
New players · Valheim 1.0.17
Start here
Valheim has 8 bosses, one per biome, from Eikthyr in the Meadows to Kall Fimbulbringer in the Deep North. A Viking starts with 25 health and 50 stamina — food adds the rest, 3 foods at a time — and a death takes 5% off every skill. Follow the pages below in order; every number on them comes from the game files.
Where to go
Roughly in the order a new player needs them.
- 1
Your first dayThe 4 tools you make by hand, the first camp, what to hunt and how to call Eikthyr. - 2
Progression guideAll 8 bosses in order: where the Vegvisir points, what to offer, what each one drops and opens. - 3
Progression checklist108 ticks over 8 stages — gear, food, meads, tools and the boss — kept in your browser. - 4
Gear progressionWhat to wear and wield in each of the 8 biomes, and 20 ladders slot by slot. - 5
Weapon pickerA few questions, then 15 weapon types ordered by how you like to fight. Not a tier list. - 6
How to get strongerHealth 25 → 350, armor up to 150: every source of power and the most it adds. - 7
Metals in order8 metals in order: where each ore is, the pickaxe it needs and where it is smelted. - 8
What to do with…What each of 386 materials, valuables and trophies is for; only 10 of them sell. - 9
Glossary60 words — Rested, Eitr, Wet, Comfort, Forsaken powers — in the game's own text.
The biomes at a glance
In boss order: the boss, the metal it leads to and the pickaxe that metal needs.
Questions new players ask
›How many bosses are there, and in what order?
8, one per biome: Eikthyr (Meadows), The Elder (Black Forest), Bonemass (Swamp), Moder (Mountains), Yagluth (Plains), The Queen (Mistlands), Fader (Ashlands) and Kall Fimbulbringer (Deep North). Each is called at its altar with an offering; the progression guide shows where and with what.
›What happens when you die?
Hugin: "Each time you are struck down, you will forget a small part of your abilities and drop your belongings at the site of the accident. If you wish you were home by now I'd recommend building a bed, wherever home may be." In numbers: every skill loses 5% of its level. For 10 min after respawning, "If you die you won't lose any skill points." Picking up your tombstone gives Corpse run for 50 s: "You can run longer and take significantly less damage from physical attacks."
›How many foods can you eat at once?
3. A Viking has 25 health and 50 stamina; everything above that comes from the three foods, and each fades as it runs out.
›Can you take metal through a portal?
No. 26 items can't be teleported: ore, scrap and bars (Black Metal, Bronze, Copper, Flametal, Bloodgold, Iron, Silver and Tin), plus Charred Cogwheel, Hildir's Brass Chest, Hildir's Silver Chest and Hildir's Bronze Chest and a few more (ItemDrop m_teleportable).
›How long does Rested last?
8 min plus 1 min for each comfort level above 1; the most comfort without seasonal pieces is 22, for 29 min.
›Where is the trader?
Bog Witch stays in the Swamp, Haldor stays in the Black Forest and Hildir stays in the Meadows. They are placed in the world when it is made; the traders page lists what each sells.
›When do raids start?
The game rolls a raid every 46 minutes with a 20% chance; which ones can come depends on the bosses you have killed. Before and right after Eikthyr: army_eikthyr and army_theelder. The raids page lists what starts and stops each.
From the game files of Valheim 1.0.17.