5 Ashlands Survival tips for Valheim players

As its very name implies, the Ashlands biome in Valheim is as vicious as it gets. Most players in this survival game know that the latest content is always the hardest, and the Ashlands update is no exception to this rule. Even if the unwary manages to win the Charred encounters, the smoldering lava terrain will likely kill them.

Similar to the Mistlands update and all the other biomes before, you will eventually adjust to the unique demands and dangers of Ashlands. However, for those of you yet to venture into these vicious boiling wastes, here are five Valheim survival tips that might save your Ashlands journey from an untimely demise.

---

5 Valheim Survival tips to remember while in the Ashlands

1) Stick to the safe course when heading to Ashlands

If the Drakkar breaks, you are dead in the water - literally (Image via Iron Gate Studio)

To get through the Ashlands, you will have to cross one of the deadliest ocean biomes in Valheim. The water itself will boil you to death, meaning if you get thrown overboard, it's an almost guaranteed death. Only the Drakkar, a boat you can build from the new materials added in Valheim Ashlands update, can traverse these dangerous waters without harm.

To make things trickier, you can get accosted by the Bonemaw Serpent when heading over to the Ashlands. Our first Ashlands-related survival tip for all Valheim players would be to dodge this fight.

---

2) Beware the new spawners

Take a spawner down immediately on sight (Image via Iron Gate Studio)

Ashlands has the strongest version of a spawner pillar in Valheim by far. Not only are they significantly more durable, but they also make for a deadly recipe once combined with the Charred mobs you face in the Ashlands.

Even the lowest tier of Charred enemy faction, the Charged Twitchers, make up for their fragility with high mobility. You can easily get swarmed despite having a good weapon to take care of these enemies quickly.

Every time you come across a spawner, focus on it as a priority target or get ready to kite a horde that builds up fast.

---

3) Set up a defensive perimeter around your portal

The flying enemies in Ashlands are relentless (Image via Iron Gate Studios)

This goes without saying for veteran Valheim players, but don't forget to protect your portals. Ashlands is a particularly treacherous biome with dangerous enemies lurking about, and you will face deaths even with end-game gear in your first foray.

Having a portal gives you safe passage to and from the mainland base, but due to how frequent the mob spawns seem to be in Ashlands, it is also necessary to build walls around your portal.

When you journey into the Ashlands, place a bunch of Iron Ingots in your Drakkar so you can make Stonecutters. If the Charred battalion gets to have fortresses of their own, why shouldn't you?

Be sure to also get enough material to get the latest Cauldron upgrade in Valheim, which unlocks some potent recipes.

---

4) Tame an Asksvin as soon as possible

Asksvins can be tamed and mounted in Valheim (Image via Iron Gate Studio)

Asksvins are a tricky type of reptile in Ashlands, particularly because of their lunge attacks. However, unlike many of the other reptile enemies, you can tame Asksvins in Valheim.

They are no trophy conquests, either. You can actually mount an Asksvin once you have recruited them. They can move safely on lava terrain, making them the perfect tool to traverse the Ashlands biome.

---

5) Frost and spirit damage is the way to go

Frost Staff is great for Ashlands (Image via Iron Gate Studio)

Most enemies you will come across in Valheim's Ashlads region are weak to Spirit and Frost damage. It is a no-brainer to use weapons with those damage types, and you will likely have many options if you have survived Valheim up until this point.

In our personal experience with playing Ashlands PTB in Valheim, we found the Frostner to be a very good melee option. Using the Frost Staff as a way to shotgun enemies at close range is also a viable strategy for many of the mobs.

---

Valheim's Ashlands update adds a good chunk of content to chew through, and it will take you a while before you beat Fader, the new boss. However, once you are done with that, here are five more survival-based MMO games you might like.