In Valheim, you find yourself ferried into the tenth Norse world after falling in battle, but you're not here to rest. Odin has tasked you with taking on beasts of myth and legend — sort of like a Norse custodian. These beasts are forsaken for a reason; they're powerful, wield strong magic, and won't go down without a fight. The world of Valheim is punishing, and you'll need to fight smart as well as hard to defeat these beasts. Here's how to find, summon, and defeat every boss in Valheim.
Carry out Odin's will
Valheim is an early access survival game that has become quickly become one of the most popular games available on Steam.
Valheim Boss Guide: Eikthyr
Where to find it: Meadows
How to summon it: Sacrifice two deer trophies at its altar
Drops: Hard Antlers, Eikthyr Trophy
Eikthyr is the first boss many players will encounter as they explore Valheim's Meadows biome. Be sure to interact with the rune at the start of the game to mark its location on your map. Eikthyr is a giant stag, complete with heavy metal chains wrapped around its antlers. To summon him, you'll have to sacrifice two deer trophies to its altar. Deer trophies can be found by killing deer found running around. The higher the star, the higher your chance of collecting a trophy once you kill one.
Eikthyr is large and three distinct attacks. Up close, it will try to ram you with its antler, and it will sometimes rise up and pound its front legs into the ground for an area of effect electric attack. From afar, it will shoot lightning from its antlers. He telegraphs every move he makes, so be sure to roll out of the way when he attacks.
Defeating Eikthyr isn't as hard as it may seem, especially if you fight him out in the open. Be sure to come with a wooden shield if you plan to fight him head-on. Simply block his attacks and strike it with a club right after. Be sure to roll out his AOE attack range. Using a bow is also an effective tool against Eikthyr, especially if you're able to situate yourself on a large rock.
Once you defeat Eikthyr, take its head back to the sacrificial stone area where you started your game and place his giant head on the appropriate hook. This will unlock Eikthyr's power, a buff that reduces stamina drain for running and jumping by 60%.
Valheim Boss Guide: The Elder
Where to find it: Black Forest
How to summon it: Sacrifice three Ancient Seeds at its altar
Drops: Swamp Key, Elder Trophy
The Elder is Valheim's second boss and can be found in the Black Forest. You can search for his altar on your own, but the best way to find his location is to find its rune stone hidden throughout the Burial Chambers found in the Black Forest. You can summon him by burning three Ancient Seeds at its altar. You can find Ancient Seeds at Greydwarf Nests, as well as by defeating Greydwarf Shamans and Greydwarf Brutes.
The Elder is like a giant Groot, and attacks by stomping the ground, summoning roots, and shooting vines as projectiles. These attacks hurt a lot, so watch your step. You'll want to do some serious preparation before this fight. Craft the pickaxe to mine ore, and then work to upgrade your living area with a smelter, kiln, and a forge. Mine tin and copper ore, smelt it down, and then build bronze at the forge. Use that to craft yourself a better bow, better armor, and lots of fire arrows, too. You'll also want to craft a Cauldron and Fermenter to make health potions.
The best way to attack The Elder is to hit it with a barrage of arrows. Fire arrows, in particular, will continue to do burn damage to The Elder. Use the pillars by the altar to shield yourself from his projectile attack and keep moving. Don't worry too much about fighting the roots it spawns; just avoid them, and don't even bother with physical attacks with The Elder.
There is a chance that wandering Greydwarfs may join the fight. If that's the case, back off and deal with them first before turning your attention back to the Elder. Once The Elder is defeated, take its trophy back to the sacrificial stone area and attach it to the appropriate hook. You'll earn its power, which increases your wood cutting speed.
Valheim Boss Guide: Bonemass
Where to find it: Swamp
How to summon it: Sacrifice 10 Withered Bones at its altar
Drops: Wishbone, Bonemass Trophy
Bonemass is found in the Swamp biome and can be pinpointed on the map by interacting with the Swamp Crypts' runestone. Use the Swamp Key from the Elder to unlock the crypts. Swamp Crypts are where you'll find Withered Bones, which you'll need to summon Bonemass.
Bonemass has a melee strike and has a poison attack that does severe poison damage if you're close. It can also summon Skeletons and Blobs that will interfere with your fight. Skip ranged attacks for this fight; you'll have to get up close and personal to deal significant damage to this mass of bones.
Make sure to have lots of Poison Resistance by using the Cauldron and the Fermenter at your base. You should have found Iron Ore in the Swamp Crypts, so make sure you farm enough iron to make yourself some Iron Armor and a blunt melee weapon, like a Mace.
Once you defeat Bonemass, takes its head back to the sacrificial stone area and place him on the appropriate hook, and you'll get a power that increases your resistance to physical damage. You'll also get an item called Wishbone, which will help you find a hidden treasure chest and silver ore veins.
Valheim Boss Guide: Moder
Where to find it: Mountain
How to summon it: Sacrifice three Dragon Eggs at its altar
Drops: Dragon Tears, Moder Trophy
Moder is a massive dragon found in the Mountain biome. You can search for it yourself, but it's much easier to find the rune that pinpoints its location. You'll find the rune in one of the stone towers full of Draugrs. All over the Mountain biome, you'll find Dragon Eggs tucked into nest surrounded by Drakes. Take out the Drakes using arrows and be sure to clear out your inventory — each Dragon Egg weighs 200lbs each. They also can't be teleported, so you'll have to lug them back and forth yourself.
Traveling through the Mountain biome is a little tricky if you don't take the time to prepare. You'll either need to brew some Frost Resistance or lure a Wolf down from the mountain and kill it for its pelt. Use the Bonemass to find silver and upgrade your bow. Craft lots of arrows and practice your marksmanship. Moder's attacks are easy to dodge, so you shouldn't have much trouble if you come prepared.
Moder spends most of its time in the air but will come down to swipe at the player. It also shoots an ice stream that will slow players down if they get caught in it. It mostly shoots projectiles from its mouth that freeze upon impact. Once you have Moder's head, take it back to sacrifice, and you'll unlock Moder's power, while will always make the wind blow in the direction you're facing. Perfect for sailing.
Valheim Boss Guide: Yagluth
Where to find it: Plains
How to summon it: Sacrifice five Fuling Totems at its altar
Drops: Yagluth Thing, Yagluth Trophy
Yagluth can be found in the Plains, and you'll need to burn Five Fuling Totems at its altar. You can find Fuling Totems in the Fuling villages located in the Plains but be warned — these guys will put up a fight. You'll find Yagluth's exact location by search the tall standing stones found throughout the Plains biome.
Yagluth has no legs or arms and is just a skeleton torso that crawls towards you during battle. Yagluth can summon a meteor shower, as well as pound the ground, causing a shockwave. He has a devastating Flamethrower attack that will destroy in seconds if you're not careful. The good thing is that it's slow, so it's easy to avoid if you're careful. Both arrows and melee attacks work well on Yagluth; you just need to wait for a chance to strike to get some good hits on him.
Yagluth is the final boss, so prepare yourself accordingly. Come with plenty of health potions and craft Black Metal gear if you can. You'll find lots of Black Metal ore from defeating the Fulings and raiding their villages. Once you defeat Yagluth, you'll receive the Yagluth Thing as well as Yagluth's head.
The Yagluth Thing's purpose is unknown and is just a placeholder item. Return the head to the Sacrificial Stone area, and you'll earn Yagluth's power, which reduces damage from elemental attacks like Fire, Frost, and Poison.
By Odin's beard, you've done it!
That's how to find, summon, and defeat every boss in Valheim. Valheim is still in early access, and the developers have a lot planned for Valheim's future updates. There's still plenty of things to do in Valheim, like crafting, hunting, and even making some friends. It may be early, but Valheim is shaping up to be one of the best survival games on the PC.
Carry out Odin's will
Valheim is an early access survival game that has become quickly become one of the most popular games available on Steam.
