DLC & Expansions
Beyond the sprawling base game of Assassin's Creed Valhalla, several expansive DLCs and free content updates offer new regions, storylines, gear, and challenges. This section will guide you through the most significant additions, ensuring you make the most of your Viking saga.
Wrath of the Druids (DLC)
Embark on a journey to the mystical lands of Ireland, where ancient druidic cults and warring kings await. This DLC introduces a new region, a compelling narrative, and unique gameplay mechanics.
Starting the Adventure
- Initiation: You'll receive a letter from Azar in Ravensthorpe, inviting you to Ireland. This quest, "Irish Trade," becomes available after establishing your settlement in England and completing the Grantebridgescire or Ledecestrescire arcs.
- Travel: Head to the docks in Ravensthorpe and speak with Azar to set sail for Dublin.
Key Features & Strategies
- Dublin Renown: This new reputation system is crucial. Complete trade contracts for Azar, raid outposts, and discover trade posts to increase your renown. Higher renown unlocks new resources, gear, and upgrades for Dublin.
- Trade Posts: Locate and conquer trade posts across Ireland. These outposts, once secured, generate valuable resources like Luxuries, Cloth, and Provisions. You'll need to clear out enemies and then construct buildings like the Storehouse or Supply Depot to maximize their output.
- Royal Demands: These are repeatable side quests offering rewards and renown. They often involve assassinating targets or retrieving items.
- The Children of Danu: This is the primary antagonist cult, similar to the Order of the Ancients.
- Tracking: Clues for their locations can be found by exploring the world, completing main quests, and interrogating specific NPCs.
- Notable Members: Keep an eye out for members like The Wren (located in Connacht, often near a waterfall or coastal area) or The Oak (found in Ulster).
- Rewards: Eliminating Children of Danu members often grants powerful gear and unique abilities.
- New Gear: Discover powerful Irish weapons and armor sets, such as the Druidic Armor Set, which enhances poison damage, or the Gae Bolg spear, a mythical weapon with lightning-based attacks.
The Forgotten Saga (Free Roguelite Mode)
Delve into the depths of Niflheim as Odin in this challenging, free roguelite experience. This mode is separate from the main story and offers a unique gameplay loop focused on progression through death and rebirth.
Accessing Niflheim
- Prerequisites: You must have reached Ravensthorpe and completed the quest "A Gift from the Otherworld," which introduces you to Valka's hut and the dream sequences.
- Location: Speak with Everold in Ravensthorpe, who will be near Valka's hut. He will explain the ritual to enter Niflheim.
Gameplay Mechanics & Tips
- Roguelite Structure: Each run starts with basic gear. You'll collect currency (Thoughts, Memories, Dreams) and unlock permanent upgrades that persist across runs.
- Death is Progress: Don't fear death! Dying allows you to spend collected currencies on permanent upgrades at Everold's shop in Ravensthorpe or at the camp in Niflheim.
- Blessings & Curios: During a run, you'll encounter altars offering temporary blessings (buffs) or curios (items with unique effects). Choose wisely to complement your playstyle.
- Weapon & Armor Choices: You'll be presented with various weapon and armor options at the start of each run and at specific points within Niflheim. Experiment to find combinations that work best for you.
- Boss Encounters: Each region of Niflheim culminates in a boss fight. Learn their attack patterns and weaknesses. For example, the first boss, Hel's Guardian, often has predictable charge attacks.
- Permanent Upgrades: Prioritize unlocking upgrades that increase your starting health, allow you to carry more resources, or provide better starting gear options. These significantly improve your chances in subsequent runs.
- Odin's Eye: Use Odin's Eye (V key on PC, D-pad Up on console) frequently to highlight enemies, loot, and points of interest.
Dawn of Ragnarök (DLC)
Step into the shoes of Odin once more, but this time in the mythical realm of Svartalfheim, a land under siege by Muspelheim's fiery giants. This DLC is a grand-scale expansion focusing on divine powers and epic conflicts.
Initiating the Saga
- Prerequisites: While not strictly required, it is highly recommended to have a power level of at least 340 to fully enjoy the challenges of Svartalfheim. The quest "Restless Dreams" will appear in your quest log after completing the Asgard and Jotunheim arcs in the base game.
- Access: Speak with Valka in Ravensthorpe to begin the dream sequence that transports you to Svartalfheim.
Divine Powers & Exploration
- Hugr-Rip: This new bracer allows Odin to absorb the powers of fallen enemies.
- Power of Muspelheim: Grants immunity to fire and allows you to blend in with Muspel soldiers. Essential for navigating lava-filled areas and stealthing past fiery foes.
- Power of the Raven: Transforms Odin into a raven, allowing for quick aerial traversal and scouting. Crucial for reaching high ledges and bypassing enemy patrols.
- Power of Rebirth: Revives defeated enemies to fight for you. Useful for creating diversions or overwhelming stronger foes.
- Power of Winter: Infuses your attacks with ice, freezing enemies and allowing you to walk on lava.
- Power of Jotunheim: Allows you to teleport to specific points and disguise yourself as a Jotun.
- Hugr: A new resource consumed when using Hugr-Rip powers. Collect Hugr from specific plants or by defeating enemies.
- Svartalfheim Exploration: This realm is vast and filled with unique biomes, from volcanic plains to lush dwarven strongholds. Look for hidden dwarven shelters to rest and upgrade your gear.
- Mythical Gear: Discover new armor sets like the Hreidmar's Armor Set, which offers unique bonuses related to Hugr-Rip powers, and powerful mythical weapons.
- Dwarven Blacksmith: Utilize the dwarven blacksmiths to upgrade your gear with new runes and enhancements specific to Svartalfheim.