Why Kratos Can Never Remove the Blades of Chaos
Across 25 years of God of War games, Kratos has desperately tried to permanently destroy or remove the chained Blades of Chaos – but the weapons always return. Their hellish origins and bond with Kratos‘ soul curse him to bear these iconic blades forever.
The Hellish Creation That Doomed Kratos
According to God of War lore, the blades were forged by Hades himself in the depths of the Underworld. Tempered in hellfire and imbued with dark magic, the blades gain power by causing great suffering and tragedy.
When Kratos pledged himself as the new God of War, the blades affixed themselves to his forearms by their burning hot chains – fusing weapon and wielder in a demonic pact. The searing pain was meant to fuel Kratos‘ destructive rage.
The Blades of Chaos became an extension of his being, driving him to commit ever more brutal atrocities against gods and mortals over decades. But when Kratos turns against Olympus, the gods curse him so the blades can never be removed – eternally tormenting him as punishment for his sins.
Repeated Attempts Across Realms and Worlds
Consumed by guilt over his bloody legacy, Kratos has tried countless times throughout the series to destroy or abandon the Blades of Chaos:
- God of War (2005) – After killing Ares, Kratos tries hurling the blades into fires erupting from a sinking city – but they end up returned to him years later.
- God of War: Ghost of Sparta (2010) – Kratos discards the blades in the Domain of Death, but they reappear fused to his arms when he faces Thanatos.
- God of War (2018) – In the Norse wilds, Kratos buries the chained blades underground. But his son Atreus digs them up against his father‘s wishes.
No matter the location or world, the Blades stubbornly reappear by magical forces compelled to haunt their master.
The Burning Chains Reflect His Inner Torment
The Blades of Chaos have profound symbolic value in the series as they represent Kratos grappling with his past.
Their fiery chains are the shackles of his own guilt, binding him to the bloody legacy of massacre and vengeance he desperately wants to leave behind. The persistent blades refuse to let Kratos escape his violent nature.
Game director Cory Barlog explains:
"The blades follow him everywhere he goes, because he can‘t escape his past no matter how hard he tries."
When Kratos journeys to Midgard seeking peace, the buried blades remerge as a harbinger of brewing chaos. Their hellish magic threatens to corrupt his son Atreus and spark a new Ragnarök.
Chaotic Powers and Demonic Magic
Forged in Hades‘ inferno, the Blades of Chaos possess fearsome magic abilities:
- Hellfire Manipulation – The blades ignite with chaotic hellfire from the Underworld, dealing searing damage.
- Soul Summoning – The blades can summon tortured souls from Tartarus to attack enemies.
- Elemental Magic – As the blades level up, they gain ice, fire, and lightning abilities to combo with.
- Energy Draining – The blades fuse to Kratos‘ lifeforce, fueling their power through his rage and suffering.
They also grow more powerful by harvesting souls. In God of War III, the blades evolve into the Blades of Exile after consuming countless lives. This makes them virtually indestructible.
Gaming‘s Most Iconic Cursed Weapon
The Blades of Chaos are gaming‘s most iconic cursed weapon for how they perpetually bind themselves to Kratos as both a physical and emotional burden.
Some other cursed video game weapons that torture their wielders include:
| Weapon | Game | Curse |
|---|---|---|
| The Beast‘s Claw | Witcher 3 | Causes crippling pain |
| Frostmourne Sword | World of Warcraft | Steals souls |
| Shabriri‘s Woe | Elden Ring | Drives user mad |
| Pendant | Castlevania: Lords of Shadow | Made of human blood |
But none encapsulate an antihero‘s torment like the Blades of Chaos. Players feel the weight of Kratos‘ past through their persistence. In a meta sense, their curse gives catharsis by promising he can never fully erase his sins.
The fiery chains will forever be bound to gaming‘s most iconic antihero.
The Hellish Curse Kratos Can Never Break
Across 25 years of God of War games, Kratos has desperately tried to destroy or remove the Blades of Chaos that fuse themselves to his body and soul – but the hellish blades only return by dark magic.
Forged in Hades‘ inferno and fed by torment, these iconic weapons have evolved to thrive on Kratos‘ guilt and inner turmoil. Now awoken in the Norse wilds, their smoldering curse threatens to spark a new Ragnarök.
Their searing embrace endures as the perfect encapsulation of Kratos‘ struggle – cursed weapons for a cursed man eternally bound to his past.
