Is Kratos 6’4″? Unpacking the Spartan’s Height in God of War

Yes, Kratos is 6 feet 4 inches tall in the Norse era of the God of War games, specifically in the 2018 God of War and its sequel, God of War Ragnarök. This height is a significant change from his stature in the earlier Greek era games, where he was portrayed as much taller. This alteration in Kratos’ height is a conscious design choice by the developers, aimed at making him more relatable and grounded in the new narrative context.

Kratos’ Height Through the Ages: A Tale of Two Eras

Kratos’ height has been a subject of much debate and discussion among fans of the God of War franchise. Throughout the games, his stature has varied, causing some confusion about his true canonical height. It is crucial to distinguish between the Greek and Norse eras to understand this discrepancy.

Greek Era: The Towering Spartan

In the games based on Greek mythology, Kratos was depicted as a towering figure. Early scripts suggested his height was around 6’6”, however, after delving deeper into animation and rigging history by Santa Monica Studios and Gnomon School, they found that in the Greek Era he was actually closer to 7’6” tall, or even 7’8” according to some estimates. This colossal height contributed to his imposing figure and reinforced his status as a demigod, the son of Zeus. His sheer size and strength were a defining part of his character during this period.

Norse Era: The Grounded Warrior

With the shift to Norse mythology in the 2018 God of War, Kratos’ design underwent a significant overhaul, reflecting his new role as a father and mentor. He was made considerably shorter, standing at approximately 6’4″. This change wasn’t accidental; the game developers wanted to bring Kratos closer to the height of Christopher Judge, the actor who voices him, who stands at 6’3″. This decision was made to create a more relatable and human portrayal of the Spartan warrior, emphasizing the emotional depth of his character rather than just his brute strength.

Why the Change?

The reduction in Kratos’ height for the Norse era is attributed to several factors:

1. Relatability: The developers wanted to portray Kratos as a more human and approachable figure, particularly given his role as a father to Atreus. A more realistic height made him seem less like an unreachable god and more like a relatable character the audience could connect with.

2. Performance Capture: Matching Kratos’ height closer to that of his voice actor, Christopher Judge, helped with motion capture and made it easier to create authentic and seamless performances.

3. Narrative Consistency: The Norse setting called for a more subdued and less fantastical interpretation of the character compared to the bombastic nature of the Greek era. Kratos, now older and wiser, has also adopted a more grounded and reserved demeanor, which is reflected in his height.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Kratos’ Height

Here are some frequently asked questions about Kratos’ height, providing a deeper understanding of this often-discussed topic:

1. Was Kratos ever 8 feet tall?

No, despite online rumors and fan speculation, there is no evidence to suggest Kratos was ever 8 feet tall in the games. The developer's character models disprove this. His height has varied, but the highest established in-game height is around **7'6" in the Greek era**; not 8’.

2. Is Kratos taller than Thor?

No, **Thor is significantly taller than Kratos** in *God of War Ragnarök*. Thor towers over Kratos, making him an imposing and physically dominant foe. It is stated that Thor is likely about a foot taller.

3. How tall is Kratos in the comics?

While early script listed 6’6” as his height, a Santa Monica Studio developer stated that Kratos is **7 feet 6 inches in the comic books**, which mirrors his height in the Greek era games, not the 6’4” seen in the Norse era.

4. What is Kratos’ exact height in God of War Ragnarök?

Kratos’ exact height in God of War Ragnarök is 6 feet 4 inches, or about 1.93 meters. This measurement is consistent with his height in the 2018 God of War game.

5. Did Kratos’ height change to match his actor’s?

Yes, one of the reasons Kratos is shorter in the Norse era is that the developers wanted him to be closer in height to **Christopher Judge, who is 6'3"**.

6. How old is Kratos?

In *God of War Ragnarök*, it's estimated that Kratos is **around 1,055 years old**. He ages much slower than a regular human due to his demigod status and powers, not fully immortal, but very long-lived.

7. Is Kratos a full god?

Yes, Kratos is a **demigod as the son of Zeus**, but he later becomes a full god by killing Ares and taking his place as the **God of War**.

8. Can Kratos make himself taller?

Yes, while he was the God of War in the Greek era, Kratos had the ability to change his size into a **near 500-foot giant**, however, this ability is not shown in the Norse Era.

9. How heavy is Kratos’ Leviathan Axe?

Kratos' Leviathan Axe weighs **9.25 lbs** and is made from high carbon steel. It measures 35.82” in length, with a 12.59” blade span.

10. Is Odin older than Kratos?

Yes, **Odin is far older than Kratos**. Odin was born during the time of Ymir, before the creation of the world, making him significantly older than the Spartan warrior.

11. Was Kratos shorter in the early God of War games?

Yes, in the early stages of script writing his height was listed as 6’6” however, after looking into the animation history, developers realized that he was depicted much taller than that at **around 7’6” or 7’8”** in those games.

12. Was Kratos 7 feet tall at one point?

Yes, in early scripting Kratos was listed as being around **7 feet tall (2.13 meters)**, but this was later changed to around 7'6” in the Greek Era.

13. Why is Kratos’ height different in the two eras?

His height was changed for the Norse Era to be **more relatable and grounded**, moving away from the more fantastical and over-the-top nature of the Greek era.

14. Why do people think he was 8 feet tall?

This is mainly due to fan speculation and some inconsistencies found online. However, **developers have confirmed he was never 8 feet tall in the games.**

15. Is Kratos 6’6″?

Early scripts listed him as 6’6”, but the developers of the game settled on **7’6” in the Greek Era** and **6’4” in the Norse Era**, therefore 6’6” isn’t his official height in the games.

Conclusion

In summary, while Kratos has been depicted at various heights throughout the franchise, his official height in the current Norse saga of the God of War games is 6 feet 4 inches. This change was a deliberate creative decision to make Kratos more relatable, grounded, and consistent with the new direction of the series. The debate about his height stems from the significant difference between the Greek and Norse eras, each with its own artistic and narrative vision. The question “Is Kratos 6’4?” can now be answered definitively with a “yes” for the modern Norse era of the franchise.