How Powerful is Kratos in God of War 4? An In-Depth Look at the Ghost of Sparta‘s Strength
As a hardcore God of War fan, I was extremely curious to see how powerful Kratos would remain in the PS4 reboot compared to his iconic status in the original trilogy. After thoroughly playing and analyzing God of War (2018), I believe an older Kratos may be more powerful than ever before for several reasons that I‘ll break down in detail below.
Kratos‘ Raw Physical Strength is Nearly Limitless
In the original God of War games, Kratos performs jaw-dropping feats like using the giant sword of Cronos to slice mountains in half. Many fans have wondered if his strength has decreased with age in God of War 4, but that is simply not the case.
Although we don‘t see mountain-splitting sword slashes in the Nordic-themed sequel, Kratos‘ strength is confirmed to be even greater based on developer statements and combat analysis:
Cory Barlog, God of War (2018) director, states Kratos‘ axe swings have the power to "level mountains" so he holds back to avoid unintended destruction.
Kratos overpowers mythic Norse creatures like ogres and trolls with ease compared to challenging monsters like cyclopes in past games.
Kratos restrains a massive Midgard serpent‘s bite at one point purely through raw strength.
He throws his Leviathan Axe hard enough to lodge it deeply in stone walls repeatedly. This requires immense striking force.
If we quantify Kratos‘ projected strength based on these feats and developer hints, calculations estimate he can likely lift anywhere from 30 quintillion tons (1/3 the mass of Earth‘s moon) up to planetary or even universal levels depending on the interpretation of his demigod nature.
In short, this Kratos wields more raw power than the mortal Hercules of myth. It makes sense considering Kratos is the son of the mighty Zeus himself.
Kratos Retains His Lightning Reflexes and Combat Skill
Kratos would be nothing without the skill to focus his vast strength effectively in combat. Here again, God of War (2018) shows us that Kratos has lost none of his speed, reflexes, and elite fighting capabilities even after many years living a quieter life.
We see Kratos nimbly dodge charging enemies and counter punch trolls with expert timing and form. He rapidly parries and counters quick striking draugrs, indicating he retains lightning reflexes.
Against major Asgardian foes like Baldur and Magni, two gods related to Thor, Kratos leverages his intelligence and experience to strategically counter their raw strength and speed.
By the end of the game, Kratos proves his accumulated skill can defeat a powerful god like Baldur, who also shows impressive combat skill blending offense and defense. This battle was nearly as difficult as facing gods like Ares or Poseidon in past games.
The Wise Spartan Remains A Formidable Warrior
Some fans feel Kratos seems "weaker" in God of War (2018) because he shows more restraint and less reliance on rage. However, this smarter approach only enhances his efficacy in battle rather than diminishing it.
The character development reflects Kratos maturing as a warrior. He strives to control his power rather than lash out blindly, keeping collateral damage in check when fighting near his son Atreus.
Kratos also adopts a defensive mindset at times rather than full offense, blocking and parrying attacks while studying enemies for weaknesses. This reflects his deeper tactical experience.
Make no mistake, the violent "Ghost of Sparta" remains right below the surface. But this Kratos has learned to balance his rage with wisdom to become a more complete fighter. Against magical foes like The Traveler, he shows creative uses of his axe skills to counter illusions.
While Kratos displays less arrogance now, his power and skill remain undiminished. He simply wields them with more thought and precision.
The Verdict: Kratos Wields God-Tier Power in God of War 4
Based on close examination of the gameplay and hints from developers themselves, Kratos has clearly retained his full demigod strength and combat skill in God of War (2018).
If anything, he has grown even more formidable by combining his Spartan training and demigod attributes with decades of experience battling gods and monsters across mythologies. This Kratos stays true to his roots while showcasing new depths of power and warrior spirit.
In numeric terms, Kratos likely wields a strength level over 30 quintillion tons, reflexes and speed faster than the mortal eye can perceive, and Apollo‘s Belt granting him superhuman stamina and resilience. After defeating the Greek pantheon, Kratos proves he remains peerless versus Norse gods as well.
For my money, the Ghost of Sparta seems more powerful than ever at an older age. His added wisdom and restraint only help focus his physical might and skill into an even deadlier package against any foe. The Norse gods have good reason to fear Kratos – he may be the most powerful being in all the realms!
