When it comes to fighting gods, strength is completely necessary. In the God of War franchise, some characters exhibit a strength worthy of a superhero and beyond. Each God of War title shows great strength, and God of War: Ragnarok is no exception, with a focus on Norse Mythology and the characters within it.

kratos with leviathan axe in god of war ragnarok
God Of War Ragnarok: The Leviathan Axe's Best Runic Attacks, Ranked

The Leviathan Axe can be brutal and integral to Kratos's weapon kit in God of War Ragnarok, especially when using the best Runic Attacks.

Strength can come in many forms, and God of War: Ragnarok presents utterly powerful characters, with or without weapons or godhood. There are some intensely strong characters in God of War: Ragnarok, and if these characters were to be ranked on their strength, only one can come out on top.

Potential spoilers ahead for God of War Ragnarok

Updated on September 21, 2024, by Jake Fillery: God of War Ragnarok arrives on PC, joining the PS4 and PS5 as platforms that this mighty game can be played on. As players continue their journey with Kratos and Atreus, they are going to face some pretty tough foes, but who could be tougher than the God of War himself? God of War Ragnarok's strongest characters display feats of incredible power that shouldn't be underestimated, and whether friend or foe, it's best to know the deadliest and strongest in all the Nine Realms.

10 King Hrolf Kraki

The Berserker King Who Wields a Sword With Unimaginable Power

GoWR-Hrolf-Hand-Axe-Red

Despite having his start in life as a common warrior in Midgard, the royal advisor to Odin himself, Mimir helped vouch for the potential of Hrolf Kraki. In doing so, Hrolf was placed into the court of King Aldis, and using his strength and his twelve Berserkers, they killed the king and usurped his power. Even in death, Hrolf commands his Berserkers with their souls bound by unlimited rage and violence.

King Hrolf Kraki gains his power from the cursed blade of Skofnung, and with that blade in hand, he can wreak havoc across the realms and showcase his betrayal with every swing. However, Hrolf is no god, nor is he a very good king, and it's only his undying savage nature that makes him strong.

9 Atreus

The Trickster God and the Last Giant

God of War Ragnarok Atreus

As the son of a Greek god and a Jotun, Atreus already has a gifted set of parents to ensure his genetics would make him strong. As stated in God of War: Ragnarok, the strength of a god comes from the fact that they are a god, not because of their bountiful muscles. Atreus already exhibits some of his father’s strength but also surprises the cast of characters in God of War: Ragnarok with his own.

Not only is Atreus extremely talented with a bow, but his godhood powers allow him to shapeshift. In God of War: Ragnarok, players get to see and experience Atreus doing battle as both a wolf and a bear. However, these powers are uncontrolled, which makes Atreus more dangerous and vulnerable.

8 Heimdall

The God of Foresight Who Can Predict Everything Before it Happens

Heimdall in God of War Ragnarok

As the bearer of Gjallarhorn, and the god of Foresight, Surveillance, Order, and Foreknowledge, Heimdall has quite a burden on his shoulders. Heimdall can see and predict everything that happens and knows every thought of those he is in the room with. This can make him frustrated, and a complete jerk as a result of decades of knowing what other people think and feel.

God of War Ragnarok: The Best Armor Sets (& How to Craft Them)
God of War Ragnarok: The 12 Best Armor Sets (& How to Craft Them)

The best armor sets in God of War Ragnarok can make combat much easier, though unlocking them can be a little tricky, as too can fully upgrading them.

By 

This power is great for gossip and gives Heimdall a great tactical advantage in battle. No one has been able to ever land a punch on Heimdall, considering that he can predict it before it happens. It makes Heimdall a great threat to Atreus and Kratos’ journey across the nine realms.

7 Garm

A Monstrous Wolf in Helheim That Can Tear the Nine Realms With Soulless Rage

Kratos wraps chains around Garm in God of War Ragnarok

Known as the Hound of Hel, the ominous name isn’t a title without deserving. Garm is a gigantic and monstrous wolf that is imprisoned in Helheim. Without his chains, Garm can use his claws to create realm tears and unleash the armies of Hel upon the nine realms. Without a soul, Garm is entirely vicious and unkillable.

Hel’s feral sentinel sees everyone as an enemy, even Atreus, who freed the pup. Garm has incredible strength due to his vicious nature and gigantic size, and his nature sees his attempts to destroy the nine realms. Even after Kratos’ fatal fight, Garm just comes back angrier than ever.

6 Odin

The All-Father, King of the Gods Who Seeks Purpose and Knowledge

God of War Ragnarok Odin-1

It’s no surprise that the All-Father, the king of the Aesir gods is a strong character in God of War: Ragnarok. Not only is Odin armed with ultimate knowledge and his spear, Gungnir, but he is a powerful spellcaster thanks to his time with his former wife, Freya. Odin harbors great power, and above all else, a selfish desire to survive.

Odin has spent decades, if not centuries preparing for Ragnarok. As such, Odin is greatly powerful and will get his hands dirty if he has to. His power is almost limitless, and his quest for power in the nine realms reaches beyond what many see possible.

5 Freya

The Valkyrie Queen With Boundless Wrath and Grief

God of War Ragnarok Freya-1

The Vanir goddess begins her journey in God of War: Ragnarok as an enemy to Kratos and Atreus. She is vengeful for the death of her son, and that grief and anger become something entirely lustful for the murder of Kratos. However, she soon finds that the person that must die above all is her former husband, Odin.

Freya has incredible strength and combat prowess. After all, she was the former Queen of the Valkyries, which are some of the greatest warriors in Norse Mythology. Freya is extremely talented with a sword and bow and has great knowledge and gift with nature and magic, as well as an incredible drive for vengeance.

4 Thor

The God of Thunder Who Committed Genocide Against Giants

Thor God of War Ragnarok

The God of Thunder has been a lot before the events of God of War: Ragnarok. He has lost his father’s respect, his half-brother, and his two sons, all at the hands of Kratos and Atreus. As such, it makes Thor even angrier and resentful of Kratos, whom he sees as someone who owes him a blood payment. Thor sees himself as a destroyer and wants to fight the Ghost of Sparta at the peak of his rage.

Thor is so powerful that he managed to wipe out all of the giants from Jottanheim and has ravished the nine realms with the mighty Mjolnir. Thor battles Kratos twice in the game, and the legendary fights have the God of Thunder boastful of his power, and he seems unstoppable.

3 Tyr

The Norse God of War Who Seeks Spiritual Enlightenment, But is Still a Deadly Warrior

god-of-war-ragnarok-tyr-kratos-handshake
gow ragnarok kratos shakes tyr's hand

Despite being the God of War for the Aesir, Tyr was actually a pacifist who preferred peace. Tyr ventured across the realms, those in the Norse lands and those beyond it to broker peace and search for spiritual enlightenment that would see him gifted with weapons from across other Pantheons, while also growing his spiritual mentality as well as his combat prowess.

tyr from god of war ragnarok with distinct weapons from different cultures
God of War Ragnarok: Valhalla – All Of Tyr’s Weapons (& Where They’re From)

God of War Ragnarok's Tyr unleashes weapons from different pantheons in the Valhalla DLC, but what exactly are these weapons' origins?

Tyr may have been imprisoned, but now free, he is able to continue his work for peace. Tyr might not fight anymore, but there is a reason Odin fears him so much. The uprising Tyr could inspire, and the peaceful warrior of resolve and a calm mind inside him, makes him a strong combatant worthy of sparring with Kratos himself.

2 Kratos

The Aged Greek God of War Who Has Toppled Pantheons

Kratos in God of War Ragnarok

Greek gods become stronger as they age, and Kratos is far older than his time in Ancient Greece. Not only has Kratos’ strength grown, but his patience and control have also improved. This makes Kratos a dangerous adversary, if he lets go and loses control, everyone around him is in danger of seeing the Ghost of Sparta emerge.

Kratos has killed many, and gods seem to be the main course of his murder spree, even if he does not want that life anymore. Kratos wants to be a calm and reasonable person, but isn’t afraid to defend himself and what he loves. Kratos can take on giants, gods, and even gigantic structures without even breaking a sweat, and his confidence is obviously backed up by the centuries of death he has caused.

1 Ragnarok

The Cosmic Being of Destruction Fated to Destroy Asgard

Surtr God of War Ragnarok

Although Kratos can exhibit some incredible feats of strength and has a history of killing what some might assume are unkillable and unstoppable gods, he is no match for Ragnarok itself. Ragnarok is the culmination of Surtr, his wife’s heart, and the fire from the Blades of Chaos. Surtr became Ragnarok to ensure that his wife survives, as to form Ragnarok the two must combine.

As the entity known as Ragnarok, Surtr is of universal strength, and the only thing that Ragnarok wants is the destruction of Asgard. With Surtr no more, Ragnarok replaces all function and sentience to destroy the home of the Aesir, and not even Kratos could win that fight.

Rating block community and brand ratings Image
God of War: Ragnarok Tag Page Cover Art
God of War Ragnarok
Display card tags widget Display card system widget
Display card community and brand rating widget
10 /10
Display card open critics widget Display card main info widget
Released
November 9, 2022
Display card main info widget end Display card media widget start Display card media widget end

WHERE TO PLAY

SUBSCRIPTION
DIGITAL
PHYSICAL
Checkbox: control the expandable behavior of the extra info

Developer(s)
Santa Monica Studio
Genre(s)
Action, Adventure