Is there a game making bigger waves than Valheim? It keeps consistently breaking concurrent player records and has everyone from casual gamers to famous streamers gathering with their friends online to try it out.
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One of the toughest parts of surviving in Viking purgatory is defeating the bosses in the game. The Elder is the second boss players will encounter and he can be quite a challenge if they come in unprepared. Fortunately, knowledge is power, and we've got a heck of a lot of power here to help out!
10 Fire Is Your Friend
Any Vikings with hidden arsonist tendencies are going to love this fight. The Elder's biggest weakness is to fire, which is unsurprising as he's a giant tree monster. Any way players can manage to set him on fire should be done to make the battle easier to win. Beat on him with a torch if necessary, just so long as it sets him aflame!
9 Bring Friends For The Fight
Valheim is a game best played with friends and this becomes even more apparent during boss fights. Sure, the game is capable of having a single-player experience, but coordinating with a large group to take down what is essentially an Ent is far easier and more entertaining. More weapons = more damage, after all.
8 Bring The Best Weapons
At this point in the game, the best weapon in Valheim that players have access to is the Bronze Sword. It has the most efficient damage ratios due to how fast it swings. The only exception to this is if players have a fully upgraded Bronze Axe.
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It's certainly worth bringing a Bow and Arrows along to the fight as well. A solid Fine Wood Bow will do the trick and smart players will bring along Fire Arrows to help pack on added damage.
7 Place Campfires Around The Battlefield
Particularly crafty players with a bit of time on their hands can use The Elder's weakness to fire to their advantage. It's possible to bring everything needed to build multiple campfires around the battlefield. The goal to is set them in places where it's likely The Elder will step on them, causing added fire damage. It's time-consuming but makes the fight much easier.
6 Keep Comfortable
Ignoring decorating in Valheim is a great way to make sure players aren't actually prepared for battle. It may seem silly, but the comfort meter is incredibly important in the game. Players that make their homes look amazing will keep that meter boosted which will, in turn, make their character lose health and stamina slower. Any edge in a tough fight like this one is certainly worth it!
5 Don't Stray Too Far From The Fight
It can be tempting to keep a far distance away from The Elder during the fight, but players should make sure they don't stray too far away. The fight is challenging enough without accidentally attracting Trolls or Greydwarfs which occupy the surrounding areas. Players don't have to get right up in The Elder's face, just be aware of their surroundings.
4 Wear The Best Armor
There are two potential armors that work best in the battle against The Elder. Players should first consider if Troll Hide Armor is the choice for them. It offers no movement speed penalties which should make it easier for players to dodge. However, it offers far less protection if players get hit.
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If players aren't confident in their ability to dodge, duck, dip, dive, and dodge, they should get themselves a set of upgraded Bronze Armor. They might move a bit slower, but they will be far safer during the fight.
3 Eat A Meat-Based Meal
Taking on massive tree monsters isn't easy and Vikings should make sure they head into battle on a full stomach. Meat-based foods offer players higher health boosts than other choices and should be the focus for players to eat. Cooked Meat and Cooked Neck Tail work well for this, but consider adding in some Queen's Jam to really round out the meal.
2 Understand The Elder's Attacks
The elder has three attacks that those facing it should make sure they understand to avoid taking too much damage. Here is what they do:
- Foot Stomp: The Elder stomps his foot onto the ground and does damage in a small area around him. This has a slow windup and is easy to dodge.
- Shooting Branches: First, The Elder puts his hand forward. When Vikings see this, it's their cue to run away as quickly as possible. Then, he shoots his branches at them. This is one of the fastest moving attacks in the game and deals incredibly high amounts of damage.
- Root Summon: The Elder waves his arms and summons roots near the players. It isn't the most threatening, but they can deal a lot of damage if left unchecked. Each root has a health bar, and it's best to empty it right away.
1 Reap The Rewards
The Vikings that defeat The Elder won't just gain his trophy — the rewards are far sweeter. Players will be given the Swamp Key which is incredibly important to have when exploring the Swamp Biome where Iron is located. It's required to be able to open up the Sunken Crypt where the most difficult boss in the game is located.