With the release ofAssassin’s Creed Valhalla, players all over the world will be entering a franchise they’ve been familiar with since 2007. Gamers have been excited to find every secret, assassinate every templar of The Order, stealth their way into hidden treasure rooms, and take down the enemy without breaking a single drop of Viking sweat.
These confident players have typically been getting kicked in the jaw early on. It’s not that these goals aren’t possible. Still, with a total overhaul to the combat system as well as the addition of a few mechanics, it turns out that taking fortresses and running raids is initially a bit trickier than fans of the series were expecting. With some tips from the pros, players will be back to clobbering their way through the English countryside in no time.
Updated on July 29, 2025 by Stephen LaGioia:Even after over four years, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is one of Ubisoft’s all-time largest and densest adventures, though it looks to somehow be outdone in scope and sophistication by theupcoming AC Shadows. With such a massive, dynamic world for Eivor to explore and plunder, and with a trio ofDLC packs beckoning stronger Viking players to venturefurther, it seemed fitting to refine and flesh out this piece with a few more useful tips, which newbies and Valhalla vets alike can exploit.
22Utilize Odin’s Sight Often
…Especially When Plundering Barricaded Buildings
Valhalla, and its DLCs, is completely filled with different buildings and structures that hold crucial loot of many kinds. It can be fun to plunder these areas for riches, though navigating and searching for ways to break into some of these buildings can be a headache. Almost any structure that holds something worthwhile is likely to be barricaded from the inside — or require a key.
In either case, players will want to spam their Odin’s Sight, which triggers a blue-shaded pulse that ripples through the area in Eivor’s vicinity. This will usually reveal the location of the bar on the door, which shows up as a red plank. From there, players can position themselves — often peaking through a hole/opening across the way — and hit the barricade with an arrow or explosive.
When it comes to findingkeys, players are better off using the raven to seek them out, as it’s usually farther away.
21Partake In The Drinking Game For Easy Money
A Rare Instance In Which Drinking Can Be Beneficial
Being a Viking-themed game,Valhallaoffers many opportunities for Eivor to cut loose and drink large quantities of ale. Just about every medium and large town in the game seems to have one of these ‘outposts’, and an inebriated man or woman coaxing Eivor into playing a drinking game with them.
The game is fairly simple — it acts as a minigame lasting about a minute, in which players must hit a given button and flick a certain direction in response to on-screen cues. They must press the button shown as the circle encloses the shaded region, and flick the joystick in the direction the sporadic arrows point to.
The best part is that players can place a ‘big bet’ of 200 Silver, meaning they can get a whopping400 Silverback after winning this Drinking Challenge. Even if players do falter and lose to their beer-loving opponent, they can always try again and win back their losses, and then some.
20Assassinate Training Dummies For Quick, Simple Adrenaline Slot Fills
Rest Assured — They Won’t Fight Back
There are various ways to fill the ever-useful Adrenaline slots, which are the fuel for powerful abilities. While players are rewarded with solid actions and hits in combat, many will often find themselves in dire straits and needing a quick boostwithoutthe risk of dying in combat.
One of the easiest and quickest ways to restore this Adrenaline is to simply creep up behind the various training dummies in the settlement and assassinate them. These essentially work as free assassinations, and thus, free Adrenaline boosts.
19Dive Into The DLC During The Campaign
More Riches Await Overseas
Common sense tells players that a DLC releasedafterthe game should be completed following the main game. Many players, therefore, are mistakenly holding off on the adventures to Ireland and France. Not so! Wrath of the Druids has a recommended starting level of 55 and Siege of Paris has a starting level of 200.
While this still means that Eivor should be fairly deep into the main campaign and given at least some experience, these expansions (particularly Wrath of the Druids) can be taken on relatively early. Doing them late will make them too simple to be real challenges, and the levels gained here will be a great help when it comes to the final areas.
It’s useful, as each DLC (especially the latest Dawn of Ragnarok) unlocks countless more enemies to slay, along with a wealth of new items, raids, and challenges.
18Keep Up With Upgrades And Enhancements
The System Is More Streamlined Here, But Still Demands Attention
Checking the inventory screen for potential upgrades can go a long way in juicing up Eivor in the long run. Ubisoft’s more streamlined system of armor and gear means that players can theoretically cling to many of the same armor pieces for long periods. Thus, it’s a good idea to keep up with upgrades and close in on maxing out each piece of gear. Gather Iron Ore, Titanium, and Leather, which can be looted from small chests and around the environment. Focus on cloaks, torso armor, and helmets in particular.
Be sure to take occasional trips back to the settlement and talk to the blacksmith as well. He’ll offer gear Enhancements, which expands the potential usefulness of each piece. Players will need Carbon, Nickel, and Tungsten Ingots. Bumping up armor to the Flawless or Mythical level can do wonders in strengthening Eivor, as they’ll allow for far higher stats and added Rune slots.
17Seek Out Books Of Knowledge
Knowledge Is Power
Though players can obtain skills through the vast skill tree, it’s also a good idea to scour the vast regions of England for Books of Knowledge. Though these will be hit-and-miss,some solid abilitiescan make a huge difference in the heat of battle. Pull up the map to pinpoint the yellow book icons, as these will mark the location of brand new abilities along with upgrades to old ones.
To streamline this process, players can seek out Cartographers, who are represented by question marks on the map. Through these NPCs, maps revealing more Book of Knowledge locations can be purchased.
16Try Out Every Kind Of Weapon
The Game Accommodates Many Playstyles
One big mistake that players make is deciding beforehand what kind of weapon to use. They may decide on sticking with two hatchets simply because that’s what they started with. Or they may decide on using strictly bows because of the role-playing element.
There’s no harm in trying new things! This game is long, and it’s even longer using inferior weapons. Slap on a large shield or a couple of daggers. The right weapons make the games smooth sailing.
15Take Advantage Of Raiding
Get In The True Viking Spirit
Raids are both a fun and rewarding activity to engage in, andAssassin’s Creed Valhallaoffers ample opportunities to do so. This feature has recently become even more appealing with the distinctRiver Raid missions. These are permanent additions that allow Eivor to venture off the beaten path and provide greater challenges, along with unique wealth.
Raiding will not only hone one’s game and grant more EXP, but it will also yield bounties of wealth. These goodies can be utilized in several ways, including being put towards armor and settlement upgrades. Players can find better gear and books of knowledge in the more lavish settlements as well.
14Upgrade The Viking Settlement
They Can Bring Unexpectedly Useful Perks
Settlement upgrades tend to get overlooked quite a bit, beinga fairly simple, yet involved RTS mechanicin an otherwise action-packed game. Still, while it can feel chore-like at times, settlement upgrades can make an impact over time.
Players can erect various new buildings, which means new side quests and activities like hunting and fishing. Not only this, but new buildings will provide various boosts when partaking in feasts. This allows Eivor to enjoy the fruits of their flourishing colony.
13Utilize All Available Tools In Combat
There Are Many To Play With
Much of the combat involves hacking, slicing, and dicing. However, there are plenty of moves in Eivor’s arsenal to take advantage of. Fill each of the eight ability slots, and seek out offensive and defensive skills. Skills like Stomp, Chain Assassination, and Harpoon Impalement can keep the flow of battle smooth and offer a range of options. Perform assassinations, fire arrows, and throw explosive objects. Do whatever it takes to gain an advantage.
Prolonged button-mashing may work on the weaker foes, but this one-dimensional approach can create problems, especially later on when opponents get far tougher. Having an array of different moves at one’s disposal will make Eivor a versatile fighter. It also ensures crucial stamina doesn’t drain too often.
