God of War: Why does Mimir not have a body? Why was his head cut off?

Mimir, also considered the Smartest Man Alive in the God of War franchise and nicknamed ‘The Head’ by Kratos, is a character from Norse mythology who’s renowned for his knowledge and wisdom. As God of War players would know by now, he’s also a valued ally of Kratos and Atreus.

Furthermore, he served as Odin’s advisor and the ambassador of the Gods of Aesir. However, he eventually lost his nobleman status when Odin imprisoned him 109 years ago. Nonetheless, the worst wasn’t over for him, as he soon went on to lose his body as well.

With the release of the latest God of War installment just around the corner, several players are reminiscing through the past story in order to prepare themselves for the new title. As a result, they’re coming across mysteries that they skipped the first time around, including – why is Mimir a bodiless entity in God of War?

Mimir doesn’t have a body in God of War because he asked Kratos to chop off his head and separate it from the rest of his body. He made such a request because he was sick of getting tortured by Odin and wanted Kratos to take him to someone who could reanimate him, as he believed that living as a reanimated entity would be better than his current state of existence.

Here’s more about why Mimir doesn’t have a body and the events that led to the same.

Why did Mimir’s head get cut off in God of War?

 Why does Mimir not have a body? Why was his head cut off? – God of War
Kratos Moments Before Beheading Mimir

Mimir’s head was cut off in God of War so that Kratos could take it to someone with enough skill in Old Magic in order to reanimate him. Kratos beheaded him in exchange for receiving his aid and took his head to the Witch of the Wood for reanimation.

After 109 winters following his imprisonment, Baldur, along with his nephews, Thor’s sons Magni and Modi, confronted Mimir and tried bribing him with freedom in exchange for the whereabouts of Kratos and Atreus. 

However, Mimir decided against helping the trio as he couldn’t locate Kratos and Atreus due to a concealing rune spell placed on them. In addition, he was very well aware of the fact that Odin wouldn’t let anyone release or harm him, no matter what.

Almost instantly after Baldur, Magni, and Modi leave, Kratos and Atreus present themselves to Mimir in search of the location of the tallest peak in all realms, which according to them, lay in Midgard. But, Mimir clarified that they were mistaken, and the tallest peak in all realms lay in Jotunheim, not Midgard. 

In addition, he projected an image of Jotunheim’s tallest peak via his last-remaining eye and claimed to have access to the last Giant who knew how to gain entrance into Jotunheim. So, in return for helping the duo, Mimir asked Kratos to cut off his head and take him to a magician well-versed in Old Magic. 

Does Mimir get his body back in God of War?

 Why does Mimir not have a body? Why was his head cut off? – God of War
Freya ‘Witch of the Woods’ About to Reanimate Mimir

Mimir doesn’t get his body back in God of War. After Kratos cuts off his head and takes it to the Witch of the Woods, she uses her skills in Old Magic to merely reanimate his head. So, it’s safe to assume that his body is rotting in the same place where he was imprisoned and beheaded, the tallest peak in Midgard.

Nevertheless, there’s another theory about why he didn’t get his body back in God of War. 

As Mimir’s reanimation inches closer, the true identity of the Witch of the Woods is revealed to be none other than the Goddess Freya herself. Since she’s a Goddess, it’s safe to assume that her mastery of Old Magic renders her capable of reanimating someone entirely if she willed.

However, Mimir and Freya have a strained relationship, which becomes certain when she spits on his face moments before reanimating him partially. Hence, it’s possible that Freya’s hatred for Mimir prevented her from reanimating his entire body. 

Why did Odin torture Mimir in God of War?

 Why does Mimir not have a body? Why was his head cut off? – God of War
Mimir Imprisoned in a Tree at the Tallest Peak of Midgard

After impressing Odin with his depth of knowledge and wisdom, Mimir quickly rose through the ranks in his court. 

Gradually, his status helped him get acquainted with many Giants from Jotunheim, which led to him befriending many of them. This is confirmed by the fact that the Giants bestowed a Bifrost crystal in his eyes, which helped him travel across realms. 

However, Odin’s paranoia and obsession with preventing Ragnarok led him to allow his son, Thor, to go on a Giant-killing spree. Subsequently, Odin confronted Mimir, reckoning that he supported the Jotuns, and imprisoned him at the tallest peak in Midgard. Consequently, Mimir spent the next 109 years getting tortured by Odin on a daily basis. 

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About God of War Ragnarok

God of War Ragnarok is an action-adventure game developed by Santa Monica Studio and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment. It was released on November 9, 2022, for PS4 and PS5.

Ragnarok is the ninth installment in the God of War series, chronologically, and the sequel to 2018’s God of War. Loosely based on Norse mythology, the game is set in ancient Norway and features series protagonists Kratos and his young son Atreus. The events of the game are expected to initiate Ragnarok – a series of events that, according to Norse lore, bring about the end of days and the death of the Norse gods.

Epic Dope Staff

Epic Dope Staff

Our talented team of Freelance writers - Always on the lookout - pour their energies into a wide range of topics bringing to our audience what they crave - fun up-to-date news, reviews, fan theories and much much more.

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