In Valheim, every 46 minutes of in-game time, there is a 20% chance that a raid event may occur. Raids bring hostile creatures to attack your base, often determined by your progression and location. This guide will cover all raid types, how they work, and the best ways to defend against them.

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Types of Raids in Valheim

There are 11 different raid events in Valheim, categorized into two types:

1. Army Raids – Sent by the next Forsaken boss you need to defeat. These are biome-dependent and will stop occurring once you vanquish the associated boss.
2. Non-Army Raids – Activated by world progression and cannot be deactivated once triggered.

How Raid Events Work

• A raid begins with an on-screen message and unique music.
• Raids last between 80 to 150 seconds but only count down if a player remains in the active raid area (red circle on the map).
• Hostile creatures spawn 40–80 meters from the player and will continue spawning at intervals.
• Starred enemies (1 or 2 stars) do not spawn during raid events.
• After the timer ends, creatures retreat and despawn—but some may linger, so always check the area after a raid.

Raid Activation Conditions

Your active raid pool depends on three factors:

1. Defeated Bosses – Each boss unlocks or removes certain raids.
2. Location & Base Presence – Raids only trigger near bases (40m from at least 3 base structures) except for one event.
3. Creature Kills – Some non-army raids are triggered if a specific creature has been killed, even if not by the player.

Raids cannot occur in dungeons, so players inside burial chambers, sunken crypts, or frost caves are safe.

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All Raid Events & How to Handle Them

1. Eikthyr’s Army (Early Game)

• Triggered By: Active from the start of the game; deactivated once Eikthyr is defeated.
• Occurs In: Meadows, Black Forest.
• Duration: 90 seconds.
• Enemies: 2 Boars, 2 Necks.
• Strategy: An easy event, use it to farm early-game resources.

2. The Elder’s Army

• Triggered By: Defeating Eikthyr.
• Occurs In: Meadows, Black Forest, Swamp, Plains.
• Duration: 120 seconds.
• Enemies: 4 Greydwarves, 6 Greydwarf Warriors, 1 Greydwarf Shaman, 1 Greydwarf Brute.
• Strategy: Prioritize the Shaman (healer and poison dealer). Fast respawns every 5 seconds.

3. Bone Mass’ Army

• Triggered By: Defeating the Elder.
• Occurs In: Meadows, Black Forest, Swamp, Plains, Mountains.
• Duration: 150 seconds.
• Enemies: 3 Draugr, 6 Skeletons.
• Strategy: Expect rain (wet effect reduces stamina). High damage enemies—bring blunt weapons.

4. Ground is Shaking (Troll Raid, First Non-Army Raid)

• Triggered By: Killing a troll in the world.
• Occurs In: Meadows, Black Forest, Swamp, Plains.
• Duration: 120 seconds.
• Enemies: 2 Trolls.
• Strategy: Lure trolls away from your base. Cannot be deactivated.

5. Moder’s Army (Drake Raid)

• Triggered By: Defeating Bone Mass.
• Occurs In: Meadows, Black Forest, Swamp, Plains, Mountains.
• Duration: 150 seconds.
• Enemies: 3 Drakes.
• Strategy: Causes a snowstorm (freezing effect). Use frost resistance Mead or wolf fur gear.

6. Foul Smell from the Swamp (Blob & Oozer Raid)

• Triggered By: Defeating the Elder.
• Occurs In: Meadows, Black Forest, Swamp, Plains.
• Duration: 120 seconds.
• Enemies: 5 Blobs, 2 Oozers.
• Strategy: Blunt & frost damage are effective. Oozers split into two Blobs.

7. Skeleton Surprise

• Triggered By: Defeating Bone Mass.
• Occurs In: Meadows, Black Forest, Swamp, Plains, Mistlands.
• Duration: 120 seconds.
• Enemies: 20 Skeletons, 1 Rancid Remains (poison damage, 54% spawn chance every 15 sec).
• Strategy: Blunt weapons work best. Great for leveling up blocking skills.

8. The Forest is Moving (Greydwarf Raid)

• Triggered By: Killing Greydwarves.
• Occurs In: Meadows, Black Forest.
• Duration: 120 seconds.
• Enemies: Greydwarves, Brutes, Shamans.
• Strategy: Take out Shamans first to stop healing and poison effects.

9. You Stir the Cauldron (Bat Raid, Newest Event)

• Triggered By: Killing a bat in a Frost Cave.
• Occurs In: Any biome (as long as near a base).
• Duration: 120 seconds.
• Enemies: 10 Bats.
• Strategy: Bats fly into buildings, so close doors and windows.

10. The Hunt is On (Wolf Pack Raid)

• Triggered By: Player is exploring the Plains or Mountains.
• Occurs In: Plains, Mountains (only raid that occurs away from bases).
• Duration: 120 seconds.
• Enemies: 6 Wolves.
• Strategy: Wolves spawn every 2 seconds—use ranged attacks and elevated positions.

11. Yagluth’s Army (Fuling Raid)

• Triggered By: Defeating Moder.
• Occurs In: Meadows, Black Forest, Plains.
• Duration: 120 seconds.
• Enemies: 8 Fuling, 2 Fuling Berserkers, 1 Fuling Shaman.
• Strategy: Fortify your base—Fulings deal high damage and break structures.

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Base Defenses & Raid Survival Tips

1. Build a Moat – Digging a trench around your base helps prevent melee enemies from attacking.
2. Use Stone Walls – These provide 50% more durability than wooden stake walls.
3. Cover Animal Pens – Protect tamed animals with roofed enclosures against flying enemies.
4. Keep Tamed Creatures Away from Walls – Poison gas from Blobs can kill nearby animals.
5. Utilize Elevated Structures – Platforms and raised bases help against ground-based raids.
6. Prepare for Elemental Hazards – Certain raids bring rain, snow, or fire, so have resistance Meads ready.

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Final Thoughts

Raid events in Valheim keep the game dynamic and encourage strategic base-building. Understanding how each raid works, what triggers them, and how to prepare ensures that your Viking stronghold remains intact. With new updates like the Mistlands, future raid events may continue to challenge even the most seasoned players.

Stay prepared, build wisely, and may Odin watch over your defenses!