Grieving Son

Despite knowing that he is the son of Kratos, the relationship between the two has always been a distant one, tempered only by the presence of Atreus' mother. The two are forced to interact and grow closer after her death, pairing Atreus' adventurous and easy-going nature with that of his father's stern and disciplined one as they journey through the realms to fulfill his mother's request to spread her ashes atop the highest peak in the known realms.

Son of a God

For much of his life, the knowledge of Kratos' godhood is kept from Atreus. He lives his life not knowing of his true being, and as they journey towards the highest summit, he falls ill due to this secret, prompting his father to journey on his own for a cure.

Learning of his godhood after recovering makes Atreus arrogant, believing that his newfound status endows him all the rights, privileges, and tributes of a god – a fact that is quickly corrected as they battle against Baldur, leading to the father and son pair's entrapment in Helheim.

Fights Against Baldur

Still believing that he is as strong as any other god, perhaps even stronger, Atreus foolishly tries to attack Baldur when the god tries to interrupt their journey towards Jotunheim. Acting with brashness and arrogance that is unlike his usual self, his actions lead to the father and son pair getting trapped in Hel.

Defeating Freya

When finally they have all the pieces needed to unlock the realm of Jotunheim, Atreus and his father are once more accosted by Baldur. Throughout the battle, it is now revealed that his mother is the Witch of the Woods herself; Freya. Together, Atreus and Kratos fight against Baldur and Freya's interruptions, ultimately leading to Baldur's death after he attempts to murder his mother.

Loki Revealed

The pair ultimately makes it to Jotunheim, with Atreus' mother being revealed to be a Giant. They spread his mother's ashes atop the highest peak, where Atreus asks why the Giants called him a different name than the one he knew.

Kratos reveals that the name his mother had wanted for him was a name familiar to the Giants – Loki.