Tyr is the Norse god of war and has plenty of differences from Kratos. Not only are they physically different, but their methods of what it means to be the god of war differ. However, with a large chunk of God of War: Ragnarok being Kratos and Atreus on the mysterious search for Tyr, perhaps not all is what it seems.
As the war against the Aesir rages on in God of War: Ragnarok, allies can be scarce, and Kratos' doubts continue to arise as he attempts to protect Atreus from prophecy, and run from fate. One such ally is Tyr, a character that may not show all that meets the eye.
Massive Spoilers for God of War: Ragnarok ahead!
8 Groa’s Prophecy
When Groa went searching for her missing husband, she found something else, a vision of Ragnarok. Odin sought out Groa for this vision and then killed her after she told him. However, what Odin did not know, is that the giants of Jotunheim hid the true meaning of their visions in shrines that could only be accessed by the Jotnar.
When Atreus uses his Jotnar abilities to show Tyr, Kratos, and Mimir the truth of Groa’s prophecy, Tyr is notably disturbed at what he is seeing. He witnesses the hidden prophecy of Ragnarok, in which Asgard is the only realm destroyed, and the other realms thrive in Odin’s death. Tyr mutters “She lied…”, Odin, as Tyr, sees that he has been working off of a false prophecy.
7 Depth Perception
In Groa’s hidden prophecy, Tyr ignores Kratos and Atreus as he stares into the Ragnarok prophecy, surrounding the truth about the destruction of Asgard and Odin’s death. This is notably disturbing for Tyr, considering he is Odin in disguise. This is also hinted at by how he walks past Atreus.
Although it may seem as if Tyr bumped into Atreus out of shock that Odin’s been working for nothing, it could also be because Tyr did not see Atreus. After all, Odin’s perception is limited to one eye. Another scene depicts this when he has to turn to see that Heimdall and Thor are speaking to him.
6 Manipulator
If there’s one thing to note about Odin, it’s the fact that he is a liar and a manipulator. Throughout God of War: Ragnarok, Tyr constantly interferes and causes the characters that seek Odin’s demise to doubt themselves. Tyr will persistently belittle and dismiss the ideas and plans of the other characters, but fail to offer alternatives.
This is another early indication that Tyr is Odin in God of War: Ragnarok, and he is doing his best to slow down and prevent Kratos, Atreus, Mimir, and Freya from completing the prophecy of Ragnarok, so that he may live and find more knowledge.
5 Tyr’s Prison
Atreus is led to believe that Tyr is being held in a prison somewhere in Svartalfheim. All the clues lead exactly to where Atreus thinks they would be, but it all seems so easy. Tyr is found by Atreus and Kratos in an abandoned mine underground, with hardly anything defending his location. To think that the god of war that Odin feared so much is held up in an abandoned mine seems illogical.
However, this illogical location is perfect, as none would expect that this is indeed a fake Tyr. The real Tyr is held up in a prison on Asgard, a location where no one can even get to considering the walls of Asgard’s defense, and the fact that the Aesir do not care for Tyr.
4 Draupnir Ring
After returning from the Norns, Kratos asks Sindri and Brok to create a weapon that will give him an advantage against Heimdall, who is prophesized to kill Atreus. Brok and Sindri collect Draupnir, a ring that infinitely duplicates itself. Draupnir was in a position opposite Odin, and as the two dwarf brothers stole it, Odin was angry about it.
At the mention of Draupnir, Tyr says “They stole Draupnir?” His tone is aggressive and he is frustrated by this outcome. It’s another hint towards Tyr’s true identity, as the only person to be mad at the disappearance of Draupnir would be Odin.
3 Against Violence
After being imprisoned for so long, and fearing the prophecy that he is involved in, Tyr swears off of violence for good. He would much prefer a peaceful resolution and leaves Kratos and Atreus in multiple situations where the duo have to fight opponents, much to Tyr’s disapproval.
Part of the reason that this false Tyr does not use violence might be because that is how Odin truly views Tyr. Odin hates Tyr beyond recognition, and would happily have people perceive him as weak and cowardly. By being against violence, Odin can also hide the fact that perhaps he cannot fight as Tyr, or it gives Kratos’ foes more opportunity to kill him and Atreus.
2 Broom Closet
Considering that Tyr spent so many years in a single room, locked away and chained by the neck, many audiences don’t exactly pay attention to the fact that Tyr is happy to sleep in Sindri’s broom closet. Even though Tyr is at least over 7 feet tall, many just assume that Tyr sleeping in the broom closet is a fun little gag, and shows his lack of interest in taking up space.
However, the truth is far more sinister, as the reason Tyr sleeps in a broom closet is that it is the perfect location to hide a raven. Odin’s two ravens, Huginn and Muninn give Odin the ability to transport himself. Odin was hiding a raven in the broom closet to travel to and from Sindri's House.
1 Calls Freya ‘Frigg’
When Freya returns to Sindri’s Home in the Realms Between, she meets Tyr for the first time in years. As gods, Tyr and Freya would have known each other, even if briefly. Yet something catches the ear. Tyr calls Freya “Frigg,” which is uncommon, considering everyone else calls her Freya. Frigg was what Odin called his wife. If Kratos had caught on, he would certainly have used the Blades of Chaos to end Odin's trickery.
Even Freya has to tell Tyr not to call her that, as she has not been that person in a very long time. It may be a slip of the tongue for the imposter version of Tyr, as this fake Tyr in God of War: Ragnarok was the husband to Freya since he was Odin, the All-Father.
God of War: Ragnarok is available now for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5.