Assassin's Creed Valhalla features a smaller map than its predecessor, Odyssey, but it's far more densely populated. When exploring 9th Century England, players won't have to go far to find a new challenge in their path to conquer.
Be it treasure, a civilian looking for help, a powerful warrior, or a piece of paper blowing in the wind, Eivor will be sure to deal with each encounter as it comes in the many varied locations around England. The rarest and toughest of these encounters hit new heights for the Viking warrior, with mythical weapons, legendary beasts, and historical figures of reality & myth in their way. Not to mention a few heartwarming moments.
Updated August 6, 2022, by Stephen LaGioia: Ubisofts' Viking action epic is stunningly deep and expansive. With so many areas to explore, secrets to unearth, Mysteries to complete, and goods to gather, it's no surprise many have reported their Valhalla expeditions going north of 100 hours. The game is massive—and doesn't spell much out for players—favoring atmosphere and immersion over hand holding. Exploration and discoveries can thus seem like endless endeavors.
This is partly thanks to the slew of rare, hard-to-find locations and items, which have only increased following the release of extra content like River Raids and the trio of DLC packs. Whether it's a hidden easter egg, coveted weapon, or tricky Anomaly to complete, the game will almost always have players busy seeking something cryptic. And so, this list has been updated with additional rare encounters and tucked-away secrets in Assassin's Creed Valhalla.
13 Eitri's Lone Mystery - Remnants
The DLC pack, Dawn of Ragnarok, brings a brand new lineup of goodies, quests, and activities to partake in. Oddly though, its central province of Eitri is home to just a single World Event Mystery, called 'Remnants.' While fairly simple to tackle, this can be a bit hard to spot, being off the beaten path and obscured by dilapidated brick walls and ruins.
Players will need to seek out a lone dwarf named Bolri to initiate and complete it. He can be found in the southeast portion of the Eitri region, a bit southeast of a tall Viewpoint. Players will then walk with Bolri and, upon reaching his ruined house, use Odin's Sight to locate his son's toy hammer on the floor. It can be found hidden under some elevated planks sitting atop a pile of rubble. Players can then pick from two responses, informing him that his wife and son are dead, or simply comforting him by giving him Eivor's regards. The outcome is the same in either case.
12 Ireland Easter Egg - A Skeletal Secret Of The Sea
The Ireland-based DLC Wrath of the Druids comes with its share of fun secrets and easter eggs. One of the most subtle and mysterious comes in the form of a peculiar skull resting on the shoreline of northeast Ireland.
There is nothing to be gained or collected by stumbling upon this odd figure, but it does make for an interesting easter egg. It certainly stokes the imagination.
11 O Yan Do-Ne - The Mad Moose
AC Valhalla has numerous legendary animals scattered about, many of which can be tough to even seek out let alone defeat. One prime example is the large moose curiously named O Yan Do-Ne. To even approach this beast, players will first need to gain access to the land of Vinland (meant to be modern-day America), which is done by initiating the Vinland arc. Eivor will have had to kill various members of the order. These include:
- The Leech, The Arrow, The Compass, Avgos, Vicelin - should all be eliminated already upon finishing the Lunden storyline.
- Leofgifu
- Hunta
- Gorm Kjotvesson
After they're dealt with, return to Ravensthorpe and initiate the 'In A Strange Land' quest, speaking with Hytham first, then Randvi.
O Yan Do-Ne can be located just south of the Connecticut River, at the north end of the center region encircled by the river. The monstrous moose looks intimidating between his size and being doused in blood. Yet he's actually one of the simpler legendary animals. Players will still want to be sure to keep their distance and look out for its charges, spins, and kicks. Players who slay the moose will earn 175 leather as well as two skill points.
Keep in mind: The recommended power level here is around 160.
10 Magyar Hunting Bow
It can be tough to find a great bow that's both powerful and versatile, but that's exactly how this coveted bow can be described. The bow has the precision and power of a Hunter Bow while being fairly swift and agile. Getting one is not easy, but it's worth the investment.
Players will need to construct the Hunter's Hut in their settlement, and complete all Delivery challenges, at which point they'll be rewarded this rare, useful bow.
9 Hamtunscire Fly Agaric - A Wild Skirmish
One of the more unique Mysteries is the Fly Agaric, which has Eivor essentially hallucinate upon eating strange mushrooms and fighting through trials. With under 20 of them scattered about, these challenges, represented by small shrooms, can be tricky to even locate let alone get through. One key example is the Hamtunscire Fly Agaric, which has Eivor face off against a range of rabid foes in a hazy shroud. These include a wild board, two archers, and the powerful warrior of the Isu, Jotnar.
This place can be tough to spot as it's somewhat in the middle of nowhere, with few nearby points of interest. To locate this wild battlefield, head to the northeast part of Chepenham, within the west-central region of Hamtunscire. Players will want to be on their toes for this one, continually moving around and dodging attacks.
8 Erik Loyalskull - Loyal And Kingless
If players explore the rich lands of Norway in the opening sequence of Valhalla, they will likely come across Erik Loyalskull, living away from civilization in a cave behind a waterfall. Talking with Erik, he will tell players about how he once raided England with his king, but that king is no more, and he has nothing left to live for.
Erik asks to battle the player, wanting to go out in an honorable fight to earn him a place in Odin's halls. Unfortunately, doing so at the very start of the game is likely a mistake for players. Erik is a powerful opponent, and Eivor does not have the strength or ability to face him early in the game. As such, many players leave it until they are stronger, and since they leave Norway early in the story, they will forget to come back and give this loyal warrior the death he craves.
7 Winnie The Pooh - Who Doesn't Love Honey?
Wandering through the forests of Cent, Eivor may stumble across a little boy who seems intent on getting some honey from some beehives. Eivor completes this simple task, and the child asks Eivor to place it on a stump next to a beautifully decorated tree.
After a few moments, a bear named Winifred will appear and enjoy the honey. The child and the bear go off and play together, and Eivor is left dumbfounded by the experience. Following the child and the bear will lead Eivor to discover more animals, such as a pig, rabbit, and donkey, a clear reference to beloved characters of the Winnie the Pooh books by A. A. Milne.
6 Hadrian's Wall - Keeping Out The Northerners
Player's exploration of England will undoubtedly take them to the northern border, which separates England from Scotland. Here, Eivor will discover Hadrian's Wall, a wall that the Roman Emperor Hadrian built in the 2nd Century to defend the portion of the island the Romans had conquered at the time.
While only minimal parts of it still stand today, in the time of Valhalla, it is still standing in relative glory. Players can, in fact, traverse the entire length of the wall if they so choose. Along the wall, they will find a Lost Drengr to fight, and lighting all the beacons from end to end will earn players an achievement for their troubles.
5 The Daughters Of Lerion
Three of the toughest opponents in Valhalla are the Daughters of Lerion. Scattered across England, these occultists use mystical powers in their battles against Eivor which are a great challenge to overcome.
Goneril - The First Daughter
The first of these daughters is Goneril. With a Power Level of 90, she can be fought fairly early on in the game. With fast blades and faster dodges, this is not an opponent that should be taken lightly. Goneril utilizes explosives and poisonous gas in her battle, so players will need to keep on the move at all times, picking the right moments to strike.
Defeating her will give players Thor's Breeches, the first part of one of the game's best armor sets.
Regan - The Second Daughter
When fighting the second daughter, players will learn more about their history and their father, Lerion. The man was apparently a powerful occultist who practiced dark magic, causing all the kingdoms of England to rise up and assassinate him, forcing the daughters to flee.
Regan is a significantly tougher opponent than Goneril. Having a Power Level 160, Eivor will need to have a lot of experience under their belt before challenging her. Regan's attacks are just as fast and furious as her sisters, and she will utilize a shadow clone of herself to deal extra damage to Eivor in battle. Defeating her will give players Thor's Battle Plate.
Cordelia - The Third Daughter
The final daughter, Cordelia, is the strongest of all. She brings a Power Level of 340, making her among the strongest opponents in the game. Cordelia gives Eivor little opening to strike, lashing out with multiple unblockable attacks and several shadow clones that attack Eivor.
Defeating Cordelia gives players Thor's Gauntlets, but that's not all. Each sister will give players a different sword. These swords cannot be used in battle but are actually keys. Take them to the buried Lerion estate in East Anglea, and a passage will open, rewarding players with Thor's Helmet.
4 Fireflies - A Homely Glow
The town of Ravensthorpe, which serves as the home town in Valhalla, features a picturesque pond with some beautiful foliage and a waterfall feeding into it. If players feel they want to make this location even more beautiful, then help is at hand.
Fireflies can technically be found all across England, but they are extremely rare. Instead, there is a location just north of Bleak Peak in Grantebridgescire that will spawn Fireflies every single night for Eivor to come and collect. Releasing them at the town's pond in Ravensthorpe will make for a beautiful scene, as well as an achievement for doing the legwork.
3 Excalibur - Become The Rightful King Of England
The legendary sword wielded by King Arthur, Excalibur, is one of the most powerful weapons in Valhalla. Finding it is relatively simple, as it is buried in a cave near Stonehenge in Hamtunscire, the most powerful region in the game.
Finding it is the easy part, as pulling the sword from the stone is no simple feat. Instead, there are 11 mysterious tablets players must collect from around England. The majority of these are the Treasures of Britain scattered throughout the world, although some are held by powerful Zealots. Collecting them all allows Eivor to pull the sword from the stone and wild Excalibur, which, according to legend, also gives them the right to rule England, which is a nice bonus.
2 Steinnbjorn - A Mountain Of A Beast
The toughest of the Legendary Beasts, Steinnbjorn is a mythical creature that can only be found by having Eivor drink a potion and travel to Jotunheim. The encounter won't be marked on the map until players get close, at which point they will see a massive arena made of stone and ice. Jumping in will cause Steinnbjorn to attack.
Made of nothing but stone and ice, this bear holds a Power Level of 400, making it the strongest creature in the game. It has a lot of health, so players should be ready for a long fight, even at the maximum Power Level. However, should players weather the storm and destroy the beast, they will be rewarded with two skill points and some rations. Not to mention an incredible tale to tell Valka when they wake up.
1 Mjolnir - Eivor Is Worthy
Norse mythology's most recognizable weapon (thanks Marvel), Mjolnir is among the best of the best when it comes to weapons in Valhalla. Its strength is not easily obtained, though, and Eivor must first prove that they are worthy to wield such a weapon.
Firstly, the three Daughters of Lerion must be defeated, as well as all 45 members of The Order, which requires completing the game's unique story. Doing this task will give players access to all five pieces of Thor's Armor, which is required to obtain this weapon. Once the armor is obtained, players must venture to the north of Hordafylke in Norway, where they will discover a crater. There, lying within it, is the legendary Mjolnir, the hammer wielded by Thor. Combine it with Thor's Armor for a flashy, visually appealing look.
Assassin's Creed Valhalla is available on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Stadia.