In Norse mythology’s Ragnarok, Freyr uses a stag’s antler instead of his lost sword against Surtr.
Freyr once possessed a powerful sword that could fight by itself. He gave it to Skírnir as part of the bargain that allowed him to pursue and marry the giantess Gerðr. Because the sword is no longer available at Ragnarok, Freyr faces Surtr with a stag’s antler.
The weapon cannot save him: Surtr kills Freyr during the final battle. The episode highlights how an earlier mythic exchange has consequences in the apocalypse narrative.
This detail is sometimes replaced in modern retellings by a generic sword or spear. The Eddic account specifically identifies a stag’s antler, making it an unusual weapon among the famous battles of Ragnarok.