Valheim Exploits and Guides

[Colonel McDoogle]

For those of us who struggle through Valheim alone and no mods this is a list of how to 'cheese' Valheim. Cheesing requires patience and time.

Most of the difficulty in this game comes from not knowing what to expect.

Spoilers ahead.

Learning basic combat skills like parrying or stamina management, then equipping appropriate gear, leveling up skills, and spending time grinding out materials as required are on your (the reader's) end. This is not a 'cheat list' it is a 'cheese-it list' if you are struggling.


First and foremost do not bother tracking your skills. They are hard to raise and can be lost quite easily. This is a mental deterrent and is done so to break your willingness to push past difficult parts of the game.

• Daytime Exploit: Do not venture out at night. Mobs spawn at a higher rate at night.
  
  
• Equipment Exploit: Decide which gear fits your play style.
  - Lighter armous such as Troll Armour, Leather Armour, Fenris Armour, Root Armour, Eitr-weave tend to allow for higher mobility but sacrifice defence. Also note that some of these have weaknesses to elemental damage. This category allows players to escape conflict quicker and more easily than the next category.
  - Heavy Armour such as Bronze Armour, Iron Armour, Silver/Wolf Armour, Padded Iron Armour, Carapace Armour allow players to tank damage at the sacrifice of mobility. These tend to require higher concentration on stamina while letting the player go close combat with mobs. Shield and Sword tend to be the best combination but there are other weapons worth experimenting with.
  
  
• Recipe Exploits: Each time you clear a biome (finished boss) make sure you have at least a full basic chest worth of mats and ores (i.e. copper alone should fill one box). Doing this ensures you don't have any back walking once you gain new recipes that require mats from a previous biome. (This helps reduce the time of sailing and fighting wind direction at later stages)
  
  
• Portal Exploits Build portals at every point as much as possible. Each biome you go to you should make at least one portal. If you go more than 500 in-game steps away from your portal make a new one. No exceptions. You can use one main portal and simply change the Portal Name to the correct corresponding portal (or create a portal tower/base that is dedicated to mass amounts of portals). At each portal base ensure you have as many chest as needed to store mats for retrieval at a later date. Going back to point 'C" on this list if you are sailing between points (assuming your map is not awful in distances) a Karve can carry four stacks in it's storage box with your own inventory being at max weight (you can not pilot boats when over weight limit). The Longboat can hold eighteen stacks as well as your own inventory at max weight.
  - Longboat should be a priority as soon as you get into Swamps because of carrying capacity. From there you can get most of what you need in two or three round trips.
  - 'Iron Scraps' is an exception to the earlier full chest list for later recipes require absurd amounts of iron as well so gather a minimum of four basic chests worth.
  
  
• Rest Exploit: Use your rest bonus to it's full potential. Health, stamina, and eitr regen are significantly increased when rested. You can increase your rest bonus by upgrading your existing house and furniture. If you lose your rest bonus you will be at a major disadvantage.
  
  
• Food Exploits: Always keep an eye on your food or any other stat such as health and stamina. Depending on play style either two health items and a stamina for help in combat or two stamina and one health for mobility and evasiveness.
  
  
• Deconstruct Exploits: Build-able crafting stations can be deconstructed and have returned full material recipe. (i.e. build a furnace to make charcoal. Deconstruct then make a smelter for ingots. Deconstruct then make a Forge to build items. Rinse and repeat.)
  
  
• Map Exploits: You can find a seed that has an easier biome/distance relation. Your character maintains inventory as you load between maps. You can keep your main map from increasing in raid difficulty by using a different map to slay bosses and grind materials separately from the map you wish to simply build and 'live in'.
  
  
• Tree Falling Exploit: It is possible early on to get Fine Wood by directing trees to fall upon Birch Trees and having them break the tree in order to collect Fine Wood. This requires a lot of forethought. Allows for early access to Fine Bow.
  
  
• God Power Exploits:

1. Eikthyr's Power: Reduced stamina costs for sprinting and jumping. Crucial in being able to run and stay ahead of mobs. Also aids in retreating and maneuverability as well.
   
2. Elder's Power: Quicker tree felling. There's no real exploit with this, it's just easier to gather large quantities of wood for future uses.
   
3. Bonemass' Power: Reduced Slash[/i[,]Pierce, and Blunt damage. This is possibly the most useful power in the game. Highly recommend this being the default power for any situation.
   
4. Modder's Power: For five minutes wind is always at your back. When taking long voyages via boats this will help fight the irritating wind.
   
5. Yagluth's Power: Gives elemental defence increase. This is possible the second most useful power in game. Considering a lot of enemies in both Plains and Mistlands tend to use elemental damage then could possibly be a life saver.
   
6. Queen's Power: Increased mining speed as well as eitr regen. At this point there's no real use for this power since this is current endgame reward.

COMBAT CHEESING

1. All bosses can be whittled down with arrows. Ensure you have enough arrows to do so. Possibly but not limited to a minimum of two stacks of preferred arrows.
   
   
2. Most mobs can not climb steep inclines that players can sprint or jump up (i.e. large boulders in Plains or cliff edges in Mountains).
   Side Note: Bosses can destroy buildings and boulders so be warned!
   
   
3. Abuse arrows. You can't always keep your distance but when you can you should. (Stay aware of your surroundings. Can't stress it enough.)
   
   
4. Black Forest: Trolls are weak against Fire Arrows . Always carry a full stack of Fire Arrows. These will take you all the way to Mountain Biome before having damage drop off. Starting Skeleton Crypts can be arduous at first but a simple work around is either asking another player for five Surtling Cores (which is all you need to get started) or use Troll Armour, Wooden Tower Shield, and Wood Club (again learning combat skills is on you). Bronze Armour at maxed out levels reduces damage to a drastic degree in Black Forest. Best way to fight Elder is with a maxed out bow and Fire Arrows. Keep your distance and mind the tentacles.
   
   
5. Swamps: Keep an eye directly on your stamina bar. Use terrain to your advantage (i.e. climb up fallen trees for a quick rest). Abuse portals in this biome. Create so many portals as necessary to make Corpse Runs kind of fun and silly (This carries on to Mistlands as well). Maces are the best weapon to use in this biome especially since Bonemass is weak against blunt weapons.
   
   
6. Mountains: Wolves and 'You Are Being Hunted' raid. Keep an eye on your surroundings. Wolves can easily be dealt with if you know where they are. If you see said raid appear quickly get to high ground or a pit that funnels them head first towards you. Even with area appropriate armours and gear this raid is deadly. Golems can easily be dealt with by using Bonemass's power and a blunt weapon. When fighting Modder be aware of surroundings. Use maxed out Draugr Fang (bow) and preferred arrows. Again a minimum of two stacks of arrows.
   
   
7. Plains Biome: Do not attempt to enter or be near Plains Biome until you have a full set of Silver/Wolf Armour, Fenris Armour, or even Root Armour. Basic Iron Armour or lower will allow Deathsquitos to one shot you. Use shield function to track Deathsquitos as they circle you. If you become surrounded by mobs just run and deal with Deathsquitos as necessary. For a more advanced playthrough you can stealth and try to bow/arrow them from a distances before they notice you. Barley and Flax can only be farmed in Plains. Fulings can easily be dealt with one on one but if more than three surround you just run. Even when looking for the Fuling Totems just run into base, grab item, and leave. Eikthyr's power comes in handy here. Once you beat Yagluth you can build a Wisp Fountain. Catch a wisp and build a Wisplight to allow Mistland's mist to mildly dissipate.
   
   
8. Mistlands: Use everything previously stated. Build tons of portals, keep a fierce eye on stamina and health. Enemies will attack you at the worst possible time (i.e. resting on a mountain side and having a seeker come out of nowhere and knock you off and fall to your death or in water from which you can't get out of). Jotun Skulls contain around 80ish Soft Tissue (two stacks worth-ish). You only need to find five Dark Cores to build everything with the Deconstruct Exploit. Craft Feather Cape as soon as possible. Magecape and Jotun Puffs can only be farmed in Mistlands. To extract sap from Yggdrasil Roots you need to retrieve Dvergr Extractor from Dvergr strongholds and bases (they will become hostile once you hit anything). They are in boxes that have blue markings and are elongated. It is best to lead enemy mobs to their bases and take Dvergr Extractors amidst the chaos. Using Eitr Refinery will constantly shoot out singular magical bullets in all directions causing minor damage so be warned.
   
   
9. Queen Boss Fight: By far the hardest boss fight yet. This fight is to make sure players are aware of the importance of Eitr (magic) in upcoming updates. So you better get full Eitr-weave Robes and all staves to be ready for this fight. Food suggestion would be Misthare Supreme, Seekr Aspice, and Stuffed Mushroom. Leaving out Yggdrasil Porridge allows sap to be solely allocated to making Refined Eitr. There are four levels within the arena with staircases on either side. The stairs can not be destroyed but the ledges and alcoves can be (except the entry portal alcove is indestructible but the mobs and Queen can swarm this alcove). Before starting the fight make sure you have a portal within walking distance, enough supplies for the fight (health potions and food), maxed out gear and all staves. Use Staff of Protection before going in. Run all the way up the stairs to the fourth floor. With your back to the wall go to the staircase on the rightside. Stay here and manage your stats. When you stand just below the fourth floor the Queen should start descending the left staircase. When you stand on the fourth floor proper the Queen will start ascending the leftside staircase. Use your Staff of Embers to hit Queen as often as possible. Mobs will swarm you. Keep your shield up and use your choice weapon on clearing mobs (my personal preference was Staff of Frost and Krom.
   
   

   Good luck peeps!

[Colonel McDoogle]

(in a video game) the use of a bug or flaw in game design to a player’s advantage or to the disadvantage of other players.

This is the first time I'll concede I'm getting old. Both definitions are true but your's does reference digital technology more acutely. Lmao smh

With that said are you guys more intent on making me a fool or do you guys want to help make the list more accurate?

[Colonel McDoogle]

Publicado originalmente por DarthTanyon:

Apparently these guys are so hung up on the word "exploit" they can't read the rest. The "guide" you have here is very nice for a new player. Maybe just remove the word "exploit" and everyone will be happy lol.

I'd add to swamps that the hoe is a must have. The swamp is a pitfall compared to the blackforest and much more challenging. The hoe allows you to make paths so you don't get stuck in water. It is as important as everything else you have on you.,

I don't know man. We've both been all over the forums trying to get help and help others just to be swatted at.

[FissionChips]

Publicado originalmente por Colonel McDoogle:

Publicado originalmente por Xea:

This is a definition for coal miners or something, not for gamers or games

Find a definition that states what you mean that is in a dictionary and not a personal meaning. Otherwise I am using the word correctly.

Also why is every comment more about criticizing the post? It's a list to help people. smh

Exploit in this case is context specific jargon, the correct definition won't be in a dictionary. Exploit means using a game mechanic in a way it was not intended for but for which a fix has not been created or even possible. E.g. the world hopping exploit could best be prevented by blocking characters from loading into other worlds, but you're intended to be able to load into other worlds so the devs won't do this fix.

Also, more generally in current colloquial english exploitation has come to infer immoral behaviour.

[Colonel McDoogle]

You guys are ruining a discussion designed to help players.

Publicado originalmente por FissionChips:

Publicado originalmente por Colonel McDoogle:

Find a definition that states what you mean that is in a dictionary and not a personal meaning. Otherwise I am using the word correctly.

Also why is every comment more about criticizing the post? It's a list to help people. smh

Exploit in this case is context specific jargon, the correct definition won't be in a dictionary. Exploit means using a game mechanic in a way it was not intended for but for which a fix has not been created or even possible. E.g. the world hopping exploit could best be prevented by blocking characters from loading into other worlds, but you're intended to be able to load into other worlds so the devs won't do this fix.

Also, more generally in current colloquial english exploitation has come to infer immoral behaviour.

The above comment came almost an hour after the comment below.

Publicado originalmente por Colonel McDoogle:

(in a video game) the use of a bug or flaw in game design to a player’s advantage or to the disadvantage of other players.

This is the first time I'll concede I'm getting old. Both definitions are true but your's does reference digital technology more acutely. Lmao smh

With that said are you guys more intent on making me a fool or do you guys want to help make the list more accurate?

[FissionChips]

I'm not sure where being wrong, using words incorrectly, and accidentally inferring immorality helps players; nor how pointing these out isn't helping to tidy up the list. Oh well 🤷🏻‍♂️.

[Nerevar]

i dont get why the tc called alot of this EXPLOIT. these are mostly all intended game mechancis from what i can see. like how is avoiding nighttime an exploit? how? it isnt.

so this is either a poor choice of words or tc simply doesnt know what an exploit actually is.

useing the games mechancis correctly and to your advantage isnt an exploit. not even close.

thats like saying shooting a strong enemy to death with arrows in dork souls is an exploit. its not. its you the player useing your brain and makeing use of your entire available options in your arsenal.

valheim encourges the players to do precisely that. like. everywhere. and i love it for that. it doesnt hold your hand. like most modern triple AY ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ games do nowadays.

[Gladi8er65]

There are (obviously) several ways the word "exploit" is legitimately defined... In my experience, it usually refers to using something in a way other than was intended, to gain unfair advantage.... but that doesn't matter.

OP if you are truly trying to provide information or "help guide", then why not put this in the RIGHT place.... IN the guides, and stop subjecting yourself to the troll pit (forums).

[Foxglovez]

Being the human I am, when I saw there was going to be a list of exploits for those of us that don't run mods (well I do take iron etc thru to another world-my bad) I got all excited. Then I read it all and found not one exploit, not even one. Damn, no cheatin' to be found.

Thank you for writing down your thoughts on guidelines to help players along until they know the ropes. It is well appreciated. And once in a while it's nice to check this kind of stuff out to be sure one has not either forgotten or didn't learn something basic. This does happen, to most if not all of us.

But...

None of these things are exploits as noted by so many others. Definitions have to be understood in their correct context. The importance of that cannot be overstressed. We are not being trolls, but lord knows there are enough folks that already just don't understand that doing things the way the game intended isn't a cheese or an exploit. Mostly it's common sense and smart gameplay. Some folks like to say they don't do things to make their life easier and say with disdain (the humble bragger) they don't do blah blah because they, unlike mere mortals, are elite. Scruffy commoners that need to build ditches around their bases, how boringgg. Sorry, small rant about my pet peeve.

Can't you just edit the post and nuke the work exploit where ever it is found? And if you want to have this be a real guide then add in things that you left out. It could be a really valuable addition then, but the game is complex so unfortunately the guidelines need to be also. Just my 2 cents.

[Foxglovez]

Additions to your guide:
Night enemies are not just more frequent, they are also stronger in many cases.
Need to mention cold effect as it comes into play until get wolf cape.
Many times there are copper deposits at the edge of the meadows, on your starter island. Explore close enough to see them and mark on map.
On my 8 playthroughs there are always multiple copper nodes right near the merchant and the Elder.
Trees - Stand facing the direction you want tree to fall. Isn't perfect but mostly works.
To get fine wood early, find a big rock or several other downed trees to bang the fallen birch against. It may take a little time pushing the tree uphill and letting it roll down and hit a worthy rock, but it always makes me smile.
The little lean to shelters are made of core wood and easily break down early on with your crappy axe. Safer than going into the BF.

Again, thanks for working on a guideline.

[cygnusx1]

When I read the thread title, I thought this would get flagged. I'm hoping that the moderators read the post and look at intent. I say that because posting about "exploits" is against forum rules. With that being said, nothing that I've read is pointing out an
"Exploit" as we understand it... (A bug, glitch or flaw that gives an advantage).

Now, all I can add is that the game has so many mechanics, that I would refrain from any guides that touch on too much. It can get overwhelming. Just limit any guides to one mechanic, i.e. Weapons, Tools, Building, Work Stations etc.

I reckon a proper guide containing everything in the game would be 3 inches thick. LOL

[joane_jett]

When I read this was exploiting and cheesing I half expected some of my regular tips to be in here but they are not, curious?

If this is about cheesing there should be a build and destroy boss guide, you can kill every boss except moder by building ditches and dirt walls and aoeing through the walls with a great hammer.
Or how you can build nearly indestructible plains bases using ditches that are deep filled with loxes lol

[Krieger]

You can rename a portal and step through it before the name change goes into effect.

I have 2 portals at home, named 'home' which is right in front of all my work stations and 'passage' i use those until i am established on an island, then rename the portal 'plainsport' etc (making sure the name on map n portals match up) and step through before the portal says unconnected and then create the proper 'plainsport' portal back at base.
keeps it clean and keeps emergency home n passage portals open for use.

[Hiryukaen]

If you replace the title and all usage of "Exploit" and "cheesing" with "Tips and Tricks" this goes from being less clickbait, using wordage that's actually against the steam forum rules and becomes more valid, constructive, or helpful for people struggling.

Cheesing and exploiting is utilizing the ai pathing system against itself by making raised terrain walls or ditches, building up into non-damagable gunk trees of the swamp to be out of range of any attack other than flying monsters and use ranged attacks to attack from above.

Straight up exploiting the save file system is making backup copy of a save to dupe items into another by dropping items into world a, saving. Making a file copy. Taking items from world a to deposit into b, then replacing world a with the back up to have everything you just removed from world a, back again.

[CrazyMom]

A huge thank you to you, Colonel McDougle! I really appreciate the effort you put into this.
Also, a big thank you to all who gave very good tips on game playing.
I am still on my first play through, am on day 514 (most of you will have had several play-throughs already at that rate) and not tried defeating the first boss. Skill draining and regaining was a big part of it, exploration (took a long time to decide on a main base site), collecting materials and even getting mushed several times on tin and a copper deposit from a troll to try out doge rolling and receiving ore at the same time. Raided several burial chambers, did them section by section to minimise dying, set up a Portal Connection to a far away (still on starter, very large island/continent) hut which I set up on raised earth (for future enlargement), meadow bordering Mountain range (I do hear the wolves howling).
Here are my questions to you:
As per wiki, the hard antler set is one per player. What if you can not retrieve it from a death spot due to mobs? Can one get a second set by defeating Elkthyr again?
After raising my earth wall the hard way by adding layer by layer of picked up stone (and watching many videos on it before), I finally came across one that showed you could raise a wall to max height with only 2 stones overlapping the hoe at the edge of the wall and with the terrain below. This is an older clip, is it still true to date? (Am out of stones right now so can not try it)
Do you have to raise the earth wall(s) to max height against the trolls? My main base (taking lots of time) in on a natural rise with steep wall to 2 sides that wild boars can run up but not I, and am raising the wall on the top of it around a larger area. Will raise more defences after Elkthyr with the antler pickax (additional walls, moats, and more sharpened stakes).
Has any one figured out the meter dimension of a fully zoomed in map? (And therefor have a reference for zooming out) I read that if too close to land, mobs will swim out to the boat, if that happens, by travelling further out will they stop following you? And what is “too close” in distance? Or with the trader, close enough to show up?
The bottom of the rise is a river, short connection to inland sea and ocean (across is my L2 boar farm). Will mobs go after a boat or harbour structure? And if so, how to protect it somewhat? (I was thinking of keeping the future boat(s) in chests and only setting them up when needed) Or should I set up the harbour on the far side of the boar farm at the inland sea side? I am asking this because I spent so much time already and have no wish to have to move my harbour again.

[Streylok]

Not really exploits these are just game tips lol exploits implies a glitch that helps you that isn't supposed to be in the game but works due to a bug