How Ragnarok's Norns Are Different From Greek Destiny

God of War Ragnarok pits Kratos against the Norns of Norse mythology, which has both similarities and differences to the Fated Sisters he once fought.

[Warning: the following article contains spoilers for God of War Ragnarok.]

After the god of war Ragnarok Kratos faces the triple fate of the Norns of Greek and Norse mythology, each of the three prescient characters is portrayed very differently. The God of War saga was originally based on Greek legend, until the 2018 entry in the series sent Kratos and his son Atreus on a Nordic adventure. Fate is an important theme in Greek and Norse mythology, so the God of War series naturally has multiple versions of Fate.

^ When analyzing God of War 2 vs. Ragnarok, fans will find that the two beloved sequels have a lot in common. The 2007 sequel built on its predecessor, offering even more climactic boss battles with iconic characters like Perseus, Theseus, and Zeus. God of War, Ragnarok also focuses on boss variety, with Kratos and his allies facing legendary foes like Thor, Nidhogg, and Odin. There are also plot parallels between God of War II and Ragnarok, with both sequels pitting Kratos against Greek and Norse gods. Including Fate in both stories only strengthens these comparisons.

look for Norns in God of War Ragnarok compares the Norse legends of God of War to the Greek mythology games. Kratos visits the Fated Sisters in God of War II for the same reason as the norn in Ragnarok, the spirit of Sparta trying to avoid his own doomed death. Reaching each of the mythic trios is also incredibly difficult, with the journey to the Isle of Creation taking up the entirety of God of War 2, and finding the norn in Ragnarok is a daunting task. The dialogue between Kratos and his companions in Ragnarok directly compares the two scenarios, despite the very different fates of Greece and the Norse.

God Of War Ragnarok Mirrors GoW 2's Quest For The Fates

While Kratos' pursuit of the Nordic and Greek Fate's goals are similar, the two God of War trios are quite different. Like nearly every Greek god Kratos has encountered, the Destiny Sisters Lahkesis, Atropos, and Clotho are powerful bosses that Kratos slays in order to change his fate. Lahkesis and Atropos are depicted as beautiful warriors, while Clotho is a grotesque monster. Meanwhile, Ragnarok in Ragnarok portrays the Norns Urdr, Verdandi, and Skuld as peaceful beings who appear only in engaging cutscenes. Differences between Greek and Nordic fortunes reflect The evolution of the God of War franchise, which now puts narrative above action.

God Of War's Nornir Are Very Different From The Greek Fates

God of War 2 and God of War Ragnarok both see Kratos visit the Avatar of Fate, but the way they meet each time is very different. The 2007 title took Spirit of Sparta on a massive adventure to the Isle of Creation, where he killed the Fate Sisters to prevent his own death. Kratos left Greek mythology in God of War, but in Ragnarok he once again tries to change his fortunes by engaging in brilliant conversations with the elusive norn of Norse lore. By transforming fate from a fearsome boss to a knowledgeable oracle, God of War Ragnarok shows how Kratos and the series have come of age.

More: God of War: How Kratos went from Greek mythology to Norse mythology in canon

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