Valheim is a vast and immersive survival game, but many players develop bad habits that hinder their progress and efficiency. By breaking these habits, you can improve your gameplay and enhance your overall experience. Here are 15 things you should stop doing in Valheim and what to do instead.
1. Stop Trying to Stack Damage Resistance
Damage resistance does not stack. Instead, the highest resistance takes priority. For example, if you wear the feather cape (very weak to fire) and consume barley wine (very resistant to fire), the wine takes precedence, reducing fire damage by 75%. Similarly, poison resistance mead overrides the root mask, preventing resistance stacking.
What to Do Instead:
- Use the best available resistance rather than trying to stack them.
- Keep in mind that armor still provides additional protection.
2. Stop Sprinting Everywhere
Stamina is a crucial resource for dodging, blocking, and attacking. Sprinting everywhere quickly drains stamina, leaving you vulnerable in combat.
What to Do Instead:
- Walk instead of sprinting to conserve stamina.
- Bait enemy attacks by stepping back instead of dodging.
- Always maintain your rested bonus for improved stamina recovery.
3. Stop Holding Down the Interact Button for Refining Stations
It might seem natural to hold the interact button when loading kilns, furnaces, or refineries, but spam-clicking is actually faster.
What to Do Instead:
- Rapidly click instead of holding the button to save time when refining resources.
4. Stop Ignoring the Hoe’s Defensive Potential
Raised earth is indestructible (except in rare cases like Ashlands lava explosions), making it the best natural defense.
What to Do Instead:
- Raise the ground around your base to create invulnerable defenses.
- Use elevated terrain to gain an advantage against enemies.
5. Stop Believing That Deer Detect Players by Smell
A common misconception is that deer can smell players approaching from downwind. In reality, they detect players through sight and sound.
What to Do Instead:
- Use sneak mode to quietly approach deer from behind.
6. Stop Leaving Your Ships Unprotected on the Shore
Creatures will attack and destroy your boats if left unattended on the coast, potentially causing you to lose materials in the ocean.
What to Do Instead:
- Destroy your boat yourself by standing at the mast and reclaiming materials.
- Store the materials safely in a chest until you’re ready to sail.
7. Stop Breeding Creatures Without Stars
Starred versions of wolves, boars, and asksvin yield more resources and are more powerful in combat.
What to Do Instead:
- Breed starred creatures to pass their attributes to offspring.
- Use two-star wolves and asksvin as superior combat allies.
8. Stop Attacking Friendly Dvergr
Dvergr structures in Mistlands and Ashlands make great bases, but attacking them turns them hostile.
What to Do Instead:
- Use a cart to break their ward without aggression.
- Toss refined eitr at the ward to destroy it gradually.
9. Stop Neglecting Sneak Attacks
Sneak attacks deal extra damage, making them highly effective for combat.
What to Do Instead:
- Use daggers for a 6x backstab damage bonus.
- Attack enemies before they detect you to maximize damage.
10. Stop Leaving Base Without the Rested Buff
The rested buff significantly improves stamina regeneration, health regeneration, and XP gain.
What to Do Instead:
- Sit by a fire or shelter for 20 seconds before heading out.
- Increase your comfort level to extend the buff duration.
11. Stop Leaving Tamed Creatures Exposed
Raids, especially ‘You Stirred the Cauldron,’ can devastate livestock, especially chickens.
What to Do Instead:
- Build enclosed shelters to protect your animals from flying threats like bats.
12. Stop Overloading Your Game with Too Many Objects
Large builds with excessive objects, creatures, and light sources can cause lag and performance issues.
What to Do Instead:
- Choose open biomes like plains for large bases.
- Reduce light sources and avoid overloading one area with tamed creatures.
- Remove excess build pieces, stumps, and loose items.
13. Stop Dying to Fall Damage
Fall damage caps at 100 HP, and armor does not reduce it.
What to Do Instead:
- Keep your health above 100 to survive any fall.
- Use the feather cape to negate fall damage.
14. Stop Delaying Bow Skill Leveling
Bow skill is one of the best in Valheim, increasing damage, reducing stamina usage, and shortening draw time.
What to Do Instead:
- Use bows early and often to level up the skill.
- Wear root armor to get a +15 bow skill bonus.
15. Stop Playing on Random Seeds You Dislike
Not every world is fun to play in. Some have poor layouts or inconvenient biomes.
What to Do Instead:
- Use Valheim’s map tools to find ideal seeds before starting.
- Choose seeds based on your preferred playstyle, whether it’s exploration, challenge, or efficiency.
By avoiding these bad habits, you can improve your efficiency, combat prowess, and overall enjoyment of Valheim. Happy Viking adventures!
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