Weapons are items that can be used to deal damage to creatures and structures.
Properties
Wielding (One-handed/Two-handed)
Only One-handed weapons can be simultaneously equipped with shields or a torch. All melee two-handed weapons have a greater movement speed reduction and cannot be used together with shields or a torch.
Offensive and defensive properties
Damage/ Damage type
All damages in Valheim have a damage type. Some creatures have weaknesses/resistances to certain damage types, which increases/decreases the effectiveness of these damages. For example, skeletons are weak to blunt damage and resist pierce damage.
When creatures are hit by damage with damage types they are weak/resist to, the damage numbers would be shown in yellow/grey color compared to the usual white color.
Similar types of weapons mostly deal same type of damage:
- Blunt damage: One/two-handed Clubs
- Slash damage: One/two-handed Axes, Swords
- Pierce damage: Spears, Polearms, Pickaxes, Bows
- Half slash, half pierce damage: Knives
Exceptions include weapons that deal elemental damage like Torch, Frostner and Draugr fang. Some clubs including Stagbreaker and Porcupine also deal pierce damage besides blunt damage. Keep in mind that not all damage types are upgraded when upgrading some weapons.
Block armor and block force
All weapons have a value of block armor, indicating the amount of damage absorbed when blocked by the weapon.
Block force shows the amount of knockback applied to enemies when blocked.
Parry and Parry bonus
Weapons and shields, except tower shields, can be used to parry attacks, with varying parry bonuses.
Parry bonus is a multiplier to block armor (damage absorbed) when parrying. Damage dealt to the enemy in a period of time after a successful parry that absorbs all the damage is always 2x. Parry bonus is mostly determined by the weapon type:
- Tower shields: Cannot parry
- Tankard, Bows, Round shields: 1.5x
- Buckler shields: 2.5x
- Polearms (atgeirs): 3x
- Knives: 4x
- Flesh Rippers: 6x
- All other weapons: 2x
Backstab
Backstab indicates the multiplier applied to enemies when backstabbing. The backstab bonus is applied when attacking unaware enemies, regardless of whether they are facing towards or away from the player. Backstabbing an enemy gives it a backstab immunity for 5 minutes. Backstabbing can occur even if enemy has partial HP. An enemy which has a red exclamation point over its name and HP bar, indicating that it is aware of your location, cannot be backstabbed.
- Abyssal harpoon: 1x
- Two-handed clubs: 2x
- Tankard (Cannot attack): 4x
- Knives and Flesh Rippers: 6x
- All other weapons, including bows and one-handed clubs: 3x
Knockback
Knockback shows how far enemies are knocked back when attacked by the weapon.
Movement speed
Most weapons, when equipped, decreases the character's movement speed and increases dodge roll cost. The movement speed effect is mostly determined by the weapon type:
- Flesh Rippers and Knives: -0% (No movement speed reduction)
- All other one-handed melee weapons, bows, round shields, pickaxes, polearms: -5%
- Serpent scale shield: -10%
- Battleaxe ,Crystal Battleaxe ,and Iron Sledge, tower shields except the Serpent scale shield: -20%
Melee weapons
Melee weapons are items that can be equipped to increase attack damage. Different types of melee weapon can have different ranges, attack speeds, stamina costs per attack and secondary attacks. When equipping one-handed weapons, the character can also equip shields.
Most melee weapons' attack pattern involve a 3-hit combo. Generally, the first hit has the slowest delay (from the initial click), the second hit has less delay, and the third hit is slightly slower while dealing the most damage. Most melee weapons are quicker to recover and block from a miss than after a direct strike. Below are details regarding each type of melee weapon:
Weapon type properties
Attack type | Stamina (base) | Range | Attack speed | Damage | Staggering | Knockback | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Axes (primary) | 6 - 14 | 2.2 m | 2.58 s (1.11 + 0.65 + 0.82) | 1x + 1x + 2x | 2x | 50 - 60 | Player moves forward 0.25 m on the 2nd and 3rd combo swing. 90 degree arc. |
Clubs (primary) | 6 - 14 | 2.4 m | 2.46 s (1.14 + 0.44 + 0.88) | 1x + 1x + 2x | 1x | 30 - 120 | Player moves forward 0.66 m with each swing. 90 degree arc. |
Clubs (secondary) | 2x | 2.4m | 1.72 s | 2.5x | 2x | 2x | Player moves forward 0.66 m. 30 degree arc. |
Flesh rippers | 10 | 1.5m | 1.48 s (0.76 + 0.72) | 1x + 2x | 20 | ||
Swords (primary) | 8 - 14 | 2.4 m | 2.46 s (1.14 + 0.44 + 0.88) | 1x + 1x + 2x | 1x | 40 | Player moves forward 0.66 m with each swing. 90 degree arc. |
Swords (secondary) | 2x | 2.4 m | 1.84 s | 3x | 1x | 1x | Player moves forward 0.33 m. 45 degree arc. |
Spears (primary) | 6 - 12 | 1.9 m | 0.68 s | 1x | 1x | 20 | Player moves forward 0.33 m. 40 degree arc. No 3-hit combo. |
Spears (secondary) | 8 - 14 | Thrown | 1.57 s (includes picking up) | 1.5x | 1x | 1.5x | Throws the spear. Can be picked up afterwards and can float on water. |
Knives (primary) | 4 - 12 | 1.8 m | 1.74 s (0.6 + 0.44 + 0.7) | 1x + 1x + 2x | 1x | 10 | Attacking does not move the player. 80 degree arc. |
Knives (secondary) | 3x | 1.8 m | 1.52 s | 3x | 1x | 4x | Causes the player to lunge 5 m forward. 45 degree arc. |
Polearms (primary) | 12 - 18 | 3.2 m | 2.98 s (0.84 + 0.86 + 1.28) | 1x + 1x + 2x | 1x | 30 | Player moves forward 0.75 m on 2nd and 3rd combo swing. 20 degree arc. |
Polearms (secondary) | 2x | 3 m | 1.54s | 1x | 6x | 10x | Player moves forward 0.5 m. 360 degree arc. No multi-target damage penalty. |
Two-handed axes (primary) | 16 - 18 | 2.5 m | 3.21 s (1.58 + 0.92 + 0.71) | 1x + 1x + 2x | 1.5x | 70 | Player moves forward 0.5 m with each swing. 90 degree arc. No multi-target damage penalty. |
Two-handed axes (secondary) | 0.5x | 2.5 m | 0.84s | 0.5x | 4x | 2x | Player does not move forward during strike. 30 degree arc. |
Two-handed clubs | 12 - 20 | 4 m | 2.12 s | 1x | 1x / 2x | 150 - 200 | Hammer lands 2 m in front of player creating a shockwave area of effect with a radius of 4 m. No damage falloff anywhere in the radius. No multi-target damage penalty. No 3-hit combo. No secondary attack. |
List of Melee weapons
Name | Icon | Type | Damage | Max Damage | Backstab | Knockback |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Club | ![]() |
Clubs | Blunt: 12/30 | 30 | 3x | 25 |
Stone axe | ![]() |
Axes | Slash: 15/30 | 30 | 3x | 50 |
Torch | ![]() |
Clubs | Blunt: 4
Fire: 15 |
4 | 3x | 30 |
Flesh rippers | Fists | Slash: 60/76 | 76 | 6x | 20 | |
Flint axe | ![]() |
Axes | Slash: 20/35 | 35 | 3x | 50 |
Flint knife | ![]() |
Knives | Slash: 5/8
Pierce: 5/8 |
8 | 6x | 10 |
Flint spear | ![]() |
Spears | Pierce: 20/38 | 38 | 3x | 20 |
Antler Pickaxe | ![]() |
Pickaxes | Pierce: 18
Pickaxe: 18 |
18 | 3x | 50 |
Stagbreaker | ![]() |
Two-handed Clubs | Blunt: 20/38
Pierce: 5/5 |
38 | 2x | 150 |
Copper knife | ![]() |
Knives | Slash: 12/15
Pierce: 12/15 |
15 | 6x | 10 |
Bronze atgeir | ![]() |
Polearms | Pierce: 45/63 | 63 | 3x | 30 |
Bronze Axe | ![]() |
Axes | Slash: 40/55 | 55 | 3x | 50 |
Bronze Mace | ![]() |
Clubs | Blunt: 35/53 | 53 | 3x | 80 |
Bronze Spear | ![]() |
Spears | Pierce: 35/53 | 53 | 3x | 20 |
Bronze sword | ![]() |
Swords | Slash: 35/53 | 53 | 3x | 40 |
Bronze Pickaxe | ![]() |
Pickaxes | Pierce: 24/40
Pickaxe: 24/37 |
40 | 3x | 50 |
Abyssal Harpoon | ![]() |
Spears | Pierce: 10 | 10 | 1x | 20 |
Abyssal Razor | ![]() |
Knives | Slash: 20/23
Pierce: 20/23 |
23 | 6x | 10 |
Ancient bark spear | ![]() |
Spears | Pierce: 55/73 | 73 | 3x | 20 |
Tankard | ![]() |
- | (Only used to drink mead) | 0 | 4x | 30 |
Battleaxe | ![]() |
Two-handed Axes | Slash: 70/88
Chop: 40/47.5 |
88 | 3x | 70 |
Iron sword | ![]() |
Swords | Slash: 55/73 | 73 | 3x | 50 |
Iron axe | ![]() |
Axes | Slash: 60/75
Chop: 50/59 |
75 | 3x | 50 |
Iron sledge | ![]() |
Two-handed Clubs | Blunt: 55/73 | 73 | 2x | 200 |
Iron mace | ![]() |
Clubs | Blunt: 55/73 | 73 | 3x | 90 |
Iron pickaxe | ![]() |
Pickaxes | Pierce: 33/48
Pickaxe: 33/48 |
48 | 3x | 50 |
Iron atgeir | ![]() |
Polearms | Pierce: 65/83 | 83 | 3x | 30 |
Silver sword | ![]() |
Swords | Slash: 75/93
Spirit: 30/45 |
93 | 3x | 40 |
Fang spear | ![]() |
Spears | Pierce: 75/93 | 93 | 3x | 20 |
Frostner | ![]() |
Clubs | Frost: 40/58
Blunt: 35/35 Spirit: 20/20 |
58 | 3x | 120 |
Crystal battleaxe | ![]() |
Two-handed Axes | Slash: 90/108
Spirit: 30/30 Chop: 50/57.5 |
108 | 3x | 70 |
Silver knife | ![]() |
Knives | Slash: 25/28
Pierce: 25/28 Spirit: 12 |
28 | 6x | 10 |
Blackmetal atgeir | ![]() |
Polearms | Pierce: 105/123 | 123 | 3x | 30 |
Blackmetal axe | ![]() |
Axes | Slash: 100/115
Chop: 60/69 |
115 | 3x | 60 |
Blackmetal knife | ![]() |
Knives | Slash: 34/37
Pierce: 34/37 |
37 | 6x | 10 |
Blackmetal sword | ![]() |
Swords | Slash: 95/113 | 113 | 3x | 40 |
Porcupine | ![]() |
Clubs | Blunt: 50/50
Pierce: 45/63 |
53 | 3x | 90 |
Bows
Bows are weapons that shoot equipped arrows. Unlike melee weapons, attacks consume equipped arrows and can be charged while spending stamina to increase range and damage. Bows cannot be used when there are no arrows left in the inventory.
List of Bows
Name | Icon | Damage | Backstab | Knockback |
---|---|---|---|---|
Crude bow | ![]() |
Pierce: 22/31 | 3x | 0 |
Finewood bow | ![]() |
Pierce: 32/41 | 3x | 5 |
Huntsman bow | ![]() |
Pierce; 42/51 | 3x | 10 |
Draugr Fang | ![]() |
Pierce: 47/56
Poison: 5/20 |
3x | 20 |
Arrows
Arrows are items that can be shot by bows. Bows cannot be used without arrows.
List of Arrows
Name | Icon | Total Damage | Damage Type | Knockback |
---|---|---|---|---|
Wood arrow | ![]() |
22 | Pierce: 22 | 10 |
Fire arrow | ![]() |
33 | Pierce: 11
Fire: 22 |
10 |
Flinthead arrow | ![]() |
27 | Pierce: 27 | 10 |
Bronzehead arrow | ![]() |
32 | Pierce: 32 | 10 |
Ironhead arrow | ![]() |
42 | Pierce: 42 | 10 |
Silver arrow | ![]() |
72 | Pierce: 52
Spirit: 20 |
10 |
Obsidian arrow | ![]() |
52 | Pierce: 52 | 10 |
Poison Arrow | ![]() |
78 | Pierce: 26
Poison: 52 |
10 |
Frost arrow | ![]() |
78 | Pierce: 26
Frost: 52 |
10 |
Needle arrow | ![]() |
62 | Pierce: 62 | 15 |
Shields
Shields are weapons that can be used with other one-handed weapons. The block power, parry force and parry bonus of the weapons used with shields would be replaced by that of the shield used. Round shields have lower block power than tower shields. However, tower shields cannot parry and reduce 20% of the movement speed when equipped (except Serpent scale shield, which reduces 15% of the movement speed only), while round shields can and only reduce 5% of the movement speed when equipped.
List of Shields
Name | Icon | Tyoe | Block armor | Block force | Parry Bonus | Movement speed |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wood shield | ![]() |
Round | 6/18 | 20/30 | 1.5x | -5% |
Wood tower shield | ![]() |
Tower | 10/22 | 100/110 | - | -20% |
Bone tower shield | ![]() |
Tower | 32/44 | 100/110 | - | -20% |
Bronze buckler | ![]() |
Buckler | 16/28 | 30 | 2.5x | -5% |
Banded shield | ![]() |
Round | 42/54 | 40/50 | 1.5x | -5% |
Iron buckler | ![]() |
Buckler | 28/40 | 30 | 2.5x | -5% |
Iron tower shield | ![]() |
Tower | 52/64 | 100/110 | - | -20% |
Silver Shield | ![]() |
Round | 60/72 | 40/50 | 1.5x | -5% |
Serpent scale shield | ![]() |
Tower | 60/72 | 100/110 | - | -15% |
Black metal shield | ![]() |
Round | 78/90 | 50/60 | 1.5x | -5% |
Black metal tower shield | ![]() |
Tower | 104/116 | 150/160 | - | -20% |
Bombs
Bombs are weapons that are consumed when used.
List of Bombs
Name | Icon | Damage | Damage Type | Backstab | Knockback |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ooze bomb | ![]() |
5 + 40 | Blunt
(Poison effect AoE) |
3x | 40 |