Is Baldur Stronger Than Thor? A Godly Analysis

The warrior gods Thor and Baldur are portrayed as roughly equal in strength and power in much of Norse mythology and its modern pop culture adaptations. But who would win in an all-out divine duel comes down to their differing skills, weapons and portrayals across media.

Backgrounds: A Tale of Two Godly Brothers

As sons of the mighty Allfather Odin, Baldur and Thor were both born to be warrior gods defending Asgard and Midgard. But their upbringings and resulting attributes both align and contrast:

So while both were likely trained as warriors growing up, Baldur‘s pleasant nature contrasts with Thor‘s tempestuousness. This foreshadows differences in how they confront conflicts and exert power.

Blessed Invulnerability vs Endless Strength

Baldur‘s most famous trait is the invulnerability blessing his mother Frigg placed on him. This was done to prevent his prophesied early death, making him impervious to all threats and unable to feel pain.

In contrast, no accounts suggest Thor relies on magical protection – rather his godly heritage and Belt of Strength impart near-limitless power. Thor‘s feats of vanquishing giants and moving mountains demonstrate this.

So Baldur depends on an enchantment for safety while Thor‘s might is inherent. This shapes their differing combat styles…

Weapons: Fists vs Hammer

Baldur‘s invulnerability gives him license to battle foes barehanded or with whatever weapons available, as he cannot be harmed regardless. Reports from the God of War game show him laughing while taking blows from Kratos and sons.

Meanwhile Thor places full trust in his mystic hammer Mjölnir as his go-to weapon, blessing it with his powers. Together Thor and Mjölnir are able to generate lightning, winds, and massive damage against all manners of enemies.

So Baldur‘s hands-on approach is more carefree thanks to his protection, while Mjölnir focuses Thor‘s powers into an divinely deadly hammer blow.

Deaths: Mistletoe vs Serpent Venom

The Eddas famously recount Baldur meeting his end not in combat, but from a seemingly harmless mistletoe dart thrown by the blind god Hodr. This pierces Baldur‘s otherwise impermeable blessings, taking the gods by surprise.

Accounts of Thor detail several close calls: his fated showdown with the Midgard Serpent leaves them both poisoned and dying. Only Thor is revived. Another time the giant Geirrod‘s daughters nearly crush Thor with an enchanted chair.

So surprisingly, Baldur dies from a targeted weakness while the oft-vulnerable Thor escapes his brushes with death every time.

God of War: Baldur Beaten by Kratos

In the hit game series, Kratos and son Atreus face off against Baldur, whose protections leave them frustratedly unable to hurt him at first. Only later discovering his weakness, the duo finally defeat him in an epic clash.

Meanwhile, the new God of War: Ragnarök trailer shows Kratos and Thor locked in furious battle, their weapons sending lightning and chaos everywhere. Their duel already looks legendary.

The games‘ storylines suggest Thor likely exceeds Baldur in combat capacity and threat level to place him as Kratos‘ ultimate opponent.

Who Would Win?

Given these warring backgrounds and attributes, which son of Odin would win out matched against each other?

On Reddit and gaming forums, fans vigorously debate the question. Some argue Baldur‘s invincibility gives him an edge, others vote Thor‘s unlimited strength and weaponry can overpower defenses over time.

Synthesizing the lore and analysis above, I‘d speculate Thor has the advantage in both innate abilities and track record. His physical prowess forged through battles, along with Mjölnir‘s focused might edge out Baldur‘s more magical protection. We know Baldur‘s weakness is surprise while Thor has escaped what seemed like certain doom.

Yet Baldur should never be underestimated. His brazen fighting style and pain immunity keep him dangerous for periods. So while Thor seems favored, Baldur could still turn the tables given the right circumstances.

In the end, Norse myths and gaming lore paint the two as more similar than different. But forced to choose, my vote is with the storm god Thor taking the ultimate crown as strongest son of Odin. The clash would be one for the sagas no matter the outcome though!

Let me know your takes on Thor vs Baldur in the comments, along with your Ragnarök predictions!