Valheim patch 0.221.4 (Public Test) is live with adrenaline adjustments, wooden weapon fixes, and a proper name restore for T.W.I.G. This roundup covers access steps, key highlights, and the detailed fixes so you can decide when to hop into the branch—just remember to back up your worlds.
Weapons & crafting: Skull Splittur craftable at Black Forge lvl 1; now emits light; Blackmetal Battleaxe/Skull Splittur grip corrected; trinkets move to Forge/Black Forge.
Projectile tweaks: Frost Blob weak to fire, resistant to frost; Frost Blob Bomb uses Drake trophy; Staff of Frost grants 1 adrenaline per hit.
Creatures: bears swim; Viles in Plains Monster faction; Viles can drop Rotten Meat; both despawn in 4s and path around trees/boulders.
World & items: stairs on Stone Portal climbable; cores no longer forced into hotbar; Fader sacrificial stone carvings brighter; Bearskin Rug flicker fixed.
Placement & stands: Fragrant Bundle, Fresh Seaweed, Thistle place flat on stands (shift+E rotates).
Quality-of-life: overencumbered players can’t dodge; trinket + utility item both visible on character; Stone Portal stairs climbable.
Stability: shield generator projectile exceptions fixed; sledges hit fractured mine rocks again; T.W.I.G. no longer deconstructs multiple times in multiplayer.
Matchmaking/UI: join-code server add now refreshes immediately.
Risks and spoiler courtesy
Public Test may be unstable—keep backups.
Avoid posting spoilers where players aren’t opted in; keep feedback to official channels.
For more Valheim coverage and build guides, browse the Valheim category and switch back to default once the patch graduates if you prefer stability.
Valheim Co-op Guide: Ashlands Fortresses, Fader, and Deep North Prep
Valheim co-op guide readers know a spilled drink, a mistimed roll, or a one-star Fuling can erase hours, so this Valheim co-op guide packs the best bits from recent fortress clears to keep your squad alive. We cover Ashlands battering rams, lightning claymore builds, portal safety, Fader tactics, and early Deep North prep without burying you in streamer chatter.
A tight portal network and a lightning claymore make Ashlands fortresses far less chaotic.
Valheim co-op guide quick wins
Six-hour co-op sessions taught a few non-negotiables: fix your mic mix before combat, put coffee away from the keyboard, and place a backup portal before you swing a sword. The fastest progression came from slowing down—building tidy hubs, labeling panic chests, and refusing to fight until food, meads, and portal mats were staged.
Build a fortress-ready base
Open courtyard: Keep forges, kilns, smelters, and farms in one grid so repairs take seconds. Avoid doors that block emergency dodges.
Dedicated refiner pad: Soft tissue and refined eitr live on their own slab to keep lightning enchants flowing.
Lag control: Cull excess boars and chickens; one full chest of meat or eggs is enough. Lag spikes kill more Vikings than seekers.
Storage by activity: Panic chest near portals (wood, nails, surtling cores), black forge area for helio-light and gems, boss chests with pre-staged food and meads.
Unlabeled backup portal: One unnamed portal stays in inventory; drop and connect without typing.
Weapons that carry co-op fights
The lightning claymore remains the hero of this Valheim co-op guide. Mistwalker and Skull & Hati help with slows, but Ashlands mobs ignore their DPS. The helio-light claymore chains lightning, staggers warlocks, and deletes archer packs. Carry two to offset durability, and pair with a crossbow (Ripper) to build lightning stacks while reloading. Add a Staff of Protection bubble if you cast.
Food, meads, and buffs
Lingering stamina mead for nonstop rolls; burst stamina strands you between chugs.
Fire resist + bone mass on cooldown. Treat fire mead as mandatory for Ashlands and Fader.
Two-bag method: One bag holds heals, one holds stamina snacks. Panic looting gets simpler.
Feasts vs pies: Feasts for shield/magic users; meat pie plus stamina pie for melee-only squads.
Pre-stage consumables: Leave stacks of mead and food at the assault portal so wipes turn into 2-minute resets.
Ashlands fortress plan
Scout exits: Pick forts with two clear escape lines; bridge lava before aggro if you must take a bad one.
Drop bench + backup portal out of meteor range; hide it behind rocks.
Place the battering ram, pull mobs out, then sprint to kill spawners. If meteors land, rebuild the portal before looting.
Chain lightning on packs while a partner kites. Use grenades or crossbows on unstable lava blobs.
Loot fast: Grab bell fragments, helio-light, flametal, and blue gems; leave scrap behind.
Fader fight, simplified
Craft bell fragments, head to a small-island altar, and follow a strict routine:
Portal safety: Drop a backup portal behind natural cover; keep a bench and nails on your character.
Opener: Lightning claymore wipes Ashen and Fallen adds; meteors mop up. Adds, not Fader’s HP, cause wipes.
Respect emerald flame: Fire mead plus positioning; never stand in green. Roll early.
Buff cadence: Fire mead ~2 minutes, bone mass on cooldown, stamina mead at zero.
Stock frost resist alongside fire mead; label chests by biome.
Mixed armor so you can swap for heat or cold without a rebuild.
Portal anchors on cliffs, not valleys; meteors and trolls hit roofs first.
Backup helio-light for spare lightning swords; raw burst and stuns remain biome-proof.
Cart lanes marked like a bus route so metal never strands in snow.
Solo vs co-op pacing
Solo play means bridging and staging ahead of time: pre-build paths to forts, seed boss chests with food and mead, and park a second portal in a nearby workbench. Co-op multiplies efficiency, but solo staging can mimic teamwork.
Plan portals and carts before you chase the Deep North.
Key takeaways
Use the lightning claymore for Ashlands and forts; it erases packs and stuns bosses.
Valheim fortress guide: a spilled drink, a mis-click, or a one-star Fuling can wipe an evening, but a clean plan keeps you moving. This long-form recap distills a 6-hour co-op session into a practical, repeatable Valheim fortress guide for tidy hubs, tuned gear, Ashlands fortresses, battering rams, Fader prep, and fast recoveries when portals or keyboards melt down.
Clean prep, focused kits, and fast recoveries make Ashlands forts and Fader less brutal.
Valheim fortress guide quick wins
Six hours in, voice levels fixed, and coffee safely away from the keyboard, we restarted Valheim with two goals: tidy the base and finally break Fader. Previous attempts dragged because of messy storage, mixed weapons, and underestimating one-star spawns. Slowing down, building clean choke points, over-prepping food and portals, and leaning on the lightning claymore turned the run around. This is a guide because it captures every painful lesson: portals exploding, passwords failing, meteor wipes, and the surprising ease that arrives when you embrace the right weapon.
Base upgrades that actually paid off
Open courtyard, tight benches: Forges, smelters, and the farm sit in one open quad. No more running through doors mid-fight to repair gear. Stand at a smelter, turn, and hit a kiln without moving.
Dedicated refiner pad: Soft tissue and refined eitr benches got their own slab, so mage gear and lightning enchants stayed topped up. Separate floors mean fewer misplaced runes and faster upgrades.
Animal lag control: Chickens and boars trimmed back to a handful; full black-metal chests of meat and eggs let you cull extras to keep frames smooth. Lag kills more Vikings than seekers.
Portal discipline: One unnamed “backup” portal lives in inventory. In a panic, drop it—no typing, no guessing, just connect and run. Labeled networks stay at base; the unlabeled stays on your bar.
Storage by activity: Flame metal, helio-light, and gems near the black forge; nails, cores, and wood in a “panic” chest by the portal; potions and food in a box at every boss site so corpse-runs aren’t naked.
Weapons: why the lightning claymore changed everything
Starting with Mistwalker and Skull & Hati gave slows and spirit, but Ashlands mobs shrugged off the DPS. Swapping to the lightning claymore (the helio-light upgrade) turned the run into an ARPG loop:
Chain lightning deletes packs and stuns warriors and warlocks, removing the “archers everywhere” problem. When the chain pops, every green archer evaporates.
Burst meter builds shock and stagger, then pops for huge damage even on one- and two-stars. It doubles as crowd control.
Safety vs blood builds: Blood variants have a higher ceiling, but lightning is safer and more forgiving when stamina or positioning slip. Blood shines in 1v1 boss melts; lightning makes forts trivial.
Durability tip: Carry two if you plan to roam; it chews through durability in long fights. Pair with bows or crossbows (Ashfang, Ripper) to spread wear and trigger lightning build-up while reloading.
Magic synergy: The lightning sword pairs cleanly with Staff of Protection (bubble) and root summons for layered control; health stays high while output stays spiky.
Food, potions, and buffs that worked
Lingering stamina mead over burst stamina: faster regen keeps you rolling even at zero. The burst mead strands you between chugs.
Fire resistance + bone mass on cooldown; Fader’s emerald flame ignores mediocre resist stacks, so refresh often. Treat fire mead as mandatory, not optional.
Two-bag system: One bag for heals, one for stam snacks. Panic looting stays short, and the “where’s my potion” shuffle disappears.
Feasts vs pies: Feasts shine if you’re shielding or casting; meat pies plus a stamina pie remain solid for melee-only runs. Using Staff of Protection? Feasts pay off.
Pre-stage consumables at the fight so the second and third pulls are quick. A dead Viking with no stamina mead in chest is a wasted run.
Fortress assault blueprint (Ashlands)
Multiple forts fell in minutes after the weapon swap and a tighter plan:
Scout and mark two exits. Avoid lava-wrapped forts if a safer option is nearby. If you must take one, bridge first, aggro later.
Drop workbench + backup portal outside aggro range; name nothing, just connect. Hide it behind rocks to reduce meteor splash.
Place battering ram at the door, lure mobs out, then rush the spawner. If meteors land, rebuild benches and portal instantly.
Chain packs with lightning while a partner kites. Grenades or Ripper crossbow pop unstable lava blobs from range. Keep archers off the ram.
Loot discipline: Prioritize bell fragments, helio-light, flametal, blue gems, and coins; junk gets tossed. Empty warlock chests fast and leave.
Recovery when the portal explodes
Fader’s meteors will happily erase your portal and chests. Keep nails, fine wood, surtling cores, and a spare hammer on your bar. If the portal breaks:
Sprint out of meteor range, craft a new bench and portal first, then recover gear. Gear is useless if you can’t re-enter the fight.
Leave an unnamed portal in inventory; typing a tag mid-fight is how you wipe twice.
Use Morgan caves or cliffs as temporary shelters to drag aggro away while you rebuild. Even a tiny ridge buys time.
Reset day/night if possible. Nighttime spikes one- and two-star spawn rates; sleeping cuts chaos.
Mobs and counters in Ashlands forts
Warlocks: Lightning chains stun them; burst when they start casting. If two spawn, split aggro and keep one on the ram side.
Fallen Valkyries: Fire resist plus bubble; keep them in meteor splash. They hit like trucks—use the ram to body-block swings.
Unstable lava blobs: Ripper or grenades from range. Never melee these in tight corridors; they chew durability and health.
Warriors (one-/two-star): Circle-strafe. Lightning pop staggers them; punish, back off, repeat. Bone mass helps, but positioning wins.
Fader fight: clean pull, clean finish
With three bell fragments forged, the team headed to the altar on a small island (safer than the mainland). The winning loop:
Prep chest on site with extra food, fire mead, lingering stam, and a spare hammer. Stack six of each mead in case portals break.
Drop a backup portal behind natural cover; if it dies, rebuild immediately. Keep a bench and nails on you, not in the chest that can be destroyed.
Open with lightning chains to erase Ashen and Fallen adds; meteors finish the stragglers. Adds are the real wipe risk, not Fader’s health pool.
Respect emerald flame: even with resist, the ground DoT will delete you. Roll early, never stand in green, and don’t corpse-run through flame without mead.
Watch buffs: refresh fire mead at ~2 minutes; bone mass as soon as it’s up; stamina mead when you hit zero. Build muscle memory for buff timers.
Assign roles: one player on add control with lightning, one on ram and structure rebuilds, one on boss aggro. Fewer voices calling targets = fewer wipes.
Deaths still happened—meteor walls, bad rolls, and a missing corpse run buff—but the lightning claymore kept adds off the field, and portals stayed up on the second try. Fader dropped the expected ember relics (and the reminder that his meteors will nuke every structure you love).
Co-op quality-of-life lessons
Voice and volume: fix mics early; whisper-quiet comms caused avoidable wipes in the first streams. Stream your own audio to test.
Bandwidth reality: 20–25 Mbps held four players; under 10 Mbps caused rubber-banding mid-fight. Pause downloads and kill cloud sync before bosses.
Region swaps and passwords: type passwords manually if copy/paste fails; keep a second character slot ready for hard servers. Double-check caps lock—seriously.
Take breaks: a week off killed burnout and let new ideas (like lightning) sink in. Coming back with fresh eyes made the fortress loop fun again.
Have a “panic kit” chest: fire mead, stam mead, one set of armor, one mid-tier weapon, wood, nails, cores. It turns a wipe into a 2-minute reset.
Post-fight tidy-up and why it matters
After the kill, the crew:
Repaired smelters and benches, cooked all flametal, and sorted gems by enchant tier. Future you will thank you when you log back in.
Stored bell fragments and marked remaining forts; only one more was needed for the final set, and the map now shows clear priorities.
Celebrated with fireworks (yes, Valheim has them) and reset the mead hall so the next login starts organized. Celebrations mark the grind’s end.
Checked durability on everything; lightning swords break fast. Repair before logging so the next session begins ready.
Deep North prep (early notes)
The Deep North will punish heat-stacked kits with cold, so start hoarding:
Frost resistance mead stockpiles alongside fire mead; keep at least two stacks per player in labeled chests.
Flexible armor: mix of frost- and fire-friendly sets so you can swap without a full rebuild.
Portal anchors on cliffs, not in valleys; meteors and trolls hit roofs first.
Extra helio-light for backup lightning swords; if everything is cold-resistant, raw burst plus stuns still works.
Cart paths and signage: post-Fader, you’ll roam far. Keep cart lanes marked like a factory bus so you don’t strand metal in the snow.
Solo vs co-op pacing
Playing solo felt like pushing a cart uphill: no parallel crafting, no spare portals, and every death meant a long jog. With a partner, division of labor mattered—one repaired and cooked, one scouted and built bridges, both fought. Staying solo? Duplicate the roles through prep: pre-build bridges to forts, leave food in chests ahead of time, and keep a second portal in a workbench near your corpse so recoveries don’t burn an hour. Co-op multiplies efficiency, but solo play can mimic it with staging.
Key takeaways you can steal now
Use the lightning claymore in Ashlands for safe, reliable chain bursts and stuns; it trivializes packs.
Lingering stamina mead beats burst stamina for dodging and rolling on empty; it’s your survivability glue.
Carry an unnamed backup portal and a hammer; rebuild first, loot later. Portals are progress.
Keep bases open and sorted so repairs and refuels take seconds, not trips through doorways.
Respect emerald flame; fire mead is mandatory, positioning even more so. Don’t stand in green. Ever.
Take breaks; burnout fixes itself when you step away and rethink your kit. New ideas arrive off-stream.
FAQ from the stream
“Mistwalker or lightning?” Lightning for forts and adds; Mistwalker can stay as a slow, but lightning is the clear Ashlands winner. Mistwalker still shines in swamp spirit damage.
“Do I need blood builds?” Blood red builds are great if you’re confident dodging; lightning is safer and team-friendly. Try blood on bosses once you trust your iframe timing.
“How many portals?” One labeled network at base, one unlabeled in inventory, one labeled for the current objective. Two unlabeled if you expect meteors.
“Why lingering stam?” It refills from zero fast enough to roll; burst stamina mead leaves you gasping between chugs, especially with heavy armor.
“What if my keyboard dies mid-stream?” Don’t copy/paste passwords; type them. Keep a spare cheap keyboard nearby so a spill doesn’t end your night.
Want more base-planning detail?
If you’re juggling multiple survival sandboxes, the same logistics apply in other builders. We used the same bus-and-open-floor mindset in our Satisfactory factory planning blueprint to keep trains and belts clean; Valheim’s portals and carts benefit from identical discipline. Likewise, the crystal bus approach from our crystal miner automation guide shows how open lanes reduce reroutes—a lesson that translates directly to Viking cart paths.
With Fader down, a tidy base, and the lightning claymore in hand, the next wipe is on you—not on a spilled drink or a missing portal.
Valheim Deep North Update: Loom Teaser, Tunnels, and Unity Patch (Oct 2025)
The latest Valheim Deep North update checks back in with Hervor Bloodtooth, teases new crafting extensions, and reassures players after the recent Unity security vulnerability. Here’s everything Iron Gate shared in the October 28, 2025 dev post.
Unity security patch applied; Valheim is safe to play
Hervor Bloodtooth survives the winding tunnels; surface threats await
Loom crafting extension teased for the Galdr table in the Deep North
Tokyo Game Show gratitude and a standout build of the month
Hervor Bloodtooth dives deeper into the tunnels while new crafting extensions loom.
Unity security note: Valheim patched promptly
Iron Gate addressed the recent Unity security vulnerability quickly, pushing the necessary engine updates to Valheim. The team saw no evidence of the issue impacting the game and confirmed it is safe to play. They held announcements to avoid unnecessary alarm, but now reassure Vikings that the world is secure.
Hervor Bloodtooth survives the tunnels
The devs report that the creatures lurking in the winding tunnels couldn’t best Hervor Bloodtooth. The bigger question: how will players fare when those foes spill topside and disrupt the surface? Expect messy encounters above ground as Deep North development continues.
Valheim Deep North update: loom teaser for the Galdr table
Progress on the Deep North biome includes new snow elements and crafting extensions. The newest teaser shows a loom attachment for the Galdr table—hinting at fresh textile recipes and late-game gear paths when the biome lands.
Community shoutouts
Tokyo Game Show thanks: Iron Gate thanked everyone who visited the booth at TGS.
Build of the Month: Creator handyhanderson earned the spotlight with a clever build. Want to be featured? Tag #ValheimBotM, DM or email the team, or post in the Discord build-of-the-month forum channel.
Plan space for the Galdr table extension and loom so you can craft new textiles fast.
Back up your worlds and keep servers updated after engine patches.
Need lag-free co-op while you wait for the next Valheim Deep North update? Check our Valheim server tips to keep your Viking sessions smooth.
Valheim Ashlands PTR: Hosting Prep for Cheap Valheim Servers
The Ashlands public test branch is here, bringing scorched biomes, siege weapons, and a nastier endgame loop. Before you invite your crew, make sure your Valheim server hosting plan is ready for the heat.
What makes Ashlands a server challenge?
Lava and ash storms hammer FPS and CPU time when particles stack.
Siege engines spawn dozens of projectiles that stress older worlds.
New mobs pathfind aggressively, so AI threads wake up more often.
Cheap Valheim server hosting must still keep latency low, which is why we preload Ashlands assets, keep backups off-node, and give you a PTR slot separate from production worlds.
Prep checklist before enabling Ashlands
Duplicate your world. Clone saves and store them in a safe bucket (our panel does this in one click).
Enable battle metrics. Track CPU, RAM, and packet loss when players unleash new catapults.
Refresh mods. Many QoL packs already support Ashlands; update BepInEx templates, then test.
Set expectations. Use Discord webhooks to announce test windows and rollback plans.
Harden backups. Run 15-minute snapshots while clans experiment with sieges.
Recommended settings for affordable Valheim hosting
Player count
CPU target
RAM
Notes
1-5
4 dedicated cores
8 GB
Great for scouting new POIs.
6-10
6 dedicated cores
12 GB
Add autosave staggering.
10-20
8 dedicated cores
16 GB
Recommended for siege events.
Stay ahead of the Ashlands meta
Combine our save location guide with region-specific nodes to keep ping under 30 ms across Europe. That is how we deliver affordable Valheim hosting without cutting corners.
Need to migrate from another host? We import worlds, configure PTR + live environments, and keep your Valheim servers ready for every biome update.
Valheim Updates: Deep North, Combat Enhancements, and More
Valheim’s developers have shared exciting news in their latest update, “Word From the Devs: Mystery Foes.” Here’s an in-depth look at what’s coming to Valheim:
Introducing “Word From the Devs”
The monthly blog posts are now titled “Word From the Devs,” replacing the previous “Development Blog” name. This change aims to better reflect the content and updates shared with the community.
Deep North Biome Development
Work on the mysterious Deep North biome is underway. While details are scarce to preserve the element of discovery, the developers have hinted at intriguing content awaiting players brave enough to explore this frozen expanse.
Upcoming Combat Update
Before the Deep North release, a smaller update focusing on combat mechanics is planned. Notably, this update will address the long-standing issue of fighting on slopes, enhancing the overall combat experience.
New Armor Teased
Alongside combat improvements, new armor is on the horizon. A sneak peek was shared on Instagram, sparking speculation about the creature it’s crafted from. Stay tuned for more details!
Community Spotlight: Fort Elvetham, a stunning build by kpthe13th and his daughters, is featured as this month’s “Build of the Month.” Share your creations using #ValheimBotM for a chance to be highlighted.
Rocky Plushie Update
Thanks to everyone who supported the Makeship campaign for the Rocky plushie! Shipments are expected in August 2025. Keep an eye out for updates.
For more information and discussions, join the Valheim community on Discord or visit the Reddit forums.
Sharpen your swords and prepare for new adventures!
Alright Vikings, Grab Your Axes – Valheim Patch 0.220.5 is Here
Alright Vikings, grab your axes and pour yourselves a horn of mead! Iron Gate just dropped another update for Valheim, patch 0.220.5. While it might seem like just another number on the long road to the Ashlands, these little patches often bring neat fixes—and sometimes, they tweak things around our favorite wandering merchant, Haldor. Let’s dive in and see what’s cooking in the tenth realm, especially concerning the blue dwarf with the best loot (and the only loot you can buy, really).
Valheim Patch 0.220.5 Arrives: More Than Just Bug Squashing?
Valheim patches usually fall into a few categories: big content drops, mid-size updates with new mechanics or mini-biomes, and these smaller, numbered patches. Patch 0.220.5 looks like it fits into that last category—focusing on stability, bug fixes, performance tweaks, and balance adjustments.
These patches often include:
Bug fixes (e.g., flying carts, terrain issues)
Networking improvements for smoother multiplayer
Enemy AI tweaks
Building system fixes
They may be small, but the impact on gameplay is meaningful. Think fewer crashes, smoother framerates, and less frustration. But one question often rises above the rest…
Haldor the Trader: Still Rocking the Blue Hue in 0.220.5?
Haldor, the blue-skinned merchant in the Black Forest, is a milestone for all Valheim players. His offerings are game-changing:
Megingjord: Increases carry weight from 300 to 450 for 950 Coins.
Ymir Flesh: Required for crafting the Iron Sledge and Frostner.
Dverger Circlet: A headlamp for dungeon exploring (620 Coins).
Fishing Rod & Bait: Basic angling gear.
Thunder Stone: Needed to craft the Obliterator (item disposal).
Yule Hat: A cosmetic seasonal item. Fashion matters!
What Could Patch 0.220.5 Change About Haldor?
No confirmed changes, but here’s what might have happened behind the scenes:
Spawn Fixes: Ensuring Haldor appears in valid Black Forest areas.
Interaction Bugs: Fixing trade windows or unresponsive dialogues.
Dialogue Tweaks: Possible lore hints or new one-liners.
Item Price Adjustments: Small economy tweaks (bait, treasure values).
Bubble Fixes: Reinforcing his force field from bugged mob attacks.
Map Icon Fixes: Making his location marker more reliable.
Most likely: bug fixes related to his functionality and spawn logic.
The Wider Impact of 0.220.5
Beyond Haldor, this patch likely includes:
Performance & Optimization: Better framerates, faster loading, and improved LODs.
Building System Improvements: Fixes to snap points, structural physics, or render bugs.
Combat Balancing: Small tweaks to stamina, damage values, or enemy AI behavior.
Multiplayer Stability: Desync fixes, smoother inventory sharing, reliable boss fights.
World Generation Fixes: No more floating copper nodes or invisible terrain holes.
It’s all about polish. You may not notice a dramatic change, but the experience gets smoother.
Keep Calm and Keep Viking On
Should you go find Haldor immediately because of this patch? Probably not—unless you had a bug that made him impossible to find. But this is a great excuse to hop back into Valheim regardless.
Check if your favorite mods still work, gather your friends, and set sail again. Whether you’re returning to defeat the next boss or just building your next mead hall, the tenth realm awaits—with fewer bugs and smoother sailing. Skål!
Valheim Dedicated Server Save Location (Windows, Linux, Docker)
Need the exact Valheim dedicated server save location so you can back up or move your world? This guide shows the default paths on Windows and Linux, how to change them with -savedir, and where hosts and Docker keep your files.
Paths for Windows, Linux, and Docker installs
How to set -savedir for predictable backups
Steps to move or restore a world without corruption
Keep your Viking saga safe by knowing exactly where the world files live.
Default Valheim dedicated server save location
Each world has two files you must keep together: YourWorld.db and YourWorld.fwl (plus any .old backups). If you do not set -savedir, Valheim uses these defaults:
Linux:~/.config/unity3d/IronGate/Valheim/worlds or worlds_local
Set your own save folder with -savedir
Point saves to a clean, backed-up directory so you always know where your world lives. This keeps your Valheim dedicated server save location predictable for backups.
@echo off
set SAVE_PATH="C:\ValheimSaves"
valheim_server -savedir "%SAVE_PATH%" -world "MyWorld"
Want hands-off hosting? See our Valheim server tips to keep your world online while you focus on raids.
Understanding Valheim EULA
As a passionate gamer and content creator, it’s important to know how to use game content responsibly. Valheim’s guidelines—crafted by Coffee Stain Publishing AB—are designed to let you share your creative projects while respecting the game’s original work. Whether you’re recording gameplay, writing reviews, or making tutorials, these rules ensure that you add your unique voice rather than simply copying what you see.
The guidelines make one thing clear: only use content that has been officially released or promoted. This means no leaked or unofficial material is allowed. As gamers, we all love the thrill of discovering new content, but it’s essential to wait for the official drop before incorporating any images, videos, or soundtracks into your project.
Content creators are welcome to use gameplay videos, screenshots, and music from Valheim, as long as there’s creative input. Simply reposting the game’s material without any commentary or added value is not acceptable. If you plan to monetize your content through advertising or streaming partner programs, be sure to follow the extra rules for commercial projects. This ensures your work is both creative and respectful of the game’s brand.
Another key point is avoiding spoilers. If you must include hints or reveal parts of the story, always add a clear spoiler disclaimer. Additionally, if you use any third-party content like music or logos, you need permission from the original owners. The guidelines also remind creators to keep game elements together, rather than splitting them into separate parts.
Lastly, it’s vital not to imply that your project is officially endorsed by Coffee Stain Publishing AB, and you should avoid using their names as the main title of your work. By following these simple yet important rules, you can create engaging, ethical, and exciting content for fellow gamers to enjoy.
Valheim Patch 0.220.4 – Dedicated Servers Get a Boost!
Hey Vikings! Gather ’round the long fire, because there’s a new patch hitting Valheim, and it’s a good one, especially if you’re running or playing on dedicated servers. Patch 0.220.4 just dropped in March 2025, and while it’s not a massive content update with new biomes or bosses, it focuses on something crucial: stability and performance, with a special emphasis on dedicated servers. Let’s dive into the details.
Dedicated Server Improvements: Smoother Sailing Ahead
The headline of this patch is definitely the improvements made to dedicated servers. If you’ve ever hosted a Valheim server for your friends, or played on a populated one, you know that things can get a little choppy. This patch aims to address those issues directly.
Reduced Memory Usage: Optimized memory allocation for dedicated servers means smoother gameplay and fewer crashes.
Improved Network Handling: Refined network code leads to fewer lag spikes and disconnects.
Better World Loading Times: World loading is faster, so you can jump into the action more quickly.
Enhanced Server Stability: Bug fixes for crashes and unresponsive servers improve uptime and reliability.
These changes show the developers’ dedication to improving the game’s infrastructure for a better multiplayer experience.
General Fixes and Tweaks: Polishing the Viking Experience
Patch 0.220.4 also brings several general improvements that benefit all players:
Building Stability Fixes: Prevents buildings from collapsing unexpectedly.
Item Duplication Glitch Patched: Fixes an exploit to ensure fair gameplay.
AI Improvements: Smarter and more engaging enemy behavior during combat.
Minor Visual Tweaks: Small fixes that enhance visual quality and immersion.
Localization Updates: Improved translations for global players.
What This Means for You: A Better Valheim Experience
More Stable Multiplayer: Dedicated servers are more reliable, reducing lag and disconnects.
Improved Solo Play: Better AI and building mechanics make for a smoother solo experience.
Continued Development: Shows Iron Gate Studio is committed to ongoing improvements and support.
Final Thoughts: A Solid Step Forward
Patch 0.220.4 might not be the flashiest update, but it’s a crucial one. By focusing on stability and performance, particularly for dedicated servers, the developers are laying the groundwork for a more robust and enjoyable Valheim experience. So, update your game, gather your friends, and get ready to embark on some epic Viking adventures in a smoother, more stable world.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a longship to build and some trolls to smash. Skål!
