Höðr is Baldr’s brother and the agent of his death in Old Norse sources, but the familiar account is not a duel. Snorri describes Höðr as blind and unaware that Loki has made him part of a plot. Other medieval authors preserve a very different heroic conflict.
Snorri’s blind god
The gods throw objects at Baldr because everything seems sworn not to hurt him. Höðr stands outside the game because he cannot see and has no weapon. Loki gives him mistletoe and guides his aim. Baldr dies when it strikes him.
Vengeance
Odin fathers Váli specifically to avenge Baldr, and Váli kills Höðr when only one night old. The speed of the vengeance gives Höðr little chance to explain or repair the act. After Ragnarök, Völuspá says Baldr and Höðr return and dwell together.
Saxo’s Høtherus
Saxo Grammaticus turns the gods into legendary human figures. His Høtherus is a skilled warrior who competes with Balderus for Nanna and eventually kills him with a special sword. Mixing Saxo’s duel with Snorri’s blind victim creates a story found in neither source.
The contrast shows how medieval authors could recast the same names for different audiences.