Eivor wastes little time making a name for himself while venturing through England in Assassin's Creed Valhalla. Early on in this quest, the Viking sets his eyes on Ledecestre, and by the midway point of the chapter, is in a position to depose the region's King Burgred.
This sets the stage for one of the more memorable quests in the game, "Tilting the Balance," which tasks Eivor with seeking out the king's seemingly discrete hideout and carrying him on horseback to their base of operations. This pivotal quest is fun to pull off, but it can be tough, as several things need to go right – and it involves several unique actions. This guide will serve as the blueprint regarding how to navigate and complete the "Tilting the Balance" quest.
Quest Background
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During the third chapter, as part of the Kingmaker's Saga, Eivor will be busy dealing with enemy forces and forging alliances in Ledecestrescire. After kidnapping Queen Aethelswith for the Walls of Templebrough subquest, Eivor will be called upon to do some more dirty work and nab the king himself. First, however, they will need to find his hideout and neutralize the opposition that stands in his way.
How To Start The "Tilting The Balance" Quest
This quest will begin near Tamworth Fortress, which resides in the central-western region of Ledecestrescire, just east of a synchronization Viewpoint. Players can fast travel to this location, assuming it was already discovered, to reach this area more easily. The quest both starts and ends in this location.
The suggested power of this region is 20, so be sure to have Eivor's power at least close to this number before venturing out. Completion of this quest yields 3,400 XP, along with various goodies that can be found in the hideout Eivor will be exploring.
Steps To Complete The "Tilting The Balance" Quest
- Once in the region outside Tamworth Fortress, players should follow the waypoint, which leads inside a stable, and speak with Lady Aethelswith. Eivor will demand to know where Burgred is hiding. After some coercing – and some disturbing sights brought by Ivarr to shake her up – she'll finally reveal this information.
- Players will learn that "Burgred is hiding in an old crypt to the south, where "the Alne and Arwy rivers join." Ubba requests that Eivor literally carry him back to the bridge at Venonis.
- Pull up the map and mark the location to the southwest, where the two aforementioned rivers join. It's right at the conjunction of three rivers, immediately to the southwest of Offchurch. Offchurch is where Eivor will need to enter to access the underground crypt.
- When drawing near this area, it's a good idea to use Eivor's Raven to scout out the region.
- Several soldiers await Eivor in this area, most of which can be dealt with fairly easily, as Eivor can sneak around corners, through bushes, and on the rooftop to utilize stealth kills. Be sure to use Odin's Sight to pick out nearby troops standing by. Once the threats have been taken care of, encircle the cathedral and search for a side entrance that leads underground.
Traversing The Crypt
- Once inside the crypt, sneak through the halls and take the staircase farther down. Grab any nearby collectibles, but be ready to deal with guards around the area. Be on the lookout for a crack in one of the walls just after a long staircase, which leads to a Book of Knowledge. Eivor will earn a new ability, Focus of the Nornir.
- Across the way is another wall with an obstruction that can be pushed out of the way. Crawl underneath the hole in the wall behind it, where a chest carrying some Wealth can be looted. There will be a small staircase leading a bit upwards, leading to a red-winged banner. This is followed quickly by another downward staircase to the right. Go down these stairs.
- After venturing a bit deeper into the crypt, Eivor will say that they are "getting close." Assassinate the guard facing the destructible wall, and either fire an arrow at the explodable jug or toss it at this wall to destroy it.
The Skirmisher & King Burgred
- This will give way to a room with a Skirmisher holding a key. He isn't too difficult to take out assuming Eivor's power level is close to 20, but be sure to keep moving and mix up the attacks and abilities. Here is a list of some of the very best skills that can be utilized to deal with heftier foes like the Skirmisher.
- Once he's dealt with, grab the Offchurch Door Key and proceed to a locked door to the left of a candelabra.
- This will trigger a cutscene that shows Eivor encountering a frightened King Burgred. After razzing him for his "bread knife" of a sword, Eivor will engage him in battle.
- Wait for Burgred to strike first, and quickly swoop in with counterattacks. His shield can absorb attacks fairly well, but when vulnerable, he's not too difficult. A powerful weapon should be able to handle him without breaking too much of a sweat.
- He will swipe and charge at Eivor quite a bit, though his attacks are fairly close range. Be ready to roll out of the way or counter when Burgred charges. Once defeated, Eivor will be prompted to tie up the king and carry him back.
- Grab the nearby loot, which includes a Sepulcher Axe. Grab the king and enter the next room, which holds a barred door. Destroy the lock, which leads to a quick, convenient exit from the cathedral. Place him on Eivor's horse and ride back to Tamworth.
The Escape
- Eivor will soon be chased by troops once the word has gotten out that Burgred's been kidnapped. Simply keep galloping towards the waypoint to avoid them – or players can choose to dismount the horse and deal with them, but this is trickier to pull off.
- Eivor will soon rendevous with Sigurd and Ivarr, who will help distract and fend off any pursuing troops. Just keep moving in a direct path towards Tamworth, which should take a few minutes. Once Eivor returns, a cutscene will initiate, and the quest will be complete.
Assassin's Creed Valhalla was released on November 10, 2020 and is currently available on PC, Playstation 4, Playstation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Switch.