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

In August 2025, Iron Gate released the Call to Arms update, the newest and perhaps most ambitious chapter in Valheim’s history. The title alone left no doubt about the 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 the spotlight on warfare and collective survival.

Call to Arms introduced new enemy waves, a redesign of defense mechanics, fresh weapons and gear, and systems that elevated the feel of both solo play and especially multiplayer. In this article, you’ll take a closer look at the content and see why Call to Arms noticeably shifts Valheim toward epic co-op battles.

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

Valheim has always given combat and defense a central role. Players had to protect their bases from random attacks by troll hordes, skeletons, and other creatures. But those attacks were more like small disturbances 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 skirmishes, organized waves of enemies now attacked with coordinated tactics. New mechanics let players upgrade and tactically defend their settlements.

Raids 2.0 in Valheim: Dynamic sieges scaling with progression

At the heart of the update were the so-called Raids 2.0—fully overhauled attack waves that scale with your progression. The further you advance, the tougher and more complex the sieges become.

• In the Plains, organized Fulings attacked with siege engines.
• In the Swamps, hordes of Draugr and Wraiths formed up.
• In the Ashlands, the Charred marched in full armies.
• Even early on, groups of Greydwarfs could band together and threaten smaller bases.

These assaults were no longer random, but staged battles. Enemies used catapults, battered down gates, and deliberately targeted defenses. You had to set up your base strategically rather than just building decoratively.

Upgrade your Valheim defenses: Walls, ballistas, traps, and towers

To withstand these attacks, Call to Arms brought 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 like burning trenches and spike walls: Easier to craft and effective against hordes.
• Watchtowers: Strong positions for archers or mages.

These systems made base building deeper—and more exciting. Suddenly it wasn’t just about erecting a beautiful hall, but planning a functioning fortress.

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

Of course, Call to Arms also brought new weapons to face the fresh dangers.

• War horns: Rally nearby allies or summon NPC Vikings to aid in battle.
• Siege hammers: Massive two-handers ideal for smashing enemy structures.
• Crossbows: A new ranged option with high penetration, especially effective against heavily armored foes.
• Magical banners: Buff nearby players, e.g., with increased armor or stamina regeneration.

Existing weapon classes were expanded as well: spears gained new throwing capabilities, bows got special arrow types, and Eitr users received stronger area spells for mass combat.

Recruit NPC allies & clan system: Buffs, banners, teamwork

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

A clan system also entered the game. Players on a world could form clans, choose banners, and activate shared buffs. Especially on multiplayer servers, this strengthened cohesion and made fights more organized.

New enemies and boss designs: Siege trolls, necromancers, war chiefs

Call to Arms introduced new enemy types designed specifically for sieges.

• Siege trolls: Use logs as battering rams.
• Necromancers: Summon waves of undead.
• War chiefs: Mini-bosses that provide powerful buffs to their troops.
• Fire demons (Ashlands): Pressure players with area attacks.

There was also a new boss that played out over multiple phases amid horde battles—one of the biggest challenges in the game for many.

Combat balancing: Stamina regen and healing cooldowns

To keep battles from devolving 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 matters more than ever. No one rages through a horde alone—coordinated tactics, buff management, and mutual protection are what count.

Base-building strategies against sieges: Fortresses, moats, double walls

A major highlight was the tight integration of base building and combat. Sloppy builds get overrun by siege waves. Smart planning survives even massive assaults.

Many players opted for castles with inner courtyards, watchtowers, and double walls. The community shared blueprints for optimally combining moats, spike traps, and fire barriers.

• Tip: Funnel enemies through tight kill zones with overlapping ballista fields of fire.
• Tip: Secure gates with secondary barriers and firing slits.
• Tip: Place banners so fighters at hotspots benefit from buffs.

Epic battle atmosphere: Horns, drums, and war scenarios

Call to Arms noticeably changed Valheim’s atmosphere. At times, the game no longer felt like just a survival adventure but like an epic war scenario. Drums in the background, horns announcing attacks, and the enemies’ battle cries gave sieges a gripping flair.

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

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 defense mechanics, and the clan system made the game bigger, more complex, and especially more exciting in multiplayer.

For anyone who dreams of defending their Viking stronghold against onrushing hordes, the update feels like the fulfillment of a promise: not just survival, but war—for glory, honor, and home.

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

Rent your own Valheim server now.