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This article contains lore based on real-life sources from Norse and Celtic Mythology as introduced in Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice.



Senua, imagine, a sword that can slay Gods! It's name is Gramr. It was forged by the God of all Northmen, Odin and gifted to Sigmund, a great warrior.
With Gramr reforged, you will have Odin’s blessing to walk, a goddess, into the halls of Helheim and challenge Hela as an equal.

Gramr is the legendary sword forged by Odin and gifted to Sigmund, later used by Sigurd to kill the dragon Fafnir. It is the sword that Senua is tasked with reforging (through completing several trials) so that she can use it to defeat Hela

Lore[]

According to Druth's narrations, Gramr was made from the remains of the sword given to Sigmund by Odin. The sword was trapped in a tree and would be a gift to anyone who could remove it from the tree; only Sigmund was capable of freeing the sword. When King Sigguir captures Sigmund and his brothers, he takes the sword for himself. Years later, when Sigmund and his son Sinfjotli are being buried alive by Sigguir, Sigmund's sister tosses a bundle of straw containing the sword into the grave, and Sigmund is able to escape the grave with his sword.

Sigmund uses the sword in many battles thereafter, but in his final one, Odin comes to the battlefield. Odin raises his spear against Sigmund, and Sigmund struck at the spear, but the sword was shattered. Sigmund, realising this was Odin, accepted his fate, telling his wife that their unborn son will reforge the sword.

The son of Sigmund, Sigurd, plans to slay the dragon Fafnir if the dwarf Regin forges a strong sword for him. Sigurd's mother still has the pieces of Sigmund's sword, and Regin reforges the sword. Sigurd kills Fafnir by plunging the entire blade into the dragon's body.

Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice[]

Senua follows the vision of Dillion to a large tree on a beach, where the sword is firmly embedded in the roots. Senua attempts to pull it out, but is unable to. Druth's voice tells her of that sword, Gramr, which is capable of killing a god; it appears intact, but was shattered into several pieces long ago. Druth tells her that she can reforge the sword if she completes the trials of Odin.

Senua pulls Gramr

Senua pulling Gramr from the tree

After completing all four trials, Senua is able to pull the sword from the tree and use it against enemies. She uses it in her fight against Fenrir and then in the final battle in Hela's Sanctum. 

In her final encounter with Hela, Senua is overwhelmed by enemies and eventually cannot fight anymore. She drops Gramr, which Hela picks up. Upon realizing that she cannot save Dillion, Senua tells Hela that she should just kill her; Hela does so, running Senua through with Gramr.

What happens to the sword afterwards is unknown; in the ending cutscene, it is not in Senua's sword hilt.

Norse mythology[]

Gram (Old Norse Gramr, meaning "Wrath"), also known as Balmung or Nothung, is the sword that Sigurd used to kill the dragon Fafnir. It is primarily used by the Völsungs in the Volsunga Saga. However, it is also seen in other legends, such as the Thidrekssaga in which it is wielded by Hildebrand. Depending on the story and source material, Gram may have other names. In The Nibelungenlied it is named Balmung. In Richard Wagner's work, Der Ring des Nibelungen (The Ring of the Nibelung), it is referred to as Nothung ([ˈnoːtʊŋ], "child of need.")

Gameplay[]

In combat, Gramr has the same capabilities as Senua's original sword, with a few exceptions. Senua is able to charge her heavy attack to deal extra damage to enemies, though this leaves her vulnerable to attack for a short window. If she parries the attack of an enemy covered in shadow, she will bring it out of the shadow much as she would if she were using her focus.  

Capabilities[]

Gramr has the same capabilities as Senua's original sword, with a few exceptions. Senua is able to charge her heavy attack to deal extra damage to enemies, though this leaves her vulnerable to attack for a short window. If she parries the attack of an enemy covered in shadow, she will bring it out of the shadow much as she would if she were using her focus.

  • Shadow Erasure: As a legendary weapon created by Odin, Gramr is able to dispel the shadows of enemies. Its strong light is also capable of dispelling the shadows of Garm, and the Northmen.
  • Immortality Negation: Although Senua is also capable of killing gods and divine beings alone, according to Druth, the Gramr Sword gives powers to its wielder, enabling him to kill gods.

Gallery[]

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