Valheim: The Best Places to Build A Base

There are bound to be unavoidable challenges for Vikings building their first (or fifth) base in Valheim while undertaking construction. Arguably the most critical part of a high-utility base is location. Suppose the player is looking to do a smelting operation. In that case, placing a base at the top of a hill might not be the best idea for hauling ores, or if the player is looking to build their final base, placing the base inland will require longer trips with a heavy cart for the necessary sailing trips for ore.

Building a fortified and furnished base is no easy feat, and it can be easy to forget about the importance of location (especially in the more dangerous biomes). This guide will go over the considerations a player should make before breaking ground and starting a new base.

Where to Build a Starting Meadows Base in Valheim 

The Meadows is a great place to build the first base, especially in a dedicated server. It may be tempting to build the base as close as safely possible to the first boss fight. However, given the limited number of completions necessary to gather materials for the first pickaxe, it might make more sense to plan ahead and place a base closer to a Black Forest border. The most optimal location would be in the Meadows, as close as possible to a Black Forrest and Ocean. A location closer to a Black Forest is more optimal than a location next to an Ocean in the early game, but once the player starts moving ore from a Mountain or Swamp to their Meadows base via Boat, they will almost certainly desire a base as close as possible to the Ocean for easy product transfer.

It is paramount for all bases to consider the position of the entrance for the smelting and storage areas. There’s nothing worse than getting back to base with a full cart of wood and ore, only to find out a Viking can’t run up more than a slight incline with 1000lbs tied to their waist. When considering the main entrance for a base, consider where it will be easiest to navigate a fully loaded cart. Look for flat ground in the direction of the chosen Black Forrest. With all these tips considered, the Meadows base is ready to be built! If the player is looking for potentially added convenience, it is certainly worth looking for a nearby Swamp. If the Procedural Generation Gods in Valhalla smile upon a Viking, they may even get so lucky as to have a Swamp and Black Forrest biome bordering each other next to some Meadows.

Where to Build a Base in any Biome in Valheim

Though ill-advised, once teleporters become accessible, it may be worth making a Swamp base, depending on the map Seed. This will allow players to smelt Iron without boating it back to their main base but also exposes the player to significant danger during construction. It is almost always better to place a base in a biome adjacent to a Swamp for material processing with a minimally covered teleporter in the swamp for farming things like Guck and Ancient Bark. Mountain biomes will have abandoned stone towers and cabins in higher elevations (if the biome is large enough) that are great candidates for renovations. Abandoned structures tend to spawn on level ground, so they also make a fine place to build. A mountain near an ocean or a large river makes a suitable place for an Iron mining base, assuming there is Iron present in the biome.

When Considering a base in the later game biomes, like the Plains and Mistlands, it is most important to position a base near water. At this point in the game, gathering and transferring ore is one of the most painstaking operations players will need to undertake. A wide canal or Ocean nearby will save the player a significant amount of trouble. It only takes a Death Mosquito killing the player to send a cart tumbling down a hill. If the player is fortunate enough to find the ritual location of Yagulth, a base nearby not only makes for some cool scenery but convenient farming as well. The Mistlands are currently won’t spawn any enemies, making it a perfect spot for creative base building with spooky scenery.

In short, the best place for any base is on flat land, though almost any area is suitable with enough excavation. Proximity to an Ocean and Swamp makes mid to late game far more manageable and should be a primary consideration for constructing a base. The player will inevitably deplete their preferred mining spot, so the ability to easily consolidate ore is crucial when considering base positioning. Happy building!

Valheim is available in Early Access on PC.

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