Odin

The tale of Odin the Allfather

Odin rules Asgard from his high seat Hlidskjalf, from which he can see into all nine worlds. Yet the Allfather is never satisfied with what he sees. Every story about him is a story about a price paid for knowledge.

The first price was his eye. At the roots of the world tree Yggdrasil lies the well of Mímir, and whoever drinks from it learns the hidden things of the world. Mímir asked for an eye in return. Odin gave it, drank, and has looked at the world with one eye ever since. The other lies at the bottom of the well.

The second price was himself. For nine nights Odin hung on Yggdrasil, wounded by his own spear, with no food and no water, "given to Odin, myself to myself." On the ninth night he looked down and saw the runes. He grasped them, screaming, and fell from the tree with the secret of writing and magic.

The ravens and the wolves

Every morning Odin sends out two ravens, Huginn (Thought) and Muninn (Memory). They fly across the whole world and come back at evening to whisper what they saw. He worries about Thought, he says, but he worries more about Memory. At his feet lie two wolves, Geri and Freki, and he gives them all his food, since he lives on wine alone. He rides the eight-legged horse Sleipnir, wears the gold ring Draupnir, and carries Gungnir, a spear made by dwarves that never misses its mark.

In Valhalla he gathers the einherjar, the bravest warriors who died in battle. They fight every day and feast every night, training for the last battle. Odin knows how that battle ends. At Ragnarök the wolf Fenrir will swallow him, and his son Vidar will avenge him. He prepares anyway.

Odin in Battle of Myths

Odin is the god of the Norse pantheon, a cost 5 hero with two aspects. As the Spear-Lord (hunter and mage) he throws Gungnir at the strongest enemy on the board. It deals pure damage, and it always strikes critically. As the Allfather (mage and mystic) he sends out Huginn and Muninn: two ravens join the fight, and every ally gains ability power for the rest of the battle.

With every Norse hero he shares Ragnarök: every two seconds of a fight, the Norse grow stronger. A short fight is theirs to lose; a long one belongs to Asgard.

Did you know?

• Wednesday is named after him: Woden's day.
• The poem Hávamál, "Sayings of the High One", is told in Odin's own voice and holds the tale of the runes.
• In the sagas he often walks among people in disguise, as an old one-eyed wanderer in a wide hat and a grey cloak.