Armor in Valheim is crucial to be prepared for anything in combat. Since the Mistlands, you can choose between light, heavy, and magical armor. In the Deep North, Valheim’s newest and final biome, that’s also possible. You’ll need to scour the biome to find the right molds. Crafting once again uses casting molds, which we already covered in this article (Valheim 1.0: Weapon crafting in the Deep North with Bloodgold & upgrades) . Find them and then craft your favorite armor. But which one fits your playstyle? We’ll take a closer look at all three armor types.
Valheim Deep North Vanguard Set: light armor for archers and assassins
Your first option is the cozy-looking Vanguard set. Wrap yourself in white wool and a green-brown garment that keeps you warm in the cold of the Deep North. First, though, you need to find the right molds so you can craft this armor at the Black Forge and harden it at the Frost Forge.
The set gives you the Vanguard effect:
- -10 % stamina cost while running
- -20 % stamina cost while dodging
- +10 % health regeneration
- +10 % stamina regeneration
- +10 % piercing damage
- Chestpiece: frost resistance
The molds are dropped by Krigen, powerful foes you can find in the Mörkhalla dungeon or during Jotun invasions. They can drop the molds for all three armor pieces, so you’ll likely have to search a bit. If you’re playing multiplayer, everyone can help. The best way is during invasions, by waiting for new Krigen to keep spawning. No server yet? Rent a Valheim server with DDoS protection and instant setup! This will also be important for another armor set. The drop chance is 3 % for regular Krigen, 6 % for one star, and 12 % for two stars.
You can then craft the following at the Black Forge from the mold:
- Vanguard Hood: Mold + 5x seal pelts + 5x elk hides + 1x elk sinew
- Vanguard Chestpiece: Mold + 12x Bloodgold + 8x Elaking hair bundles + 4x leather straps
- Vanguard Leggings: Mold + 12x Bloodgold + 8x Elaking hair bundles + 5x elk hides
You then need to harden these crafted pieces with Liquid Frost. As always, you can upgrade the armor to squeeze out more defense. This set has 102 total armor, with each piece giving 34 armor. Or try your luck at the Forge of Potential, which you can find in the Mountains.
Valheim Deep North Protector Set: heavy armor for tanks and two-handed builds
For a tank build we recommend the Protector set, which is noticeably tougher and offers more armor. Each piece gives 44 armor, for 132 total armor. The crafting process works the same as for the Vanguard armor.
You need to find and defeat Krigen to collect the molds. Here too, the chance ranges from 3 % to 12 %, depending on how strong the enemies are. Focus on starred Krigen to improve your odds. You should soon have all three molds to craft the set. Harden it afterward with Liquid Frost as well.
With the molds you can craft these pieces:
- Protector Helmet: Mold + 20x Bloodgold + 4x elk hides
- Protector Chestplate: Mold + 20x Bloodgold + 8x elk hides + 4x leather straps
- Protector Greaves: Mold + 20x Bloodgold + 8x elk hides + 4x leather straps
Unlike the Vanguard set, there are no direct bonuses here, just the chestpiece’s frost resistance. However, you can improve the armor values with upgrades, either with materials up to level 4 or at the Forge of Potential for even more options.
Valheim Elk Leather Cape: ideal add-on for the Protector set
Since you don’t have set bonuses, we recommend crafting the Elk Leather Cape. The recipe should unlock once you’ve gathered the required materials. It gives you an additional 12–18 armor and also provides useful effects. It reduces stamina cost for running and attacking by 20 %. On top of that, it grants some extra frost resistance.
You can craft the cape from:
- 6x elk hides
- 2x elk sinews
- 5x Bloodgold
You can upgrade the cape as well to gain more armor and durability. Use the Black Forge or the Forge of Potential with the idol statues.
Valheim Deep North Caller Set: magical armor for Eitr builds
Your final option is the Caller set, which focuses on magic. If you want to play as a mage right away, read our guide to all magic upgrades in the Deep North (Valheim Deep North Magic: Caller Armor & Staves) . There you’ll get to know the armor better, as well as the new staves. Here, we’ll look at how to craft the armor and use it optimally.
The set grants these bonuses:
- Headpiece: +40 % Eitr regeneration
- Robe: +60 % Eitr regeneration and frost resistance
- Pants: +60 % Eitr regeneration
- Cape: +20 % Eitr regeneration, dodge stamina cost -10 %, and frost resistance
Magical armor pieces must be crafted at the Galdr Table. Here too, you first need the molds, which are dropped by witches. The chance is always 5 %, regardless of their strength. They also appear in Mörkhalla or during Jotun invasions.
Use the molds and items to craft the following armor pieces:
- Caller Headpiece: Mold + 1x elk trophy + 2x elk sinews + 3x Norna threads
- Caller Robe: Mold + 6x Bloodgold + 6x elk hides + 5x Norna threads
- Caller Pants: Mold + 6x Bloodgold + 6x elk sinews + 5x Norna threads
- Caller Cape (no mold): 6x seal pelts + 2x Norna threads + 5x Bloodgold + 15x refined Eitr
All parts can be upgraded to get more out of them. With the Caller set this is especially worthwhile, since it’s quite weak by default. Each piece gives only 22 armor, 66 in total. At level 4 you can reach 84 armor, and possibly more with the Forge of Potential.
Conclusion: The best Deep North armor for your Valheim playstyle
Armor is especially important in the Deep North, as it’s the only way to survive this final stretch of your journey through Valheim. There are three sets to choose from, each with its own pros and cons. For quick and agile warriors, we recommend the Vanguard armor. If you like to soak up damage, the Protector armor is probably better for you. And as a mage, you should definitely use the Caller set to keep regenerating your Eitr. Find the molds and craft the pieces, then harden them with Liquid Frost at the Frost Forge.
