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Valheim biome progression guide

A ordered travel guide for all of Valheim

A forest in Valheim Image: Iron Gate Studio/Coffee Stain Publishing via Polygon

In Valheim, each player receives a procedurally generated version of the Viking afterlife. Despite the different layouts in your world and those on other servers, everyone will explore the same set of biomes — land types that come with different resources, dangers, and potential bosses to summon and defeat.

In this Valheim guide, we’ll show you how to identify each of the game’s biomes. Once you’ve discovered a new area, we’ll briefly explain the available resources and what the threats that you’ll encounter there.


Valheim’s biomes

While still in early access, Valheim has several biomes:

Valheim biomes in are spread across the islands. Some share multiple biomes, while others might be entirely one specific type.


Meadows biome

You start the game in the meadows biome.

The island you spawn on will have a patch of meadows in its center. Meadows usually contain grassy areas, a few sparse forests, rivers, and ocean beaches. On the map (see the gallery above), meadows look like grassy areas with thin forests.

You’ll find a lot of basic resources on meadows such as trees which will give you both wood and fine wood. Stones are scattered throughout meadows, and flint is on beaches. There are several types of food you can forage like mushrooms and raspberries.

There aren’t many major threats. You’ll find creatures like boars you can tame roaming around and the lizard-like creatures called neck congregate near water. You may also be attacked by greylings and occasionally, the much larger greydwarf.

Meadows are where you’ll summon and defeat Eikthyr.


Black forest biome

The black forest biome usually shares forest space with the meadows biome, but black forests are have denser populations of trees. You can tell the difference on your map (see the gallery above) by looking at the tree density and the darker grass that shows up under it.

Inside the black forest biome, you’ll find burial chambers, which is where to find surtling cores that you need to forge new gear. In between the pine and fir trees, you’ll find copper and tin, which is used for crafting bronze.

Threats from enemies escalate in the black forest. You’ll encounter plenty more greydwarfs and their more dangerous variants. Skeletons will stand guard around burial chambers, and you may even run into massive trolls.

The black forest is where you’ll summon and defeat The Elder.


Swamp biome

Swamps appear as dark brown patchy areas on your map (as you can see in the gallery above). They may share space with a black forest, usually at the edge of an island, or they may be entire islands themselves.

Blobs and leeches can poison you, and undead draugr will attack you with axes and bows. The danger is worth it, as you’ll be able to find iron inside sunken crypts.

The swamps are where you’ll summon and defeat Bonemass.


Mountain biome

The mountain biome usually shares space with a black forest. Mountains are snow-covered high elevation areas that cause a freezing effect. Without frost resistance mead or warm clothing, you’ll take damage over time.

To gain warm armor, take on the wolves that roam this frozen biome while keeping your eye to the sky on any drakes flying around. The snowy peaks are also where you can find silver in Valheim.

The mountains are where you’ll summon and defeat Moder.


Plains biome

Plains biomes are filled with yellow grass, sprawling hills, and rock formations. They can be adjacent to most biomes, and they appear as a sandy color on your map (as in the above gallery).

The plains are home to fulings, goblin-like creatures with villages set up throughout the plains biome. You’ll also find the large lox creatures and the tiny and much-maligned deathsquitos here as well.

The plains are where you will summon and defeat Yagluth.


Ocean biome

The ocean biome is unsurprisingly located in the massive bodies of water that surround the islands in Valheim.

To make your way across oceans, learn how to sail. The vast waters contain huge threats like serpents and friendly creatures like leviathans.


Mistlands biome

Mistlands biomes are a sparsely populated areas currently in early development.

You can find these creepy woods covered in spider webs in the other edges of your world. On the map, they look like black forests, but the ground below the trees is very dark.

There are threats in the mistlands, but there aren’t any specific resources or bosses there.


Deep north biome

The deep north biome is a sparsely populated area currently in early development.

You can find this brutally snowy area at the northernmost part of your world. On the map, the deep north is an entire row of islands covered in snow.

There are threats in the deep north, but currently that aren’t any specific resources or bosses there.


Ashlands biome

The ashlands biome is a sparsely populated area currently in early development.

You can find this fiery biome at the southernmost part of your world. On the map, you’ll see rows of islands with red ground.

There are threats in the ashlands, but there aren’t any specific resources our bosses there.

The next level of puzzles.

Take a break from your day by playing a puzzle or two! We’ve got SpellTower, Typeshift, crosswords, and more.

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