Juggernaut (GOW)

Shaped like a fearsome and mighty elephant, its presence is similar to that made by the Minotaurs in previous installments of the *God of War* series. It moves on its hind legs and has its frontal paws shaped like human hands with claws to attack its preys. It also wears Persian armor that protects its arms, waist, tusks and even snout.

They were first featured as one of the new enemies in the game's demo (being also the enemy who introduced the promptless quick time event mechanic). In the actual game they're found for the first time in the Village of Kirra, and later in Delos Landing and the Shoulder of Apollo.

Juggernauts can attack by charging at Kratos to push him away with their tusks, by stomping on the ground with one of their feet to drive him back or by slashing at him with their claws, which is the only attack that can be blocked. Some of them also carry large maces made with spiked elephant tusks and can swing or slam them against the ground and Kratos. In the campaign, only the Juggernaut of Delos Landing is found carrying one of these maces, and also the one seen in the demo. After taking enough damage, the Juggernaut will destroy its weapon by slamming it against the ground, which can damage Kratos if he's near. After losing its weapon, the beast will attack him normally, with its bare hands. Usually, it tries to charge at him right after destroying the mace.

Juggernauts can also try to grab Kratos if they're attacking with their bare hands. If the Spartan doesn't evade the attack, the Juggernaut will grab and hold him up with one hand, fiercely squeezing and harming him. However, Kratos' arms aren't restrained, and he can still attack with his Blades. Thus, he must stab the beast's hand repeatedly until it releases him in pain, and then he will latch the Blades on the Juggernaut's back and pull it down to slam it against the ground.

If a Juggernaut is stunned (golden halo on its head), Kratos can climb it and stab its backs to make it charge and collide against other enemies, which knocks many of them away. After the charge, he will stab the beast one last time to make it fall on the ground, after which he will dismount from it. If ***Circle*** is pressed while Kratos rides the Juggernaut, he will stab and dismount from it instantly. The Spartan can finish it by climbing its tusks and stabbing its head to bring the whole beast down to the floor. He will then stab its head repeatedly while trying to avoid being grabbed and thrown away by it in a promptless quick time event, and finally nail his Blade into its skull one last time and use it to tear it down, creating a large hole that reveals its brain. Killing a Juggernaut this way yields Kratos both red and green orbs.

**Death scene:** If Kratos runs out of health when a Juggernaut is squeezing him in its hand, it will strongly press him one last time, throw him to the floor and step on him with one of its huge feet, killing him. However, the screen fades to black before it can actually be seen stomping on Kratos.

**Multiplayer:** Juggernauts can be found in Trial of the Gods in the Desert of Lost Souls, the Coliseum of Persia and the Labyrinth of Daedalus maps. The Labyrinth is the map with the biggest number of Juggernauts, with three of them, whereas there's only one in the Desert and another one in the Coliseum. A Juggernaut kill is worth 50 favors (70 if it's a brutal kill) and +25 seconds.

All Juggernauts of Multiplayer spawn with maces, and similar tactics must be used against them. However, almost none of their attacks can be blocked here. If stunned, players will stab their backs to ride them around the same way Kratos does, and this yields them extra favors. The brutal kill remains the same as well, although the promptless quick time event is removed, and players don't need to stab their heads many times before tearing them open.