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In RPGs, it's common for players to come across enemies who appear invincible to some weapon types and vulnerable to others. Thus, stacking up a vast arsenal is essential for making it to the endgame of such titles in one piece. Valheim is no exception to this mechanism, with Iron Gate Studios giving its players a multitude of methods to put a chink in the armor of enemies in different biomes. Combat in the popular sandbox title can be separated into categories of physical and elemental damage, and each type has areas and bosses where deploying them is most useful, as well as opponents that are practically immune to their attacks. As such, not all damage types are equal in Valheim, and some are superior to others.

Excluding effects such as tick, per second, and pure damage, every weapon in the current Valheim meta belongs to a specific damage type group. For instance, axes and swords belong to the Slash type, and players deal Slash damage to enemies whenever a weapon belonging to the category is brought to bear in a battle. However, some types of damage are weaker than others in terms of hurting most enemies in Valheim, although none can be said to be efficient in every biome.

Valheim Hildir Art
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S-Tier

Lightning Damage

In a sandbox game where combat is usually dependent on the quality of weapons available, the ability to control lightning would always give players an overpowered advantage. Yagluth and Eikthyr are the only foes in Valheim who can conjure the element in their battles—none are resistant to its effects, either. Players have to craft the Himmin Afl spear to wield the power of lightning, and its rarity and sheer power make it stand alone as Valheim's most powerful damage type.

A-Tier

Blunt and Fire Damage

Players need their weapons to give them an advantage to survive Valheim's harsh climate, and blunt damage holds up beautifully in more areas than its weaknesses show. Harnessed by hammers and clubs, blunt damage is considered the best physical damage type since it weakens many common enemies across all stages of the game; from the Blobs in the Swamps to Stone Golems in the Mountains. Although creatures like trolls are less harmed by the type, its adaptability across the climes gives blunt damage an edge compared to others.

In a slightly different complexion, fire damage is also one of the elite types in Valheim. Accessible through fire arrows and similar gear, this damage type burns particularly brightly in the Black Forest, Meadows, and Plains regions of the map. Naturally, its effectiveness wanes in the fiery Ashlands biome and the Ocean, where most creatures are immune to its attacks. Despite losing some of its shine in the late game, fire damage is deadly at melting enemies for much of the early and mid-game, giving it the status of one of the most versatile damages in Valheim.

B-Tier

Frost and Pierce Damage

Frost is the opposite of fire's damage-over-time mechanism, adding its elemental damage to the impact of the player's weapon. Players wading through the Ocean and Swamp will appreciate frost damage's capabilities the most, although this damage type is almost completely ineffectual in the Deep North and up the Mountain.

Ranged warfare finds its Valheim abode in pierce damage, and there are quite a few creatures who are resistant to a nick in the flesh from an arrow or spear. Pierce damage is handy for run-ins with trolls in the early game, making spears an early weapon of choice for most players. While weapons under this category can hold their own for a bit in most climes, their damage-dealing capacities don't do much to excite players.

C-Tier

Slash Damage

Although axes and swords are some of the most popular weapons in Valheim, slash damage lags behind other forms of physical damage since no enemies have it as an Achilles heel. It can still play a role in battles against Abominations, but its lack of firepower against almost all other opponents holds the damage type back.

D-Tier

Poison and Spirit Damage

Poison isn't the most accessible damage type, and its poor health reduction capabilities for enemies make players question if the hunt is worth it. Although poison can make a mark in the Mountains and the early game, most bosses in Valheim are immune to damage from this type, making it one of the worst.

Likewise, spirit damage has the same application problem. Virtually all Valheim's enemies except the undead can't be affected by it, and its debuff doesn't last long enough to impact the likes of Yagluth and other bosses meaningfully. Coupled with how inaccessible it is, like poison, spirit damage can easily be viewed as one of the worst types in Valheim.