Gear & Equipment

Eivor's journey through Anglo-Saxon England is fraught with peril, and having the right gear can make all the difference. This comprehensive guide will walk you through acquiring powerful armor sets and weapons, ensuring you're always prepared for whatever challenges lie ahead.

Understanding Gear Tiers

Gear in Valhalla comes in several tiers, each offering increased stats and upgrade potential:

Fine (Bronze): Basic gear, good for early game.
Superior (Silver): Improved stats, often found in chests.
Flawless (Gold): Significantly better stats, often from more challenging encounters or later-game regions.
Mythical (Gold with glowing aura): The highest tier, offering the best stats and unique set bonuses. These are typically found in the most difficult areas or as rewards for major quests.

Always prioritize upgrading your gear at a Blacksmith in your settlement or other major towns. Upgrading not only boosts stats but also unlocks additional rune slots for further customization.

Essential Armor Sets & How to Get Them

Armor sets provide powerful bonuses when all pieces are equipped. Here are some top recommendations for various playstyles:

Raven Clan Armor Set (Starter Set)

This is your initial armor set, perfect for getting started. While basic, it offers a decent early-game balance and can be upgraded to remain viable for a surprising amount of time.

Raven Clan Helmet: Acquired automatically during the quest "Honor Bound" in Rygjafylke.
Raven Clan Bracers: Acquired automatically during the quest "Honor Bound" in Rygjafylke.
Raven Clan Armor: Acquired automatically during the quest "Honor Bound" in Rygjafylke.
Raven Clan Breeches: Acquired automatically during the quest "Honor Bound" in Rygjafylke.
Raven Clan Cloak: Acquired automatically during the quest "Honor Bound" in Rygjafylke.

Set Bonus: Increases armor and evasion, a solid all-around bonus for early encounters.

Brigandine Armor Set (Heavy Tank)

Ideal for players who prefer a more defensive, tanky playstyle. This set significantly boosts your armor rating.

Brigandine Cape: Found in a chest within the Canterbury Cathedral in Cent. You'll need to navigate the cathedral's interior, often involving climbing and breaking through weak points.
Brigandine Gauntlets: Located in a chest at Dover Fortress in Cent. This fortress is heavily guarded, so prepare for a significant fight or a stealthy infiltration.
Brigandine Trousers: Discovered in a chest at Botolphston in Cent. Look for a well-guarded building within the settlement.
Brigandine Armor: Found in a chest at Folcanstan in Cent. This area often requires solving a small environmental puzzle to access the chest.
Brigandine Helmet: Located in a chest at Lunden's Temple of Mithras. This is a more complex location, often requiring specific entry points or environmental interactions.

Set Bonus: Increases armor when surrounded by more than two enemies. Perfect for brawlers.

Huntsman Armor Set (Ranged Focus)

For those who prefer to keep their distance and rain down arrows, the Huntsman set is a must-have. It enhances your ranged damage and stealth capabilities.

Huntsman Helmet: Found in a chest at Ledecestre Abbey in Ledecestrescire. This is a large, often heavily patrolled area.
Huntsman Vambraces: Located in a chest at Tonnastadir in Ledecestrescire. This bandit camp requires careful navigation or a direct assault.
Huntsman Armor: Discovered in a chest at Templebrough Fort in Ledecestrescire. This fort is a major stronghold, so expect resistance.
Huntsman Breeches: Found in a chest at Ravensburg in Ledecestrescire. This small camp is often less guarded than larger forts.
Huntsman Cloak: Located in a chest at Sudwella Monastery in Ledecestrescire. This monastery is a common raid target, so be prepared for combat.

Set Bonus: Increases ranged damage after hitting an enemy's weak point. Excellent for headshot enthusiasts.

Powerful Weapons & Where to Find Them

A good weapon can turn the tide of battle. Here are some standout choices:

Sepulcher Axe (Two-Handed Axe)

A powerful two-handed axe that ignites enemies. Great for crowd control and sustained damage.

Location: Found in a chest at the Offchurch crypt in Ledecestrescire. You'll encounter this location during the "Tilting the Balance" questline. The chest is typically in a hidden room or behind a destructible wall within the crypt.
Strategy: Be prepared for a fight with King Burgred's guards. The crypt itself has some light puzzles to access all areas.

Fyrd Axe (One-Handed Axe)

A reliable one-handed axe with good speed and damage, perfect for dual-wielding or pairing with a shield.

Location: This weapon is often found early in the game, sometimes as a drop from powerful enemies or in smaller chests in regions like Rygjafylke or Ledecestrescire. It's a common, strong early-game option.
Strategy: Keep an eye out for it in wealth chests marked on your map in lower-level areas.

Varin's Axe (One-Handed Axe)

Eivor's father's axe, a sentimental and surprisingly effective weapon that scales well with upgrades.

Location: Acquired automatically during the quest "Honor Bound" in Rygjafylke, very early in the game.
Strategy: Upgrade this axe frequently. Its sentimental value is matched by its combat prowess, especially when paired with another one-handed weapon.

Excalibur (Greatsword)

One of the most iconic and powerful weapons in the game, a true endgame reward.

Location: To acquire Excalibur, you must first find 11 "Treasures of Britain" tablets scattered across England. These are often found in challenging caves and hidden areas, requiring environmental puzzles or combat. Once all 11 are collected, proceed to Stonehenge in Hamtunscire (specifically, the Myrddin's Cave entrance). The sword is embedded in a stone, requiring all tablets to be placed.
Strategy: This is a late-game objective. Focus on exploring and completing wealth activities. Each tablet location is a mini-dungeon in itself. Be prepared for high-level enemies and complex puzzles.

Optimizing Your Loadout

Don't just equip the highest power level gear. Consider your playstyle:

Melee Brawler: Focus on heavy armor (like Brigandine) and dual-wielding powerful axes or greatswords. Look for runes that boost melee damage, stun, or critical chance.
Stealth Assassin: Prioritize light armor (like Huntsman or Raven Clan for early game) and daggers or light axes. Focus on runes that enhance stealth, ranged damage, or assassination damage.
Ranged Specialist: The Huntsman set is ideal. Pair it with a powerful bow (Hunter, Light, or Predator) and focus on runes that increase ranged damage, headshot damage, or critical chance.

Experiment with different combinations of armor and weapons. The "Gear" tab in your inventory allows you to easily swap items and view their stats and set bonuses. use your Blacksmith to upgrade gear and your Rune menu to socket runes for further customization!