The Deep North is the final biome in Valheim, so you should head there only after progressing through the Ashlands. Its enemies are significantly more dangerous than creatures from the early regions, while the large number of new materials can fill your inventory very quickly. Fortunately, several useful expedition upgrades can be prepared in advance. In this guide, we explain where the Deep North is located, where to sail, which ship to choose, and what to bring before your first landing.
As the name suggests, the Deep North occupies the far northern edge of the world. The exact coastline depends on your seed, but for a first expedition it is usually better to sail toward the central northern part of the map rather than hugging the extreme western or eastern edge. Look for the massive snowy landmass, floating ice, and frozen coastline that mark the entrance to the biome.If you are continuing a world created before Valheim 1.0, there is one important limitation. New Deep North content generates only in areas that were not explored before the update. Previously visited northern terrain can remain in its old empty state. If you explored a large part of the north during Early Access, starting a new world is the safest way to experience the biome as intended.Image unavailable
Which Ship to Use
Unlike the Ashlands, the Deep North does not require a special ship to reach its coast. A Longship is enough for the journey, but if you have already completed the Ashlands, we recommend using the Drakkar. It has the strongest hull and the largest cargo hold of any ship currently available, which makes it the safest option for a long endgame expedition.Be careful when approaching the coast. The northern waters are full of floating ice, and slamming into it at full speed can damage your ship. Water can also remain deep close to the shoreline. If your vessel breaks in an awkward position, some dropped materials may sink beyond easy reach. After landing, mark the ship on your map immediately. Against snow, fog, and large ice formations, a small vessel is much easier to lose than you might expect.
What to Bring
Image unavailableFor your first expedition, bring upgraded Ashlands-tier equipment and the best food you can currently make. Frost resistance is also essential. The Feather Cape remains an excellent choice because it provides frost resistance and completely removes fall damage, which is especially useful in the Deep North's vertical dungeons. Other frost-resistant capes also work, and carrying Frost Resistance Mead as a backup is a sensible precaution.You should also prepare:
materials for a Stone Portal and the Stonecutter required to build it.
a Snow Shovel.
a Grappling Hook.
materials for a Workbench.
a supply of your best food and meads.
a frost-resistant cape.
a small reserve of Embers, or an Eternal Pyre at your main base so you can produce them before later Deep North crafting.
The Stone Portal is especially useful because it allows you to teleport ores, metals, and other items that a standard wooden portal refuses. This becomes extremely convenient once you begin hauling valuable materials out of the Deep North.The Snow Shovel is a new tool used to clear the biome's deep snow. The Grappling Hook is another important 1.0 tool. It makes vertical exploration much easier and becomes particularly useful inside the Winding Tunnels and around Mörkhalla.
How to Expand Your Inventory
Before sailing north, visit Haldor again. Valheim 1.0 added two permanent inventory upgrades to his shop, and both are extremely useful in the Deep North.After defeating Moder, Haldor sells Wider Pockets for 1,000 coins. This adds one permanent row to your inventory. After defeating The Queen, you can buy Deeper Pockets for 2,000 coins and gain another row.Image unavailableThese upgrades do not increase your maximum carry weight. In the Deep North, however, extra slots can be just as important as raw carrying capacity. Winding Tunnels and other locations can fill your inventory with Frostcores, Molds and Casts, valuables, new materials, and older resources surprisingly quickly.
Where to Place Your First Portal
Build your first portal as soon as possible after landing. Do not wander deep into the biome until you have secured a reliable route home.The main complication is deep snow. Valheim 1.0 does not allow you to place many structures directly on thick snow, so you need to clear a suitable area first. The Snow Shovel is the most reliable tool for this job.At launch, players could remove snow by punching it, but this was fixed in patch 1.0.10. Walking or landing on snow can still clear some of it, but you should not rely on that when preparing an outpost. Bring the shovel, clear enough ground for your structures, place a Workbench and your Stone Portal, and protect the area with walls if possible. Only then should you begin exploring the island or continent around you.
What to Look for First
Mark every Abandoned Village you find. These settlements are particularly important because entrances to the Winding Tunnels can be found beneath them. The tunnels contain Frostcores and Molds and Casts that are tied to Deep North progression.You should also mark Mörkhalla as soon as you find it. This dungeon becomes important later in the biome's progression and requires an Intricate Key to enter, so there is no reason to forget its location while exploring.Collect Ice, Lingonberries, and Timberwood whenever you have room. Some of these resources may not seem immediately useful during the first landing, but they quickly become important for crafting, food, production structures, and taming Moose.The Deep North is designed as the final step of Valheim's progression, so your first expedition does not need to accomplish everything at once. Establish a portal, secure a small foothold, mark the major locations, and return home with the first batch of new materials. Once that route is safe, the real exploration can begin.
