TheGod of Warfranchise has always delivered narratives that are steeped in deep mythology, whether it’s Greek or Norse. From mythical heroes to gods and monsters,God of Warhas always worn its source material on its sleeve, andGod of War Ragnarokonly makes those influences more obvious. Introducing even more mythological characters and creatures than ever,God of War Ragnarokhas a lot of references for players to discover, with one of those being Nidhogg, the dragon of Yggdrasil.
Introduced in2018’sGod of War, Yggdrasil, also known as the Tree of Life or the World Tree, is the gate between the Nine Realms. Using the Bifrost, Atreus and Kratos are able to use Yggdrasil to travel between Alfheim, Jotunheim, Midgard, and a few other Realms that Odin hasn’t closed the gateway to. Despite playing a prominent role in the 2018 predecessor, Yggdrasil’s greatest protector, the dragon Nidhogg, doesn’t appear untilGod of War Ragnarok.
RELATED:Why the God of War Ragnarok Devs Were ‘Freaking Out’ Just Before Release
The Mythology Behind God of War Ragnarok’s Nidhogg
Oftenreferred to as Nidhoggr in Norse mythology, Nidhogg is a dragon that resides at the bottom of Yggdrasil. Coiled around the tree’s gigantic roots, Nidhogg is the representation of all the Realms' chaos and evil. To bring balance, an eagle resides at the top of the Tree of Life, representing peace and order. While both godly entities recognize that they are both required for balance, that doesn’t stop them from hating one another. On a daily basis, Nidhogg and the eagle exchange insults via Yggdrasil’s messenger, Ratatoskr, a mischievous little red squirrel that loves to stoke the flames of their rivalry.
Fueled by their rage for each other, Nidhogg and the eagle can often be seen destroying parts of the World Tree, with Nidhogg chewing at the tree’s roots, and the eagle picking off branches to throw at the dragon below. After the two beings have expressed their rage and have calmed down, Yggdrasil is then bathed in the healing waters of Urd, which rejuvenates the tree. Though their aggression seems devastating, this cycle is actually integral inkeeping the Nine Realms balanced.
While his main role ispresiding over Yggdrasil, Nidhogg is also in charge of punishing the Realms' worst criminals. After death, the worst criminals are sent to Nadastrond, a region of Hel that Nidhogg rules over. Here, the dead criminals enter a great hall, where the walls are made of intertwining snakes, and the roof vents drip venom. In this hall, Nidhogg is known by another name: Malice Striker. Once the criminals have been tortured thoroughly, Nidhogg feasts on their corpses.
Nidhogg also plays a prominent role in Norse mythology’s Ragnarok event, which sees the giants kill the gods and destroy most of the Nine Realms. Ragnarok officially begins when Nidhogg finally manages to chew through the roots of Yggdrasil. Doing this causes the World Tree to wither, ushering ina three-year Winter known as Fimbulwinter. Affecting all of the Realms in different, but decidedly negative ways, Fimbulwinter weakens the gods, and the giants use this opportunity to strike. Taking the fight to Asgard, the giants are assisted by Nidhogg, who flies up from the underworld to aid in the battle. After the giants have won, and the gods have been defeated, Nidhogg returns to his destined place at the roots of Yggdrasil. Here, Nidhogg takes up his old responsibilities, becoming the representation of evil and chaos across the new worlds, and striking a balance once again.
God of War Ragnarokis out now for PS4 and PS5.
MORE:How God of War Ragnarok’s Review Scores Compare to the 2018 Game
