Throughout Valheim's numerous biomes, there are dozens of different items that players can pick up and use in the game's crafting system. The world is full of stones and different types of wood that can be used to create structures, as well as ores and metals that can be used to create weapons and armor. Some of the more important items that players must gather in Valheim, though, pertain to crafting food items and potions.
Thistle is one such item in the game that plays a part in both food items and potion recipes. But, to access Thistle, players have to travel to two particular biomes in Valheim. For players looking to gather Thistle and take full advantage of it, this guide is here to help.
Where to Find Thistle in Valheim
Thistle is described by the game as being beautiful but prickly, and it appears like a stick with a pair of glowing blue berries on it. Those looking for this plant need to travel to either the Black Forest biome or the challenging Swamp biome. Both of these biomes are home to Thistle, but both are only available to players who have already defeated at least the first boss in the game, Eikthyr.
The best time to track down Thistle is at night, because it glows a light blue. They spawn both individually and in groups of up to five, and will respawn after about 4 hours of play. Interacting with this plant will pull the Thistle from the ground and, if the player is close enough, add it to a player's inventory.​​​​
What to Make With Thistle in Valheim
Thistle is an important ingredient to gather in Valheim because of the four different Cauldron recipes it plays a role in. The recipes that require at least one Thistle are:
- Blood Pudding
- Sausages
- Mead Base: Poison Resistance
- Mead Base: Frost Resistance
The first two are food items that, when crafted, can be consumed to add health and stamina to the player. The latter two are the main ingredients for the Poison Resistance potion and Frost Resistance potion in Valheim.
Blood Pudding and Sausages
Both Blood Pudding and Sausages are useful food items, with the former focusing on Stamina and the latter on Health. Stamina is crucial for those players who rely on the different Bows in Valheim to deal damage, or players who are looking to explore at higher speed. Sausages are to health what Blood Pudding is to Stamina, making them a great food item for players who are likely going to face opponents that deal a lot of damage. Sausages require just one Thistle to create four sausages, while one Blood Pudding requires two Thistle.
Poison and Frost Resistance
Poison Resistance is essential for players looking to explore the Swamp Biome, because this area is filled with dangerous creatures, like Blobs and Oozers, that deal poison damage. This Mead Base, as well as the Mead Base for Frost Resistance, requires 5 Thistle and will produce 6 potions when brought to a Fermenter. Fortunately, for those players who are looking to skip making these potions (or wishing to save their ingredients for something else), Valheim recently added Root Armor which also gives players a resistance to Poison.
Frost Resistance is key for the Mountain Biome, which is home to Valheim's fourth boss Moder. Entering this area without Wolf Armor results in passive damage being dealt to a player. A Frost Resistance potion is the only other way to prevent taking this damage.
Valheim is available now on PC.