Summary
As survival games go,Valheimis unique in that the boss fights of each biome dictate the progression of the game. Although players can wander into another biome before defeating the boss of the last, bosses usually drop key items to aid in progression, such as Eikthyr’s antlers being needed to make the first pickaxe. These bosses range greatly in difficulty, with mechanics getting more complicated the further into the game the player gets, as one would expect.
Although Fader is statistically the toughest boss, as it is the current final boss of the game,the relative difficulty of the bosses isn’t dictated by how late into the game they are. In fact, it is largely dictated by how big of a jump in difficulty the boss' biome is from the last. Difficulty tends to spike inValheimfrom biome to biome, with some not presenting the challenge one would expect while others make players feel like they’re playing an entirely different title.
Valheim’s Deep North Update: Everything We Know So Far
Valheim will see its final major update sometime in the next two years with the Deep North biome, and this arctic landscape is filled with potential.
7The Queen Is The Ruler Of Valheim’s Difficulty
The Mistlands Is A Cruel, Terrifying Place
When theMistlands was introduced, it was hotly anticipated because of how many new mechanics the biome promised to add. It certainly delivered but, because it added so many extra tools to a player’s arsenal, it also added a massive jump in difficulty. The Queen is at the summit of this difficulty, and the many adds it summons are some ofValheim’s toughest. Being immune to Spirit and chopping damage certainly helps its case, too, especially if players have invested heavily in the standard axe during the late game.
If players want to use an axe like a real Viking, investing in a Battleaxe is the way to go beyond the Swamp.
The Queen has a plethora of attacks, as well as a teleport. It is more geared toward melee with many of its mechanics, but what makes it difficult is that there isn’t anywhere to run and hide if things start going south.The Altar to summon The Queen is in a dungeon, and its teleport mechanic in a confined space means that it’s tough to run away and regroup if necessary. The knockback of attacks, even when parried, can send players falling down the dungeon, and the poison damage from the Spew attack will rapidly eat at health.
6Bonemass Requires More Prep Than Any Fight Before It
First Time Players Will Be Unprepared
Bonemass isn’t necessarily that difficult in concept,but what makes it hard is the level of preparation required to beat it, considering that players don’t need to do this before this point. The Swamp is a massive jump in difficulty, with enemies seemingly spawning out of nowhere, which can interruptthe fight against the Bonemass. Bonemass also summons adds, and the numbers can quickly overwhelm players, but this isn’t what makes it so tough, especially for first-time players.
If players are battling Bonemass for the first time,they may not prep Mead against its poison and know that a blunt weapon, like a Mace, is basically requiredto do any real damage. Even with a Mace, Bonemass' health is substantial, and the unprepared players will likely find that the boss is practically impossible without knowing what to do. It exists as the first real knowledge check of the game, and with its resistance to anything physical but Blunt damage, it almost has to be fought at melee range.
5Fader Faces Players At Their Strongest
The Beast’s Difficulty Is Offset By Magic
Fader is the latest of theValheimboss fights, being the final hurdle to conquer the fiery wastes of theAshlands and all its enemies.Although it is statistically the toughest fight in the game, with a lot of attacks, the Ashlands add magic to a player’s arsenal, and this does a great deal in making the fight significantly easier. At this point, players know how to prep for boss fights, and the Ashlands force players to know the environment to get set up and not burn to death the second they arrive at the burning shore.
There is a mini-boss in the Ashlands, called Lord Reto.
Fader summons the toughest adds in the game, and the ranged Charred Archers are a nuisance when lost in the chaos, butValheimfinally gives players a means of splitting aggro that doesn’t involve convincing friends to play through hundreds of hours of content.Those that invest in magic can summon allies of their own, such as Skeletts, Dead Raisers, and Trolls, put on protective bubbles to make them immune to damage, and do so much more at range. These new tools make the player far more powerful, and Fader is less daunting with it all.
4Moder’s Difficulty Comes From The Environment Of The Mountain
Blizzards, Golems, And Wolves Can Add Difficulty
The Mountain is harsh for those without cold resistance, but by the time Vikings are ready to challenge Moder,they should be well-equipped for the fight with strong bows and the Wolf Armor set.Moderlargely relies on Frost damage, and with the Wolf Armor set, this damage isn’t felt too significantly. What makes the fight difficult is how durable Moder is and, because the boss can fly, it spends little time on the ground, which can drag the fight out and put the player at the mercy of the Mountain biome.
Although the Mountain isn’t a massive step up from the Swamp, because of the nature of the area, enemies will wander into the fight. A player can be fully focused on Moder,only to be bitten by a Wolf or launched by a Stone Golem, both of which hit very hard. Blizzards can obscure the sky, too, making Moder hard to track at times, but the Mother of Drakes has no issue aiming at the player. Moder may not summon adds, but the Mountain makes sure it doesn’t need any, especially with other Drakes flying overhead.
3Yagluth Hits Hard, But Telegraphs Attacks
The Plains Are Empty Enough For A Fair Fight
Fighting Yagluthis a terrifying concept in theory, but the Plains isn’t a huge spike in difficulty after the Mountain, with most of the area doable with Mountain-tier gear.Fulings and their camps will make sure players begin making Fire Resistance Barley Wine in no time, and the flat nature of the Plains means that the area around Yagluth’s altar can be cleared out to make the fight as fair as possible. This definitely helps, considering how hard Yagluth can hit, and an unseen Deathsquito is the last thing anyone wants while dodging meteors.
It is implied that Fulings worship Yagluth, who is a long-dead king.
Yagluth doesn’t have many moves, however, and isn’t able to summon adds to split a player’s aggro. Although a Viking caught in Yagluth’s attacks will feel the damage in their soul, there are only three to look out for and all are obviously telegraphed. Yagluth does have considerable health, making the fight a long one, but as long as a player is concentrating,there isn’t much to catch them out. If the area is cleared out beforehand, then it is a one-on-one (or many-against-one) fight against a foe that telegraphs its few attacks.
2The Elder Is A Simple Boss To Beat
Introduces Many Mechanics In Later Bosses
Initially,the Black Forest and its Trolls are a terrifying prospect, butthe Elderdoesn’t quite deliver on that prospect if the player is in any way prepared. Bronze is easy enough to make beforehand, considering the abundance of Copper and Tin, so a well-armored Viking will find that The Elder doesn’t hit all that hard. There isn’t much to The Elder’s arsenal either, with three attacks that are reduced to two if a player stays at range. Hiding behind cover nullifies another, so the only thing players have to worry about is the summoned Roots.
The Elder is weak to fire, which makes sense given that it is made of wood. Fire Arrows are easy to make at this point and will significantly damage The Elder. With all the stones and trees in the Black Forest, there is plenty of cover to hide and pepper the boss without much of a reply. The only threat during the fight is a potential roaming Troll that decides it wants to get involved in the fight and flatten the player. Dealing with The Elder and a Troll will cause the fight to enter a new echelon in difficulty.
One Of Lord Of The Ring’s Most Iconic Locations Looks Perfect In Valheim
An important location from The Lord of the Rings has been recreated in the Nordic-themed survival title Valheim.
1Eikthyr Is Essentially A Tutorial Boss
Easily Beaten By A Bow
Eikthyr is the first boss ofValheim,and it doesn’t offer much in the way of difficulty at all.The same can be said for the Meadow biome as a whole, since it is where a Viking begins their journey, and there aren’t any adds to worry about, nor are there any dangerous enemies in the area to look out for. A bow is particularly useful in this fight since kiting the deer around the stones of its altar and shooting it is quite simple, meaning that the only attack to look out for is the Lightning Bolt.
It is believed that Eikthyr is a reference to the Eikþyrnir, a stag that stands upon Valhalla in Norse myth.
In general, Eikthyr acts as a pseudo-tutorial boss to ensure that the player understands the basic mechanics ofValheim.It doesn’t offer anything dangerous from an AOE standpoint, doesn’t summon adds, and keeps its damage relatively low. Any weapon can be used against it and something as simple as a wooden shield is adequate in blocking all of its attacks. It is the easiest boss fight in the game, and it needs to be since it also doubles as the very first one to help ease the player into the unforgiving experiences later on.
