The fact that Valheim is a roaring Steam success is not a new one. Currently, there are several million Vikings exploring the game’s 10th circle of Valhalla, and Iron Gate Studio’s breakout relies on incredible atmosphere, mechanics, and a gorgeously realized world to achieve all of this, including its biomes.
Valheim‘s biomes are a core part of this incredible world, as the developer has four detailed biomes teeming with danger and adventure, with a further four currently still in development. Each of the fully developed biomes have incredibly important positions within the game’s progression. Therefore, properly understanding how the biomes impact the game is essential for any Valheim player. Despite each area being intimidating when first accessed, the secrets of each make subsequent locations much easier to navigate.
The Meadows biome needs immediate consideration, as it presents itself first to players. As a character falls from the clutches of a Valraven into the first set of runestones, there are several things to bear in mind. These summoning stones are essential, as they show players where to go to beat Valheim’s first boss, Eikthyr. Further to that, the mystical boss powers of Valheim are all activated right in the middle of this stone circle.
The Meadows are not only used for boss trophy collection; as the first biome, it is often one of the best to make camp in. The best biome for bases in Valheim is a hotly debated topic within the fanbase, but the Meadows are often considered a strong place to set up a central base. The flat landscape, access to several other biomes, relatively weak enemies, and a close proximity to the ocean makes for an excellent place for a homestead.
The Black Forest is where things start to get a bit more deadly. Home to the game’s iconic trolls, the Black Forest contains swarms of more powerful greydwarfs, which are incredibly important enemies. Furthermore, players can use the Black Forest to farm Greydwarf Eyes in Valheim, which becomes an essential resource throughout the game. As a farming location, the Black Forest grants players access to the most useful construction in the entire game, the Portal.
Once players level up their skills a touch, they will be ready to take on Valheim‘s Black Forest Boss The Elder. This titanic boss looks much more imposing than it actually is, and can be taken on relatively early in game. Once defeated, access to the crypts in the swamp is possible, with a Swamp Key dropping from The Elder.
Home to lethal oozes, hardy duergar, and the bulbous Bonemass boss, Valheim’s Swamp biome is not one to underestimate. After killing The Elder, the ability to access Swamp dungeons becomes available, which are the largest source of iron in the game. Iron can also be found among the regular swamp, but players should expect significant opposition from oozes if mining the raw swamp itself is their goal. As is the case with most biomes, each one bestows materials required to progress into the next.
In the case of The Swamp, the reason players need to clear it is to get items that can find silver in Valheim. In this area, not only can iron be mined (which is needed for a pickaxe that can collect silver later in game), but the “wishbone” can also be acquired from the Bonemass. This wishbone pings when buried treasure and ores are nearby, a much needed tool for finding the higher tier ore.
The Mountains are where Valheim begins to get wild. Firstly, characters cannot climb the mountain without spending time crafting Valheim frost potions, or they will take massive amounts of cold damage. Once these frost potions are acquired, the mountains are teeming with some of the game’s most deadly enemies. Fighting through drakes, stone golems, werewolves and eventually Valheim’s dragon boss Moder, will give players access to a whole host of loot.
This includes the coveted silver ore which makes some of Valheim’s best weapons, as well as silver wolf armor that lets players wander the mountains freely. Obsidian is also available in these frosty climes. This ore allows you to craft frost arrows, which are some of the most effective in the game. Valheim’s Mountain biome means a lot of frost potions will be drunk until players adapt to the climate. After that, the biome can be used to get some incredible endgame items.
The Ocean occupies an interesting place amidst the rest of Valheim’s biomes. It is already in the game, but the developer is going to improve it in upcoming DLC. The 2021 Valheim content roadmap noted several areas that the developers will improve, including the Ocean biome in update 3: “Of Ships and Sea.” Fans hope for more sea monsters, potential ship warfare and many other features will come to improve the Ocean.
As it currently stands, the Ocean stands mainly as way of passage between other biomes. However, another of its current uses is as a way to find Sea Serpents. Sea Serpents are the player’s key to getting the best food combinations in Valheim. Serpent meat is used to create serpent stew, which is the most effective food type in the game. Furthermore, if a player wants to acquire the unique harpoon in the game, then the Ocean is the place to go. The ocean is home to the Leviathan, and chitin exists on the back of the beast for mining. Several recipes use chitin, making the Ocean a useful farming location in game.
The final completed biome here is The Plains. This biome is absolutely deadly, as can be intuited by the “Deathsquito” enemies that swarm around the area. Further to that, fulings, mages, and lox also roam the Plains. Despite having a deadly combination of foes, the Plains is definitely worth exploring. Precious Blackmetal can be acquired in the Plains. This allows for the highest tier of weaponry to be crafted using a Blast Furnace. It seems like the Fulings in the Plains biome have an actual society, unlike other mobs in the game.
This makes the Plains particularly interesting, because it implies that the monsters that exist in the Viking afterlife are able to organize a kind of civilization. Perhaps future expansions will take advantage of this. Valheim vendor inventory expansion has already been promised in future updates. Buying and selling with Fulings would be fantastic, as the creatures would likely stock some unique items.
As noted in the 2021 content map, there are still several biomes under development. These include the Mistlands, The Deep North, and The Ashlands. If a player visits these biomes right now, they will find very little. Some of these, like The Ashlands, have limited resources like the Valheim Flamemetal. The rest, however, are mostly bereft of anything too exciting. With the way that the expansions are meant to unfold, these underdeveloped biomes might become essential to the game’s plot. Indeed, the fourth and last official update is one called “The Mistlands.”
Due to another update called “Cult of the Wolf”, presumably after the Norse wolf Fenrir, many have speculated that Valheim might be leading to a Ragnarok-style event. If that is the case, it is very possible that the Mistlands is where this final conflict shall take place.
Valheim is available on PC.
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