Due to the early success of the open-world survival game Valheim, fans expect unique environments and new creatures to fight for the upcoming Mistlands update to the game. The game was released in February 2021 and quickly garnered millions of players because of its immense, mythical world and challenging gameplay. Since then, Valheim has seen a number of different updates that have added new creatures, armor sets, and weapons to the game world.
With each of these updates, the developer's have teased a much larger addition to the game called Mistlands. Set to bring a new biome online, Mistlands has the potential to change the entire game. With Valheim already having a strong group of interesting biomes with difficult creatures, it is crucial that this major update to Valheim doesn't disrupt the successful formula. In order to do this, there are a handful of things that the developers need to make sure of in order to continue the game's run of success.
Boast an Interesting Environment
Veteran players will know that all the current biomes in Valheim have unique environments. The game begins in the tranquil Meadows biome which is an area dominated by large fields, forests, and rock formations. It is sparsely populated with enemies and these are only a challenge for those just starting out. From here, the game moves on to the Black Forest biome, an area that features some stronger enemies, caves that are guarded by skeletons, as well as thick and dark trees that dominate the area.
This variety continues into the Swamp, Mountain, and Plains biome, and it means that the Mistlands needs to boast its own unique look. The unfinished Mistlands biome in Valheim currently features large trees with enormous cobwebs spread all over. There are even unique skulls that can be found on the ground. As it remains a work-in-progress, it is difficult to say what will carry over into the official update, but players have become accustomed to new experiences in each biome and the groundwork for that seems to have been laid.
Add in New and Challenging Enemies
Part of what brings players to the world of Valheim is the challenge of overcoming its enemies and bosses. When players arrive in the Swamp biome they will quickly discover nearly 10 different hostile creatures, most of which can only be found here. This includes Blobs and Oozers, various types of Draugrs, Leeches, Skeletons, Surtlings, Wraiths, and the horrifying Abominations. This variety forces players to be adaptable and keeps multiple trips to this biome interesting as well as challenging.
This pattern needs to continue to the Mistlands biome as each of the other current biomes host numerous enemies as well. The developers have teased a few creatures thus far, and it is important that these designs carry over in the official update. There have been pictures of giant ticks, cobweb caves, and some colorful bugs, implying a heavy lean towards a biome dominated by arachnids and insects. These could add a new experience for veteran and new Valheim players alike as long as they fit into the difficulty arc well. Even including some passive creatures such as the deer in the Meadows biome would help add to the game world.
Bring New Armor and Weapons
To equip players to battle these new creatures, the Mistlands update needs to bring at least one new armor set and a few new weapons for players to forge. There already are a handful of different armor sets in Valheim and many of these are associated with particular biomes because of the materials required to make them. With the introduction of a new biome there must be at least one new set of armor to keep the area fresh.
It should also boast a strength that makes it especially useful for this area. There are already perfect examples of this in Valheim's Wolf Armor for the Mountain biome as well as the Root Armor Set for the Swamp biome. The former negates the freezing effect in the Mountains while the latter boasts a poison resistance. For an area covered in insects, an armor set for the Mistlands could feature an effect that negates poison.
Thus far players have seen a concept art and an early version of an upcoming new forge for Valheim. Once more it is important that this concept becomes reality for those playing the upcoming update. Those players that have already spent a great deal of time in the game have likely already created all the available workbenches and forges in the game. While there will likely be a lot of investment needed in materials to create these new items, it is important there is this challenge in the update.
Continue the Progression Arc
While the Valheim development team has done much to add new and interesting challenges to their game, it is important that the progression arc in the game remains intact. From Meadows to Black Forest, Swamp, Mountain, and Plains, there is a clear path for those looking to move forward and take on the next challenging boss in Valheim. The most likely option is for Mistlands to slot in at the end of this line.
While placing Mistlands at the end of the original five biomes might feel a bit frustrating for those who have already completed the game, there isn't much room for it to slot between the existing biomes. These biomes flow quite well into each other, and it may be too disruptive for veteran players to work their way to this new biome only to find they are much more powerful than the creatures within.
The release of the Mistlands update has been teased for months and, as long as the content additions hit certain marks, it should only add to Valheim's early success. Judging from the updates that have been released thus far, there should be some hope for those looking forward to it. With any luck, players will see it release by the end of 2022 and bring a lot off fresh content to the game.
Valheim is available now for PC and releases in early 2023 for Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S.