You can't mine Copper until Eikthyr is down, and you can't open the Swamp's crypts until The Elder is. Valheim hangs your whole progression on its bosses, so walk into each fight knowing which weapon and which resistance you need.
0 of 8 completed · 0% complete
Bosses
Spoiler warning: Kall Fimbulbringer, the Deep North boss, is the final fight. His entry stops at how to start it and leaves everything after him alone.
How Valheim Boss Fights Work: Altars, Vegvisirs and Offerings
Most bosses wait at an altar in their biome and wake when you leave the right offering on it. The offering is used up when you summon, so restock before you walk back out. The Queen is the exception: she's fought inside the Infested Citadel, and its door opens with a Sealbreaker instead of an offering. Kall is the other odd one out, with a Strange Bowl in place of an altar.
Finding the altar is a small quest of its own. Vegvisirs turn up in a biome's dungeons and landmarks and help you find each altar, but they aren't guaranteed to show up, so some bosses take a bit of exploring.
Most bosses leave a trophy behind. Hang it on the matching stone at the Sacrificial Stones, where you started the game, to unlock a Forsaken Power, then press F on PC to use it.
Why Valheim Bosses Come in a Fixed Order
The order is built into the drops. Most bosses give you something the next stretch of the game needs, like the Hard Antler for your first pickaxe, the Swamp Key for the crypts or the Dragon Tears for the Artisan Table. Going after a later boss early means fighting it with gear from the wrong tier.
When one fight keeps beating you, the fix usually lives in the biome you're already in. Finish its dungeons, upgrade your weapons and armor and come back.
Matching Your Weapon and Armor to Each Valheim Boss
Weak points are worth building around. The Frostner shows how much: its blunt and frost damage make it a strong pick against Bonemass, who is weak to both, and a poor one against Moder, who is immune to frost.
Arrows and spears are the other trap. They deal pierce damage, and Bonemass, Yagluth, The Queen, Fader and Kall all resist it.
Then look at what the boss throws back. Bonemass and The Queen both deal poison, so a Poison Resistance Mead is worth drinking before you fight them. Yagluth and Fader both deal fire, so pack fire resistance for those two.
Mistakes That Send You Back to Your Tombstone
- Picking the wrong Forsaken Power. Eikthyr's power cuts the stamina you spend running, jumping and swimming by 60%, and Bonemass's makes blocking cost no stamina. Match the power to how you plan to fight.
- Eating for exploring instead of fighting. Health food is for the arena and stamina food is for exploring. Eat health food before you summon.
FAQ
What order do you fight the Valheim bosses in?
Eikthyr in the Meadows, The Elder in the Black Forest, Bonemass in the Swamp, Moder in the Mountain, Yagluth in the Plains, The Queen in the Mistlands, Fader in the Ashlands and Kall Fimbulbringer in the Deep North. It's the same order as the biomes.
Can you summon a Valheim boss again after you kill it?
Yes, as often as you can gather the offering again. Extra trophies work as decorations on item stands.
How long does a Forsaken Power last?
Each one lasts 5 minutes and has a 20-minute cooldown. Kall Fimbulbringer doesn't give one.
Are mini-bosses like Brenna and Geirrhafa part of the boss order?
No. Brenna, Geirrhafa, Zil & Thungr and Lord Reto are optional dungeon fights in the Black Forest, Mountain, Plains and Ashlands, and none of them gives a Forsaken Power. You'll find them with the creatures.