The latest update to Valheim has added an entirely new biome to explore and conquer: the Mistlands. This area is now the most challenging one in the progression arc of the game, slotting in just after the Plains. Featuring a dense mist, new dungeons, and plenty of hostile creatures, the Mistlands can be an overwhelming prospect for players of any skill level.

Now available on the game's Public Test Branch, the Mistlands update is the first biome addition since Valheim's early access debut in February 2021. For those players looking to take on this new, challenging biome, this survival guide is here to help.

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The Occupants of the Mistlands

As with the other biomes in Valheim, the Mistlands features a variety of different occupants. These can be split into hostile and neutral categories, but even those neutrals can become hostile depending on how players treat them.

valheim creatures of mistlands

Seekers

The first and most dangerous type of creature in the challenging Mistlands is the Seeker and its Soldier variant. These massive insects can be found roaming around at abandoned settlements and within the Infested Mines of this biome. The traditional Seeker has 200 health, a set of wings, and the ability to deal a great deal of both Pierce and Blunt damage. The more dangerous variant, the Seeker Soldier, trades its wings for greater strength with 1500 health as well as a strong headbutt, bite, and claw attack.

Gjall and Ticks

While not guaranteed to be found together, Gjalls have the ability to create Ticks, and both can work in tandem against players. The former is an aggressive creature that floats around the Mistlands, launching fireballs and Ticks at unsuspecting creatures. Those very Ticks are giant versions of the real-life insects and will attach themselves to players and deal damage over time.

Dvergrs

dvergr mage valheim

These are the first in this list of the neutral creatures of the new Mistlands biome. Players will recognize these creatures as the same race as Valheim's trader, Haldor. Unlike Haldor, these Dvergrs can be either mages (with the ability to use magical weapons) or rogues (ranged weapon users) and will only attack the player if provoked. They typically spawn at Dvergr settlements throughout the Mistlands and in pairs anywhere in the biome.

Hares

These are the passive creatures that appear as scaly versions of the creatures that share their names in real life. They exist all over the Mistlands and provide unique materials in Valheim, such as Scale Hide and Hare Meat.

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Mistlands-Tier Equipment

In order to deal with the hostile creatures of the Mistlands, Valheim now offers new armor sets and weapons. These are going to be very important for those looking to survive fights with the Seekers and Gjalls.

black forge menu in valheim

Mistlands Armor Sets

Valheim's Carapace Armor Set is for those players looking to pursue the typical combat strategies and rely on melee and ranged weapons. This armor slots in as the most impressive and capable in the game to date. Aside from this set, players now have the Eitr-weave armor set that trades defensive capability for a magical replenishment bonus. This second armor set is only craftable at the new Galdr table, while the Carapace Armor requires the new Black Forge.

galdr table in valheim

Mistlands Weapons

There are plenty of new melee, ranged, and magical weapons to get accustomed to, but a few stand above the rest for surviving the Mistlands. This list starts with Valheim's new Staff of Embers, a weapon capable of launching fireballs and dealing a great amount of knockback. Often in the Mistlands, Seekers and other creatures will quickly close on the player and crowd them. This makes a weapon such as the Staff of Embers crucial because it can give players room and deal large amounts of damage.

valheim mistlands weapons

Aside from the Staff of Embers, Valheim's Mistwalker Sword and Carapace shield are going to be crucial for those looking to a playstyle similar to those in previous biomes. These are the latest and greatest in their own category and capable of handling most attacks and enemies in the Mistlands.

The General Strategy

After players defeat Yagluth, the boss of the Plain's biome in Valheim, they open up the ability to create a Wisp Fountain. Using this to capture a Wisp and then create a Wisplight are the first steps towards surviving in this new area. The Wisplight is the only reasonable way to safely maneuver through this area and its dense mist.

making a wisplight in valheim

A player's first few treks within the Mistlands should be with the highest possible armor and weapons available to them at that point. Even still, engaging with Seekers and Seeker Soldiers will be daunting, and the key to getting some of the resources these creatures grant is to only draw the aggression of one at a time.

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dvergr settlement valheim

Aside from Carapace, the next item that players are going to need is Refined Eitr. This is a key ingredient to almost every staff, piece of armor, and powerful weapon, and it can be a challenge to acquire. The first step towards making this resource is to locate one of the Dvergr settlements throughout the Mistlands. Destroying Dvergr Component Crates will draw the aggression of the nearby Dvergrs but grant players Dvergr Extractors, the key ingredients for Sap Extractors. When placed on the glowing roots of the Mistlands, Sap Extractors give players the Sap required for creating Refined Eitr.

refining eitr in valheim

Players also need to locate Soft Tissue, a resource that can also be found within the wooden boxes at Dvergr settlements, as well as mined from within the ancient skulls found around the Mistlands. Once players have built an Eitr Refinery, they can start refining the Eitr and making the materials they need to master the Mistlands.

sealbreaker use in valheim

With better weapons and equipment, players can then take on the challenging Infested Mines in order to locate the Sealbreaker Fragments required for opening up the sixth boss battle. These dungeons place players in confined spaces with numerous enemies and so should only be tackled with the strongest possible equipment. Players can then craft Valheim's SealBreaker in order to access the Queen.

Valheim is available now for PC, and releases in early 2023 for Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S.

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