Lore answer • Updated June 18, 2026
How Did Faye Die in God of War?
The canon-safe answer is simple: Faye died before God of War (2018), but the released games do not state an exact cause of death or name a killer. This guide separates what the story confirms from fan theories and the new God of War Laufey premise.
Quick answer
Faye's exact cause of death is not confirmed in the released games
Faye, also called Laufey, is already dead when God of War (2018) begins. Her final wish is for Kratos and Atreus to carry her ashes to the highest peak in the realms, and that request becomes the structure of the entire game.
The important canon boundary is that the game does not say she was murdered, killed by Thor, killed by Odin, or taken by a named illness. It presents her death as the emotional starting point, then reveals that Faye planned the journey and understood far more about Atreus, the Jotnar, and prophecy than Kratos did.
God of War Laufey adds a new layer because official material says Faye awakens after her funeral in the Everywhen. That confirms the new game starts after the death players already know, but it still does not turn a specific death cause into canon.
- Canon cause
- Not stated in the released games
- Confirmed timing
- Before God of War (2018) begins
- Family effect
- Her ashes journey sends Kratos and Atreus across the realms
- New-game context
- God of War Laufey begins after her funeral
Canon status
What is confirmed, implied, and still unknown?
Search results often mix confirmed story details with theories. This table keeps each claim in the right lane.| Claim | Status | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Faye is dead at the start of God of War (2018). | Confirmed | The opening funeral and ash-scattering request make this the premise of the game. |
| Her final wish sends Kratos and Atreus to the highest peak. | Confirmed | This is the main journey and the route through which her Giant identity is revealed. |
| Thor or Odin killed Faye. | Not confirmed | The games establish conflict with the Aesir, but they do not name one of them as her killer. |
| Faye died of sickness or a natural cause. | Possible but unconfirmed | The story leaves room for a quiet death, but no official line names the condition. |
| God of War Laufey happens after her funeral. | Confirmed by official new-game material | The new premise continues after death without changing the older games' unanswered cause. |
Evidence
Why the safest answer is “unknown cause”
The God of War story gives strong emotional evidence about Faye's role, but it deliberately avoids a forensic answer.The 2018 game starts with mourning, not an investigation
God of War (2018) opens with Kratos preparing for Faye's funeral and Atreus grieving a mother the player never meets alive. The story does not frame the moment like a murder mystery. It uses Faye's death to force Kratos and Atreus onto a path they are not ready to walk together.
That structure matters for the keyword question. If the game wanted the cause of death to be the central answer, it would point the player toward the killer, illness, curse, or battle. Instead, it focuses on her final request and the discoveries hidden along the route.
Faye's planning is confirmed; her death mechanics are not
The journey reveals that Faye marked the protected trees, understood the Giants' role, and knew the path would expose Kratos and Atreus to a larger truth. Those facts are textual and playable.
The exact way she died is different. Players can infer that she knew death was near or that she prepared carefully, but the released games stop short of saying whether she died naturally, by illness, by magic, or by violence.
God of War Laufey continues after death without solving the cause
Official God of War Laufey material says Faye wakes after her funeral in the Everywhen, the afterlife of the gods. That makes her death more important to future lore, because the new game can show what happens beyond the funeral.
However, a sequel premise is not the same thing as a retroactive cause. Until PlayStation or Santa Monica Studio names the cause, the most accurate answer remains: Faye died before the 2018 journey, and the cause is not officially specified.
Fan theories
Common theories about how Faye died
These ideas can help explain why players ask the question, but they should not be treated as confirmed lore.A natural or illness-related death
This fits the quiet funeral opening and the lack of a named killer, but the games never identify a disease or natural cause.
Aesir involvement
Faye was connected to Giant resistance against the Aesir, so players suspect Thor, Odin, or a related conflict. The released games do not confirm that they killed her.
Prophecy and deliberate preparation
Faye clearly prepared the journey. That proves planning, not a specific method of death. Her foresight should not be stretched into a confirmed cause.
Timeline
Faye's death in the God of War timeline
The timeline is easier to follow when the death question is separated from Faye's identity and from the new Laufey game.
Faye lives with Kratos and Atreus in the Wildwoods
She raises Atreus, hides her Laufey identity from him, and prepares protections around the family's home.
Faye's funeral begins the journey
Kratos and Atreus leave with her ashes. The game confirms her death, but not the medical, magical, or violent cause.
Her plan becomes visible
The marked trees, Giant signs, and final destination show that Faye shaped the path before she died.
Faye wakes after the funeral
The announced game starts from the same death event and moves her into the Everywhen, while the exact cause remains unannounced.
Sources
How this article uses sources
This article uses the released God of War story for the canon death boundary and official PlayStation material for the new God of War Laufey premise. It does not cite fan speculation as fact.
For broader character context, read the Faye guide. For Kratos' wife and family timeline, use the Kratos wife guide. For release date, platform, Everywhen, and trailer updates, return to the homepage wiki hub.
Answer in one line
- Faye died before God of War (2018).
- Her exact cause of death is not confirmed.
- No official source names Thor, Odin, or another killer.
- Her final wish sends Kratos and Atreus on the ashes journey.
- God of War Laufey begins after her funeral in the Everywhen.
FAQ
How did Faye die FAQ
How did Faye die in God of War?
The released games do not state an exact cause. They confirm that Faye died before God of War (2018) and that her final wish begins the ashes journey.
Did Thor kill Faye?
No official source confirms that Thor killed Faye. The idea comes from broader Aesir conflict and fan speculation, not from a stated canon answer.
Did Odin kill Faye?
The games do not say Odin killed Faye. Odin is central to the Norse conflict, but Faye's death cause remains unnamed.
Was Faye sick?
A quiet illness or natural death is a possible interpretation, but the game never names a sickness or medical cause.
Why did Faye ask for her ashes to be scattered?
Her final wish pushes Kratos and Atreus toward the highest peak and reveals the Giant context behind their family. It is both a funeral request and a planned journey.
Does God of War Laufey explain Faye's death?
The announced premise says Faye awakens after her funeral in the Everywhen. It may add context, but no final cause of death has been announced.