The Norse Mythology Roots of Ragnil
What exactly is Ragnil (Iron Thunder), the weapon wielded by Loki in Elbaf? Its mythological model is Marvel’s Mighty Thor — or more precisely, Mjolnir, the hammer of the thunder god Thor from Norse mythology.
In fact, the Swedish automaker Volvo designs its headlights in the shape of Thor’s Hammer (Mjolnir) — that’s how deeply Norse mythology is embedded in Scandinavian culture.
Norse mythology is also famous for Ragnarok — the apocalyptic final war between the gods and the army of Loki. Ragnarok is a name you’ve probably heard in countless RPGs and games.
The murals in Elbaf seem to foreshadow One Piece’s endgame — a final battle modeled after Ragnarok.
And the quintessential Norse pirates? The Vikings. In Volume 2 of the manga — before the SBS corner even existed — Oda wrote in the margins that Vikings are “one of the kinds of pirates I love.”
Oda reportedly decided on One Piece’s ending before the series even started. He was already a huge fan of Norse Vikings by Volume 2. The Norse mythology that those Vikings revered becomes all the more significant in the Elbaf arc.
At the center of Norse mythology stands Loki — and the weapon we want to focus on is Loki’s Ragnil. The name alone evokes the end of the Norse world (Ragnarok + “nil” suggesting annihilation). A name this loaded cannot be accidental.
Who Made Ragnil — and Why?
In Norse mythology, Mjolnir was created by dwarf brothers Sindri and Brokkr. The trickster god Loki (the original) wagered his own head in a bet, challenging the dwarves: “Can you craft something this magnificent?”
The dwarves responded by forging three legendary treasures: the golden boar Gullinbursti, the golden arm-ring Draupnir, and the great hammer Mjolnir.
The flying ship Skíðblaðnir from the same myth appears in the Elbaf arc as the fog-ship Sval.
If the dwarf-blacksmith origin applies to One Piece, Ragnil might have been made by the Tontatta (little people with great strength) — but they lack a blacksmith tradition.
Or perhaps Galley-La (the hammer fleet) built it? But forging a lightning-generating magical implement seems beyond even legendary shipwrights.
My leading theory: the same civilization that built the ancient research facility on Elbaf — almost certainly the Moon People — built Ragnil as a generator to power that facility.
Just as Enel’s lightning attacks reactivated the ancient ruins on the Moon, those who had the concept of converting lightning into electrical power likely created Ragnil 3,000+ years ago as a power source for their facility.
Summary: Ragnil was built over 3,000 years ago by the Moon People (who colonized the Blue Star) as a lightning-powered generator to supply electricity to an ancient research facility in Elbaf.
The 5 Elemental Abilities of Ragnil
What abilities does Ragnil currently demonstrate? And what potential does it hold?
Lightning (default): Ragnil was already a lightning hammer before Loki ate the squirrel Zoan fruit. It’s the baseline ability, identical to Mjolnir from Norse mythology.
Ice
The ice ability most likely comes from the squirrel Zoan fruit — specifically the Norse squirrel Ratatoskr, a messenger who runs between the eagle at the top of the world tree and the serpent at its roots. The roots stretch deep underground into Niflheim, the frozen primordial world — so Ratatoskr had to brave freezing temperatures, developing cold resistance and ice powers.
Ragnil’s ice technique is literally called Niflheim — the name of the Norse ice world. This is deliberate.
Fire?
If Ratatoskr suffered from cold at the roots (ice), then when carrying messages to the eagle at the top of the world tree — near the blazing sun — it would face scorching heat. That could mean fire resistance and fire powers too.
Significantly, the Norse ice world Niflheim’s polar opposite is Muspelheim, the world of fire. If Ragnil has a Niflheim technique, a Muspelheim technique (fire) feels inevitable.
Lightning + Ice + Fire. Ragnil already has the potential to surpass Admirals with those three alone.
Gravity Manipulation?
There’s also suspicion Ragnil can freely alter its own weight. Similar abilities appeared with the Kilo-Kilo, Ton-Ton, and Gura-Gura Devil Fruits. Given Ragnil is an ancient magical artifact, gravity manipulation would fit.
Wood/Plant?
To truly surpass Admirals, we can’t forget about Aramaki’s Mori-Mori (forest) powers — controlling plants.
Squirrels love acorns and nuts — the fruit of trees. Could Ragnil shoot stored nuts like Usopp’s Pop Greens, instantly sprouting a forest? It’s possible given the Ratatoskr connection.
Theory summary: Ragnil holds the potential to wield five elemental attributes — Lightning, Ice, Fire, Gravity, and Wood/Plants. A weapon of this scale, wielded by the prince of Elbaf, may be key to One Piece’s final war — a true Ragnarok-level power.
