Magni and Modi, the sons of Thor, are two major antagonists in God of War. They are Baldur’s chief minions, doing their uncle’s bidding throughout the gae. The fate of these two Aesir demigods could be very relevant indeed for the future, especially when it comes to Thor. Interestingly, the roles of Magni and Modi in Norse mythology could well inform where God of War will go next.
(The following article includes discussion of spoilers for God of War’s story. Proceed at your own risk.)
The Sons of Thor
In myth, Magni and Modi are the sons of Thor and the giant Jarnsaxa. However, in God of War, the identity of their mother seems to have changed. Mimir mentions that they have different mothers, and that their parentage is “a sordid story”. All of Thor’s three children, which includes Magni and Modi’s sister Thrud (briefly mentioned by Mimir, though he is cut off before giving her name), are named to embody Thor’s qualities. Magni means “Great”, while Modi means “Brave”, and Thrud means “Confident”. In keeping with the subversion of the Norse pantheon to villains in God of War, Modi is anything but brave throughout the game. He flees from Kratos twice, and is later called a coward by Thor.
Magni and Modi are minor characters in mythology. The one story that features them is that of Thor’s encounter with the giant Hrungnir. The tale goes that Thor slew Hrungnir, but the giant’s body then fell upon Thor, trapping him. Mimir relates this tale at one point, and there’s one significant deviation from the standard story. In myth, none of the Aesir can free Thor except the infant Magni. In Mimir’s telling, only he witnessed the event, and both Modi and Magni freed their father. However, Magni received all the credit, leaving Modi eternally bitter. This petty rivalry is central to their portrayal in God of War. More details from this tale appear on Hrungnir’s More Than Myth shrine.
The Fate of Modi and Magni, and What it Means for Mjolnir
Magni and Modi feature as one of the biggest boss fights in God of War, which ends with Kratos killing Magni, and Modi fleeing. The surviving brother makes two more appearances, and in the second it’s revealed that he’s been cast out by Thor, who blamed him for Magni’s death. The death of the two brothers is likely to be very significant in the next God of War; no doubt Thor will hold a grudge against Kratos for the deaths of his sons, not to mention the death of his brother Baldur.
However, there is another aspect to the brothers’ role in myth which could prove very important now that they’re dead. Magni and Modi are two of the few individuals prophesied to survive Ragnarok, as told in the Vafþrúðnismál: “Modi and Magni; Shall Mjollnir have; When Vingnir falls in fight.” (The name Vingnir is another name for Thor.) So, after Thor is killed by the poison of Jormungandr, Mjollnir was fated to pass to his sons. The brothers appear to be aware of this; during Modi’s second appearance he says, “I earned that fucking hammer. But now everyone’s gonna think I only got it ’cause Magni’s gone.”
With the pair dead, it raises the question who Mjolnir will belong to after Thor’s death, especially given that Thor is likely to feature prominently in the next game. Thor’s daughter has yet to appear, but it’s also conceivable that Kratos might find some use for it, perhaps having Brok and Sindri dismantle it to improve his Leviathan Axe?