There has been much debate in the God of War franchise surrounding a battle between Kratos in his younger years and his older years. Although Kratos remains the same character, and he has evolved since his days as the Ghost of Sparta against the Greek Pantheon, many are still curious to see if the older version of Kratos would be able to beat the younger version of Kratos in a hypothetical matchup.
There are many different ways in which both men could win, and for the sake of simplicity, the original Kratos seen in the Greek Pantheon God of War games will be called “Young Kratos,” and the Kratos seen in God of War: Ragnarok will be known as “Old Kratos.” There are many statistics to compare between the character. After all, there is an emotional difference and a difference of perhaps hundreds of years in time.
Spartan Rage
There’s no denying that Old Kratos still holds a lot of rage inside himself in God of War (2018). Old Kratos has since learned to close his heart to it, and to try and keep himself calm so that the Ghost of Sparta does not emerge, even against Odin. However, he has found ways to harness this rage into Spartan Rage, a fury that has him deal great damage with his fists.
Considering that Young Kratos has nothing holding him back, and his quest for vengeance against Zeus and the Greek Pantheon has left him more violent than ever, it’s safe to say that the Young Kratos wins this fight based on pure rage and hatred.
Weaponry
Throughout all God of War games, Kratos receives weapons and tools that help him along his journey. Kratos has killed a great many beings with these tools, and Young Kratos had plenty of weapons from the Greek Gods back in his war against the Pantheon he so despised. However, his main weapons were simply the Blades of Chaos.
Old Kratos carries more than just the burdensome Blades of Chaos. He has mastered the Leviathan Axe, the weapon of his deceased wife, Faye, which can rival the likes of Mjolnir. As recently as God of War: Ragnarok, he also has the Draupnir Spear, showing a far more versatile arsenal than just the Blades of Chaos, meaning that based on weapons, Old Kratos wins this round.
Something To Live For
Kratos has not had an easy life. His time in Ancient Greece was nothing but torment, with a horrible childhood of painful Spartan training, watching his brother get stolen from him, enslaved as a warrior to Ares, to the murder of his wife and daughter. Young Kratos does not care for his own life to the point where he will start a one-man war with the Greek Gods, proving he has nothing to keep him going beyond his hate.
There’s a major character journey for Kratos when he reaches the Norse realms, as Old Kratos has something to live for, and something to fight for. Kratos has found love again with Faye and is learning to be a great father to his son, Atreus. Old Kratos would do anything for his son, and if the Young and Old ever fought, Old Kratos would win this round because he has more to lose, and Young Kratos would see that eventually, he will find peace.
Battle Experience
Young Kratos singlehandedly took on the entire Greek Pantheon. His battle experience has allowed him to kill gods and monsters, and as the god of war, he has been involved in many great battles. However, his experiences cannot outweigh a man who has already been through them, and then some.
Both Old and Young Kratos experienced the same battles during their time in Greece. However, Old Kratos has experienced far more wars, considering his time in the Norse nine realms, and the events of God of War: Ragnarok. However, not only would Old Kratos win because he has more experience, but the fact that he can look back on past wars with a calmer state of mind, means he is far more battle ready.
Godhood Age
Players are more experienced with Young Kratos because he has been the protagonist for more games in the series. His time against the Greek Pantheon is well documented, and his feats of strength are brilliant across those games. As a young god, Kratos seems to be at his peak, as he takes on his father, Zeus, in a fistfight.
As a god, it is unknown just how old Kratos is. There is no definitive answer to just how old Kratos is in God of War: Ragnarok, but it is estimated that it has been a good few decades, and Old Kratos is over a hundred years old. It is documented that Greek gods grow stronger with age, and audiences have seen that with the sheer power and invulnerability of Old Kratos. As such, Old Kratos would win based on age.
Intelligence
Kratos is by no means a fool. Throughout his time in Greek Mythology, Young Kratos has defeated those that sought to betray him or figure out puzzles with his strength that would otherwise be torturous to those with lesser minds. As a Spartan, he also has a keen eye for battle strategy, but ultimately risks it all for his revenge.
Old Kratos has a greater intellect than Young Kratos. Old Kratos is not only smarter in how he prepares for a fight, but he is more emotionally intelligent. Old Kratos refuses to let people like Thor get under his skin in a fight and emotionally compromise him. Old Kratos also seeks guidance from Mimir, rather than relying on brute strength to achieve his goals.
The Winner: Old Kratos
Old Kratos from the Norse God of War games takes the trophy for the strongest Kratos. The character is older, wiser, more emotionally intelligent, and has the memories and guilt of his past to tie him into being better. Throughout the Norse Mythology God of War games, Old Kratos talks that he has to “be better,” and he certainly proves his path.
It also helps that the director of God of War (2018), Cory Barlog, said that Old Kratos would win in a fight with his younger self. There are many different ways the two could fight, but considering Young Kratos mainly has a blind and vengeful fury at his side, he is easily bested by the mature Old Kratos.
God of War: Ragnarok is currently available on PS4 and PS5.