Valheim structures its entire progression around its bosses. Each one gates a new tier of resources, and finding them is half the challenge. There are currently 7 confirmed bosses in the 1.0 build, with an eighth, Kall Fimbulbringer, teased for the Deep North biome but not yet accessible. This guide covers every boss in order: where to locate them, what you need to summon them, and what you walk away with after the fight.
All Valheim bosses locations & rewards
Before getting into the details, here's the full picture at a glance.
How do you find each boss location?
Valheim doesn't mark boss altars on your map by default. Each biome hides a glowing runestone that reveals the altar's position when you interact with it. The runestone locations vary by biome:
- Meadows (Eikthyr): Look near the Sacrificial Stone at your spawn area.
- Black Forest (The Elder): Check inside Burial Chambers.
- Swamp (Bonemass): Search the Sunken Crypts.
- Mountain (Moder): Explore ruined structures scattered across the peaks.
- Plains (Yagluth): Find Stonehenge-like structures.
- Mistlands (The Queen): Locate runestones inside Infested Mines.
- Ashlands (Fader): Head to the central tower of the Charred Fortress.
Eikthyr
Eikthyr is a giant electrified deer and the starting point for all of Valheim's progression. Summoning it costs 2 Deer Trophies, which you collect by hunting the deer that roam the Meadows. The fight itself is manageable for new players, but the lightning attacks hit harder than they look.
Defeating Eikthyr drops 3 Hard Antlers, the Eikthyr Trophy, and unlocks the Eikthyr Power. Those Hard Antlers are what you need to craft your first pickaxe, which opens up copper and tin mining in the Black Forest. Without this fight, your entire tech tree stalls.
The Elder
The Elder is a massive tree creature lurking in the Black Forest, summoned with 3 Ancient Seeds. Find its runestone inside any Burial Chamber in the biome. The boss relies on ranged attacks, but its weakness to fire makes fire arrows the most efficient tool for the fight. After testing this fight across multiple runs, bringing a stack of 100+ fire arrows makes the difference between a clean kill and a drawn-out slog.
The reward that matters here is the Swamp Key. Without it, you cannot enter the Sunken Crypts, which are the only reliable source of Iron in the game. You also receive The Elder Trophy and The Elder Power.
Valheim 1.0 Guide: All Boss Locations & Rewards
Bonemass
Bonemass lives in the Swamp biome and is arguably the most punishing boss in the early-to-mid game. Summoning it requires 10 Withered Bones, found inside the Sunken Crypts you unlocked with the Swamp Key. The runestone pointing to its altar is also inside those crypts.
The fight's biggest threat is poison. Bonemass applies it constantly, and without poison resistance (via a Poison Resistance Mead), the damage will drain you faster than you can heal. Blunt weapons deal the most damage to this boss, so upgrade your mace before heading in.
Defeating Bonemass rewards you with the Wishbone, the Bonemass Trophy, and the Bonemass Power. The Wishbone is one of the most useful items in the game, as equipping it helps you detect buried secrets and resources.
Valheim 1.0 Guide: All Boss Locations & Rewards
Moder
Moder is a dragon boss found in the Mountain biome. Summoning it costs 3 Dragon Eggs, which are heavy items found in dragon nests scattered across the mountains. Getting them to the altar is a challenge in itself since you can't fast travel with them.
The fight demands a bow. Moder spends most of the battle airborne, and melee players will waste the entire encounter waiting for a landing window that barely comes. Frost resistance gear is also worth equipping since the Mountain biome's freezing debuff will drain your health passively throughout the fight.
Drops include the Dragon Tear, the Moder Trophy, and the Moder Power. Dragon Tears are a key crafting material for the Artisan Table.
Valheim 1.0 Guide: All Boss Locations & Rewards
Yagluth
Yagluth is the fifth boss and one of the most visually imposing in the game. A skeletal Goblin King, it occupies the Plains biome and is summoned by placing 5 Fuling Totems at Stonehenge-like structures. Find the runestone at those same stone formations to mark the altar.
Yagluth hits hard with fire and meteor attacks. This fight rewards patience and good gear over aggression. Come equipped with the best armor available from the Plains tier before attempting it.
Rewards are the Yagluth Trophy, Torn Spirit, and the Yagluth Power.
Valheim 1.0 Guide: All Boss Locations & Rewards
The Queen
The Queen is a Seeker Matriarch and the only boss in Valheim that doesn't need a summoning item for your first encounter. Head to the Mistlands biome, find an Infested Mine to read the location runestone, then travel to the Infested Citadel. The Queen is in the lower levels.
For repeat fights, you'll need 3 Seeker Soldier Trophies. The fight itself is intense given the Mistlands' general hostility, so clearing a path to the Citadel before committing to the boss fight is smart preparation.
Defeating The Queen drops the Majestic Carapace, The Queen Trophy, and The Queen's Power.
Valheim 1.0 Guide: All Boss Locations & Rewards
Fader
Fader is the seventh boss, located in the Ashlands biome. Find its runestone at the central tower of the Charred Fortress (it can also appear atop Charred Ruins in rare cases). Summoning Fader requires placing 3 Bells around the coliseum structure.
The Ashlands is the most hostile biome in the current build, so arriving underprepared for Fader is a fast way to lose progress. Rewards include the Fader Relic and the Fader Trophy.
Valheim 1.0 Guide: All Boss Locations & Rewards
What about Kall Fimbulbringer?
Kall Fimbulbringer is listed as the eighth boss tied to the Deep North biome. As of the current 1.0 build, its summon requirements and exact location are not yet confirmed. The Deep North itself remains inaccessible in the current version. Keep an eye on updates as Iron Gate continues development.
Why does the boss order matter?
Each boss unlocks something that makes the next biome survivable. Eikthyr gives you the pickaxe. The Elder gives you the Swamp Key. Bonemass gives you the Wishbone. Skipping ahead or trying to brute-force a later biome without the previous boss's reward is possible in theory but painful in practice. The progression chain is tight by design.
For more help across every stage of the game, the Valheim guides collection covers crafting, building, farming, and combat in depth. If you're newer to this style of adventure games, Valheim's boss structure is one of the cleaner examples of how to use enemy encounters as progression gates without making it feel arbitrary.
Check back at Valheim on GAMES.GG as more content drops for the Deep North and Kall Fimbulbringer becomes available.