Unveiling the Ultimate Secrets: 6 Must-Know Mercantile Tricks in Assassin's Creed Valhalla

To ensure smooth Viking exploits in Assassin's Creed Valhalla, developers provide numerous resources, including merchants who sell essential items to heroes in exchange for in-game currency. Although there are many such vendors in the game, fans should consider carefully before indulging in their offerings.

Valhalla offers several products that players should avoid purchasing from merchants. In most cases, these items can be obtained through alternative means that do not require spending money. Often, these items can be found directly in the player's path as they explore the game world. The developers encourage players to explore and level up, ensuring they always have sufficient skill points. Along the way, players naturally accumulate a multitude of items and equipment. Therefore, it makes little sense to waste money buying the same equipment from merchants.

6 Rations

Rations are the primary healing method in this game, but it's important for fans to remember that they are playing an Assassin's Creed game. This means that combat is incredibly easy, especially if players follow the recommended path and are at the appropriate level. While they may not have the instant-kill counterattack from previous games, their basic attacks and runic moves are more than enough to defeat hordes of enemies. Additionally, the developers have implemented a generous checkpoint system, further enhancing the player's advantage. With these factors in play, players rarely need to use rations.

However, if for some reason they do need rations, they will consistently find their supply fully stocked. Many enemies carry rations on their person, and Eivor automatically loots them, ensuring a constant accumulation of rations without any effort. Even if players wanted more, it's likely that their inventories are already full, leaving no space for additional rations.

5 Arrows

Ration purchases and the acquisition of arrows are unnecessary as players can easily obtain sufficient supplies within the game. Quivers stocked with arrows are conveniently placed throughout cities and bases, offering a readily available resupply for anyone in need. Moreover, players have the option to unlock an upgrade that enables them to retrieve used arrows from defeated enemies. However, it is worth noting that these advantages may be irrelevant if players do not prioritize archery. The use of stealth and melee combat alone can sustain Eivor, as archery is not the most effective method of eliminating foes. Furthermore, opposing archers are notably inadequate, both in their accuracy and the amount of damage they inflict. These factors contribute to the likelihood that few players will invest in an archery-focused playstyle, but for those who do, ammunition shortage will never be a concern.

4 Weapons & Armor

Most merchants primarily sell consumables, although a few do offer special items such as weapons and armor pieces. Unfortunately, these special items are often not worth their hefty price. Eivor frequently stumbles upon them in chests, easily distinguishable from other forms of wealth on the map. To acquire these items, players simply need to enter a building or solve a straightforward puzzle. If this proves to be too much trouble, there are always alternative purchasing options available.

When browsing in the market, it is advisable to prioritize specialty vendors such as blacksmiths and armorers. These vendors offer a wider range of superior merchandise, and they possess the necessary tools to enhance the potential of these items to the fullest. Speaking of which...

3 Crafting Materials

Most equipment provides ample room for growth, allowing Eivor to upgrade their gear using a variety of materials such as leather, tungsten, iron, fabric, titanium, and more. By investing enough resources into these items, their stats can potentially multiply. This may seem like a productive use of coin, but unfortunately, it is not.

Merchants are not helpful in this regard, as their supply of crafting materials is limited and they only carry a small quantity. Players also struggle to find these ingredients as they are not as readily available as arrows or rations. However, there is a solution for aspiring Vikings. By leading raids on the main England map or the outlying rivers with the Jomsvikings, players can accumulate a large amount of these materials. This allows them to craft or enhance their favorite gear with ease. If they have any second thoughts, they can simply disassemble their equipment and retrieve their materials. In either case, players are able to easily overcome the limitations of the merchants.

2 Cosmetics

Assassin's Creed: Odyssey and Valhalla suffer from a significant issue - the inclusion of immersion-breaking visuals. While these games offer a wide range of cosmetic options, many of them are intentionally fantastical or absurd. From replacing the player's horse with mythical creatures like dire wolves or unicorns to giving Eivor's ship a flamboyant rainbow paint job, these choices destroy any semblance of historical authenticity, ultimately undermining the reputation of the AC series.

To make matters worse, these cosmetic additions serve no practical purpose. Rarely do they offer any significant advantage in terms of gameplay stats. Their appeal lies solely in their novelty, which quickly wears thin. Players may briefly enjoy the amusement of wearing a bizarre outfit, but soon find themselves regretting the money spent on such trivial items. It should be noted that even mods include similar frivolous content, although thankfully those are available for free.

1 Skill Scrolls

While scrolls that bestow valuable skill points may be sold by certain merchants, they are not commonly found. At first glance, these scrolls may seem worth the money, considering that the difficulty of the game largely revolves around the number of skill points that Eivor possesses. However, this supposed bargain crumbles when players weigh the cost against the reward. Each scroll only grants a measly one skill point, yet the merchants charge exorbitant prices, with a single scroll costing 700 silver coins. This can be considered a form of highway robbery.

The deceit becomes even more apparent when players realize that skill points can be acquired through various activities. These activities include completing missions, defeating enemies, leading raids, discovering treasures, solving puzzles, and synchronizing eagle points. All of these activities grant experience points, which in turn can be used to obtain skill points. Although occasional grinding may be required, especially later in the game when the level requirements become excessive, it is still a better alternative to emptying out Eivor's funds for a minuscule boost.

Assassin's Creed Valhalla is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.