Which fire giant will set the world ablaze at Ragnarök? Surtr is the fire giant who brings the flames that engulf the world at Ragnarök. He is a jötunn associated with the fiery realm of Múspell and is one of the central enemies facing the gods.
In the Prose Edda, Surtr guards the frontier of Múspell and leads the realm’s forces toward the final battle. He carries a bright or flaming sword and fights Freyr, the fertility god. Freyr loses because he no longer possesses the powerful sword he once gave to his servant Skírnir.
After the battle, Surtr casts fire over the Earth, destroying the existing world. Ragnarök is not simply an ending, however: the sources describe a renewed world emerging afterward, with surviving gods and the human pair Líf and Lífþrasir helping continue life.
Surtr is sometimes confused with other fire beings, especially the “sons of Múspell,” whom he leads. He is the named giant and commander most directly responsible for the world-consuming blaze.