Valheim's Upcoming Update: Surprising New Features and Exciting Enhancements Revealed!

Viking culture has been prominently featured in recent media, with popular games like God of War: Ragnarok and Assassin's Creed Valhalla incorporating its legends and stories into their gameplay. Valheim, released in Early Access in 2021, has capitalized on this trend and has become one of the most acclaimed sandbox games.

Following the success of the Mistlands Update, Iron Gate AB, the developer of Valheim, is not satisfied and is currently working on another patch for the game. This new update will introduce a new biome into the expanding Valheim universe, bringing with it new challenges such as harsh conditions and unique enemies. Fans are eagerly anticipating the release of the Ashlands Update and the excitement is palpable.

In the meantime, while players wait for the major update, Iron Gate AB has been keeping them engaged with smaller updates like Hildir's Quest. This approach is similar to the gap between Valheim's Hearth and Home and Mistlands updates. Based on the previous timeline, it is reasonable to expect that the Ashlands Update will follow a similar release schedule. The developer has already provided teasers of upcoming features, further satisfying the anticipation of the fan base.

From these sneak peeks, it is evident that the Ashlands Update will enhance the challenging terrain that Valheim players have grown fond of, offering various upgrades and surprises to captivate gamers.

Lava and Zombies Aplenty in the Ashlands

The Ashlands in Valheim stand out from other biomes due to their unique characteristics and fixed position on the game map, even prior to the expansion. Located in the southern region, the Ashlands encompass all the islands in that area, offering a distinct environment compared to the mix of biomes players are acquainted with. While the update Hearth and Home introduced icy mountains in the northern parts of the game, the southern region, known as the Ashlands or the land of the dead, presents a fiery volcanic theme with unsettling zombies.

Iron Gate AB's concept art for Valheim's new biome reveals two types of zombies that players will encounter - The Charred and Morgen. The Charred zombies have a typical undead appearance and are categorized into melee and mage subclasses. The melee subclass wields either a single longsword or two short blades, and players should take particular caution when facing dual wielders and the mage variant, indicated by the ominous skulls adorning their figures. On the other hand, the Morgen zombies appear as terrifying creatures resembling arachnids. Additionally, players will encounter the Fallen Valkyrie, a winged skeletal terror stationed to protect the fortresses found in the Ashlands as they embark on their exploration.

In the Ashlands, safety is scarce due to the presence of the BoneMaw serpent, a large sea snake that patrols the shorelines. However, Valheim players will not be unequipped to face these new threats. The new biome offers a range of weapons, including the powerful two-handed Slayer sword that may have elemental magic imbued within it. Additionally, lovers of close-range combat have new options like the Berzerkr axes and the Niedhogg sword. Siege warfare is a crucial aspect of Valheim's gameplay, and the Ashlands' fortresses will face bombardment from new siege engines.

There is speculation about what these offensive machines may be, with the possibility of a battering ram and a catapult being added by Valheim's developers, although nothing has been confirmed yet. The defensive structures in Valheim will also receive an update. Concepts for the Ashlands' fortresses include structures that release streams of lava through small openings, allowing for intense fire shelling. Alongside the volcanic theme, the Ashlands boast Gothic-styled ruins for explorers to discover. This update promises to further enhance the quality and depth of Valheim's content.

Valheim is available now for PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.