God of War: Laufey combat — the sword, Rue & the Golden Hand
Updated Info updated 2026-06-03 · 5 min read
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God of War: Laufey rebuilds combat around Faye. She wields a massive magical sword bound to the ribbon guardian Rue (not the Blades or the Leviathan Axe), chaining fast ground-to-air combos — and her signature Golden Hand move literally tears an enemy's soul out of its body. The studio also brings back a jump button and aerial combat for the first time in 13 years.
The new weapon: a magical sword bound to Rue
Faye is no stranger to legendary weapons — she was the previous owner of the Leviathan Axe. But here she wields something new: upon arriving in the Everywhen, she earns the trust of the sword's guardian Rue enough to use the blade. It's a massive, one-handed sword paired with soul-manipulation abilities — “Faye nimbly hacks away at foes, including popping them skyward for air juggles, while using her free hand to utilize an array of magical abilities, such as blocking attacks.” The enchanted ribbon Rue whips out during strikes to reach distant enemies.
High-mobility combat: the jump button returns
The biggest structural change from Kratos's combat is mobility. Per the PlayStation Blog, “by allowing Faye to move easily between ground and air without halting the action, we've refined a hyper-responsiveness to her combat.” A long-rumored detail is now confirmed: God of War: Laufey brings back a dedicated jump button and aerial combat — absent from the series for 13 years. Speed, control and momentum define the tempo.
The Golden Hand: soul separation
Faye's signature mechanic — officially confirmed — is the soul-separation ability tied to her title, the Golden Hand of the Jötnar: “In the Everywhen, Faye can strike her golden palm at a foe with such force it detaches their soul from their body. From there, Faye can attack the soul directly, knock it into other enemies, and more — opening up combos.” A detached soul hangs suspended by a glowing tether, leaving the enemy vulnerable. Because the Everywhen is steeped in the oldest magic, Faye's soul abilities are greatly amplified there.
Mechanics at a glance
| Mechanic | What it does | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Sword swordplay | One-handed strikes with the massive magical blade. | Confirmed |
| Aerial juggles & mobility | Pop foes skyward; jump button; chain ground-to-air combos. | Confirmed |
| Soul separation | Detach an enemy’s soul, then attack it directly or throw it into foes. | Confirmed |
| Golden Hand soul-punch | Strike the golden palm to pop the soul out; amplified in the Everywhen. | Confirmed |
| Rue ribbon-whip | The enchanted ribbon extends during strikes to hit distant foes. | Confirmed |
| Free-hand magic / blocking | Use the off-hand for magical abilities such as blocking. | Confirmed |
| Phranque as trampoline | Bounce off the cosmic cube to launch into the air. | From footage |
Faye vs Kratos
In short: Faye is built for speed, precision and verticality, where Kratos is built for weight and impact. The studio redesigned combat around her strengths — her mobility and the soul magic intrinsic to who she is — while injecting the “old school, classic DNA of the Greek era.”
FAQ
Related Guides
Who is Laufey (Faye)?
The Golden Hand of the Jötnar, where her soul magic comes from.
Rue — the ribbon guardian
The enchanted ribbon bound to Faye’s sword.
Phranque — the talking cube
Combat helper and launch pad.
The Everywhen, explained
Why Faye’s soul abilities are amplified here.
Sources