Progression Guide - Valheim Guide - IGN (2024)

If you need some help tracking your Valheim progression, you’ve come to the right place. Upgrading your tools, weapons, and armor, along with building bases and gathering new resources, is essential to progress further in the Viking survival game.

The Valheim Progression System

In short, the Valheim progression system requires you to gather new resources upon visiting a new biome. You then need to craft better items to take on the biome’s Boss. After defeating the boss, you’ve ‘completed’ the biome and are ready to move on to the next one.

Here’s a list of everything you need to do in order to progress through each Valheim biome. If you want, you can use the checkboxes to tick off your progression achievements.

Meadows Progression

As a brand-new Viking, you’ll be dropped in the Meadows, with nothing but a Rag Tunic on your body. Here’s how to gear up and conquer the first Valheim biome.

Black Forest Progression

After obtaining the Antler Pickaxe dropped by Eikthyr, you unlock the ability to mine ore. You will find your first Copper Ore and Tin Ore veins in the Black Forest where you’ll be able to upgrade to Bronze Armor.

Swamp Progression

In the Swamp biome, you’ll reach Valheim’s iron age. Dive into the Sunken Crypts to gather Scrap Iron, upgrade to Iron Armor, and build a proper Viking ship.

Mountains Progression

The main difficulty when it comes to biome progression in the Mountains, is the freezing cold. Use Frost Resistance Mead, and you’ll be ready to use Bonemass’ Wishbone to scan the area for Silver Ore veins.

Plains Progression

This is where it gets truly dangerous. To keep up your Valheim progression in the Plains biome, craft an Artisan Table and collect as much Blackmetal Scrap and Flax <meta />as you can. There’s no way around it; you’ll have to visit the local Fuling Villages.

Mistlands Progression

The first step to conquering the Mistlands is to get a Wisplight, which will allow you to see through the thick mist. Next, you need to gather a new type of wood, craft a Blackmetal Pickaxe, and start looking for all the new resources.

Ashlands Progression

As always, conquering this biome starts with obtaining the special item dropped by the previous biome boss. In this case, that's the Majestic Carapace. This will allow you to get a stronger ship and sail to the Ashlands. Beware that you'll need a lot of Black Marble for this.

Once you've reached the Ashlands, you'll need a lot of Asksvin drops, flametal ore, and bone fragments to survive. For more info on how to obtain these items, you can use our Valheim Ashlands biome guide. If you'd like to see a step-by-step Ashlands walkthrough, here's the Ashlands progression order: