Highlights

  • Valheim's upcoming Ashlands update will completely rework the biome, which will be located at the bottom of the world map.
  • The Ashlands Fortress, the central area of the Ashlands biome, is expected to be the most challenging part of the game so far.
  • The update will introduce new upgrades for weapons and armor, including greatswords, swords, maces, and dual-wielded axes, as well as new enemies such as the BoneMaw Serpent and Charred creatures.

The next major update scheduled for Valheim is expected to give the Ashlands biome an extreme rework. Just recently, the Ashlands update for Valheim confirmed a release window for the first half of 2024. The Ashlands biome is expected to fit into Valheim’s order of progression immediately after the Mistlands, so players who plan to explore the Ashlands when this update releases should first master Valheim’s Mistlands biome.

Unlike Valheim’s Mistlands update though, the studio behind Valheim has been very open about communicating certain elements and concepts of the Ashlands biome throughout the development of this upcoming update. So, while the Ashlands update is still a bit away, there’s already a lot for curious players to get excited about ahead of its release.

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Where To Find the Ashlands Biome in Valheim

Valheim Ashlands Biome Location on World Map

Unlike other biomes in Valheim, the new Ashlands biome will have a fixed location where it will always be generated, which is at the very bottom of the world map. Because this biome has a fixed location, this means that certain other elements of this biome will likely be the same throughout different world seeds.

For example, it’s already been revealed that the Ashlands will always be surrounded by water instead of being connected to other biomes by land. Another component of this biome that will likely be the same is the featured dungeon of this biome, known as the Fortress.

Valheim’s Ashlands Fortress

The Ashlands Fortress is the heart of the Ashlands biome, and it’s expected to be the hardest area of the game so far. While the only thing known about the Fortress itself at this point is the ominous appearance of the front gate, some of the tools that players can use to raid this fortress have already been revealed.

Specifically, a new siege engine has been shown off, which appears to be a mobile artillery cannon. Another strange contraption that’s possibly related to the Fortress was also recently revealed, although its purpose remains a mystery.

The New Weapons and Armor From Valheim’s Ashlands Update

Weapons:

  • Greatsword
  • Sword
  • Mace
  • Dual Wielded Axes

While these are the only weapons that have been revealed in detail so far, there is already more than meets the eye here. Specifically, there are said to be unlockable upgrades for these weapons, but this concept hasn’t been fully explained yet. From what the teaser image shows, it appears that each of these new weapons in Valheim might have unique elemental infusions.

Two different armor sets have been shown off so far leading up to this new update for Valheim. The Embla armor appears to be suited for players that use magic weapons in Valheim, while the other, currently unnamed, armor set appears to be designed for melee builds.

The New Enemies, Animals, and Food in Valheim’s Ashlands Biome

Enemies:

  • BoneMaw serpent
  • Charred
  • Fallen Valkyrie
  • Morgen

According to Valheim’s developers, the Charred enemies draw inspiration from the famous T-800 model Terminator in both appearance and demeanor. At the same time, this creature still seems to retain elements of Valheim’s Norse mythology in one surprisingly deadly package.

As mentioned, the Ashlands biome is said to be surrounded by water, so players have no choice but to travel by water to get here for the first time. While the Ashlands biome as a whole is expected to be a challenging area, getting here will be far from smooth sailing, considering that the nearby waters are home to towering creatures known as the BoneMaw Serpent.

Animals:

  • Cadaver-Bengt

Food:

  • Mashed Meat
  • Piquant Pie
  • Spicy Marmalade

Not much is known about the animal and the food items from the Ashlands biome yet beyond their names, including whether the Cadaver-Bengt animal can be tamed in Valheim. When it comes to the food from this biome though, as a late-game area, it's safe to expect that these items will provide some top-tier buffs.