Database updated for the Valheim 1.0 release.

These are the selectable world rules. Percentages compare against normal rules. Changing raid frequency changes the check interval, not the chance of a specific raid.

Presets

Casual

In casual mode combat is a lot easier, enemies will not attack you until provoked, and there are no raids on your base. Resources are more plentiful, and you will not drop items or lose skills on death.

  • Passive enemies
  • Random raids disabled
  • Resource yield: 150%
  • Player damage: 125%
  • Enemy damage: 50%
  • Keep equipped items on death
  • Skill loss relative to normal: 15%
  • Teleport restricted items
  • Raids use individual player progress
  • Enemy speed and size: 90%
Immersive

In immersive mode you have no map, and you may not use portals. You will need to use your own wits to keep track of where you are in the world! Other difficulty settings are normal.

  • Map disabled
  • Portals disabled
  • Fire hazards enabled
menu default

The way Valheim is meant to be played, with the intended difficulty balance. Highly recommended for your first playthrough for the best experience.

Normal rules
Hard

Combat is harder and monsters will raid your base more often.

  • Player damage: 85%
  • Enemy damage: 150%
  • Raid check interval: 27.6 min
  • Enemy speed and size: 110%
  • Enemy level-up rate: 120%
Easy

Combat is easier and there are fewer raids on your base.

  • Player damage: 110%
  • Enemy damage: 75%
  • Raid check interval: 69 min
  • Enemy speed and size: 95%
Hammer Mode

In hammer mode you can build all build pieces for free once you have discovered the recipe. There are no raids on your base, and enemies will not attack you until provoked. Other difficulty settings are normal.

  • No building resource cost
  • Passive enemies
  • Random raids disabled
Hardcore

Combat is a lot harder and enemies will raid your base more often. When you die, all your skills and all the items you are carrying will be lost forever. You have no map and you may not use portals or exit boss dungeons while a boss is alive.

  • Player damage: 70%
  • Enemy damage: 200%
  • Raid check interval: 27.6 min
  • Reset skills on death
  • Delete items on death
  • Map disabled
  • Boss progression restricts portals
  • Enemy speed and size: 120%
  • Enemy level-up rate: 140%

Portals

Changes how portals work in the game.

OptionEffects
Portal Items

Allows you to bring all items with you through portals for a more casual playstyle. This will circumvent the progression and exploration of the world as it is intended.

  • Teleport restricted items
Normal(Normal)Normal rules
No boss portals

You will not be able to use portals or exit boss dungeons while a boss is active.

  • Boss progression restricts portals
No portals

You will not be able to use portals to teleport yourself across the world.

  • Portals disabled

Combat

Governs how much damage you give and take. Also governs how likely you are to encounter higher leveled enemies, and how dangerous they are.

OptionEffects
Very Easy
  • Player damage: 125%
  • Enemy damage: 50%
  • Enemy speed and size: 90%
Easy
  • Player damage: 110%
  • Enemy damage: 75%
  • Enemy speed and size: 95%
Normal(Normal)Normal rules
Hard
  • Player damage: 85%
  • Enemy damage: 150%
  • Enemy speed and size: 110%
  • Enemy level-up rate: 120%
Very Hard
  • Player damage: 70%
  • Enemy damage: 200%
  • Enemy speed and size: 120%
  • Enemy level-up rate: 140%

Death penalty

Governs what happens when you die.

OptionEffects
Casual

You do not drop equipped gear, and skills are reduced a lot less than on normal mode.

  • Keep equipped items on death
  • Skill loss relative to normal: 15%
Very Easy

You drop all items, and skills are reduced a lot less than on normal mode.

  • Skill loss relative to normal: 15%
Easy

You drop all items, and skills are reduced less than on normal mode.

  • Skill loss relative to normal: 50%
Normal(Normal)

You drop all items, and skills are reduced normally.

Normal rules
Hard

Equipped items are dropped, the rest of your inventory is lost permanently, and skills are reduced faster.

  • Delete unequipped items on death
  • Skill loss relative to normal: 150%
Hardcore

You lose all carried items and skills permanently.

  • Delete items on death
  • Reset skills on death

Raid Rate

Governs how often enemies may raid your base.

OptionEffects
None
  • Random raids disabled
Much Less
  • Raid check interval: 92 min
Less
  • Raid check interval: 69 min
Normal(Normal)Normal rules
More
  • Raid check interval: 27.6 min
Much More
  • Raid check interval: 13.8 min

Resource Rate

Governs the amount of resources you gain from the world and from enemies.

OptionEffects
x 0
  • Resource yield: 50%
x 0
  • Resource yield: 75%
Normal(Normal)Normal rules
x 1
  • Resource yield: 150%
x 2
  • Resource yield: 200%
x 3
  • Resource yield: 300%

Additional settings

Player based raids

Raids are based on the progress of each individual player, rather than on which bosses have been killed on the server. This setting is recommended if you want the game to be slightly friendlier to players with different progress.

No Build Cost

Build pieces require no materials to build. You still need to discover recipes as per usual.

Passive enemies

Enemies won't attack until you provoke them.

Fire Hazards

Wood can catch fire and spread throughout the whole world, not just in the Ashlands.

No Map

You will not have access to the map or the minimap. This makes the game harder than intended.