This article contains lore based on real-life sources from Norse mythology as introduced from the God of War Norse era.
| “ | Counselor to the Vanir. And yes, while exiled at Midgard, I was trapped in my boar form. And then you shot me. | ” |
Hildsvini is a Vanir God, archer and Freya's Advisor. While in Midgard, he was trapped in the form of a boar and was Freya's friend during her stay in the Wildwoods.
Norse Mythology[]
The story of Hildisvíni appears in Hyndluljóð, an Old Norse poem found in Flateyjarbok but often considered a part of the Poetic Edda. In the poem, Freyja is searching for the ancestry of her protégé, Óttar. Freyja rides on her boar Hildisvíni, who is in fact Óttar in disguise. They meet Hyndla who is a seeress. Freyja succeeds in forcing Hyndla to tell Óttar about his ancestors.
In the God of War Series[]
Before the games[]
Hildisvíni was exiled to Midgard alongside Freya. Unlike her, he was trapped in his boar form. They both lived together in the Wildwoods alongside Chaurli.
God of War (2018)[]
After crossing through a cave in the River Pass, Kratos found a set of boar tracks. Deciding the boar would make good target practice, he and Atreus followed them until they found Hildisvíni, standing in front of a rock outcrop. Atreus shot at him, but his first arrow bounced off his hide. After noting how unusual he was as a boar, Kratos and Atreus pursued him through an abandoned village. Trying to escape from them, Hildisvíni squeezed beneath a collapsed pillar that Kratos quickly moved out of the way. Using everything he'd learned, Atreus managed to pierce his hide with an arrow.
Seeing he'd injured the boar, Atreus gave pursuit to Hildisvíni until he collapsed from his injury. While following his son, Kratos heard a woman screaming at Atreus for hurting the boar. Worried about his son, he ran towards them as fast as he could. After passing through a tight corridor, Kratos reached the entrance of the Sanctuary Grove, where he and Atreus met Freya, the Witch of the Woods, who was tending to her friend.
Hildisvíni was bleeding out from a wound in his right side. Unhappy over the reason of his injury, Freya asked Kratos to help him hold his wound as she healed him. Unable to fully close the wound and unwilling to let her friend die, Freya asked Kratos and Atreus to take Hildisvíni to her home so she could finish healing him. Once they're close to the entrance, Hildisvíni panics and tries to break free from Kratos' grip, but fails. Once inside, he starts coughing blood before Kratos leaves him in the floor, where Freya heals him with the father and son's help.
After Hildisvíni is healed, Atreus asks Freya about him, and she reveals his name to them. She also tells them that he's not from Midgard and that he's been stuck on his boar form for so long that he was forgetting who he used to be.
God of War Ragnarök[]
At some point, prior to, or as a result of Fimbulwinter, Hildisvíni managed to return to his Vanir form. When Kratos and Atreus returned to Vanaheim to help Freya, they found Freyr's camp seemingly deserted. As they began to investigate, they heard the squeals and snorts of a boar haunting their steps. A blaze from the campfire then caught their attention, and Hildisvíni was eyeing them down with his bow drawn. However, he immediately recognized the Ghost of Sparta and his son from when they first met three years earlier, and noted it as an unexpected but welcome reunion. Despite Atreus' initial confusion, Mimir instantly recognized the shape-shifting Vanir god, remarking how it was almost good to see him again, and for once in the shape of a man. In response, Hildisvíni, seeing that Mimir was now just a reanimated head, remarked that maybe now the Smartest Man Alive would stop being such a "half-blind, piss-drunk, oversexed liar," remarking how Mimir was more of a pig than he ever was. Kratos still remarked that he did not know the Vanir god, but Atreus recognized Hildisvíni from the scar he showed them from when Atreus first shot him at Kratos' request. After all that time, Hildisvíni was able to forgive Atreus. He then explained the situation to the trio, telling them of how the Einherjar's presence increased since Kratos' last visit, and that the celestial wolves had been missing for days with no moon in the sky.
After the moon was returned to the sky, Kratos and Atreus returned to the camp to enact the plan to rescue Freyr. Hildisvíni and Atreus managed to infiltrate the Temple of Njörd, where the Einherjar forces led by Heimdall were keeping Freyr prisoner, and managed to rescue Freyr while Kratos battled and killed Heimdall.
On the eve of Ragnarök, Hildisvíni was tasked to recruit the Army of the Dead from Helheim by negotiating with Hræsvelgr. However, he visits Atreus and Kratos as they just entered Muspelheim, requesting Mimir's presence as he felt that Hræsvelgr would be better negotiated with someone who has already died once. Mimir accepts and tags along with Hildisvíni, leaving Kratos and Atreus to find Surtr.
After Ragnarök, Hildisvíni is seen in Vanaheim coordinating with Sif, now the leader of the remaining Aesir and Asgardians, of bringing the surviving refugees into Vanaheim. Their proposals with security and food resources start off rocky, but realize that with permanent peace now made between Vanir and Aesir, they can break the cycle of hatred that Odin had set between the two tribes so long ago.
Kratos had this to say in the codex: "When we first met Freya, as the Witch of the Woods, we had wounded her magical Boar, and helped her to heal him. Now we have met him restored to his human form — a trusted counselor to Freya and Freyr. He appears to hold no grudge against Atreus and I... but his rivalry with Mimir seems long and bitter."
God of War Ragnarök: Valhalla[]
Hildisvíni was mentioned as Sigrún answers Mimir's question if the Aesir and Vanir are doing well together in Vanaheim. Sigrún notes that while the Aesir's relocation didn't go smoothly, Hildisvíni and Sif are making sure to keep them on the right path. While calling him the "Old Boar", Mimir admits that he was hoping that he would be called on to "smooth things over" but nevertheless states that he is glad that Hildisvíni and Sif have the problem under control. In response, Sigrún states that Freya is hoping that the two will join her council once peace is settled.
Appearance[]
Hildisvíni has dark brown skin, and his hair is dark brown, styled in intricate dreadlocks that form a high ponytail, in addition to his hair he also has brown facial hair leading to his chin. His eyes are bright blue and he has visible, but lightly colored golden tattoos along his temple/forehead, these same intricate tattoos can be seen on his arms and neck. His clothing is composed of a woven, patterned, green garment. Underneath the green robe is a woven, dark-brown chest piece. On the shoulders and upper arms are decorative elements that resemble woven grass or leaves, with a lighter tan/beige color. The fabric appears rough-woven and has a variety of textures and patterns woven into it, with light-brown and tan elements incorporated into the design. The garment appears to be draped over his body. A necklace or adornment with tusk-like materials, positioned around the neck, is also visible. The garment's design features fringes/tassels along the neckline and sleeves. The garments billow out, and the "skirt" has a flowing, uneven hemline, giving the appearance of wear and tear. Hildisvíni is also wearing bracelets on on his wrists, and part of what appears to be leather or a similar material is visible on his legs, nearing his brown boots. His pants are also brown. On his hip is a brown, leather quiver containing his arrows for his bow.
Hildisvíni also has a magical boar form, when in this form his skin is a dark grayish-brown color, with intricate, golden-yellow markings/tattoos covering his skin. The markings resemble symbols/runes. The fur that can be seen along his spine and jawline appears thick and shaggy. He has large, prominent tusks extending from his snout and two, pointed, tusks coming from his mouth, resembling a combination of horns and antlers. his eyes are a striking bright blue color. He was described as having thick, muscular skin while in this form.
Powers & Abilities []
Powers[]
Vanir Physiology: As a Vanir, Hildisvíni possesses the standard supernatural and divine abilities possessed by members of the Vanir. It is never been shown if he possesses the same affinity for Seiðr magic as many Vanir do.
- Shapeshifting: According to Freya, he can change his form into anything. He was trapped in a boar form while Freya was in Midgard. In his boar form, he has golden markings in his skin and his eyes glow blue.
Abilities[]
- Archery: The archer god of the Vanir, is renowned for his unparalleled skill with the bow and arrow, a prowess that places him in the pantheon of gods as the supreme master of both hunting and long-range warfare. Unlike other deities, Hildisvíni chose to manifest as an anthropomorphic being with boar-like traits, symbolizing his connection to nature and his fierce determination to safeguard divine order.
Gallery[]
Boar form[]
Concept Art[]
Trivia []
- The boar that Freya claims is her friend is Hildisvíni, a boar within Norse mythology that is said to accompany Freya. This is proven when you enter Freya's house and the boar is still resting, Atreus asks the boar's name, to which she replies "Hildisvíni, he's a good friend of mine."
- Because of his position, he can be considered to be the Vanir counterpart to Mimir.
- During God of War, Freya claimed that Hildisvíni was the last of his kind. Exactly what she meant by that is unknown as it was never elaborated on in either game, and the answer she gave Atreus was very vague and cryptic, although it may have been used as a way to deter people from hunting him while stuck as a boar.
- Hildisvíni was trapped in his boar form when Odin magically exiled him and Freya.
- In God of War Ragnarök, we see Hildisvíni again but this time in his regular form with Freyr's group. He jokingly asks Kratos and Atreus not to shoot him with another arrow.
- When Atreus get's slightly confused by the comment Hildisvíni lifts part of his shirt revealing the scar he received as a result in God of War 2018.