They’re iconic. Most people see the glowing chains and just think "cool action game," but if you've actually spent hours hacking through the Norse wilds or the marble halls of Olympus, you know these tools are more than just damage sliders. Kratos God of War weapons aren't just loot. They’re basically his diary, written in blood and Greek fire.
Honestly? Most players focus on the DPS or which runic attack looks the flashiest on a PS5 screen. That's fine for a casual run. But if you want to understand why Santa Monica Studio changed the entire feel of combat between 2010 and 2018, you have to look at the physics of the steel itself.
The transition from the frantic, wide-arcing sweeps of the Greek era to the heavy, methodical thud of the Leviathan Axe wasn't just a camera change. It was a fundamental shift in how we perceive Kratos as a character. One set of weapons represents a man who couldn't stop moving because he was running from his past; the other represents a man trying to stand his ground for his son.
The Blades of Chaos: A Curse You Can't Put Down
Let’s talk about the elephants in the room. Or rather, the blades on the chains. The Blades of Chaos are the most recognizable kratos god of war weapons because they literally define his eternal punishment. These aren't just swords. They are seared into his flesh.
In the original games, the Blades were about crowd control. You’d hit Square, Square, Triangle, and Kratos would turn into a whirlwind of fire. It felt powerful, but it also felt chaotic. That’s the point. Ares gave them to him to turn him into a mindless tool of destruction. From a gameplay perspective, they offered incredible range. You could snag an enemy from across the room, slam them into the floor, and keep your combo meter climbing.
But then 2018 happened.
When Kratos pulls these out from under his floorboards in the Norse reboot, the vibe shifts. They feel heavier. The "Hyperion Slam" and "Blazing Surge" aren't just button prompts anymore; they feel like Kratos is struggling to control a flame that wants to consume him. In God of War Ragnarök, the developers added the "Flame Whiplash" mechanic. By mashing the triangle button, you stoke the blades, charging them with fire before a strike. It’s a genius way to make an old weapon feel fresh without losing that nostalgic "I’m about to wreck this entire room" energy.
Why the Blades of Athena and Exile are Different (Sorta)
A lot of fans get confused here. You’ve got the Blades of Chaos, the Blades of Athena, and the Blades of Exile. Mechanically, across the original trilogy, they behave almost identically. The difference is mostly lore and "skins."
- The Blades of Athena were given to him at the end of the first game. They’re gold. They look "noble," which is ironic considering what he does with them.
- The Blades of Exile are the ones he gets in God of War III after falling into the River Styx. They look more rugged, more "metal."
But at the end of the day, the core soul of these kratos god of war weapons remains the same: fire and chains. They represent the Greek cycle of vengeance. It’s telling that in the newer games, Kratos uses them as a tool of last resort or for utility—like burning away Hel-Bramble—rather than his primary identity. He’s trying to be better, but the fire never really goes out.
The Leviathan Axe: Changing the DNA of the Franchise
When Cory Barlog and the team at Santa Monica first showed the Leviathan Axe, people lost their minds. "Where are the blades?" they asked. "Is this just Dark Souls now?"
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Not even close.
The Leviathan Axe is arguably the most satisfying weapon in modern gaming history because of one specific thing: the recall. When you throw that axe and hit Triangle to have it fly back into Kratos’ hand, the haptic feedback and the "thunk" sound design create a physical sensation. It feels heavy. It feels real.
This weapon was forged by the Huldra Brothers (Brok and Sindri) to counter the Mjölnir. Think about that. It’s literally built to kill a god. While the Blades are about speed, the Axe is about precision. You can freeze enemies in place. You can aim for the head. You can even leave the axe embedded in a gear to solve a puzzle while Kratos fights with his bare hands.
That’s a level of tactical depth the series never had before.
The frost element is the perfect foil to the Blades' fire. In Ragnarök, this is expanded even further with "Permafrost." If you land hits without taking damage, the axe glows, and your power spikes. It rewards "clean" play. It’s the weapon of a General, not a berserker.
The Draupnir Spear: The Missing Piece of the Puzzle
If the Axe is for the father and the Blades are for the monster, the Draupnir Spear is for the God of War. Introduced in God of War Ragnarök, this is arguably the most "balanced" of all kratos god of war weapons.
It’s based on the self-multiplying ring from Norse myth. It’s infinite. You can throw spears into a wall, then detonate them all at once with a tap of your spear butt on the ground. Click-clack. Boom.
What makes the spear so special is its versatility. It has the range of the Blades but the precision of the Axe. It also brings Kratos back to his Spartan roots. Seeing him stand in a phalanx stance, thrusting a spear, feels like a homecoming. It’s a weapon of discipline.
The gameplay loop with Draupnir is addictive:
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- Throw spears into multiple weak points on a boss.
- Siphon their elemental power (Wind, Fire, Ice).
- Explode the spears to stagger the enemy.
- Close the gap with a lunge.
It’s the most "technical" tool in his kit. You aren't just mashing; you're setting traps.
Don't Forget the Hands: The Power of the Shield and Fists
We have to talk about the Guardian Shield. It’s easy to overlook it as a defensive tool, but in the higher difficulties (Give Me God of War), the shield is your best friend.
Actually, it’s more than a friend. It’s a weapon.
Parrying is the soul of the Norse combat system. If you time a block perfectly, you blow back the enemy, opening them up for a brutal counter. In Ragnarök, you can actually swap shields. Want a heavy one that absorbs hits and slams them back? Go for the Stonewall Shield. Want something for high-risk, high-reward parrying? The Dauntless Shield is your go-to.
And then there's Spartan Rage.
When Kratos puts the weapons away and just uses his hands, the game shifts into a different gear. It’s pure, raw aggression. It’s the "Old Kratos" leaking out. The health regeneration you get during Rage is a mechanical representation of his sheer will to survive. It’s not elegant. It’s just survival.
The Weapons That Didn't Make the Cut (But We Miss Them Anyway)
The Greek games were full of experimental stuff. Remember the Nemean Cestus from God of War III? Huge lion-headed gauntlets that smashed through shields. They were slow as molasses but hit like a freight train.
Or the Blade of Olympus. That thing was the ultimate "I win" button. It was so powerful that the games usually only let you use it during specific story beats or as a powered-up state. It represented the peak of Kratos' power—the power of a King of the Gods.
Then you had the weird stuff:
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- The Head of Helios (basically a flashlight that blinded people).
- The Boots of Hermes (for dashing).
- The Bow of Apollo.
These were cool, sure. But they felt like "gadgets." The modern trilogy stripped that away to focus on the core three: the Axe, the Blades, and the Spear. This focus makes the combat feel tighter. You aren't cycling through a menu of ten weapons; you’re mastering three distinct styles that you can switch between mid-combo.
Why Scale Matters: Damage vs. Stun
If you're playing these games today, you need to understand the difference between the HP bar and the Stun bar.
The Leviathan Axe is great for raw damage. You want to kill something? Hit it with the axe.
But if you want to perform a "Finisher"—those brutal, cinematic kills where Kratos rips a wing off a Valkyrie or tears a werewolf in half—you need Stun. Your bare fists and the shield deal way more Stun damage than the sharp blades. This creates a rhythmic dance. You might start a fight with your fists to build the stun bar, then swap to the Axe for the killing blow.
This nuance is what makes the kratos god of war weapons so deep. It’s a "rock-paper-scissors" system, but with more blood and better graphics.
How to Optimize Your Loadout Right Now
If you're jumping back into God of War (2018) or Ragnarök, don't just look at the level of the weapon. Look at the "Hilt" or "Pommel" attachments.
- For the Axe: Look for attachments that increase "Luck" or "Cooldown." Being able to spam your heavy runic attacks like Ivaldi’s Anvil is way better than a tiny boost to base strength.
- For the Blades: Focus on "Runic" stats. The Blades are elemental powerhouses. You want your fire damage to tick for as long as possible.
- For the Spear: Focus on "Force." You want those detonations to hurt.
Also, don't sleep on the "Amulet of Yggdrasil" enchantments in the later game. Some of them give you massive damage buffs for switching weapons mid-combo. It encourages you to be the God of War, using every tool in the shed rather than just clinging to the axe because it’s "safe."
The reality is that Kratos is defined by these objects. The Blades are his past, the Axe is his present, and the Spear is his mastery. When you play, you aren't just clicking buttons; you're navigating his entire history.
Actionable Insights for Players
- Practice the "Switch": Go to the Niflheim practice arena. Practice hitting an enemy with the Axe, freezing them, then immediately swapping to the Blades to get a "Vaporize" damage bonus.
- The "Tri-Element" Strategy: In Ragnarök, try to apply Frost, then Burn, then use the Spear to detonate. This "status stacking" melts boss health bars faster than any single weapon ever could.
- Master the Parries: Stop dodging everything. The Guardian Shield is Kratos' most underrated weapon. Learning the timing of yellow-ring attacks will make you feel untouchable.
- Upgrade Smart: Don't spread your resources too thin early on. Pick one weapon that fits your playstyle and max its level first. Usually, the Leviathan Axe is the safest bet for a first-time playthrough.
Kratos' arsenal is a masterclass in game design. Every swing has weight, every hit has history, and every upgrade feels earned. Whether you're a fan of the old-school hack-and-slash or the new-age tactical combat, there's no denying these are some of the most iconic weapons in all of fiction. Now go find some Draugr and put this into practice.