When players first join the world of Valheim, there are a few essential tasks that they need to focus on to help them get set up for success. As a sandbox survival game, Valheim has a wide range of steps that players can take remain alive, healthy, and ready to face any enemy they may encounter. The game starts with players being dropped off into the fictional tenth realm, Valheim, by the helpful raven, Hugin. The starting biome is the Meadows, which are full of abundant resources.
The first task in Valheim is to look for an area to create a base and to start gathering resources. To make gathering supplies and building more efficient, players will need to craft basic tools such as a hammer and stone axe. In keeping with a realistic experience, players start with nothing when they first spawn. The first resources to locate are wood and stone. In order to gather wood, players will need to punch a few small trees or pick up loose wood. Stone is an easy resource to find as it is located around the ground. Once these two resources are gathered, the following items can be crafted to get started in the game.
11 Hammer
Onceplayers create a hammer, they will have access to blueprints to build fires, furniture, buildings, and a workbench. A hammer is one of the most simple and essential items players can build in Valheim.
Once players have gathered 3 wood pieces and 2 stones, the option to craft a hammer will become available in the crafting menu. Equipping a hammer will unlock the building menu, which will allow players to finally build a shelter and other items.
10 Stone Axe
Once a stone axe is crafted, players can chop down Beech, Fir, and Pine trees instead of having to scrounge for loose sticks along the ground or wasting time hitting small trees. In order to make a stone axe, players will need to gather 5 wood pieces and 4 stones.
Axes are one of the items that can be used throughout the entire game, from the basic styles to more advanced options that will be unlocked later on. An axe can also act as a weapon should an enemy sneak up on unsuspecting players, allowing the axe skill to get leveled each time it is used in combat.
9 Workbench
Workbenches are necessary to progress with the game. They provide patterns for more advanced structures and tools that will make moving forward in Valheim less of a struggle. In order to craft a workbench, players will need to have a hammer equipped and 10 wood pieces in their inventory.
When placing a workbench, ensure it is in the area where players wish to build their shelter, as they have a limited boundary. After building a shelter, the workbench should be moved inside, so players can access even more blueprints. It is important to note that workbenches give the option for players to repair their worn-down tools without requiring extra materials.
8 Hoe
Another helpful tool to craft is the hoe, which can be used to slightly lower or raise the ground to create a level surface for a shelter to be built on. Hoes can also be used to prepare the ground for farming.
In order for the hoe to appear in the crafting menu, players will need to have a crafted workbench within a shelter. Once a workbench is properly placed under a completed shelter, players will need to gather the required resources: 5 pieces of wood and 2 stone. Once crafted, the hoe will automatically appear in the player's inventory.
7 Shelter
The second essential task that players should do is to find shelter, which is needed for a bed and workbench to work properly. Players can use an abandoned building as a temporary shelter while a more permanent solution is being crafted.
When crafting a basic shelter, players will want to ensure they are on a flat surface and have a large amount of wood gathered. In order to build a shelter, players simply need to access the building menu while having a hammer equipped. This will allow the player to build walls, doors, floor tiles, and roofing. Players can mess around with the style of the shelter until they feel they have ample coverage on all sides.
6 Bed
In Valheim, a bed acts as a spawn point while also allowing players to sleep throughout the night. Beds must be placed within a properly built shelter before they can be used.
In order to craft a bed, players will need to have a workbench nearby and 8 pieces of wood. Once players have the correct resources, they can access the building menu with their hammer and construct a bed. A bed can be put anywhere within a shelter as long as there is room.
5 Fire
Fires are essential for players to stay warm and sleep through the night. They can be crafted outdoors or indoors depending on the player's location and shelter style.
When crafting a fire indoors, players should double-check that they have built a proper ventilation system in place, such as a chimney, to prevent smoke damage. Players will also need to remove a section of the floor when building a fire indoors. From there, as long as they have 5 stones and 2 wood pieces, a fire can be built.
4 Chests
A smaller item that can be helpful in the long run are chests. If players find that their inventory is becoming too full, wooden chests can be crafted and stored within a shelter. Chests are helpful to hold spare items that will remain even if the player dies. This is helpful when players need to make the journey to their gravestone and do not want to do so without tools or gear.
Chests only require a workbench nearby and 10 pieces of wood before they can be crafted. Standard chests can store up to 10 items, giving players plenty of room for items they have gathered or crafted while adventuring through Valheim.
3 Roundpole Fences
Players can also look forward to taming wild animals such as chickens or boars once they have crafted a roundpole fence to act as a pen near their chosen shelter. Crafting a single roundpole fence piece only requires one piece of wood and a workbench nearby.
Players may need to gather a substantial amount of wood if they are planning to build a bigger animal pen. The roundpole fence will ensure that any tamed animals will be easily accessible.
2 Club
While tools are important for survival, it is crucial that players do not forget to craft a club to use as a weapon, as Valheim is full of enemies.
To craft a club, players will only need to gather 6 pieces of wood before the club option is available in the crafting menu. With this rudimentary weapon, players can fight off lower level enemies that they encounter while exploring the world of Valheim.