In Valheim you can choose from a host of exciting weapons! Melee lets you tailor your style to your preferences, but ranged options also matter. To combine both aspects in a single weapon, go with spears. They are agile and can be used quickly and precisely. And if you prefer more area damage, choose their larger cousins, the polearms (atgeirs). Both weapon types rely primarily on pierce damage, a well-rounded bonus that works in most situations against various monsters. Whether spears or atgeirs, we recommend giving polearms a try. From the Meadows to the Deep North you’ll find new variants you can later customize further.
Spears in Valheim: Ranged options and agility at a glance
Classic spears may not always be a Viking’s first pick, but they earn their keep. In Valheim you can use spears one-handed and their primary attack is an overhead thrust. That gives you moderate reach with precise damage. You can also carry a shield alongside it if you want more defense. The weapon also uses little stamina!
The secondary attack brings ranged play into the mix. It lets you throw the spear, dealing 1.5x damage. Mind the arc and remember you’ll need to pick the spear back up. Like all weapons, you can upgrade a spear up to four levels, and later improve it further at the Forge of Potentials.
Valheim Flint Spear: starter weapon with 20 damage
This first spear is a great help when you’re just setting out in Valheim. A reliable weapon with 20 damage that you can craft right away with flint, wood, and leather scraps. You can raise its damage to 38 points and then take on Eikthyr.
Many players swear by the Flint Spear, especially in the early hours. It’s effective against many starting monsters and also great for hunting deer! Rent a Valheim server and host your own game server and go gather flint to craft this spear. You’ll be well prepared for your adventure.
Valheim Bronze Spear: take on trolls efficiently
You should keep using spears in the Black Forest, as they are particularly effective against the massive trolls! First smelt bronze, then craft the Bronze Spear with wood and deer hide for 35 damage. You can push the weapon up to 53 damage and use it against the boss as well. A good combo is the Bronze Spear with the Troll armor set for an extra +15 sneak bonus.
Valheim Ancient Bark Spear: swamp option with limits
This handsome spear deals 55–73 damage, a solid range for the Swamp. Craft it from troll leather, iron, and ancient bark. Just keep in mind some enemies here are resistant to pierce damage, including Abominations and the boss Bonemass. In those cases, pick another weapon that performs better against these mobs.
Valheim Fang Spear: strong in the Mountains
In the Mountains, you can hunt wolves and use their fangs as the base for this spear. It deals 75–93 damage, and from here you can also try your luck with idols at the Forge of Potentials. For crafting you’ll need wolf fangs, plus ancient bark, leather scraps, and some silver. On the uneven mountain terrain, the spear is an excellent weapon for quick, efficient attacks.
Valheim Carapace Spear: Mistlands spear with mist vision
Spears skip the Plains, and the next variant you can craft in the Mistlands. Use Yggdrasil wood, carapace, and mandibles to make it. With 115–133 damage it’s a powerful weapon, and it can even keep the mist at bay, giving you better visibility.
Valheim Splitnir Spear: Ashlands upgrade with elemental damage
As with all Ashlands weapons, you can look forward to a great upgrade here too. Splitnir is made from ashwood, flametal, Asksvin hide, and a Bonemaw tooth, dealing 135–153 damage by default. You can choose one of three variants by using Bloodstone, Jade, or Iolite. Each gem grants a different power, further empowering Splitnir and, for the first time, adding elemental damage to spears!
Valheim North Spear: Deep North with essences
In the Deep North you can craft the North Spear, a weapon with 170–200 damage and very low stamina cost. Like all North weapons, you must first find the mold and harden it with liquid ice to craft the weapon. Afterwards you can once again choose between two weapon forms, either Frostfire or Thunderblood. Learn more in our guide: (Valheim 1.0: Weapon crafting in the Deep North with Bloodgold & upgrades) .
Polearms (Atgeirs) in Valheim: two-handed for maximum damage
If spears don’t hit hard enough for you or you don’t mind giving up throwing as a secondary attack, switch to the bigger brother, the atgeir! These are long, heavy piercing weapons with a slightly different attack pattern and they can only be used two-handed.
The normal attack thrusts three times, with the final hit dealing double damage. The secondary attack is a sweeping strike that hits enemies in the entire radius and also staggers them, though it costs more stamina. Both still rely primarily on pierce damage.
Valheim Bronze Atgeir: Black Forest and trolls
You can craft the first polearm of this kind in the Black Forest. It just takes more materials to make, especially bronze for the upgrades. Damage comes in at 45–63, definitely an upgrade over the spear! An effective weapon against trolls.
Valheim Iron Atgeir: Swamp alternative and resistances
There’s an atgeir alternative in the Swamp too, though it also costs more iron and leather scraps. Damage here is 65–83. Since some enemies are resistant to pierce damage, it’s not always the best pick.
Valheim Blackmetal Atgeir: Plains biome, mind Yagluth
There’s no spear in the Plains, but you can craft a unique atgeir here! You’ll need black metal, fine wood, and linen thread to make a weapon with 105–123 damage. It’s generally a strong choice for the Plains, but Yagluth is highly resistant to it. For the boss, you should switch to another weapon.
Valheim Himmin Afl Atgeir: lightning damage in the Mistlands
Things get trickier in the Mistlands, since the Carapace Spear is already a solid option. But Himmin Afl is the only polearm that natively deals elemental damage. You deal 83 pierce damage, plus 40–58 lightning damage. That can be excellent if you want an alternative playstyle. To craft it, you need refined eitr, Yggdrasil wood, silver, and mandibles.
Valheim North Atgeir: Deep North with essences
The heavy polearms skip the Ashlands, but in the Deep North you can return to them. With a mighty 182–212 damage, you can get a lot out of the North Atgeir. Again, use the mold to craft it and then empower your weapon with either a Thunderblood or Frostfire essence.
Conclusion on spears and atgeirs in Valheim: tips for choosing your weapon
Spears and atgeirs are two of the many weapons you can use in Valheim. Spears are very precise and fast, while atgeirs are a bit slower but much stronger. Both are great alternatives if you don’t always want to fight with a sword or axe. Spears can also be used for ranged play by throwing, while atgeirs can perform a wide sweeping strike.
