Kratos, the protagonist of the God of War video game franchise, is known for his ruthless killing of gods, monsters, and other enemies. However, there are a few notable kills that he seems to regret or that continue to haunt him throughout the series.
Kratos’ Wife and Daughter
One of Kratos’ biggest regrets is the accidental killing of his wife Lysandra and daughter Calliope. This tragic event occurs early in the God of War timeline when Kratos, a Spartan warrior, pledges his service to the God of War Ares in exchange for Ares helping him defeat a barbarian army. During a blind rage induced by Ares, Kratos unknowingly slaughters his own family. The loss of his wife and child marks the beginning of Kratos’ downward spiral into further violence and revenge.
The scene where Kratos accidentally kills his family is briefly shown in flashing sequences in the original God of War game. But the event haunts Kratos throughout the series, fueling his hatred for Ares. It is a devastating early chapter in the Spartan’s tragic saga.
Athena
Another death that Kratos has complex feelings about is that of the goddess Athena at the end of God of War II. Throughout the first two games, Athena serves as an ally and guide for Kratos. She motivates him to take down Ares and then the rest of the gods of Olympus. However, Kratos feels betrayed when he discovers that Athena was using him as a pawn to gain more power over Olympus for herself.
When a defiant Athena stands in Kratos’ way at the end of God of War II, he kills her without hesitation. This act seems to surprise even Kratos, as he believed Athena to be on his side. Some remnants of loyalty toward her must have still existed within him. Killing the goddess that had aided him on his quest for revenge marked a major turning point that foreshadowed Kratos’ rebellion against all the gods of Greece.
Pandora
Pandora is a young girl Kratos encounters in God of War III who is key to his goal of killing Zeus. She willingly sacrifices herself by jumping into the Flame of Olympus in order to give Kratos the power he needs to defeat Zeus. But witnessing her sacrifice weighs heavily on Kratos, reminding him of the loss of his own daughter Calliope. There are hints that Kratos regrets seeing Pandora die, despite his single-minded quest for vengeance.
The death of this innocent girl to help Kratos on his vengeful warpath shows how his violence has consequences beyond just his enemies. Pandora’s sacrifice adds to Kratos’ world-weariness and guilt over the lives lost due to his anger at the gods. She represents a turning point toward his redemption.
Poseidon
The sea god Poseidon is one of Kratos’ early victims in God of War III during his rampage through Olympus. Poseidon himself does not expect Kratos to kill him, laughing at the idea when Kratos first threatens him. However, this makes the god unprepared when Kratos does violently drown him, kicking off Olympus’ downfall.
The callous drowning of his brother god shocks even Zeus. There are suggestions that Kratos himself is also surprised at his merciless killing of Poseidon, who did not think the former god would turn against the entire pantheon so completely. The sea god’s unexpected demise early in God of War III represents just how far Kratos is willing to go for revenge.
Zeus
The main target of Kratos’ vengeance is Zeus, the king of the gods who betrays and tries to kill Kratos in God of War II. After brutally killing Poseidon, Kratos has an opportunity to kill Zeus but stops himself. He reveals that he will not kill Zeus then because it would be doing the king of the gods a favor by releasing him from his madness and villainy.
This hesitation shows hints of lingering respect and possible regret toward the idea of killing the highest god and his own father. But Kratos does ultimately kill Zeus at the end of God of War III in a prolonged and bloody battle. The regrets hinted at earlier seem to have faded, consumed by Kratos’ single-minded rage.
Hephaestus
Hephaestus is the smith god who abandons Olympus and is convinced by Kratos to return and make him powerful weapons. While Hephaestus is helping Kratos, the Spartan warrior ends up killing him after the god screams in pain from Kratos’ use of his anvil. Kratos regretfully tells Hephaestus “You should have told me” before tossing him into the lava.
Hephaestus seems to be yet another case where Kratos did not intend to kill the god, but did so reflexively when provoked. Killing the master smith cuts Kratos off from any future weapon upgrades. This is one of several instances where Kratos’ violent rage works against his own goals, hinting at the deep anger issues that drive him.
Baldur
Baldur is the main antagonist Kratos faces in the Norse realm during God of War (2018). After an extended confrontation, Kratos ends up killing Baldur, the Norse god of light, in a bloody fight. Leading up to this, Kratos seems reluctant to take on and kill another god from a foreign land, trying to avoid confrontation with Baldur. The two even form a partial bond after journeying together for a time.
Killing Baldur, who had reasonable motivations for wanting revenge against the gods, parallels Kratos’ own desire for vengeance. It is clear Kratos would have preferred to avoid killing Baldur if possible. The violent act continues the recurring theme of regret and sorrow over Kratos’ rampages against gods in lands beyond Greece.
Modi and Magni
The sons of Thor, Modi and Magni, are two more Norse gods Kratos reluctantly kills in God of War after they ambush him and Atreus. Kratos initially hopes to simply incapacitate the gods and warns Atreus that they should not be killed. But his son ignores this advice, playing a role in their deaths.
Kratos seems disappointed and angry after the deaths of Modi and Magni, telling Atreus they did not come here to kill, but rather to fulfill a quest. The spirit of Thor then confronts Kratos and warns him this act will have serious consequences. The deaths of these two gods show that Kratos is trying to leave his vengeful ways behind and regrets having to kill again in this new land.
Zeus
Zeus, the King of the Olympian gods, is one of Kratos’ primary targets of vengeance due to Zeus’ betrayal of him. However, Kratos shows some hints of regret and hesitation before ultimately killing Zeus in a prolonged battle.
Earlier in God of War III, Kratos has an opportunity to kill Zeus but decides not to, saying it would release Zeus from his torment and madness. This suggests some lingering respect and possible regret toward the idea of killing his own father and the highest god.
However, Kratos’ rage and desire for vengeance ultimately win out. The hints of regret and hesitation seem to fade as Kratos violently beats Zeus to death at the end of God of War III. It is one of Kratos’ most brutal and drawn out god murders, completing his revenge against the Greek pantheon.
Final Conclusions
In summary, the kills that seem to haunt Kratos the most include:
- His wife Lysandra and daughter Calliope – accidentally killing them set him on his vengeful path.
- Athena – her betrayal and death marked a major turning point.
- Pandora – her sacrifice reminded him of his slain daughter.
- Baldur and the Norse gods – trying to avoid more divine bloodshed but getting pulled back in.
Other notable regrets include Poseidon, Hephaestus, and some hesitation before killing Zeus. Overall, the recurring theme is Kratos struggling against his own violent nature, with some kills haunting him more than others. He is slowly pathing toward redemption after a long history of regrets.
| God Killed | Game | Level of Regret |
|---|---|---|
| Lysandra and Calliope | God of War (Flashbacks) | Extremely High |
| Athena | God of War II | High |
| Pandora | God of War III | High |
| Poseidon | God of War III | Moderate |
| Hephaestus | God of War III | Moderate |
| Baldur | God of War (2018) | High |
Lysandra and Calliope
Kratos was driven to kill Ares after Ares tricked him into murdering his wife Lysandra and daughter Calliope. This traumatic event haunts Kratos and drives his vengeful quest. The loss of his family is one of his biggest regrets.
Athena
Athena served as an ally to Kratos until she revealed she was using him for her own gain. Her betrayal and subsequent death by Kratos’ hand was a major turning point in his disillusionment with the Greek gods.
Pandora
Killing the innocent Pandora to gain power reminds Kratos of the loss of his daughter Calliope. Her sacrifice weighs heavily on him.
Baldur
Kratos tries to reason with Baldur and relates to the Norse god’s desire for vengeance. He regrets having to kill Baldur, wanting to avoid more divine killings.