Each biome in Valheim has its own boss you must defeat to unlock essential items. But alongside these major foes there are also minibosses tied to a side quest. This one revolves around Hildir and her missing chests. Without them, the merchant only offers a limited selection, and you’ll need to help her recover her crates. Unfortunately, nasty creatures have claimed them and scattered them across Valheim. You have to hunt them down, kill them, and return the chests. Here’s exactly how to do it — plus a fourth optional miniboss you can take on.
Finding Hildir in Valheim: Save her chests and start the quest
Hildir is one of three NPCs you can encounter on your journey in Valheim. She can appear in the Meadows, but only at least 3,000 meters from spawn. There are ten potential spawn points where she can show up. Once you find her, her shop will be marked on your map with a T-shirt icon.
Hildir sells various clothing items, but most of them are initially unavailable. Her chests were stolen, and you must recover them. Beyond reduced stamina usage, there are plenty of outfits you’ll want to buy. The more crates you save, the larger her inventory becomes. To start the questline, interact with the map table in front of Hildir. It will mark the locations of three dungeons, each containing a miniboss.
Playing on a server with others makes finding Hildir faster. Use boats and sail along island coastlines until the T-shirt icon appears. And if you don’t have a server for you and your friends yet, you can rent your own Valheim server here: rent your own Valheim server. Find Hildir together and start the miniboss questline in Valheim. Keep in mind that each chest weighs 200 units and must be carried back to Hildir by hand.
Valheim miniboss guide: locations, strategy, and drops
Valheim miniboss Brenna in the Black Forest: location, tactics, and drops
Brenna is the first and comparatively easiest boss. You’ll find them in the Smoldering Tombs in the Black Forest, Valheim’s second biome. After using the map table, the dungeon should be marked on your map. Inside, the layout resembles other Black Forest tombs, with skeletons and the occasional ghost. Enemies are mostly 1-star. Use a torch to light your way.
Brenna spawns in a larger room with pillars. This first miniboss is a burning skeleton that primarily attacks with a sword, occasionally inflicting fire damage. The fight isn’t too hard if you’re good at dodging and parrying. Use a blunt weapon with elemental damage, ideally the Frostner hammer. You can also wear fire-resistant armor or brew an appropriate mead for extra protection.
Once you’ve whittled down Brenna’s 1200 HP, the first miniboss will drop Hildir’s Brass Chest. As with all bosses, you’ll also receive a trophy to mount.
Valheim miniboss Geirrhafa in the Mountains: Howling Cavern, tactics, and drops
The second boss, a large werewolf named Geirrhafa, lurks within the Howling Caverns of Valheim’s Mountains. Find the cavern and descend into the icy depths. Inside you’ll again face 1-star enemies, especially bats and Ulvs.
You’ll encounter Geirrhafa in the inner crypt. The werewolf relies heavily on frost attacks; his ice storm in particular can deal hefty damage. Keep your distance whenever you see icy mist. Watch out for his claw swipes, which you can parry and block.
The frost werewolf is weak to fire (e.g., fire arrows), though any strong weapon can work. With 3700 HP, the fight can be lengthy; your healing and stamina from good meals are more important than raw damage. Upon victory, Geirrhafa drops Hildir’s Silver Chest and his trophy.
Valheim minibosses Zil and Thungr in the Plains: Sealed Tower, strategy, and drops
To find Hildir’s Bronze Chest, head to the Plains and look for a Sealed Tower. Thanks to its size, this dungeon is easy to spot. To gain access, you must climb all the way to the top first. Place a workbench and build stairs to create platforms. Both on top and inside the tower you’ll meet Fulings, which you can dispatch with a strong weapon.
Zil and Thungr await you at the bottom. Descend the spiral staircase and try to clear out the Fulings on your way. This miniboss actually consists of two enemies: Thungr, a big ogre-like brute with 4200 HP and blunt attacks, and Zil, a Fuling shaman with magical attacks.
They don’t have a specific weakness, so just use your strongest weapon, such as the Blackmetal sword for the Plains tier. This fight is mainly about patience. Dodge smartly, take down Thungr first, then finish off Zil. Afterwards, you can return the dropped chest to Hildir and unlock her full inventory.
Valheim Lord Reto in the Ashlands: find the tomb and forge Dyrnwyn
With the Ashlands, a fourth miniboss was added, though he isn’t part of Hildir’s questline. Instead, you need to find and defeat Lord Reto to craft the legendary sword Dyrnwyn. Follow the markers for the mysterious locations to ultimately discover Lord Reto’s tomb.
Lord Reto himself is a two-star greatsword fighter with 7500 HP. His heavy sword strikes deal massive damage and can kill you in one or two hits. Ranged attacks with a good bow and arrows are recommended; you can also use the Staff of the Wild or Frostner. Reto is vulnerable to Spirit damage.
When you defeat Reto, he drops once the Dyrnwyn hilt fragment. The blade and tip of the sword can be found at the two other mysterious locations in the Ashlands.
Conclusion: Beat all Valheim minibosses and expand Hildir’s shop
The miniboss questline in Valheim is a great side activity to test your skills and help one of the game’s few NPCs. First, locate Hildir and use the map table to start the questline, which marks three dungeons on your map. Find the bosses in their dungeons, defeat them, and carry each chest back to Hildir. Lord Reto is a fourth, separate miniboss, but you’ll need his drops to craft the sword Dyrnwyn.
