Players getting into Assassin's Creed Valhalla right after Assassin's Creed Odyssey will immediately notice some gameplay changes. For those players that loved the archery from the previous game, that's one instance where things changed rather drastically. Players won't be switching between arrows in this Assassin's Creed game like they were before and will need to rely on abilities and skills to get various effects.
Assassin's Creed Valhalla has three different types of bows, each using a different type of ammunition. Hunter bows, Light bows (faster, quicker draw speed), and Predator bows (stronger, scoping) each use Hunter, Light, and Predator arrows respectively, but other than that there's no way to change arrows. Instead, players wanting to make use of fire, poison—or most notably—explosive arrows will need to invest in certain skills. These can be fun to use in the heat of battle, but finding and unlocking these enhancements can take some time and effort.
Explosive Arrows can make Eivor's plundering easier—but first, it needs to be found, and it can be tricky to locate without a blueprint as to its location and surroundings.
Updated December 28, 2022, by Stephen LaGioia: As if this Viking adventure wasn't epic enough, Ubisoft has recently released a free questline and a wrap-up of the previous three DLC packs, tagged "The Last Chapter". As its name implies, this will be the final journey for Eivor and should serve as a nice bridge leading up to the upcoming AC Mirage—which looks to dial back the vastness and complexity somewhat. In the meantime, players will likely be even more inclined to power up their Viking explorer as much as they can, and the impactful explosive arrows serve as an effective way to do this.
These potent arrows can be particularly useful in the grueling later portions of the game, especially with the DLC's slew of tougher foes like the Frankish Knights, and the vast lineup of the Order. Of course, these are also useful for plundering and gathering items—which can feel overwhelming at times with the ever-expanding world of AC Valhalla. And so, we decided to venture back and revisit this handy guide, further laying out the details behind explosive arrows and their location.
The Skill For Explosive Arrows
To enable explosive arrows, the useful skill in question is called Incendiary Powder Trap, which allows shots fired from Eivor's bow to deal damage in a wide area.
This is an ability that can be acquired somewhat early on. As touched on, it actually has more use in exploration than in combat, as the explosion can break walls that would have required Assassin's Creed Valhalla players to use an explosive pot instead. This can be handy as it can bypass quite a bit of time and hassle seeking out one of those elusive pots—not to mention carrying them to Eivor's destination in one piece.
Where to Find The First Incendiary Powder Trap
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In order to find the Incendiary Powder Trap Book of Knowledge and access explosive arrows, players will need to head to the city of Walden located in Grantebridgescire. It resides in the southeast portion of the Grantebridgescire region.
- There are several wealth markers found here, but the one players need to look out for is the Book of Knowledge symbol, appearing as a page from a book with a Viking rune on it. This will lead players right to the Incendiary Powder Trap ability level 1.
- Unlike many Books of Knowledge in Assassin's Creed Valhalla, the Incendiary Powder Trap is fairly easy to spot, as it's sitting within a lone, small church in Walden.
- It should be said that there are a few enemies in the area standing around the building. With that in mind, it may be in players' best interest to take out those enemies beforehand, ideally if near the Power Level of 90. If underpowered or in a hurry, it is possible to sneak around the perimeter and assassinate the few troops standing around.
- Players will at least need to seek out the soldier standing behind the church, as he's holding a key to the entrance, indicated by the key icon over his head.
- Once the door is unlocked, head inside the building and use Odin's Sight to locate the nearby Book of Knowledge sitting on the altar in the main room.
Where To Find The Incendiary Powder Trap Upgrade
This skill can also be upgraded to a second level, with the second book being located in Briggworth in the region of Suthsexe.
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Look for a small island in the middle of the river going north and south in Suthsexe, and head there. The Book of Knowledge players are looking for will be in the northwestern portion of that small island.
- Bear in mind, the suggested Power Level here is even higher at 160. However, it's rather easier to slip in and out of the location in question with minimal or no combat.
- Climb on the tower in this area, until coming across a large container full of rocks blocking the doorway on the mid-level roof with broken wall ruins.
- Pull the obstruction to the side, and drop down into the opening inside. This will lead to a small room with an altar that holds the second book.
- Finally, simply head out the door which was locked from the inside, and Eivor will have their fully-powered explosive arrows ready to be unleashed.
Explosive arrows aren't the most overpowered ability in Assassin's Creed Valhalla, but they will certainly come in handy. The explosive arrows, however, are great for breaking obstacles that might otherwise require Eivor to find an explosive pot, so having this ability handy can save a lot of time later on. Still, they can also work fairly well when it comes to distracting and disrupting enemies, though it's a good idea to keep one's distance when using them.
Assassin's Creed Valhalla is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
Source: PCGamer