Warning - This article delves deep into some of the main plot points of God Of War Ragnarok.Though the God Of War franchise's foray into Norse mythology is over, there are still a lot of questions left unanswered by God Of War Ragnarok. With the realm of Asgard destroyed, the issue of whether the Aesir gods will get along with their Vanir counterparts in Vanaheim arises. Now that Ragnarok is over, it will be interesting to see how the Norse realms move forward without any big prophecies to guide them. But most important of all are the fates of the game's main father and son duo: Kratos and Atreus.
For the first time, Kratos's future looks hopeful now that he has decided to stay and help his allies rebuild the Norse realms post-Ragnarok. Atreus's path, on the other hand, is left more open-ended. By deciding to search for the remaining Giants in other lands, Kratos's son has effectively left the protection of his father and begins forging his own destiny. The path ahead won't be easy and if Atreus is to survive the newer God Of War titles, he needs more than just his bow and Jotun magic.
Atreus Lacks a Melee Weapon Without Ingrid
While Atreus is deadly and long and mid-ranges, he isn't as well-versed in close-range encounters. He can use his bow to fend off enemies in a pinch but too much misuse of the weapon can and will degrade its effectiveness (something his father taught him to avoid). The knife given to him by Kratos won't do either as it is quite short and not meant for combat. To supplement his expertise in archery and magic, Atreus needs to obtain and learn how to use a melee weapon like his father's Leviathan Axe or Blades of Chaos.
The magic sword Ingrid filled the role of Atreus's close-range companion in God Of War Ragnarok. Though Atreus never wields it like a normal sword, Ingrid could still be summoned in a pinch to fight on Atreus's behalf. It can levitate and direct itself to attack foes both specified and unspecified by its wielder. Once the battle is over, Ingrid sheathes itself as a sign that no enemies remain. Most importantly, Ingrid becomes a close companion of Atreus and remained at his side until it was summoned back by its rightful owner, Freyr.
Sadly, Ingrid's fate at the end of God Of War Ragnarok doesn't seem hopeful. In an attempt to save his sister Freya and their allies, Freyr used Ingrid to block a blow from the beast Ragnarok. This selfless act resulted in Freyr's supposed death as well as the possible loss or destruction of his trusted sword.
Giving Atreus His Own Melee Weapon Would Be Good For God of War
Should Atreus truly become the next main protagonist of the God Of War franchise, it is imperative that Sony Santa Monica give him a close-range weapon. Close-range combat has been integral to the identity of God Of War since the first game's release in 2005. To say the new God Of War would feel incomplete without any hack-and-slash gameplay would be an understatement.
This isn't to say Atreus should adopt the exact same combat style as Kratos. The developers could put a unique spin on his melee weapon as they did with Ingrid. It wouldn't just be a tool like Kratos's weapons but rather a companion and extension of Atreus's identity. He could even infuse it with Jotnar magic or the remaining souls of the Giants he and Angrboda are searching for. Whatever the case, leaving Atreus without any close-range armaments would be a huge missed opportunity.
God of War Ragnarok is available now for PS4 and PS5.
