Combat might seem simplistic in Valheim, but there's more depth to it than meets the eye. In this guide, we'll take a closer look at this system and the mechanics that go along with it, while giving you some tips and tricks on how to approach the gameplay.
The combat mechanics are similar to other games, but with a few new elements — such as a power management system that greatly influences the HP and stamina max gauges.
Weapons
You'll have to test what suits you best by picking from the different types of weapons present in Valheim: axes do damage and can hit at a good speed, while daggers cause a lot of damage during a successful sneak attack.
Types of weapons
- Club: The melee weapon with one of the best ranges, and incidentally the first combat skill you'll level — with hand-to-hand combat.
- Axe: Balanced and powerful enough to take you through your adventure, pairs well with a shield.
- Sword: The first sword in the game unlocks when you have bronze and a forge. It has all the qualities you'd expect from this kind of instrument, but it's a bit late, so don't hesitate to go back to the meadow and beat up some enemies to improve its level.
- Spear: Short range and stabbing attack. Turns into a javelin with the click-wheel.
- Knife: Very short range but very powerful in sneak attack.
- Hammer: The only hammer in the game hits the ground for an AOE that repels enemies.
- Shield: Essential for melee players. It makes perfect blocks much more powerful, and an excellent shield will throw off even the most formidable of enemies.
- Arc: You're going to need it, if only to kill the deers. The bow and its different types of arrows are very powerful tools, so try to always have one with you.
Night and invasions
Night walks in the forest are not necessarily a great idea: your tin and copper expeditions will be regularly interrupted by enemies who are much more numerous and powerful at night.
As for the invasions, they are the fallen bosses who summon their minions to your base. Their importance is influenced by the number of players present on the server. You must repel the waves, more and more violent depending on the biome in which you are installed.
Elite Enemies
Enemies with one or more stars under their name deserve your full attention: they'll give you more loot once killed. But beware, these elite enemies have much more health points and much more strength than the normal species.
Stagger and critical hit
The best way to destroy an enemy is to stagger by causing enough damage in a short period of time. When a monster is staggered, you can chain critical hits for a few seconds without risking any retaliation.
The other way to stagger a monster is to perform a perfect block.
Parry and perfect block
The blocking skill is one of the stats you should quickly focus on when you get to the game: stand guard with any weapon or item with the right click of your mouse, you will then absorb an amount of damage equivalent to the power of your block.
This is perhaps the most important mechanic of the hand-to-hand gameplay, since it will allow you to stagger the enemy instantly. Be careful though, this option is only available on light shields. Tower shields have a better damage absorption but no parry feature.
To perform a perfect block, hold down the right click to raise your guard to the highest point, just as you receive the blow. Well-known to action game fans, this technique requires you to read the enemy's attacks.
Don't neglect dodging
We tend to forget this command, especially if we take the reflex to block, but the dodge is very effective in Valheim. It gives you a window of invincibility of over a second: a blessing when you face tougher enemies like trolls. This type of enemy is an excellent training model, since its attacks are particularly predictable.
Buffs
Several elements will impact your life and stamina regen in Valheim: if it rains, your stamina will take much longer to regenerate for example. To avoid this, it is necessary to know the available buffs. First of all, building a comfortable house will increase the duration of the comfort bonus when you are inside, with an extra minute per level of comfort (12 minutes of buff for a level 5). This one is particularly powerful, with life regeneration and stamina boosted.
Later in the adventure, it will also be possible to make recipes in a cauldron that can improve your performance for a few minutes. Finally, the powers of the fallen bosses you encounter while visiting the game's biomes have a significant impact on your abilities.
Take all these elements into account when planning a risky expedition, while optimizing the use of all your consumables and powers.
In addition to the building, survival, and sandbox aspects, Valheim also incorporates a skill mechanic. Here's our guide to skill progression and all the details related.
