Did Tyr know Kratos?
As an avid God of War gamer and Norse mythology enthusiast, this is a question I‘ve seen hotly debated across the fandom ever since our first meeting with the legendary Tyr in God of War Ragnarök.
Based on insight from the games‘ lore and analyzing their exchanges, while not outright confirmed, evidence suggests Tyr did indeed know of Kratos long before ever crossing paths in the midst of Fimbulwinter and the brewing war against Asgard.
Tyr‘s foreknowledge as the God of War
As stated by Mimir repeatedly throughout the last two games, Tyr is no typical warrior god. He values diplomacy and wisdom as much as combat strength. His quest for knowledge is unmatched among the Aesir gods.
Tyr traveled extensively between the Nine Realms and beyond seeking answers from all domains, not just those ruled by his fellow Asgardians. The God of War‘s vault contained artifacts and chronicles spanning pantheons – suggesting a cosmic awareness.
For one as learned as Tyr, Kratos‘ role in violently upending (and ultimately destroying) the Greek Pantheon would undoubtedly have caught his attention during his scholarly adventuring.
Tyr‘s Vault – A Telling Easter Egg
This is implicitly supported by a key easter egg that even casual fans picked up on. One of the amphorae artworks shown in Tyr‘s vault unmistakably depicts Kratos during his final bloody attack on Mount Olympus itself.
This alone confirms Tyr‘s expansive knowledge encompassed the existence of the Greek Pantheon, its gods, and Kratos‘ own pivotal role in catalyzing its downfall.
Examining In-Game Dialogue For Deeper Meaning
However, one could argue Tyr archiving myths and legends around Kratos doesn‘t necessarily mean the two had personally crossed paths prior to God of War Ragnarök.
While possible, I believe analyzing key conversations suggest deeper subtext and history. Let‘s examine two telling quotes:
"I know you – from where?" Tyr muses when first laying eyes upon Kratos in the dwarven forge Nidavellir.
Later, when Kratos dismisses valuing Tyr‘s necklace, he replies: "Sentiment does not seem to be in your nature, Ghost of Sparta."
These quotes acknowledge a baseline familiarity with Kratos‘ identity and past that go beyond simply maintaining historical records. The way Tyr speaks hints at personal understanding – potentially first-hand experience.
Not to mention Tyr calling him the "Ghost of Sparta" – an epithet he earned in the Greek era. Another strong indicator he‘s crossed between realms and more closely followed Kratos‘ journey.
What the Fans Theorize
Naturally, God of War‘s lore mavens have crafted their own theories about the extent of Tyr‘s wandering through Yggdrasil…and just how closely he may have shadowed our favorite ashen-skinned anti-hero along the way.
Some believe Tyr likely visited Greece itself during his questing at some point. Witnessing the wreckage Kratos left in his wake, admiring his peer‘s embittered skills from afar. Others have speculated Tyr attempted interacting with the Greek Pantheon to learn their perspectives, only to be thwarted when Kratos took them off the board!
While not confirmed, these explanations do neatly align with Tyr‘s wanderlust and thirst for understanding the cosmos. The God of Knowledge observing a cross-realm God of War firsthand feels intuitively within character.
The Verdict on Tyr‘s Foreknowledge
In total – when weighing Tyr‘s respectful yet cryptically familiar tone upon their first Ragnarök encounter, his vault‘s revealing Easter egg, what we know of his wandering scholarship, and reading into key dialogue quotes – the likely conclusion is:
Yes, Tyr did know of Kratos prior their God of War Ragnarök alliance.
The extent of that "knowing" is still shrouded in mystery, but hopefully the genius storytellers over at Santa Monica Studios will grace us with more concrete answers when Kratos and Tyr next cross paths!
Whether that occurs in the form of DLC content or simply the inevitable God of War 6, this intense lore fan sure hopes unlocking further secrets around Tyr‘s past travels and knowledge is high on their priority list. The intrigue continues!
