Valheim is a massive survival game with procedurally generated worlds that are best enjoyed with friends. On their Viking travels, players will stumble upon a wide array of raw materials and resources which can be used to craft new weapons and armor, among other things.
As they progress through the various biomes in Valheim, players will unlock better components for their builds, which will help them in new and more dangerous environments. Some character builds in Valheim are so strong they can be considered overpowered, especially when players upgrade all the components to max rank. On top of good armor and weapons, players should also make sure they remember to get good rest before setting out for combat and eat good meals for health and stamina.
6 Wolf Armor Viking Build
Legs | Chest | Cape | Head | Weapons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Wolf Armor Legs | Wolf Armor Chest | Wolf Fur Cape | Drake Helmet | Banded Shield & Iron Axe |
Although the Wolf Armor build eventually gets overshadowed by stronger builds later on in Valheim, it is extremely powerful in the mid-game and players can make use of it for a long time. As it is mostly made out of silver, this set isn't that hard to acquire. Armed with a painted Banded Shield and an Iron Axe, players will feel like true Viking adventurers with this build.
5 Root Armor Archer
Legs | Chest | Cape | Head | Weapons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Root Leggings | Root Harnesk | Any Cape | Root Mask | Spine Snap |
For players who prefer killing enemies from a distance with a bow, there is no better build than the Root armor set. Wearing the full set of this armor provides +15 damage bonus for bows. Its lightweight nature also makes it great for repositioning. As long as players are able to take down a few abominations, this armor set can be acquired fairly early in the game, in the swamp biome.
Paired with the best bow in the game, the Spine Snap, players will do serious damage with this build. However, as with any build involving a bow, players should make sure to keep topped up on the best arrows in Valheim, especially Carapace Arrows.
4 Fenris Build
Legs | Chest | Cape | Head | Weapons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Fenris Leggings | Fenris Coat | Feather Cape | Fenris Hood | Flesh Rippers |
The Fenris set is one of the most unique builds in Valheim for a variety of reasons. In the right hands, it is surprisingly strong. The Flesh Rippers are the only fist weapon in the game, and with the full Fenris set equipped, players will deal an extra 15 fist damage. Whereas most armor slows the player down, the Fenris armor components actually provide movement speed. The Feather Cape also makes players fall through the air slower and eliminates fall damage, making exploration unrivaled, especially in the Mistlands.
3 Padded Armor Swordsman Build
Legs | Chest | Cape | Head | Weapons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Padded Greaves | Padded Cuirass | Linen Cape | Padded Helmet | Krom |
Out of all the swords in Valheim, none is better than Krom — which is also the only two-handed sword available to players. It is made out of Iron and Bronze, which are both materials found at the start of the game. However, Krom also requires 5 Scale Hide which is only available in the Mistlands. The full Padded armor set looks fantastic for a swordsman, and if players fully upgrade all the components, they will have even more armor than the base version of Carapace armor can offer.
2 Carapace Full Tank Build
Legs | Chest | Cape | Head | Weapons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Carapace Greaves | Carapace Breastplate | Linen Cape | Carapace Helmet | Carapace Shield & Carapace Spear |
Players in search of the tankiest build in Valheim should look no further than a full Carapace set. Even with no upgrades, the full set gives 96 armor. When paired with a Carapace shield, players will basically be invulnerable to any enemy in the game.
However, players looking to get their hands on this set will have to wait till the late game. Carapace, the material required to craft these items, is only dropped by Seekers and Seeker Soldiers in Valheim's hardest biome, the Mistlands. Thankfully, unlike metals, Carapace can be carried through portals, which makes farming it easier.
1 Eitr Magic Build
Legs | Chest | Cape | Head | Weapons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Eitr-Weave Trousers | Eitr-Weave Robe | Feather Cape | Eitr-Weave Hood | Any Staff |
One of the many things that the Mistlands update added to Valheim is the ability to use magic in the game with Eitr. To generate Eitr, players must eat certain Eitr-infused foods such as Yggdrasil Porridge and Stuffed Mushrooms. This resource can also be regenerated faster by wearing the Eitr-Weave set. Once players beat the hardest boss in Valheim, the Queen, they can get a further 100% Eitr regeneration from her Forsaken Power.
Although this set does not give as much armor, players can deal damage from a distance with one of the three offensive Staffs in the game, or gain a shield with the Staff of Protection. As players are likely to be exploring the Mistlands with this build, the Feather Cape can come in useful too, as it helps players avoid fall damage.
Valheim is available on PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.