Though it has only just released to Steam Early Access, Valheim has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from fans who say it has exceeded their expectations for explore the expansive world of Valheim for new resources and opportunities. They can also summon bosses to defeat.
Similar to the summoning mechanic in Minecraft, players will need to perform a specific ritual or leave an offering for the various in-game bosses to get them to appear and engage them in combat. The first boss is Eikthyr, a giant stag that wields the power of lightning. Though not the most difficult boss in the game, Eikthyr has powerful attacks and a very large health pool, making the fight a challenge for players early in the game. Players will want to summon and fight Eikthyr because, once defeated, it drops Hard Antlers. Players will need Hard Antlers to make their first pickaxe and gain access to stone and ore materials, as well as break down large boulders to access new areas on the map. Here's how to summon and fight Eikthyr in Valheim.
How To Summon Eikthyr in Valheim
To summon Eikthyr, players will need to find Eikthyr's Summoning Stone in the Meadows Biome and leave two Deer Trophies on the Altar. Deer Trophies come from killing Deer, so players will need to prioritize that.
The best way to kill a Deer in Valheim early in the game is with a bow and arrow. Players can craft a simple, Crude Bow and Wood Arrows using Wood and Leather Scraps at the Workbench. The more arrows a player has, often the better, as they will be using this weapon often. They will need to be careful to get close enough to their target, as the game's physics will make arrows less effective if there is too much distance between player and target.
Players should hunt until they receive two Deer Trophies. Then, they should take these trophies to Eikthyr's Summoning Stone. To reach it, players should return to the area they first spawned, with the Sacrificial Stones representing each of the bosses they will have to face, and interact with Eikthyr's Sacrificial Stone. This will reveal the location of the Summoning Stone. The location can change, so players should be aware and always check at the Sacrificial Stones first.
When the player reaches the Summoning Stone, they will simply place the two Deer Trophies in their Hotbar, then press the corresponding keys to place them on the Altar. Eikthyr will appear, and players can start the fight.
As with any boss in Valheim, it is good to only seek out Eikthyr after a large meal and a full night of sleep to ensure peak health and performance. Players really only need a shield and a knife or spear to fight Eikthyr, though some prefer to use the bow and arrows instead. Players will want to dodge or block Eikthyr's attacks, especially its melee attack and lightning attack. Players can also build structures like walls and a tower prior to placing the Trophies to have more to hide behind if they prefer. Once they defeat the boss, they can claim their reward and work on summoning the next boss.
Valheim is in Steam Early Access and is available for PC.
