Settlement Upgrades

Your settlement, Ravensthorpe, is the beating heart of your Viking clan in England. Upgrading it is crucial for unlocking new features, services, and even story elements. Each upgrade requires specific resources: Supplies and Raw Materials. Supplies are found in chests during raids and exploration, while Raw Materials are primarily acquired by completing Raids on monasteries and fortified locations.

Prioritizing Your First Upgrades

When you first arrive in Ravensthorpe, your immediate goal should be to establish core services. Here’s a recommended order for your initial upgrades:

Hidden Ones' Bureau: This is a top priority. Building the Bureau unlocks the Assassin's Creed signature Hidden Blade and introduces you to Hytham, who offers contracts that reward you with valuable experience and resources. It also progresses the main storyline.
Blacksmith (Gunnar's Forge): Essential for improving your gear. Gunnar can upgrade your weapons and armor, increasing their stats and allowing you to engrave runes for additional bonuses. The sooner you can enhance your equipment, the easier combat encounters will become.
Barracks: Allows you to recruit Jomsvikingr, customizable Viking warriors who can join your raiding party and be sent out on River Raids. This not only strengthens your forces but also generates Silver for you passively.
Stable and Aviary: This combined structure allows you to purchase new mounts and ravens, and train your existing ones. Training can improve mount stamina and speed, and unlock new abilities for your raven, such as distracting enemies.

Key Settlement Buildings and Their Benefits

As your settlement grows, more buildings become available, each offering unique advantages. Plan your resource allocation carefully to maximize your benefits.

Economic & Resource Buildings

Trading Post: Unlocks a merchant who sells various goods, including crafting materials, runes, and cosmetic items. It's also where you can sell unwanted gear for Silver.
Fishing Hut: Allows you to fish for various types of fish, which can be used for cooking, offerings, or sold for Silver. Unlocks fishing challenges and a fishing line tool.
Hunter's Hut: Provides a place to turn in animal parts from hunting for rewards, including unique gear and crafting materials. Unlocks hunting challenges and a bow and arrow vendor.
Brewery: Increases the feast buff duration and effectiveness. Feasts are activated at the Longhouse and provide temporary stat boosts to Eivor.
Bakery: Similar to the Brewery, the Bakery enhances the feast buff, typically increasing health or stamina regeneration during the feast.

Combat & Exploration Buildings

Cartographer: Sells maps that reveal the locations of various collectibles and points of interest in different regions, saving you valuable exploration time.
Museum: Houses Roman artifacts you collect throughout England. Turning them in rewards you with settlement decorations and experience.
Seer's Hut: Unlocks the ability to visit Valka, the Seer, who can brew potions that transport Eivor to mythical realms like Asgard and Jotunheim, opening up entirely new questlines and areas. This is a significant story progression point.
Shipyard: Allows you to customize your longship with various cosmetic options and upgrade its stats, such as hull durability and speed.

Social & Aesthetic Buildings

Tattoo & Barber Shop: Customize Eivor's appearance with new hairstyles, beard styles, and tattoos.
Museum: (As mentioned above) Beyond rewards, it serves as a display for your collected Roman artifacts, adding to the visual appeal of your settlement.
Fowl Farm: Provides a steady supply of eggs and feathers, useful for cooking and crafting.
Cattle Farm: Provides leather and meat, essential for upgrading gear and cooking.
Grain Farm: Provides grain, another cooking ingredient.

Acquiring Resources for Upgrades

To upgrade your settlement, you'll need two primary resources:

Supplies: These are found in small chests and containers throughout the world, particularly in enemy camps, bandit hideouts, and during smaller raids. Always keep an eye out for these, as they are plentiful but necessary for every upgrade.
Raw Materials: The most crucial resource for major building construction. Raw Materials are primarily obtained by completing Raids on monasteries and fortified locations. Look for the red axe icon on your world map to identify raid locations. Ensure your longship is full of Jomsvikingr for these endeavors, as you'll need their help to open large resource chests.

Tips for Efficient Settlement Growth

Raid Early, Raid Often: Prioritize raiding monasteries whenever you are in a new region. This is the fastest way to accumulate Raw Materials.
Explore Thoroughly: Always loot every chest and container you come across. Supplies add up quickly and are a constant requirement.
Complete Alliance Pledges: Many main story arcs involve forging alliances. Completing these often rewards you with a significant amount of Raw Materials, allowing for multiple major upgrades.
Check the Construction Site: The construction site in Ravensthorpe (marked by a hammer and chisel icon) will show you all available buildings and their resource costs. Plan your next upgrade based on your current resources and immediate needs.
Don't Forget the Longhouse: While not a buildable structure itself, upgrading your settlement level (by building more structures) will automatically upgrade the Longhouse, increasing your feast buffs and overall settlement prestige.

By strategically upgrading Ravensthorpe, you'll unlock a wealth of benefits that will make your journey through Assassin's Creed Valhalla smoother, more rewarding, and ultimately, more enjoyable.