Unraveling the Mystery: How Does Faye Die in God of War?
As an avid God of War fan, I‘ve obsessed over the pivotal question – how does Faye, Kratos‘ second wife and Atreus‘ mother, meet her tragic end? While the games leave the cause of Faye‘s death shrouded in mystery, clues and theories give us plenty to dig into for this beloved character. Let‘s sort through the evidence to get to the bottom of how Faye died!
The straightforward answer is that we simply don‘t know for sure. Developer Cory Barlog himself has confirmed that her exact cause of death remains a deliberate mystery. But that doesn‘t mean we can‘t have fun speculating based on hints across both God of War (2018) and God of War Ragnarök!
Examining the Major Theories on Faye‘s Death
Several intriguing theories have emerged from fans to explain Faye‘s untimely death. Let‘s take a deep dive into each one:
Illness
The illness explanation is straightforward – as a mortal, Faye could have succumbed to any number of diseases or health conditions. Some clues lend weight to this theory:
Faye would have been at least 40 years old when Atreus was born. Average life expectancy in ancient Norse society was around 35 years, making her relatively elderly.
In Ragnarök, Atreus says his mother was "sick", though not severely so. This suggests she may have had some underlying condition.
Her ashes indicate she had time to prepare her funeral rites before death. A long illness could explain this.
However, you‘d expect more overt references to Faye being sick if this was the case. So while possible, disease may not be the most dramatic or heroic cause for gamers.
Injuries from Fighting Thor
This is a metal theory that Faye sustained mortal wounds battling Thor, the infamously brutal Norse god of thunder and lightning. There are a few clues that suggest this:
Mimir tells Kratos that Faye was a renowned warrior who "met her end" in a confrontation with Thor.
In the opening scene, Atreus knocks over a mug that Faye had thrown at Thor during a fight in their house. This suggests a violent encounter occurred.
Thor is known for relentlessly hunting down giants. Powerful as she was, Faye may have fallen taking a final stand against the Asgardian god of war.
My fellow gamers will surely appreciate the glory of Faye dying in combat against a divine foe! But this is still more speculation than hard proof.
Sacrifice to Protect Her Family
One popular theory is that Faye knowingly sacrificed herself to protect Kratos and Atreus from harm. This meshes well with her characterization as a dedicated mother and wife:
| Evidence Faye Sacrificed Herself |
|-|-|
| She had prophetic knowledge of Ragnarök and took steps to prepare Atreus |
| Her final act was scattering her ashes at the peak of the tallest mountain |
| The Lost Pages note she "gave her life" so they could fulfill their destiny |
But how exactly would her death protect them? Perhaps she sealed away some enemies, knowing it would cost her life. Or made a literal deal with the gods. My fellow fans have floated some cool ideas! But without confirmation, the specifics are up for debate.
Natural Causes
As the simplest explanation, Faye may have just died of old age or other natural causes. But while plausible, this lacks narrative drama and feels anticlimactic for such an epic franchise.
The developers likely intend her death to be mysterious, but my money is on the Thor combat or sacrifice theories. Those fit best with her warrior spirit and love for family that define Faye as a character.
Piecing Together a Timeline of Faye‘s Final Days
While we can‘t say definitively how Faye died, mapping out a timeline of her final days using clues from across both games helps illuminate the puzzle:
| Date (est.) | Event |
|---|---|
| Sometime after Atreus‘ birth | Faye battles Thor, shown in opening scene |
| 1-2 years before game | Faye begins journey to scatter ashes, based on condition of wolves |
| 6-12 months before game | Faye falls ill according to Atreus |
| 3-6 months before game | Faye prepares prophecy murals |
| 1-2 months before game | Faye "gives her life" according to Lost Pages |
| Days before game | Kratos spreads Faye‘s ashes |
This suggests her fatal battle with Thor was years prior, with her gradually weakening over time. But there are still missing pieces in the timeline. We also don‘t know exactly when she scattered the ashes that Kratos finishes spreading at her request. Hopefully future games will bring more clues!
My Theory as a God of War Lore Buff
After analyzing all available in-game evidence and developer interviews, here is my personal theory as a hardcore God of War fan on what happened to Faye:
Faye died from injuries sustained fighting Thor years earlier to protect her family, but was able to hang on long enough to set plans in motion preparing Atreus for his destiny before ultimately sacrificing her life to complete protective spells.
In their epic battle, Thor delivered mortal blows, but crafty Faye was able to escape into hiding. She then devoted her remaining years to ensuring Kratos and Atreus would survive Ragnarök before her time finally ran out. With this theory, she gets an appropriately glorious warrior‘s death while also securing her family‘s future!
Of course, this remains speculation until Santa Monica Studio decides to officially reveal the full story. But piecing together clues across these incredible games provides a fun challenge for dedicated fans. The mystery of her death makes Faye‘s legacy all the more intriguing and impactful.
Let me know what theories you‘ve uncovered on how Faye met her end! Until next time, fellow gamers.
