Summary

• Ashlands is a successful Valheim update, offering challenging enemies, new loot, and a gem crafting system.
• Deep North should balance challenging weather, introduce unique enemies, and provide substantial loot.
• Deep North should avoid high enemy density, random environmental effects, and aim for a timely release.

Valheim has one final update to commemorate its 1.0 launch, and it should learn a lot from the Ashlands. The Ashlands expanded the fiery hellscape in the southern part of the map and is easily the best update to the game. The biome is filled with powerful enemies and environmental challenges that make surviving an accomplishment. This challenge is rewarded with incredible loot ranging from new weapon tiers and a gem crafting system that infuses weapons with magic.

The last update bringing Valheim to its 1.0 version will take Vikings to the top of the map for the revamped Deep North biome. Unfortunately, there is not much current information about what will fill this biome. It is similar to the Mountains with its intense cold debuffs, but no loot or enemies have been divulged yet. Some predictions about the Deep North can be made from Norse mythology, but the biome remains a blank landscape of potential. There is also a chance the Ocean biome gets a small revamp with this 1.0 update, but it is not as large a priority.

Valheim has been in early access since February 2021, and updates have largely been slow due to its incredibly small development team.

Why Ashlands Is A Good Update To Learn From

What Makes Ashlands So Good

The Ashlands is an update that did almost everything right, with the only popular criticism being that it can be too hard at times. However, this kind of feeling fits Valheim well, as it is one of the hardest open-world games. The survival aspects, like eating, are toned down and serve as bonuses rather than necessary parts of the game. This then comes back with the difficulty of enemies and environments.

The Ashlands are the perfect example of these, starting with the intense heat around the biome. Filled with lava and surrounded by boiling water, the intense heat of the Ashlands would be a quick killer without Fire Resistance Mead or Flametal armor. The landscape also has hordes of challenging new enemies, along with a mini-boss, Lord Reto, and a biome boss, Fader, who are two of the hardest fights in the game. These fights require proper preparation and are unique experiences that reward players with proper loot that expand their Viking arsenal.

Outside the new weapon and armor tier, Ashlands has great options with the new sword and magic gems. The named sword, Dyrnwyn, can be crafted after defeating Lord Reto and has some of the highest damage in the game with its ability to double the damage to the last hit of its combo chain. Magic gems can be infused with Flametal weapons and provide magic buffs based on type. Jade grants nature damage and an immobilizing effect, lolite deals lightning damage while having a chance to summon chain lightning, and bloodstone increases damage based on the 's missing health.

What The Deep North Can Learn From Ashlands

Being The Best Mirror It Can Be

A popular belief is that the Deep North should be the mirror opposite of the Ashlands, and the first part of accomplishing that is creating a balanced but challenging weather system. Though similar to the Mountain biome, the cold effect should be taken a step further. At base, the cold resistance mead should prevent death, but without the new armor tier, players would still lose health. Intense snowstorms could also periodically hit, forcing Vikings into cover and slowing down any movement. This would create moments where running into even a common enemy could be devastating.

Regular enemies feel like a respectable challenge in Ashlands, which is in stark contrast to many other biomes' common foes. These enemies focus around specific kits that push a certain playstyle, which is what Deep North should have as well. Popular theories for enemies in this snowfield include frost giants and bears, both of which could utilize the terrain to their advantage. There could also be a new form of skeleton that is frozen over, trading speed for defense and attack power. At the end of the day, these enemies should feel built for the Deep North and not simply dropped into it.

The final piece of a successful Deep North biome will be proper loot, as this will likely be the best stuff for players to take into whatever endgame Valheim has planned. Magic should be expanded with more gems, and at least one that gives some kind of fire ability for extra damage in the Deep North. Another option would be letting armor be infused with magic too, granting extra defense and rebound effects upon being hit. The balance does not need to be perfect on release, but since this would likely be the last major gear update, it needs to feel substantial like gear from the Ashlands.

Ashlands Mistakes That Deep North Needs To Avoid

Finding The Proper Balance Of Difficulty

Though the temperature system is largely beneficial to the Ashlands, it does have some fair criticisms. That is why balance is the key word when it comes to any implementation of this. The other major complaint is the randomness of environmental effects. This mainly comes in the form of lava spews that can instantly kill Vikings. These types of effects should be in Valheim, but should have a larger/longer warning so they can be avoided. This keeps the effect powerful while rewarding players who are aware of the world around them.

Another popular complaint is the Ashlands' enemy density, which sometimes feels like an army will suddenly appear. With certain circumstances, like base defense or Charred Fortresses, this is fine, but randomly exploring and finding 10+ enemies is more hindering than immersive. Deep North, depending on enemy health, should limit groups to two to four enemies.

Overall, after the success of the Ashlands, the Deep North is in good hands. The major worry is if its predicted release date of 2025 or early 2026 is too late to capitalize. This could be an issue if the studio is looking to bring in new players for the 1.0 launch. However, if Valheim's Deep North biome can learn from Ashlands, it should have everything it needs to be the perfect ending to the Viking survival title.