Valheim Weapons Guide: All Weapons and Crafting Materials

The world of Valheim is filled with dangers and threats. You'll spend a lot of time fighting, so choosing the right weapon is essential for dealing with both regular enemies and bosses. In this guide, we've collected the main weapon types in Valheim along with their crafting recipes.

To craft weapons, you'll need the right resources and crafting station. Basic weapons are made at the Workbench, metal weapons at the Forge, while later equipment requires the Black Forge or Galdr Table. Keep in mind that different recipes require different crafting station levels. If you don't know how to upgrade your Workbench, we recommend checking out our dedicated guide.

You can improve your weapon's stats. Open the upgrade tab at the crafting station used to make the selected item. Increasing its quality usually improves damage and Durability. Most weapons can be upgraded to quality level 4, although you'll need to upgrade the corresponding crafting station as well.

Bows are the main ranged weapons in Valheim. Equipping one slightly reduces your movement speed. Your total damage depends not only on the bow itself but also on the type of arrows you use.

Spinesnap becomes available after exploring the Mistlands. In addition to Pierce damage, it also deals Spirit damage.

Ash Fang is the Ashlands bow. Once crafted, it can be upgraded using gemstones found in the biome.

Using Bloodstone, Iolite, or Jade allows you to create Blood Fang, Storm Fang, or Root Fang respectively.

The Nord Bow is part of the final Deep North weapon tier. To craft it, you first need to find the corresponding Mould, then create a Cast using Bloodgold and Deep North wood. The resulting Cast must be hardened in the Frost Foundry.

The base weapon can later be upgraded into a Frostfire Bow or Thunderblood Bow using the corresponding Essence.

Arrows differ in both damage type and total damage. Some variants also deal additional Fire, Frost, Poison, or Spirit damage.

Carapace Arrows become available in the Mistlands and are among the strongest standard arrows in the game.

Charred Arrows become available in the Ashlands.

Bloodgold Arrows are unlocked after exploring the Deep North and belong to the final ammunition tier.

Spears are one-handed weapons that deal Pierce damage. Their primary attack quickly strikes enemies directly in front of you, while the secondary attack throws the spear. After throwing it, you'll need to pick it up again.

The Carapace Spear is crafted from Mistlands resources.

Splitnir is an Ashlands spear.

Splitnir can be upgraded using Bloodstone, Iolite, or Jade.

The Nord Spear becomes available after exploring the Deep North.

The Cast must then be hardened in the Frost Foundry. The finished weapon can be upgraded into a Frostfire Spear or Thunderblood Spear.

Atgeirs are two-handed polearms that deal Pierce damage. Their secondary spinning attack can hit several enemies at once and has high stagger potential.

Himminafl is crafted in the Mistlands. In addition to Pierce damage, it deals Lightning damage.

The Nord Atgeir is part of the Deep North equipment tier. To craft it, you need to obtain the corresponding Mould, Bloodgold, and wood from the final biome, then harden the Cast in the Frost Foundry.

The finished weapon can be upgraded into a Frostfire Atgeir or Thunderblood Atgeir.

Axes deal Slash damage and can also be used to chop down trees. Higher-tier axes allow you to harvest tougher types of wood.

Jotun Bane is a Mistlands axe that deals Poison damage in addition to Slash damage.

The Nord Axe is the final one-handed axe introduced in version 1.0.

After hardening it in the Frost Foundry, the weapon can be upgraded into a Frostfire Axe or Thunderblood Axe.

Two-handed axes deal high Slash damage and can hit multiple enemies at once, but they noticeably reduce movement speed.

The Crystal Battleaxe is crafted from Mountain resources and deals Spirit damage in addition to Slash damage.

Berserkir Axes are dual-wielded Ashlands weapons. Your character uses two axes at once and can unleash rapid attack combos.

The weapon can be upgraded into Bleeding Berserkir Axes, Thundering Berserkir Axes, or Primal Berserkir Axes.

The Nord Greataxe becomes available in the Deep North.

The finished weapon can be upgraded into a Frostfire Greataxe or Thunderblood Greataxe.

Maces are one-handed weapons that primarily deal Blunt damage. They have high knockback and are particularly useful against enemies vulnerable to Blunt damage.

Frostner deals Blunt, Frost, and Spirit damage.

The Flametal Mace becomes available in the Ashlands.

Using gemstones, it can be upgraded into Bloodgeon, Storm Star, or Klossen.

The Nord Mace becomes available after obtaining its corresponding Mould in the Deep North.

After hardening, it can be upgraded into a Frostfire Mace or Thunderblood Mace.

These slow two-handed weapons deal heavy Blunt damage over a wide area and are excellent for fighting groups of enemies.

Demolisher is a two-handed Mistlands hammer that deals heavy Blunt damage over a large area.

The Nord Sledge is the final tier of two-handed hammers.

To craft it, you'll need to find the corresponding Mould, make a Cast from Bloodgold and Deep North wood, then harden it in the Frost Foundry. The weapon can then be upgraded into a Frostfire Sledge or Thunderblood Sledge.

Swords are one-handed Slash weapons with relatively fast attacks. Their secondary attack performs a powerful thrust.

Mistwalker is a Mistlands sword. In addition to Slash damage, it deals Frost damage and also clears some of the mist around your character.

Nidhögg is an Ashlands sword.

Using gemstones, the weapon can be upgraded into Nidhögg the Bleeding, Nidhögg the Thundering, or Nidhögg the Primal.

The Nord Sword is crafted from Deep North materials.

After hardening it in the Frost Foundry, the base sword can be upgraded into a Frostfire Sword or Thunderblood Sword.

Two-handed swords deal high Slash damage and have excellent reach, but occupy both hands.

Krom becomes available after exploring the Mistlands.

Slayer is a two-handed Ashlands sword. It can also be modified with gemstones to create versions with additional effects.

The Nord Greatsword is a Deep North weapon. Unlike most Nord weapons, its recipe uses a Frozen Branch obtained from Barka.

Once crafted and hardened, the weapon can be upgraded into a Frostfire Greatsword or Thunderblood Greatsword.

Knives are one-handed weapons designed for fast and stealthy attacks. They deal both Pierce and Slash damage, don't reduce movement speed, and have a high backstab multiplier.

The Silver Knife becomes available once you begin mining Silver in the Mountains and also deals Spirit damage.

Skoll and Hati are dual-wielded knives crafted at the Black Forge after reaching the Mistlands.

The Nord Dagger is crafted in the Deep North.

Upgraded versions include the Frostfire Dagger and Thunderblood Dagger.

Fist weapons are used in close combat and level the Fists skill. They attack quickly and have almost no impact on your character's mobility.

Flesh Rippers are crafted from materials found in Frost Caves in the Mountains. They pair especially well with the Fenris Set.

Nord Knucklechains appear in the Deep North and are the final-tier weapons for this class.

After hardening, they can be upgraded into Frostfire Knucklechains or Thunderblood Knucklechains.

Crossbows deal much higher damage per shot than bows but take considerably longer to reload. They use a separate ammunition type called Bolts.

The Arbalest becomes available in the Mistlands and is crafted at the Black Forge.

Ripper is an Ashlands crossbow.

It can be upgraded into Wound Ripper, Storm Ripper, or Root Ripper.

The Nord Crossbow is a Deep North weapon.

After processing it in the Frost Foundry, it can be upgraded into a Frostfire Crossbow or Thunderblood Crossbow.

Crossbows use Bolts instead of regular arrows. As you progress, you'll unlock Bone, Iron, Black Metal, Carapace, and other ammunition types.

One of the earliest types of crossbow ammunition. It's crafted primarily from Bone Fragments.

Crafted using Iron, Wood, and Feathers.

A more powerful type of ammunition unlocked after obtaining Black Metal.

Carapace Bolts are crafted from Mistlands resources.

Charred Bolts are Ashlands-tier ammunition.

Bloodgold Bolt is final-tier ammunition introduced in the Deep North.

Magic weapons become available after exploring the Mistlands. Most attacks consume Eitr instead of regular Stamina, and your maximum Eitr can be increased by eating the appropriate food.

The Staff of Embers fires explosive projectiles that deal area damage on impact.

The Staff of Frost fires a stream of icy projectiles that slow enemies.

The Staff of Protection creates a magical barrier that absorbs incoming damage.

Dead Raiser summons Skeletons that fight alongside your character.

The Staff of Fracturing is an Ashlands magic weapon that fires several flaming projectiles at once.

The Staff of the Wild summons roots that automatically attack nearby enemies.

Dundr is an Ashlands magic weapon that fires multiple electrical projectiles over a short distance.

Trollstav summons a fiery Troll. The summoned creature can be dangerous to more than just your enemies, so use the staff carefully.

Echo Spike is a new Deep North magic weapon added in version 1.0.

Lightning Strike uses electrical magic and belongs to the final tier of magical weapons.

Spirit Caller summons an animal spirit that helps your character in combat.

Northern Vengeance expands on defensive magic by allowing you to retaliate against enemies that attack you.

Shields allow you to block and parry attacks. Bucklers are especially effective when parrying at the right moment, regular shields are more versatile, while tower shields offer high block power at the cost of significantly reduced movement speed and cannot parry.

The Bone Tower Shield is crafted from Wood and Bone Fragments and becomes available relatively early.

The Iron Buckler is designed primarily for parrying and becomes available once you begin working with Iron.

The Carapace Buckler is crafted at the Black Forge using Mistlands resources and has a high parry bonus.

The Carapace Shield is a more versatile defensive option for the Mistlands.

The Flametal Shield becomes available in the Ashlands and is crafted at the Black Forge.

The Flametal Tower Shield offers greater block power but reduces movement speed more heavily.

Nord Buckler is the final-tier buckler from the Deep North. Crafting it requires the corresponding Mould and the new Bloodgold casting system.

Nord Shield is the versatile Deep North shield.

Nord Greatshield is a heavy final-tier shield focused on maximum block power.

Shield of Roots is another new shield introduced with the Deep North in version 1.0.

This thrown weapon tethers its target to your character. The Abyssal Harpoon is more useful for moving creatures and dragging Sea Serpents onto land than for dealing direct damage.

Bombs can deal area damage, create additional effects, or interact with certain objects in the environment.

After exploding, it creates a poisonous cloud that damages enemies caught inside.

The Bile Bomb becomes available after exploring the Mistlands. When thrown, it deals area damage and sets enemies on fire.

The Basalt Bomb appears in the Ashlands and is used not only as a weapon but also to help cross lava.

The Ember Charge appears in the Deep North. Among other uses, it can destroy the petrified remains of Gammeltrolls, allowing you to gather the materials needed to produce Bloodgold.

Version 1.0 introduced a complete Nord weapon line for almost every combat skill in the Deep North. It includes a Sword, Greatsword, Atgeir, Mace, Sledge, Axe, Greataxe, Spear, Dagger, Knucklechains, Bow, and Crossbow.

The crafting system for these weapons differs from previous biomes. First, you need to find the Mould for the weapon you want. Then, at an upgraded Black Forge, you create a Cast using the Mould, Bloodgold, and additional resources. Place the Cast in the Frost Foundry and process it with Liquid Frost to create the finished weapon.

Every base Nord weapon can be upgraded in one of two ways. Frostfire versions add Frost and Fire damage, while Thunderblood versions add Lightning damage. You'll need Frostfire Essence or Thunderblood Essence respectively.

With the release of Valheim 1.0, players can therefore continue using almost any familiar weapon class all the way through the final stage of progression.