Ever feel like you’re just flailing your axe in the dark when you first jump into Assassin’s Creed Valhalla? So many choices, so many skills, so many angry Saxons! It’s easy to get overwhelmed and end up making mistakes that slow you down.
Fear not, Viking friend! This guide is packed with Assassin’s Creed Valhalla tips for a strong start, ensuring you’ll be raiding monasteries and building your settlement like a seasoned Jarl in no time. We’ll cover everything from early skill choices to resource management, so you can conquer England with confidence.
Early Game Skill Choices: Paving the Way to Victory

Choosing the right skills early on can drastically improve your effectiveness in combat and exploration. Don’t just pick randomly!
Prioritize Combat Skills
In the early game, combat is your bread and butter. Focus on skills that enhance your survivability and damage output.
Brush With Death: This skill slows down time when you dodge at the last second. It’s invaluable for learning enemy attack patterns and landing counter-attacks.
Parry Advantage: Regain stamina when you parry successfully. Stamina is crucial for attacking, dodging, and blocking, so this helps you stay in the fight longer.
Breakfall: Automatically roll when falling from a height, reducing damage. This is a lifesaver when exploring the often-vertical landscapes of Norway and England.
Don’t Neglect Exploration Skills
Exploring the world is just as important as fighting. Unlock skills that make exploration easier and more rewarding.
Advanced Assassination: Allows you to assassinate stronger enemies. This is a game-changer for stealth players, letting you eliminate high-threat targets silently.
Hunter Bow Damage: Increases the damage of your hunter bow. Essential for taking down enemies from a distance and hunting animals for resources.
Auto-Loot: Automatically loot enemies after defeating them. This saves you a ton of time and lets you focus on the next encounter.
Mastering Combat: From Novice to Viking Warrior
Combat in Valhalla is brutal and unforgiving. Mastering the basics is essential for survival.
Understanding Enemy Weaknesses
Each enemy type has its own weaknesses. Experiment with different weapons and tactics to exploit them.
Heavy Attacks: Use heavy attacks to break enemy guards and stagger them. This creates openings for follow-up attacks.
Stamina Management: Watch your stamina bar! Running out of stamina leaves you vulnerable to attacks.
Parrying: Learn to parry enemy attacks. A perfectly timed parry can stagger enemies and create opportunities for counter-attacks.
Utilizing Your Abilities
Abilities are powerful special attacks that can turn the tide of battle. Use them strategically.
Adrenaline: Fill your adrenaline bar by landing hits and dodging attacks. Use adrenaline to unleash powerful abilities.
Ranged Abilities: Use ranged abilities to weaken enemies from a distance or interrupt their attacks.
Melee Abilities: Use melee abilities to deal massive damage up close and personal.
Settlement Building: Creating Your Viking Home
Your settlement is the heart of your adventure. Building and upgrading it provides valuable bonuses and unlocks new features.
Prioritize Essential Buildings
Focus on building the most important structures first.
Blacksmith: Allows you to upgrade your weapons and armor. This is crucial for staying competitive in combat.
Hidden Ones Bureau: Unlocks assassination missions and provides valuable rewards. A must-have for stealth players.
Trading Post: Allows you to trade resources for supplies and raw materials. Essential for upgrading your settlement.
Resource Management: Gathering and Spending Wisely
Resources are scarce in the early game. Manage them carefully.
Raiding: Raid monasteries and other settlements to gather supplies and raw materials.
Exploring: Explore the world to find chests and hidden caches of resources.
Prioritize Upgrades: Focus on upgrading the most important buildings and equipment.
Exploration Tips: Uncovering the Secrets of England

England is a vast and beautiful land, filled with secrets and treasures.
Sync Points: Unveiling the Map
Climb to the highest points in each region to synchronize and reveal the surrounding area on your map.
World Events: Discovering Short Stories
Look out for blue markers on your map. These indicate world events, which are short, self-contained stories that offer unique rewards and experiences.
Wealth, Mysteries, and Artifacts: Completing Regions
Each region has a set number of wealth, mysteries, and artifacts to discover. Completing these unlocks valuable rewards and contributes to your overall progress.
Gear and Equipment: Equipping Your Viking
Choosing the right gear is crucial for survival.
Focus on Armor Sets
Collect complete armor sets to unlock powerful set bonuses.
Upgrade Your Gear Regularly
Upgrade your weapons and armor at the blacksmith to improve their stats.
Experiment with Different Weapon Types
Each weapon type has its own strengths and weaknesses. Experiment to find the ones that suit your playstyle.
Stealth vs. Combat: Choosing Your Approach
Valhalla offers both stealth and combat options. Choose the approach that best suits your playstyle.
Stealth: The Silent Assassin
Use stealth to eliminate enemies silently and avoid detection.
High Grass: Use high grass to hide from enemies.
Assassination: Assassinate enemies from behind to eliminate them instantly.
Distraction: Use distractions to lure enemies away from their posts.
Combat: The Viking Warrior
Engage enemies in direct combat and unleash your fury.
Dodging: Dodge enemy attacks to avoid damage.
Parrying: Parry enemy attacks to stagger them.
Abilities: Use abilities to deal massive damage.
Ravensthorpe: Your Growing Community
Ravensthorpe isn’t just a base; it’s a living, breathing community that evolves as you progress.
Engaging with NPCs
Talk to the residents of Ravensthorpe. They often have quests or information to share.
Participating in Festivals
Participate in festivals to earn rewards and celebrate your accomplishments.
Building Relationships
Build relationships with other clans and settlements to forge alliances and expand your influence.
Conclusion
Starting strong in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is all about smart skill choices, mastering combat fundamentals, strategic settlement building, and thorough exploration. By prioritizing these areas, you’ll be well-equipped to conquer England and build a lasting legacy. So, grab your axe, sharpen your blade, and set forth on your Viking adventure! What are your favorite early game tips for Valhalla? Share your experiences in the comments below!
FAQ
Q: What’s the best weapon to start with in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla?
A: There isn’t a single “best” weapon. Experiment with different types to find what suits your playstyle. Many players find axes and shields to be effective early on due to their balance of offense and defense. Don’t be afraid to try spears, hammers, or even daggers!
Q: How important is raiding early in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla?
A: Raiding is crucial in the early game. It’s the primary way to gather supplies and raw materials needed to upgrade your settlement. Prioritize raiding monasteries and other settlements that are close to your current power level.
Q: What should I spend my skill points on first in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla?
A: Focus on skills that improve your combat survivability and damage output, such as “Brush With Death” and “Parry Advantage.” Also, consider skills that enhance exploration, like “Advanced Assassination” and “Auto-Loot.” This will give you a well-rounded start to your Viking journey.