In August 2023, Valheim received another major update with Hildir’s Request. After the epic Mistlands update the year before, which introduced an entirely new biome with magic, new enemies and massive challenges, this one wasn’t about pushing survival to the next level. Instead, the developers focused on a blend of quality-of-life features, fresh gameplay ideas and a dash of tradition. At its centre stood a character Valheim hadn’t seen before: Hildir, the sister of the well-known merchant Haldor.
This update showed that Iron Gate didn’t only want to deliver huge expansions, but also content that rounds out and enriches the game, giving players reasons to discover new things away from the big biomes. In this article, we take a closer look at Hildir’s Request, what it brought to the game and why it was such a welcome addition.
Hildir in Valheim: new merchant with a questline
Any player who has roamed Valheim for a while knew the merchant Haldor. Hidden in the Black Forest, he sold fishing rods, the Megingjord and other handy items that made Viking life easier. With Hildir’s Request, he gained company. Haldor’s sister Hildir was introduced, also a merchant, but with a function all her own.
Hildir’s role differed greatly from her brother’s: she wasn’t merely a seller of niche items, but the focus of a questline. Players had to return her lost goods, stolen by monsters and hidden in new dungeons. The update thus combined the idea of a merchant with classic adventuring and rewards.
- Important: Talk to Hildir to start the quest, and mark the new locations on your map.
- Recommendation: Equip yourself with healing potions, stamina potions and a solid ranged and melee loadout.
Valheim dungeons in Hildir’s Request: how to find Hildir’s goods
The heart of the update was the search for Hildir’s stolen belongings. New types of dungeon appeared across the world, with her chests hidden inside. Each dungeon had its own theme and brought fresh challenges.
- Howling Caves: Dark caverns where wolves and other creatures lurk.
- Smouldering Tombs: Charred burial sites full of skeletons and fire traps.
- Sealed Tower: A mysterious tower guarded by the undead and traps.
Each of these locations was unique – visually and in gameplay. Some dungeons required careful exploration, others were overrun by enemies best handled with brute force. At the end of each expedition waited a chest with Hildir’s goods – and your reward was access to new recipes and items.
Practical tips:
- Bring a torch or lantern; some areas are extremely dark.
- Pack resistance consumables (e.g., against cold or fire) suited to the dungeon.
- In a team, lean into role distribution: tank, ranged, trap-disarmer/scout.
New items, recipes and rewards in the Hildir update
The update introduced a whole range of new items to collect and use. Particularly popular: cosmetic options that, for the first time, allowed players to dye armour. Special dyes were added, craftable from various materials. Suddenly, it was possible to make your character more individual – a feature that delighted the community.
Alongside cosmetics came practical additions. Hildir’s quest unlocked tools, decorations and clothing that made the game more varied. Players who enjoy base building or value individuality especially found plenty to love.
Pro tip: Set up a small dye workshop with chests for pigments and materials so you can quickly reproduce your favourite looks.
New enemies and dungeon mechanics in Hildir’s Request
To ensure the dungeons weren’t just a visual treat, Iron Gate added new enemy types closely tied to each dungeon style. In the Howling Caves you’ll encounter particularly aggressive wolf packs, while the Smouldering Tombs are inhabited by fiery skeletal hordes. Each dungeon places different demands on your equipment and strategy.
The Sealed Tower stands out: heavily guarded, full of traps and tight corridors that force smart positioning. New melee and ranged enemies keep you on your toes. Especially in co-op, these dungeons become exciting ventures where everyone should take on a clear role.
Armour colours, dyes and cosmetic customisation
One of the most discussed changes in the update was the introduction of dyes for armour. Until then, Valheim was strong on function but visually quite limited. Each armour set looked impressive, but many players ended up wearing similar outfits. Dyes finally offered a way to stand out and make your Viking unique.
You’ll need to craft dyes, encouraging you to gather resources and experiment. Your Carapace armour in vivid red? Fenris gear in deep black? All possible. The community immediately shared screenshots of their colourful Vikings – for many, a small but hugely important step in making Valheim feel more personal.
Base building: new furniture, banners and decorations
Hildir’s Request also expanded base building. New furniture, decorations and small details broaden the ways you can make a settlement cosy or opulent, including:
- New banners in various colours
- Furniture with detailed carvings
- Additional fireplaces and lamps
For many players, this is a highlight, as base building has been one of Valheim’s favourite pastimes from the start. With the new decorations, halls, homes and castles can look even more individual.
Quality of life: UI, crafting and inventory
Beyond the headline content, Hildir’s Request brought numerous quality-of-life improvements. These include tweaks to the user interface, clearer crafting menus and balance changes to certain weapons and armour.
Particularly important are the revisions to some inventory and storage options, so you spend less time sorting and more time exploring and fighting. Such changes may seem subtle, but they noticeably improve player comfort.
Lore and NPC design: Hildir’s role in Valheim
A fascinating aspect is the introduction of Hildir as a character. She differs significantly from Haldor, not only in her role but also in her portrayal. While Haldor is known primarily as a calm shopkeeper, Hildir is tied to a quest and thus has a much more active significance.
Her character gives the world more life. Until then, Valheim had relatively few NPCs; most encounters were with enemies. With Hildir, another neutral character joins the world, making it feel friendlier and more inhabited. Many players have since wished for more NPCs with their own stories.
Co-op tips: dungeons, roles and team loadouts
Hildir’s Request really shines in co-op. The dungeons are made for groups heading out on a treasure hunt together. Each dungeon offers enough enemies and rooms to challenge multiple players at once. While one holds aggro, another can explore the surroundings or disarm traps.
- Use voice/chat for coordination.
- Assign roles (tank, ranged, support, scout) and align gear and resistances.
- Set an escape plan and place portals cleverly.
The cosmetic additions also play a part here. Suddenly, you can show up as a group with everyone wearing a different colour. Many clans and guilds devised unified colour schemes and decorated their bases to match.
Community reactions and assessment of the update
The release of Hildir’s Request met with a positive reception, even if it didn’t spark the colossal hype of Mistlands. Many praised the new dungeons and especially the cosmetic possibilities. It’s an update that appealed less to hardcore survival fans and more to the creative and detail-oriented players.
Some criticised that, compared with Mistlands, the update was smaller and didn’t introduce a completely new playstyle. But that wasn’t the goal. Hildir’s Request was meant to round out the game, not overhaul it – and it succeeds very well.
Conclusion: why Hildir’s Request meaningfully improves Valheim
Hildir’s Request isn’t a gigantic milestone like Mistlands, but it is a valuable update for Valheim’s variety and vibrancy. With Hildir, a new character arrived who adds a charming touch to the game. The dungeons offer thrilling adventures and new enemies, while cosmetic options and furniture make the community’s creative hearts beat faster.
It’s the update for players who don’t just want to fight in Valheim, but also create, decorate and shape their world individually. Hildir’s Request makes it clear that Valheim isn’t only about the next boss or the toughest biome, but also about the small things that make a game feel alive.
The expanded ways to interact with other players, as well as NPCs, were a very good reason why players once again fired up their servers with 4Netplayers. The Valheim developers showed how important the game’s different aspects and diverse player types are to them.
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