Valheim Call to Arms Update (2025): Sieges, Weapons & Clans

In August 2025, Iron Gate released the Call to Arms update, the latest and perhaps most ambitious chapter in Valheim’s history to date. The title alone left no doubt about its focus: combat, cooperation, and epic battles. After the mystical adventures in the Swamps with the Bog Witch and the apocalyptic fires of the Ashlands, this update put warfare and collective survival front and centre.

Call to Arms introduced new enemy waves, an overhaul of the defence mechanics, fresh weapons and equipment, and systems that elevated the experience in solo play and especially in multiplayer. In this article, you’ll take a detailed look at the content and discover why Call to Arms pushes Valheim decisively towards epic co-op battles.

Valheim Call to Arms: concept, goals, and co-op focus

Valheim has always been a game where combat and defence played a major role. Players had to protect their bases against random attacks from troll hordes, skeletons, and other creatures. Yet those assaults were more of a nuisance than true sieges. Call to Arms changed that fundamentally.

The developers wanted players to truly feel like Viking warriors defending their homeland. Instead of isolated attacks, organised waves of enemies now advanced in a coordinated manner. New mechanics allowed players to upgrade and tactically defend their settlements.

Raids 2.0 in Valheim: dynamic sieges that scale with progression

At the heart of the update were the so-called Raids 2.0 — fully reworked attack waves that adapted to your progress. The further you got, the tougher and more complex the sieges became.

• In the Plains, organised Fulings attacked with siege engines.
• In the Swamps, hordes of Draugr and Wraiths gathered.
• In the Ashlands, the Charred marched in full-blown armies.
• Even early on, groups of Greydwarfs could band together and threaten small bases.

These assaults were no longer random, but staged battles. Enemies used catapults, battered down gates, and tried to dismantle your defences deliberately. You had to lay out your base strategically rather than build purely decoratively.

Expanding Valheim’s defences: walls, ballistas, traps & towers

To withstand these attacks, Call to Arms introduced several ways to upgrade bases.

• Reinforced palisades and walls: withstood significantly more damage.
• Ballistas and catapults: could be placed by players and aimed deliberately.
• Defensive traps such as burning trenches and spike walls: easier to craft and effective against hordes.
• Watchtowers: strong positions for archers or mages.

These systems made base-building more complex — and more exciting. It was no longer just about erecting a beautiful hall, but about planning a functioning fortress.

New weapons in Valheim Call to Arms: crossbow, war horns, banners

Naturally, Call to Arms also brought fresh weaponry to face the new dangers.

• War horns: rally nearby allies or summon NPC Vikings to aid in battle.
• Siege hammers: massive two-handers, ideal for smashing enemy constructions.
• Crossbows: a new ranged option with high penetration, particularly effective against heavily armoured foes.
• Magical banners: buff nearby players, e.g. with increased armour or stamina regeneration.

Existing weapon classes were expanded as well: spears gained new throwing capabilities, bows could be fitted with special arrows, and Eitr users received stronger area spells for mass battles.

Recruit NPC allies & the clan system: buffs, banners, team play

One of the most exciting additions was the ability to recruit NPC allies. In taverns or via quests you could hire mercenaries who helped defend your base. These NPCs weren’t overpowered, but they lent battles an epic feel as multiple fighters stood shoulder to shoulder.

A clan system also arrived. Players on a world could form clans, choose banners, and activate shared buffs. This strengthened cohesion on multiplayer servers and made fights more organised.

New enemies and boss designs: siege trolls, necromancers, warchiefs

Call to Arms introduced enemy types designed specifically for sieges.

• Siege trolls: use tree trunks as battering rams.
• Necromancers: summon waves of undead.
• Warchiefs: minibosses with powerful buffs for their troops.
• Fire demons (Ashlands): pin players down with area attacks.

There was also a new boss staged across multiple phases amid horde battles — for many, one of the toughest challenges in the game.

Combat balancing: stamina regeneration & healing cooldowns

To prevent battles from dissolving into chaos, Iron Gate tweaked the combat system. Stamina regenerated faster when you were within a banner’s radius. Healing potions received longer cooldowns, rewarding more cautious play.

The result: teamwork is more important than ever. No one rages through a horde alone — coordinated approaches, buff management, and watching each other’s backs are what count.

Base-building strategies against sieges: fortresses, trenches, double walls

A major highlight was the tight interplay between base-building and combat. Build sloppily and you’ll be overrun by siege waves. Plan cleverly and you’ll withstand even major assaults.

Many players opted for castles with inner courtyards, watchtowers, and double walls. The community shared blueprints for optimal combinations of trenches, spike traps, and fire barriers.

• Tip: Funnel enemies through narrow kill zones with overlapping ballista fields.
• Tip: Secure gates with second lines of defence and arrow slits.
• Tip: Place banners so fighters at the hotspots benefit from buffs.

Epic battle atmosphere: horns, drums, and theatres of war

Call to Arms noticeably changed Valheim’s tone. Suddenly, the game wasn’t just a survival adventure; at times it felt like an epic theatre of war. Drums in the background, horns announcing assaults, and the enemies’ battle cries gave the sieges a gripping flair.

Especially in multiplayer, when ten or more players defended their fortress together, unforgettable moments emerged. Screenshots and videos of epic battles flooded the community — for many, Valheim edged towards a co-op strategy experience.

Conclusion on the Call to Arms update: sieges, clan system, co-op strength

With Call to Arms, Iron Gate steered Valheim in a new direction. Sieges, new defence mechanics, and the clan system made the game bigger, more complex, and, above all, more exciting in multiplayer.

For anyone dreaming of defending their Viking fortress against onrushing hordes, the update feels like the fulfilment of a promise: not just survival, but war for glory, honour, and home.

Whether veteran or newcomer: gear up, rally your allies — and take up the fight once more.

Rent your own Valheim server now.