The video game series is loosely based on Greek and Norse mythology. Many of the gods were introduced early in the series and recur throughout many games. Acclaimed for its macabre battles, the player can’t go ten minutes into the game without witnessing epic carnage.

Although inconsistent with Greek and Norse mythology at times, Kratos’ hatred for gods evolves throughout the story. At the same time, Kratos forms relationships with gods like Athena, who (spoiler alert) he kills by mistake. With Kratos’ god kill count mounting ever higher, here are 15 gods Kratos killed and how he took them out.

15 Poseidon (God Of The Ocean)

As the first god to be seen in the God of War series, Poseidon makes a return in God of War III. In fact, he is the first boss you fight in the game. Being the God of the Ocean, Poseidon carries with him a plethora of devastating powers and abilities. This includes (so far as fans can discern): cryokinesis (manipulating ice), hydrokinesis (controlling water), and hydro-electrokinesis (generating electricity over water).

Despite not being a problem previously, Poseidon’s death was a necessary thing since the darkness of Pandora’s Box had infected him. However, the battle isn’t nearly as wild as the one Kratos had with Ares.

Kratos kills the King of the Seas while facing his human form, breaking Poseidon’s neck and squeezing his eyes. God of War III was the last time we saw Poseidon, but gods returning from death isn’t unprecedented.

14 Ares (God Of War)

As the main antagonist of the first God of War game and a notorious figure in God of War: Ascension, Ares was the original God of War in the games, as well as in Greek mythology. As many fans remember, Ares previously tricked Kratos into slaying his family, so many might say Ares’ destruction was in good taste.

With the aid of Athena and the Blade of the Gods, Kratos defeated Ares in a long, arduous fight by dodging brutal attacks and impaling Ares with the blade. Stabbed through the chest with a weapon forged by gods, Ares finally perishes.

Now the new God of War, Kratos is considered a god with extraordinary abilities.

13 Athena (Goddess Of War/Wisdom)

Known as both the Goddess of War and Wisdom, Athena is depicted as a noble goddess in most of the God of War games. In fact, she appears in the original God of War as Kratos’ guide and co-conspirator in killing Ares. She also appears in God of War II and briefly as an illusion in God of War (2018).

However, Athena tries to stop Kratos from fighting Zeus in order to save Olympus. In a struggle where she tries to grasp Kratos’ blade, Kratos accidentally impales her. Kratos exclaims, “Why do you sacrifice yourself?” and she responds in a noble manner with “To save Olympus.”

12 Thanatos (God Of Death)

“That is not dead which can eternal lie. And with strange aeons even death may die.” But this isn’t The Call of Cthulhu; it’s Sparta and, evidently, even the God of Death can die at Kratos’ hands.

Thanatos, in Greek culture, is the personification of death that is said to predate the life and death cycle. The fight between Kratos and Thanatos also involves Deimos, who Kratos saved from falling off a cliff. This fight, which took place in God of War: Ghosts of Sparta, was one of the few where Kratos had help.

Deimos is gravely injured in the battle, fueling Kratos’ Spartan Rage. He murders Thanatos in a vengeful attack by ripping Thanatos’ chest open and impaling him.

11 Hades (God Of The Underworld)

The Hades we see in the God of War series is a bit different than the charismatic Disney version. Hades, God of the Underworld, is much larger and more frightening than his Disney counterpart. Though redesigned after the first game, all iterations of Hades terrify and intimidate.

There are also other differences, such as the way he fights Kratos in the game. For starters, Hades is obsessed with trying to steal Kratos’ soul in the games. In the end, Kratos responds by murdering him, as one does. Kratos rips out the God of the Underworld’s soul, killing him with the claws.

10 Persephone (Goddess Of Spring)

Persephone, the Goddess of Spring, wears armor when she fights Kratos in God of War: Chains of Olympus. She’s designed to be a character with wings and armor who also resembles Marvel depictions of Hela, the Asgardian Goddess of Death. Persephone, however, joined Hades as the Queen of the Underworld.

The fight between Kratos and Persephone is an epic battle. It takes place at the end of God of War: Chains of Olympus as the final boss fight. Persephone uses flight for enhanced maneuvering and conjures sizable rocks to hurl at Kratos. The battle concludes with Kratos pulverizing Persephone to death using the Gauntlet of Zeus.

9 Helios (God Of The Sun)

As the Titan God of the Sun, Helios is a major villain in God of War III. He might not look like much, but Helios is one of the most powerful gods in existence. The death of Helios was a brutal one with the player controlling Kratos throughout the ordeal.

Alternating the L1 and R1 buttons, the player tears Helios’ head off of his body entirely. Helios screams in agony after his head is detached from his body. Naturally, the head of Helios becomes an item in the game, despite the God of the Sun being deemed dead.

8 Hercules (Demigod)

Hercules is the half-brother of Kratos since they share the same father: Zeus. Surprise! Fans of the series and Greek mythology will remember that Zeus had many lovers. However, he was least proud of his son Kratos and took more of a shine to Hercules.

Like Kratos, Hercules killed his family and sought redemption by serving the Gods. As such, nothing would please Hercules (or the Gods) more than to rid the world of Kratos. But the death of Hercules, who is considered a Demigod because his mother is a human, was a shocking moment in God of War III.

Hercules attacked Kratos with mighty fists while Kratos dealt an array of attacks. Stripped of his armor, Hercules threw sculptures at Kratos. Kratos finally takes the Nemean Cestus from Hercules and uses the weapon to beat Hercules to death. Brutal.

7 Hera (Goddess Of Marriage)

The God of War game series is loosely based on Greek mythology, but take “based on” with a big grain of salt. In traditional Greek mythology, Hera is the jealous wife of Zeus. In this case, the character of Hera is somewhat accurate because she shows jealousy towards Zeus’ offspring and is the Goddess of Marriage.

While in a drunken stupor, Hera makes a fatal mistake by calling Pandora “that little whore.” In a blinding rage, Kratos snaps the neck of Hera, so she may never speak again. That’s a grim ending for a goddess that fans didn’t really get to know at all.

6 Zeus (God Of Lightning)

As a character who tricked Kratos (Zeus’ own son) into thinking they were allies, many fans feel that Zeus deserves his ill-fated conclusion at the end of God of War III. In fact, much of Kratos’ frustration and hostility towards the Gods stems from his relationship with his father. Zeus killed Kratos in God of War II (which is why Kratos has to escape from Hell), so it’s only natural that Kratos would want to return the favor.

The two powerhouses face off in a heated battle between father and son. Kratos stabs Zeus with the Blade of Olympus, then Zeus uses the blade against Kratos. But Kratos finishes the deed by beating Zeus to a bloody pulp with his bare hands (not unlike how he defeated Hercules).

5 Hephaestus (Smith God)

In the game series, Hephaestus (traditionally known as the Greek God of Forges, Metalworking, Fire, and more) is a bit of a dark horse in Olympus. He used to be married to Aphrodite but has since been imprisoned in an Underworld Forge by Zeus after a beating that left the forge master mutilated.

Kratos merely needed his help with a quest, but Hephaestus betrays him for the sake of his artificial daughter Pandora. Kratos only kills him after Hephaestus attempts to kill Kratos first, by electrocuting him then impaling him through the heart.

4 Modi (Son Of Thor)

Referred to as “Thor’s Idiot Son” and “Dung Heap” by Sindri, Modi is a demigod and one of Thor’s sons, as fans will know. Throughout the latest entry into the God of War franchise, Modi and his half-brother Magni follow their uncle, Baldur, to locate and murder Kratos.

Though survivors of Ragnarok in actual Norse mythology, Modi definitely doesn’t escape with his life intact. After failing his brother and being called a coward by Thor, Modi attempts to take down Kratos and avenge his brother. But here’s a twist fans didn’t see coming — Kratos isn’t the one who kills Modi; Atreus is. In fact, Kratos wanted to spare Modi entirely. Let’s chalk Modi’s death up to Kratos’ inaction this time.

3 Magni (Eldest Son Of Thor)

The eldest son of Thor, Magni was a bit more favored than Modi in their father’s eyes. Under Odin’s orders, he accompanies his half-brother and his uncle, Baldur, to hunt Kratos. Unfortunately for Magni, he doesn’t survive that hunt for too long.

After locating Kratos and asking him to surrender, Magni starts a fight with Modi alongside him. However, Kratos expertly plunges his axe into Magni’s skull and kills him. His death infuriated Thor, but the Thunder God did not appear in the game. Fans speculate that he could be the next antagonist in subsequent sequels.

2 Baldur (Æsir God Of Light)

Baldur serves as the main antagonist for the latest God of War game. An unassuming character, the God of Light doesn’t cut too intimidating a form (he’s known more for his “beauty” in Norse mythology). However, a protection spell from his mother, Freya, left Baldur unable to feel anything, which drove him mad.

Charged with locating and killing the Jötunn Guardian, Baldur mistakes Kratos for the Guardian. Kratos kills Baldur in the exchange, but Baldur recovers thanks to the protection spell and renews his quest with his nephews. Of course, Kratos pierces him with a mistletoe-laden arrow (Baldur’s one weakness) which allows Kratos to, once again, snap his neck and kill him for good.

1 Mimir (God Of Knowledge & Wisdom)

Known as by a few other aliases like Puck, Smartest Man Alive, and simply Head, the former Faerie King errand-runner served as Odin’s advisor. His selfish intentions led to Odin removing his own eye, but Mimir eventually tried to broker peace among all the realms.

In this instance of Kratos killing a god-like character, Mimir actually wanted to be killed. After beheading him, Kratos had the lifeless head reanimated (but not before Mimir visited Helheim). He joins Atreus and Kratos on their quest and seems to remain as a reanimated head at the end of the game.

NEXT: All The God Of War Games Ranked From Best To Worst