Valheim PvP & PvE Multiplayer Modes Explained

Valheim is the latest survival game to have picked up traction among PC gamers. The indie title is being developed by Swedish studio Iron Gate and was released on Steam Early Access on February 2. It gives players control of a deceased Viking warrior who has been transported to a mysterious realm to purge it of its vile creatures. Bosses, like the demonic stag Eikthyr, are users’ primary adversaries in Valheim, but does the game support player-versus-player combat?

Valheim can be played as a solo adventure or with up to ten other raiders. The larger the party, the easier it is to amass supplies and build tools to create a sprawling base and take on stronger bosses. That being said, can gamers test out the weapons and armor they craft on themselves before venturing to complete Valheim’s story?

The Viking survival game Valheim includes PvP capabilities, but fighting other players is an afterthought compared to the title’s other elements. Users have to toggle on PvP themselves through the Inventory menu, so there’s never any danger of being stabbed in the back like in the competing survival game Rust.

Valheim: How Does PvP Work?

Valheim servers are focused on player-versus-environment gameplay, but gamers have the option to brawl with each other if they choose. Its PvP options are limited to orchestrated duels, and since all lobbies are capped at ten users, there won’t be many chances to challenge a random Viking found across the game’s arcane landscapes.

Being killed in PvP combat works the same way as falling to a computer-controlled enemy in Valheim. Players will be transported to the bed they last slept in, and all of the items in their inventory will drop where they were slain. When dueling with friends, there’s no risk of losing valuables since the player who won the duel can guard them or pick them up.

Currently, all servers require a password to run, so there aren’t any public lobbies, which means gamers are forced to play with people they know and there’s no chance a random user can run off with another player’s items. That could change when Valheim‘s early access period eventually comes to a close and if Iron Gates chooses to add open servers. For now, Valheim is meant to be a PvE experience where a band of warriors teams up to conquer a mysterious realm. Vikings who want to bash each others’ heads open will need to ask permission.