This article contains lore based on real-life sources from Norse mythology as introduced from the God of War Norse era.
| “ | Sometimes loving someone is about choosing the lesser pain | ” |
―Surtr | ||
Surtr, also known as Surt, is the first and last fire giant and the second being to be born in the Norse cosmos. He rules Muspelheim and commands the fire giants. Hidden deep within his realm, he spent millennia training and preparing for Ragnarök, where he was destined to lead his kin against the Aesir and destroy Asgard. He was fated to die in the process, but his actions would ensure the cycle of life could be reborn.
Later lore reveals that Surtr is not merely a fire giant but is destined to become Ragnarök itself, the living embodiment of the apocalypse. His purpose remains to destroy Asgard while sparing the other realms from complete annihilation.
Although mentioned in God of War (2018), Surtr makes his first on-screen appearance in God of War Ragnarök. Kratos and Atreus approach him seeking his aid against Odin. Initially reluctant, Surtr is persuaded to join the battle after observing the Primordial Fire within Kratos’ Blades of Chaos, which he uses to empower himself.
Upon transforming into Ragnarök, Surtr participates in the all-out assault against Odin and the Aesir. After Odin’s defeat and death, Surtr fulfills his destiny by destroying the remainder of Asgard, bringing about both the fall of the All-Father’s kingdom and his own destruction.
Quick Answers
Who is Surtr in Norse mythology?
What role does Surtr play in Ragnarok?
Who is Surtr's partner, Sinmara, in Norse mythology?
Who voices Surtr in the God of War game?
What realm does Surtr rule in Norse mythology?
Norse Mythology
In Norse mythology, Surtr (Old Norse: “black” or “the swarthy one”) is a fire jötunn.
He is foretold to play a major role during Ragnarök, leading his fiery kin against the Æsir and Vanir. Wielding a bright, flaming sword, Surtr is fated to slay the Vanir god Freyr, after which the flames he unleashes will engulf the Earth.
Until Ragnarök, Surtr is said to guard the entrance to Muspellheim, keeping intruders from entering his fiery realm.
Codex
"Surtr has agreed to help us if we do not involve Sinmara. He believes that his fire channeled through the Blades of Chaos alone can provide the spark needed to bring forth the monster who will destroy Asgard. This man of ash cares nothing for his life, only for the one who he loves. He bears her heart in his chest, and is separated from his own, as he is separated from her. I believe I understand his condition."
-Kratos
Background
After Ymir was born from Ginnungagap, Surtr was born shortly afterward. From Muspelheim, he brought heat to the young cosmos, creating the sun and stars from his primordial flames. At some point, he encountered a frost giant named Sinmara. The two were initially hostile but were forced to fight common enemies together. After defeating them, they fell in love.
Prior to Hrimthur constructing the walls of Asgard, he revealed his plan to Surtr: the wall would contain an exploitable flaw that could be destroyed during Ragnarök.
Surtr and Sinmara later learned of the prophecy of Ragnarök, which foretold that they would combine into a monstrous giant to destroy Asgard with a mighty sword, ultimately killing both of them in the process. Distressed by this revelation, Surtr separated from Sinmara to protect her, though they exchanged their hearts so each would always retain a piece of the other.
Weakened by Sinmara’s frozen heart and disillusioned with the role he was destined to play, Surtr chose to avoid involvement in Ragnarök. For eons, he attempted to forge a fiery sword capable of destroying Asgard, but was unable to complete it.
According to legend, Surtr never rested, continuously honing his sword and preparing for the day he would fulfill his purpose: to sacrifice himself to complete a grand cosmic cycle. Until that time, he waits alone in Muspelheim.
God of War (2018)
Surtr does not directly appear in the first game, though he is referenced when Kratos, Atreus, and Mimir visit Muspelheim. Later, Mimir recounts Surtr's legend, and tells of the role Surtr is expected to play in fulfilling the prophecy.
He is depicted in one of the many Jötnar shrines, which shows him relentlessly forging a flaming sword (which Mimir describes as a "weapon of legend") and is prophesied that he will battle Thor and Odin during Ragnarök.
Andvari reveals that Surtr requested some of his Soul Eaters to be given to him in Muspelheim, a request that troubled him deeply, fearing the reasons why Surtr would use such creatures.
God of War Ragnarök
| “ | I. AM. RAGNAROK. I AWAIT THE CALL. | ” |
―Surtr upon becoming Ragnarök | ||
When Atreus discovers Surtr's shrine in Muspelheim, he and Angrboða discovered the real story about the Fire Giant as well as his true destiny; At some point, he meets with a female Jötunn named Sinmara. After the two work together to fight off several enemies, they immediately fell in love and married each other. From this love, they would combine themselves into a destructive and monstrous creature, Ragnarök, which is destined to destroy Asgard while leaving the rest of the realms intact.
After Brok was murdered at the hands of Odin, Freya decided to set Ragnarök into motion. Since they needed their own armies to battle against Asgard and its forces in order to breach Asgard's wall, Kratos and Atreus decided to go and find Surtr in Muspelheim, while the others went to most of the other realms to recruit its' inhabitants, with the exception of Midgard, Jötunheim, and Niflheim.
When the duo reached Surtr's forge in Muspelheim, Surtr is seen forging a sword, apparently having had forged thousands of them as they are seen throughout the forge. When Kratos and Atreus approached him, he attempts to make them go away by knocking them back with a powerful force and sending several Draugrs and two Soul Eaters at them, to no avail. When the duo confronts him, Surtr initially doesn't want to help them, warning that they will die, and he could not allow that since it would also mean sacrificing Sinmara. Despite Atreus' insistence to join with Sinmara in order to be together, the fire giant reveals that they are together as he has her cold heart while she has his own heart.
Despite Kratos' warning that Odin will prevail if he didn't help, Surtr still refused to sacrifice Sinmara, even though he agreed that Odin should die. However, he eventually decided to help them when he noticed the Blades of Chaos. Immediately sensing the primordial fire from within the blades, he tells them that by combining the Blades with Sinmara's frozen heart it will turn him into Ragnarök, but insisted that Sinmara shouldn't be involved as well. Surtr proceeded to lead Kratos and Atreus to the Spark of the World, the place where the primordial realms meet. Along the way, he shape shifts into a glowing orb, as he claimed that it is better than walking. When Kratos asks him on what awaits at the Spark of the World, Surtr answers that there is magic and all things primordial-related there and that with primordial magic, the Blades of Chaos, and his heart, he'll grow to giant size in which he becomes strong enough to smash and destroy.
When Atreus asks Surtr on what will happen to him if he changes, the fire giant is unsure but claims that he'll not be himself anymore. Atreus asks Surtr again if he was indeed there at the beginning of everything, the Fire Giant confirmed this. Atreus then asked what it was like, Surtr only bitterly recalls it as "loud." Upon reaching the Spark of the World, he went ahead of the duo. When they caught up, Atreus once again asks him if they should tell Sinmara, only to be refused by Surtr, since it might cause her a lot of pain. He then makes Kratos and Atreus promise to stay away from her, which Kratos agrees. Upon reaching the end of the path, Surtr, knowing that his time has come, proceeded to extract some primordial magic and imbues the Blades of Chaos with them, which caused some pain to Kratos. The fire giant then instructs the Ghost of Sparta to combine his blades with Sinmara's heart in order to get Ragnarök before telling Kratos that it is time. Following Surtr's final instruction, Kratos stabs his blades into Sinmara's cold heart which caused Surtr immense pain as well as beginning his transformation into Ragnarök. He then falls off the edge of the path, sacrificing himself in the process.
While Surtr was transforming, Kratos and Atreus were ambushed and attacked by the Valkyrie sisters Hrist and Mist, who have been sent by Odin. After the duo killed them, Surtr, who is not seen but has fully transformed into Ragnarök, makes him known in a bellowing and thundering voice. When Atreus asked him for aid in attacking Asgard, Ragnarök responded that he awaits the call, allowing Kratos and Atreus to use Gjallarhorn to summon him when ready.
During the final battle against Asgard, Ragnarök emerges but was soon attacked by dwarven-built war machines, which were fueled by Bifröst energy, in an attempt to halt his advance. However, Sindri was able to destroy them all with little effort, allowing Ragnarök to advance with his sword. As the inhabitants of Midgard were forced to fight for Odin, Freya and Freyr had to slow Ragnarök down by distracting and reasoning with him in order to buy their allies enough time to evacuate the Midgardians. Later, after Odin's death, Ragnarök appears and thrusts his sword into the heart of Asgard, finally about to fulfilling his purpose. Freyr stalls it long enough for his sister and their allies to escape, sacrificing himself in the process as Asgard gets destroyed in a powerful explosion that also killed Ragnarök.
Cut Content
Game files uncovered by fans revealed that Surtr's wife, Sinmara, was originally going to have a larger role in God of War Rägnarok's ending but was cut, likely to shorten the game's length.
In this original ending, Surtr's attempt to become Rägnarok by himself failed, and is killed in the process. This prompted Kratos and Atreus to turn back to the intended way of forming Ragnarök by traveling to Niflheim and seeking out Sinmara. Atreus would ultimately convince the now-widow to become Rägnarok by lying that it was Odin who murdered her husband. Sinmara then returned to the Spark of the World with them, where she would proceed to merge with Surtr's remains, after which the two endings re-converged.
After Asgard and Rägnarok's destruction, Kratos was supposed to be able to find Surtr and Sinmara's hearts in different locations and return them to the Spark of the world. While Mimir feared that this might inadvertently revive Rägnarok, Kratos stated that he would face the consequences.
Personality
| “ | Have you ever been in love? It’s pretty good. | ” |
―Surtr to Atreus | ||
Despite not appearing in God of War (2018), Surtr is described by Mimir as dogmatic, selfless and patient. He willingly continues upon the path prophesied for him so that the cycle of death and rebirth can continue; despite knowing this will end with his own death. He never sleeps in Muspelheim, always honing and training with his sword to be ready for his part in Ragnarök.
However, in God of War Ragnarök, when Kratos and Atreus meet Surtr in person, he has lost his resolve to carry his role in the apocalyptic war and becoming only a shadow of what he was. This faltering resolution stems from the fire giant's love for Sinmara and him wanting to protect her from dying during Ragnarök. However, he regains his resolve when he realizes that Kratos' Blades of Chaos, that if imbued with primordial flames then combining them with the icy essence of Sinmara, would let him transform without sacrificing his love. Surtr is also aware of how much Sinmara loves him and knows she'd be devastated if she knew he was sacrificing himself during Ragnarök. To counteract this, he requests Kratos' group to leave Sinmara out and not tell her what is happening, defending his request by explaining that keeping her ignorant is less emotionally painful than telling her.
He has shown to be calm, levelheaded and impassive toward Kratos and Atreus yet somehow melancholic during his conversation with Atreus when he asked him about the beginning of him and the Realms themselves, showing certain bitterness at those times.
When Kratos inquires about the Crucible challenges to Brok, the dwarf explains that Surtr uses the challenges to train, or just enjoys bloodbath. Surtr reveals that he simply used it to pass the time.
After transforming into incomplete Ragnarök, Surtr loses his ability or willingness to reason and is focused on obliterating Asgard no matter who dies in the process.
Appearance
When he is met in Muspelheim, Surtr takes the form of a tall man with a body made of ash. He stands taller than Kratos. He has no hair, however his face has what appears to be a beard. There seems to be a goldish metal strewn throughout his body. His head has gaps in it, which shows his cranium to be hollow. He has glowing red eyes and what appears to be lava flowing through his hands, feet, and parts of his arms and legs. The most notable feature is the hole in his chest where his heart used to be. In place is his wife's heart, which beats steadily and even gives off mist. There are icicles across his upper torso as well nearby this hole, which hasn't healed. Possibly from Sinmara's heart being in his torso, the lava in there froze and weakened him. He walks with a faint limp as well. It can be presumed that his heart is doing something similar to her own body, however she is never seen to confirm this. He also can be seen morphed his body into a floating, fiery, and smoky orb with echoing voice.
After becoming Ragnarök itself, Surtr becomes a hulking giant that seems to be a combination of fire and ice respectively. His 'beard' is missing and his cranium seems to have burst open from within. His eyes are now a glowing blue.
Powers and Abilities
As the ruler of Muspelheim, the first fire giant and the second being to exist, Surtr is an extraordinarily powerful being. Even after being drastically weakened by having Sinmara's heart, a simple movement of his hand was able to send Kratos and Atreus flying. When transformed into Ragnarök albeit incomplete, he is even stronger, bringing about the end of Asgard itself. In the original prophecy shown in his shrine, he was fated to destroy Asgard whilst fighting against both Thor and Odin.
Powers
- Immortality: Unlike most Jötnar, Surtr is immortal, as he has lived for countless generations within the realm of Muspelheim ever since his creation at existence.
- Superhuman Strength: As one of the strongest Giants to ever exist, Surtr has astronomical levels of superhuman strength, which is increased to an even greater degree as Ragnarök, being able to break through realms by sheer strength alone and allowing him to destroy the entire realm of Asgard. During the battle in Asgard, Surtr’s blows were strong enough to shake the entire battlefield, damaging the surroundings near Kratos’ allies despite them being miles away, and causing large parts of Asgard’s walls to break off, forcing Kratos to order Freyr and Freya to distract and occupy him long enough to get to Odin’s hall. Additionally, he can been seen fighting against Thor alongside Jörmungandr shortly before the latter was sent backward through time and the former battled Kratos.
- Superhuman Durability: As he is said to have resided within Muspelheim ever since its creation where the realm was ultimately red-hot, Surtr has an immense level of durability. After millennia of training, his durability must have been magnified immensely. Despite weakened by Sinmara's heart, he could withstand having primordial fires from the Spark of the World absorbed into his body with only moderate strain, and then apply it to Kratos' blades. After turning into Ragnarök, he was able to endure the beams from Odin's war machines unfazed, with only minor annoyance, and the combined efforts of Freya and Freyr did very little damage to him, only distracting him and acting as a nuisance.
- Superhuman Stamina: Due to the fact that he has never slept in his life, Surtr must have limitless stamina as he has constantly trained for centuries without any break in order to prepare himself for Ragnarök. His stamina will allow him to stand against the full might of Asgard when Ragnarök comes.
- Pyrokinesis: As the first and original fire giant, Surtr naturally possesses great power over his element. His existence breathed warmth into the Norse World, as he used his primordial fires to birth the Norse stars and a great ball know has The Sun. Surtr's Jötnar Shrine depicts him forging a great blade of flame, which will eventually be used at the twilight of the gods.
- Fire Preceptory: Surtr is able to sense fire and its properties, as he could instantly tell that Kratos' blades were infused with primordial fire.
- Magmakinesis: Surtr can also control magma; with a touch of his hand, he was able to melt a gigantic iron gate with such intensity that it turned into slag and then gas in mere seconds.
- Smoke Mimicry: Surtr can transform his body into smoke and ash and maintain his consciousness while in this form, granting him the ability to fly and levitate, which he claims is far better than walking.
- Power Absorption/Bestowal: When arriving on the Spark of the World, Surtr was able to absorb some of the primordial matter between Niflheim and Muspelheim and imbues this onto Kratos' blades along with his own fire, although this caused pain to both of them.
- Telekinesis: While only shown once, when Kratos and Atreus first approach him, he blasts them away with a simple wave of his hand.
- Summoning: Surtr was able to summon several Soul Eaters and Draugr to attack Kratos and Atreus after they approached him.
- Semi-Reality Warping: Surtr was able to create his own series of Musphelheim Gauntlet challenges, each one represented by a giant flaming sword that can be activated when one wishes to test themselves. Each challenge turns the area into a battle ground, summoning a range of different enemies, and can be redone at any time, providing the challenger survived the battle.
Abilities
- Expert Blacksmith: Surtr was a very skilled blacksmith. He forged himself his Flaming sword and when Kratos and Atreus meet him he had already forged forging multiple swords.
- Expert Swordsman: Surtr was skilled with his Fire sword.
Weapons
- Fiery Sword: Surtr forged a legendary fiery sword infused by his flame which he used to destroy Asgard. This sword is one of the strongest weapons among all the Realms, rivaling and possibly even surpassing weapons such as Mjölnir, Gungnir, the Leviathan Axe and the Blades of Chaos.
Shrine Story
Atreus: "Mimir, is there a story for the Giant with the flaming sword?"
Mimir: "Surtr the Brave? Of course! We've spoken so much of Frost Giants, it's about time we instead met the most fiery Giant of all. Back when Ymir first emerged from Ginnungagap, it was Surtr who followed next. He came from Muspelheim, the fire realm, bringing heat to the young cosmos, conquering the Sun his primordial flame. But let's come back to that flaming sword, shall we? Surtr the Brave forged his sword of flame for one purpose alone – to burn down Asgard when Ragnarök comes at last. His destiny is to fall at the hands of Thor and Odin, but in so doing, strike the blow that leaves their realm in ash and ruin. And from that destruction, the world can be born anew. Until then, alone he waits in Muspelheim, never sleeping, ever honing his fiery blade. Brave, generous Surtr, who knows he lives but to his doom. All because he chooses to serve a grand cycle, so much bigger than himself. To truly embrace your purpose, and the patience and sacrifice it demands, is to ensure your day will come."
Atreus: "Do you think we'll be there? When that day comes?"
Mimir: "I've seen enough of war between the Gods. But you, little brother... who can say?"
Trivia
- His Greek equivalent (in terms of abilities) is Perses, the titan of destruction.
- His sword can be found in Muspelheim embedded into the ground at the center of each arena.
- However, God of War Ragnarök rebuked this fact as the real sword appears during Ragnarök and it looks different.
- As a primordial figure of sorts, Surtr is one of the few beings in God of War (2018) to be directly born of Ginnungagap itself, arguably making him a younger "brother" of Ymir.
- Surtr could be immortal, as he has been alive since the time of Ymir, the first giant; whereas Jötnar such as Bergelmir are believed to have died from old age. This might be possible, as he is directly part of Ragnarök and must live until his role in the prophecy is complete.
- Surtr is a reflection of Kratos in several ways. Kratos, due to his history and due to prophecy, is the ideal candidate to lead the Army of the Realms against Asgard, but is reluctant to do so due to the fear of losing his son or killing countless innocents like he did in he quest to kill Zeus. Similarily, Surtr is prophesized to destroy Asgard, and is the most capable of doing it as he is one of the most powerful primordial beings still alive, yet he is unwilling to do so out of reluctance to sacrifice Sinmara, his lover.
- At Surtr forge, countless swords can be found, the reason for this is unknown but it can be assumed that he was trying to create a sword that can hold his primordial fire so that when Ragnarök began he can just simply 'insert' that sword into his heart (or in this case, Sinmara's) to become Ragnarök itself without involving his lover. However, none of the swords were strong enough to withstand his power and ended up useless, immediately melting, or simply becoming ordinary swords that had no use.
- But upon him seeing the Blades of Chaos, Surtr deduced that he knew there is a similar primordial fire in the blades and theorized that he could combine it with his power and Sinmara's heart, though he admitted there was no guarantee the act would work. Fortunately, the blades did successfully turn him into Ragnarök.
- After turning into Ragnarök, Surtr eventually lost his mind and was unable to properly accomplish his purpose. Kratos said 'The creature is not whole' and 'what remains of it can't fulfill its purpose'. What exactly was meant by this is unknown, though it could mean that since Sinmara was not involved in the ritual, as was originally foretold, Ragnarök was considered incomplete and without consciousness, acting on instinct and had to be goaded by its allies to destroy Asgard.
- When Surtr destroyed Asgard, he kneels while looking down and then thrusts his sword into the very heart of the realm. This almost identically reflects the same situation that happened in Marvel Cinematic Universe's 2017 film Thor: Ragnarok. The only difference is that Surtr did not yell “I am Asgard’s doom!” (Although that would have been fitting, and relevant to the circumstances).
- When Atreus asks Surtr why he created the Musphelheim Gauntlet challenges, Surtr simply replies that it helped pass the time. It is likely that he used this for training simply to occupy his mind rather than to train specifically for Ragnarök, although he may have done this at an earlier date before deciding that Sinmara meant too much to him.
- Surtr can be seen turning into a floating fireball when he, Kratos, and Atreus travelling to the Spark of the World. This could be an idea that was implemented by the developers;
- He walks slowly, slower than the player’s walking speed, but overrunning him could lead to crucial dialogue being skipped.
- If he could run or sprint, it would be out of his character's appearance.
- Then we have a fireball Surtr that can fly with running speed. A balanced one between the appearance and speed.
- Surtr's calm personality might be caused by Sinmara's heart in his chest. The same heart also caused some icicles covering his body that weakened him.
Gallery
3D Model
Concept Art
In game
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