being killed off in Ragnarok. While Thor does briefly kill Kratos during their first battle, denting the fourth wall in the process, the Ghost of Sparta survives his second battle with the God of Thunder. Kratos offers peace to the hammer-wielding Aesir, using the friendship between their children Atreus and Thrud as common ground, and Odin kills Thor soon after. This twist of fate lets Kratos survive the events of God of War Ragnarok, with Atreus eventually cradling a lifeless Odin rather than the body of his own father.
Opening His Heart Changed Kratos' Future
God of War Ragnarok never directly states how Kratos avoided his death, but choosing a benevolent path and opening his heart to his enemies is suggested to be the key. Thor doesn't kill Kratos in GoW Ragnarok because the Ghost of Sparta offers him peace, rather than being drawn into the battle like his younger self may have. This suggests that Thor would've permanently killed Kratos had their fight in Asgard continued, which is supported by Thor successfully killing Kratos at the start of the game. Faye's advice to "open his heart to [suffering]" and Atreus' friendship with Thrud both help Kratos change his destiny and survive Ragnarok.
While Kratos manages to avoid a prophesied death in God of War Ragnarok, his godly powers and masterful combat skills play no part in his survival. Instead, the positive influence of Faye and Atreus allows Kratos to choose a peaceful path and avoid being killed at the hands of Thor. Many fans expected to see Kratos finally die in God of War Ragnarok, but opening his heart to suffering has instead given the Ghost of Sparta a new path towards redemption.
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