Valheim Progression Guide

Recently started playing Valheim, or just got stuck on some part? Read our extensive guide to learn how to progress in the game and what is needed at every step of the way.
Basic Materials
Crafting Tools
Eikthyr
The Elder
Bonemass
Moder
Final Boss

Gather Basic Materials

To start off with, you would need to gather some basic materials that could be found on the ground. These are needed in order to proceed in the game and craft tools and weapons.
Gather Wood by picking up branches off the ground or punching some trees.

Gather Stone by picking up rocks off the ground.

Gather Flint, a type of stone found near bodies and water.

Pick a few Raspberries from bushes and Mushrooms off the ground.

Craft Basic Tools & Weapons

When you have gathered some basic materials, it’s time to craft some tools and weapons needed to move forward. These are the tools and weapons you should craft to start off with.
Craft a Stone Axe using Wood and Stone.

Craft a Hammer using Wood and Stone.

Craft a Workbench using Wood

Craft Flint Weapons and Gear, such as Flint Spear and Flint Axe.

Craft a Crude Bow and Arrows

First Boss: Eikthyr

When you have finally created your first tools and weapons it’s time for the first boss. To be able to take it down, you would need to have some kind of weapon as previously described, or you will have a hard time.
Gather Two Deer Trophies

Hunt Deers to collect some Deer Trophies needed to summon Eikthyr later on. Also, the Deer Hide would be needed to craft some Leather Armor.

Gather Leather Scraps

Hunt some Boars to collect Leather Scraps, needed for many recipes in the game, which are important in the early game. You can also cook the Raw Meat to gain some health.

Activate the Eikthyr’s Vegvisir

Go to the spawn area and find the activation for Eikthyr:s Vegivisir, there is a glowing runestone nearby that activates upon interaction. Upon activation, the location will add the summoning location for Eikthyr on your map.

Get to the Location and Summon Eikthyr

To summon Eikthyr you would need to gather 2 Deer Trophies to offer at the Mystical Altar. Press the key corresponding to the item slot where your Deer Trophies are located. Eikthyr will now spawn.

Defeat Eikthyr

You can easily defeat Eikthyr with a Flint Spear and Wood Shield. His attacks are easily blocked and you’ll have time to attack him in between. You could also knock him down with a Crude Bow and Wood Arrows if you’d like. It’s recommended to eat before initiating the attack, to make sure you maximize your health and stamina.

Claim Reward for Eikthyr

Once you’ve taken down the boss you can pick up the Eikthyr trophy as well as Hard Antlers. When hanging the trophy at the sacrificial stones at the starting area, you’ll receive a reward that decreases the stamina usage when running and jumping by 60%.

Second Boss: The Elder

After taking down Eikthyr you can now move on in the game and proceed to the second boss. There are a few objectives that need to be completed before you can summon and defeat the Elder as described below.
Build a Smelter and Charcoal Kiln

Get to the Dark Forest and search for Burial Chambers, there you’ll be able to find Surtling Cores. These are used to build the Smelter and the Charcoal Kiln which are crucial to craft new materials.

Mine Copper and Tin ores

With the Antler Pickaxe that can be crafted after defeating Eikthyr you can now collect metals and stone. Head to the Dark Forest and search for Copper and Tin and collect those. Aim for a 2:1 Copper/Tin ratio since that is the recipe to later on create Bronze.

Build a Forge

Pick a spot at your base to build your Forge. This is used to craft materials that can be used to craft weapons and gears. The Forge is one of the more important builds you’ll have, so don’t skip out on this one.

Craft Bronze Weapons and Gear

Now with the Copper and Tin collected you can craft Bronze, which is needed to get some Bronze Weapons and Gear. The Bronze Pickaxe and Bronze Axe are great options that will speed up the time of collecting materials. With the Bronze Axe you can chop down Birch trees to gather Fine wood, which is used to craft Portals. Recommended Weapons and Gear are, amongst others: Bronze sword/mace, Finewood bow and Bronze armor.

Activate The Elder’s Vegvisir

Head to the Black Forest and search either in Burial Chambers or around the Black Forest for Stone structures, where a Rune stone will reveal The Elders summoning location.

Get to the Location and Summon The Elder

When activated you’ll find a mark on your map for one of its Ancient Bowls, found in the Black Forest. To summon The Elder you would have to sacrifice Three Ancient Seeds, found by either destroying Greydward Nests in the Black Forest or by hunting Greydwarf Brutes.

Defeat The Elder

You need to come prepared as mentioned in the steps above, by crafting Bronze Weapons and Gear, and preferably upgrade your equipment as well. One way to take the boss down would be to have a large amount of Fire Arrows and take him down on distance. You can also take him down with Bronze Weapons and practice taking cover between the attacks.

Claim Reward for The Elder

When you’ve finally taken down The Elder, you’ll be rewarded with a Swamp Key and The Elder Trophy. When hanging The Elder Trophy at the sacrificial stones you’ll get access to its Forsaken Power. That’ll increase your wood cutting speed for 5 minutes when activated and has a cooldown of 20 minutes.

Third Boss: Bonemass

Bonemass is the third boss in Valheim found in the Swamps biome. This boss would require some more preparation and strategy due to its poison damage. Complete the objectives below and you’ll be all good.
Build a Cauldron and Fermenter

These are essential crafting stations at this point, which can craft various types of Mead that will provide great improvements to Healing, Stamina and Damage Resistance.

Build Beehives

You would need honey in several Cauldron recipes and many are necessary at this point of time, and the Beehives will give you a good supply of honey. Create some in your base and you’ll be good to go.

Craft Poison Resistance Mead

This is a crucial mead needed when exploring the Swamp. Monsters in the Swamp will deal severe poison damage, so without the Resistance Mead you’ll be pretty much chanceless. The ingredients can easily be gathered in Meadows or the Black Forest.

Collect Scrap Iron and Withered Bones

With the Swamp key that you got as a reward when defeating The Elder, you’ll get access to Sunken Crypts in the Swamp biome. Get into those Crypts and collect Scrap Iron and Withered Bones from Chests and Muddy Scrap Piles inside. The Iron is needed to craft the weapons needed to take down Bonemass, and the Bones to summon him.

Craft Iron Weapons and Gear

Now with the Scrap Iron collected you can create Iron by placing them into the Smelter. With the Iron you can then create weapons needed, such as the Iron mace which is recommended for the Bonemass fight.

Activate Bonemass’ Vegvisir

Head to the Swamp and search for Bonemass’ Vegvisir, usually found near abandoned buildings/structures. Alternatively you can also find this in Sunken Crypts.

Get to the Location and Summon Bonemass

When activated you’ll find a mark on your map for one of its Skull Altars, found in the Swamp biome. To summon Bonemass you would have to sacrifice Ten Withered Bones, found when exploring the Sunken Crypts.

Defeat Bonemass

You need to come prepared as mentioned in the steps above, by crafting Iron Weapons and Gear, and preferably upgrade your equipment as well. Then you would need to have a few of Poison Resistance Mead as well as Medium Healing Mead with you. It is also, as always, recommended to have a proper meal beforehand to maximize your HP. Sausages are recommended to eat, since that can combine into 150 HP with Cooked Meat and Grilled Neck Tail. Bonemass is a melee fight and preferably you should use the Iron mace which is very effective against it.

Claim Reward for Bonemass

When you’ve finally taken down Bonemass, you’ll be rewarded with a Wishbone and the Bonemass Trophy. When hanging the Bonemass Trophy at the sacrificial stones you’ll get access to its Forsaken Power. That will increase your damage resistance when activated to help you survive longer from physical attacks.

Fourth Boss: Moder

Moder is the fourth boss found in the Mountain biome. It is one of the more time consuming ones to take down due to, amongst other things, the heavy Dragon Eggs that need to be transported. Follow the objectives below and you’ll be alright.
Craft Frost Resistance Mead

This is crucial when entering the Mountain biome, since you would otherwise take severe damage due to freezing. With the Frost Resistance Mead you won't take any freezing damage. It will also be detrimental to have when fighting the boss Moder.

Mine Silver Ore

With the Wishbone that you got as a reward when defeating Bonemass you will get access to a tool that can detect hidden treasures throughout the game, which includes Silver ores deposits in the mountains. You would need at least an Iron pickaxe to mine Silver ores.

Craft Wolf Armor Set and Drake Helmet

For the full Wolf Armor Set, which is an armor that keeps you warm in the mountains, you would need 44 Silver ores and place them in the Smelter to craft Silver. Only the Wolf Armor Chest would be necessary for starters since that would be enough to keep you warm without needing Frost Resistance Mead. To craft the Drake helmet you would need two Drake trophies, which can be obtained when killing Drakes in the mountains.

Craft a Draugr Fang and Arrows

Given that you need to take down Drakes in the mountain, a good Bow with Arrows is necessary. Consider crafting a Draugr Fang, which is a Bow that deals Poison damage regardless of arrows used. Any way you would need a lot of arrows. Some Flinthead, Bronzehead or Ironhead Arrows would be good options.

Gather Three Dragon Eggs

To summon the Moder you would need to collect Three Dragon Eggs from the mountain. These can be found in Drake nests in the Mountain, every nest will be guarded by a few Drakes you would need to take down beforehand. The eggs are really heavy, and you wouldn’t be able to carry all three. It is recommended to have a Megingjord which gives you the ability to carry more, you can buy one from The Trader found in the Black Forest biome.

Activate Moder’s Vegvisir

Head to the Mountain and search for Moder’s Vegvisir, usually found in derelict buildings. It will most likely be guarded by Skeletons or Draugrs, so keep an eye out for that.

Get to the Location and Summon Moder

When activated you’ll find a mark on your map for one of its Ruined Platforms found in the Mountain biome. To summon Moder you would have to place Three Dragon Eggs at the three offering Bowls and then activate the altar. Do note that these Eggs are heavy, so you might want to consider moving them with a Cart.

Defeat Moder

As always you need to come prepared to be able to take down the boss. Maximize the three types of foods you can eat, suggesting Sausages, Serpent and Turnip stew. You should also stack Medium Healing Mead which is crucial when fighting. And as mentioned earlier, Frost Resistance Mead and/or clothes preventing freeze attacks are essential when fighting Moder.

As for fighting a bow is recommended, and preferably the Draugr Fang, combined with Poison and Fire Arrows to deal simultaneous damage from both types. Blunt weapons should not be used since Moder has a resistance against that. It is recommended to use Bonemass’ Forsaken Power which significantly reduces damage taken from physical attacks during 5 minutes when activated.

Claim Reward for Moder

When you’ve finally taken down Moder, you’ll be rewarded with a Dragon Tear and the Moder’s Trophy. When hanging Moder’s Trophy at the sacrificial stones you’ll get access to its Forsaken Power. When activated, it will make sure you always have tailwind during sailing.

Final Boss: Yagluth

Yagluth is currently the final boss in the game. As can be expected, defeating it will need some good preparation and take some time. Exploring the Plains biome will be dangerous, so patience is key. Follow the objectives below and you’ll manage to figure it out!
Build an Artisan Table and Spinning Wheel

With the Dragon Tears that you got as a reward when defeating Moder you are now able to construct an Artisan Table. Go ahead and build one, followed by a Spinning Wheel. This would be needed to create the best weapons in the game, Black Metal.

Collect Barley and Flax from the Plains biome

Head over to the Plains biome and start looking for Fuling Villages, and Barley and Flax plants inside. These are very important crafting materials to move forward in the game. When exploring these locations watch out for inhabitants such as Berserkers, they are extremely dangerous and need to be dealt with carefully.

Craft the Padded Armor Set

When you’ve gathered the materials needed and built the tools needed, it’s time to craft the best Armor in the game: Padded Armor. To get the entire set you would need 35 Flax to place in the Spinning Wheel that can create Linen Threads. Then in the forge you can use the Linen Threads to craft the Padded Armor set.

Craft Fire Resistance Barley Wine

With Barley and Cloudberries you can craft a new Mead, Fire Resistance Barley Wine. This is extremely useful in providing a resistance against attacks in the Plain biome as well as the final boss Yagluth.

Gather Five Fuling Totems

To later on summon Yagluth you are required to search and find Five Fuling Totems. Go look in the Plains biome for Fuling Villages and Outposts for these items. Fuling Totems can also be acquired when taking down Fuling Berserkers.

Activate Yagluth’s Vegvisir

Head to the Plains biome and search for Yagluth’s Vegvisir, usually found near Fuling Outposts or close to large stone monoliths.

Get to the Location and Summon Yagluth

When activated you’ll need to find the Stonehenge Altar, which can be found by its signature stones pointing towards the sky. At the location, place the five Fuling Totems you have collected and place them on the five bowls behind the runestone.

Defeat Yagluth

As always you need to come prepared to be able to take down the boss. Maximize the three types of foods you can carry, suggesting Blood Pudding, Lox Meat Pie and Serpent Stew for a perfect combination. You should also stack Medium Healing Mead as well as Stamina Mead which would be crucial in this fight. And as mentioned earlier, Fire Resistance Barley Wine is essential when fighting Yagluth to avoid severe burning damage.

It’s also recommended to have a nearby base and/or a portal to ensure quick re-engagement in the fight if you were to go down. As for fighting, it’s recommended to use a Silver weapon, perhaps the Sword or the Frostner. Frost and/or Silver arrows are also great choices. It is recommended to use Eikthyr’s Forsaken Power when fighting, it significantly reduces stamina usage during 5 minutes when activated.

Claim Reward for Yagluth

When you’ve finally taken down Yagluth, you’ll be rewarded with a Yagluth Thing and the Yagluth Trophy. When hanging the Yagluth Trophy at the sacrificial stones you’ll get access to its Forsaken Power. When activated, it will give you increased damage resistance to elemental damage.

Congratulations! 🎉

You have completed our entire getting started guide! You have now taken down all the bosses and gotten access to everything you can do in the game currently. New updates are most likely dropping in the near future, so keep an eye out for more content in future updates. Perhaps you would like to rent a Valheim server in the meantime for you and your friends?
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