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The Einherjar are a group of elite warriors and characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Thor.

They are trained by the ruler of Asgard personally and tasked with protecting Asgard and the conflicts that arise within the Nine Realms.

History

Background

The Einherjar are a league of powerful Asgardians who are the armed forces of Asgard formed at least during the reign of Bor Burison. They were the peacekeepers and the "police force" of all the Nine Realms to prevent chaos and destruction among its kingdoms. The growing peace of Asgard was threatened with it. At least five thousand years ago, the Convergence took place, where Einherjar forces led by Bor were at war with Malekith and the Dark Elves. Apparently eradicated, both sides were spent, and the Einherjar soldiers were all but destroyed. However, the group was eventually rebuilt by Odin Borson, who took control of the groups.

Thor

A group of Einherjar guards were killed by two Frost giants trying to steal the Casket of Ancient Winters.

In Between

After several schemes set forth by Loki that resulted in the destruction of the Rainbow Bridge, the realm of Asgard was isolated from the rest of the Nine Realms. Without Asgard and the Einherjar to maintain peace within the Nine Realms, the balance of power began to shift and many conflicts began to arise between various realms. Taking advantage of this conflict, a group known as the Marauders arose, attacking and looting various settlements in each realm, one by one.

Later, after Thor traveled to Midgard to stop Loki and bring him back to Asgard, Thor also returned with the Tesseract, which Heimdall was able to use to restore the Bifrost. With the Bifrost repaired, Odin dispersed the armies of the Einherjar to the different realms in order to restore peace to the Nine Realms. The Einherjar subsequently fought alongside Sif, the Warriors Three, and Thor to quell the conflicts in various realms, most notably engaging in a prolonged conflict with the Marauders in the realm of Vanaheim.

The Dark World

When Algrim led a prison break from the Asgardian Dungeons, the Einherjar responded and were assisted by Fandral and Volstagg in battling the escapees who would not comply with Thor's order to surrender.

After Frigga's funeral, Thor led the Aether-carrying Jane Foster away from Asgard to Svartalfheim in order to protect his home from Malekith's destructive search. This was in defiance of Odin's isolation decree. Odin had Tyr lead the Einherjar in a search for Foster and the Einherjar fought Volstagg, Sif, and Fandral who were protecting her until Thor and Loki could affect her escape.

An Einherjar Guard was sent to check the outcome of the Second Battle of Svartalfheim, but Loki murdered him in surprise, impersonate the guard and returned to Asgard to inform Odin that Loki had been killed.

Thor: Ragnarok

In 2017, when Hela returned to Asgard after her imprisonment, the Einherjar gathered in an attempt to stop her, including hundreds of warriors and multiple airships, all led by Hogun of the Warriors Three. However, despite heroic efforts, including landing numerous blows on Hela and even giving her what would have been a lethal wound on anyone else, the Einherjar were slaughtered.

However, the Einherjar who survived went into hiding with Heimdall and the other Asgardians. Later, they watched as Hela was killed by Surtur and as the subsequent Ragnarök took place. They, along with Heimdall, the surviving Asgardians, Thor, Loki, Valkyrie, Korg, Miek, and the Hulk, boarded onto the Statesman. They served under Thor, who became the new King, and Valkyrie, who became their new leader.

Avengers: Endgame

In 2018, the Einherjar witnessed the Sanctuary II intercept the Statesman and Thanos and the Black Order’s subsequent attack. The Einherjar were spared and fled in escape pods with Valkyrie.

Three weeks afterwards, the Einherjar, led by Valkyrie, arrived on Earth and were reunited with Thor, who led them to Tønsberg, Norway. Once there, they renamed the town as New Asgard and the Einherjar removed all their available equipment and stored it away. The Einherjar then forsook their previous occupation and followed the simple lifestyle of their fellow surviving Asgardians.

In 2023, following the Blip, the Einherjar, alongside Valkyrie, Aragorn, Korg, and Miek, were transported via Inter-Dimensional Portal to the destroyed Avengers Compound by the Masters of the Mystic Arts to participate in the battle against an alternate Thanos and his army. They fought alongside the Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, Masters of the Mystic Arts, Wakandans, and the Ravagers.


Members

Former members

Allies

  • Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier
  • Golden Tribe
  • Dora Milaje
    • Okoye
    • Nomble
    • Yama
  • Jabari Tribe
    • M'Baku
  • Border Tribe
  • Wakandan Royal Guard
  • Guardians of the Galaxy
    • Peter Quill/Star-Lord
    • Rocket Raccoon
    • Groot
    • Drax the Destroyer
    • Mantis
    • Nebula
  • Masters of the Mystic Arts
    • Stephen Strange/Doctor Strange
    • Wong
  • Brunnhilde/Valkyrie
  • Aragorn
  • Korg
  • Miek
  • Ravagers
    • Kraglin Obfonteri
  • Howard the Duck
  • Hope van Dyne/Wasp
  • Pepper Potts
  • Gamora

Enemies

  • Dark Elves
  • Thanos †
  • Thanos' Army
    • Black Order
      • Ebony Maw †
      • Cull Obsidian †
      • Proxima Midnight †
      • Corvus Glaive †
    • Chitauri
      • Leviathans
      • Chitauri Gorillas
      • Outriders (time displaced from 2014; deceased
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