First Steps & Basic Controls — Valheim Guide

Begin your Valheim journey! Learn essential controls, crafting basics, shelter building, and how to prepare for your first boss fight in this comprehensive beginner's guide.

Welcome to Valheim! This guide will walk you through the absolute basics of survival, from understanding your initial controls to crafting your first tools and preparing for the challenges ahead. Hugin, your feathered guide, will offer advice, so pay attention!

First Steps in the Meadows:

Upon starting, you'll be in the Meadows biome with only a Rag tunic. Gather Wood by punching small trees or picking up branches, and Stone by collecting small rocks. Craft a Stone Axe to defend against Greylings and Boars, and to chop trees more efficiently. Use the in-game map to mark points of interest. Consider trapping rare two-star boars for future taming.

Building Your First Base:

Find a spot, preferably near the coast for Flint access. Gather Raspberries and Mushrooms for food bonuses. Craft a Hammer to build a Workbench. Your Workbench and Bed need to be 'covered' by walls and a roof to function fully. Build a Campfire near your bed (ensure it's not on wood floors and has ventilation) to sleep and pass the night. Build Cooking Stations over the campfire to cook meat for better health and stamina regeneration. Food types (stamina, balanced, health) offer different bonuses; balance them for survival.

Preparing for Eikthyr (First Boss):

Collect Flint on the beach for spears, knives, or axes, and for workbench upgrades. Hunt Boars for meat and Leather scraps. For ranged combat, craft a Crude Bow and Wood or Fire Arrows (feathers are needed for arrows, found from birds or sometimes from cutting trees). For melee, craft a shield. Upgrade your weapons to level 2 with a Chopping Block.