This article is part of a directory: Valheim Complete Guide for Tips, Tricks, and General Help
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As a Viking survival game, Valheim drops players into a hostile world full of dangerous creatures. Building up a supply of good armor and weapons is therefore crucial to survival. With the new Hearth and Home update to Valheim, players have gained access to a new shield that can help players through the Swamp Biome and beyond.

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The Iron Buckler is similar to the game's Bronze Buckler, but acts as a step up from that shield. For those players looking to grab the new addition to Valheim, this guide is here to help them craft and use this item.

How to Make an Iron Buckler

The Iron Buckler functions similarly to other shields in Valheim, and fortunately just requires a couple of ingredients. The recipe calls for 10 Iron and 4 Ancient Bark, both of which can be found in the Swamp Biome. This means that players need to invest in poison resistance and getting the best armor available at this time in their playthrough (likely made of copper). In order to craft the Iron Buckler, players just need to use a level 2 Forge.

Obtaining The Materials

valheim sunken crypt interior

In order to get the Iron required for the shield, players need to first defeat The Elder, the second boss in Valheim. Deafeating this boss grants the player the Swamp Key which opens the Burial Crypts that are scattered around the Swamp Biome. Within these Burial Crypts, players need to mine the Muddy Scrap Piles in order to get Scrap Iron, or check the chests within the same area. Players can then use a Smelter to convert that Scrap Iron into the Iron needed in the recipe.

making an iron buckler valheim

The other required material can also be found in the Swamp Biome. Certain trees in this area of Valheim can be chopped down to produce Ancient Bark. Players need at least a Bronze Axe or better in order to properly harvest from these Ancient Trees.

When to Use an Iron Buckler

The Iron Buckler slots in to a playthrough as players are approaching Valheim's third boss, Bonemass. This is just as players are getting acquainted with Iron weapons and armor. Before the Hearth and Home update, the only Iron shield options were the Banded Shield (which costs 8 Iron and 10 Fine Wood) and the Iron Tower Shield (10 Iron and 15 Fine Wood).

valheim iron buckler on the character

The Iron Buckler shield can be upgraded at a Forge 2 times for the cost of more Iron and Ancient Bark. The final upgrade gives players a Block Armor stat of 40, a Block Force stat of 30, and a Parry Bonus multiplier of 2.5. This slots the shield in as a similarly priced and reasonably competitive option at this point in the game. It's not quite as strong as the Iron Tower Shield but lighter and similarly strong compared to the Banded Shield.

Valheim is available now in Early Access on PC.

MORE: Valheim Weapon Tier List