Ultimate Guide: What to Do After Defeating the Ichthyr Boss in Valheim

Introduction

After you've triumphed over the Ichthyr boss in Valheim, you might be wondering what to do next. Fear not! In this detailed guide, we'll explore the next steps and strategies to prepare for your encounters in the Black Forest and beyond. This guide covers everything from exploring dungeons to preparing for your next boss fight, the Elder.

Venture into the Black Forest

Once you've defeated Ichthyr, your next destination is the Black Forest. This biome is rich in resources and where much of your adventuring will take place. Here’s how to navigate this crucial phase:

Search for Dungeons

Dungeon Location: Look for structures that resemble rock caves above ground. These dungeons are often guarded by enemies.
Monster Preparation: Bring a shield and an axe for combat. Skeletons typically guard these areas.
- Combat Tips:
  - Block Incoming Attacks: Use your shield effectively to minimize damage.
  - Counterattack: Strike right after blocking an enemy's attack.

Navigating the Dungeon

The Black Forest dungeons are often maze-like. Here’s how you can navigate them:

Stick to the Left: As a general rule, keep to your left-hand side.
Look for Circling Cores: Your main goal is to collect circling cores, which are essential for further progression.
- Appearance: These cores look like glowing, red cubes, akin to tesseracts, and are crucial for crafting.

Collecting Resources

In addition to circling cores, you should also keep an eye out for:

Yellow Mushrooms: These provide food buffs similar to raspberries and blueberries.
Other Treasures: Dungeon exploration often yields various loot that can assist you on your journey.

Preparing for the Next Boss - The Elder

Once you've gathered circling cores, you'll be closer to preparing for the next major boss fight against the Elder.

Crafting with Cores

The circling cores will be useful for crafting a pickaxe, essential for mining copper and tin, which, when combined, create bronze—vital for better gear.

Finding Activation Resources

To summon the Elder, you need three ancient seeds, obtainable by:

Defeating Grey Dwarves: Look for monster spawners in the Black Forest.
Searching for Grey Dwarf Brutes: Engage with these larger foes as they have a higher chance of dropping the precious ancient seeds.

Preparing for the Battle

Before taking on the Elder, ensure you're fully equipped:

Weapons and Armor: Upgrade your gear using bronze crafted from your previous mining endeavors.
Fire Arrows: Consider bringing fire arrows for their additional burning damage.

Strategies for the Elder Fight

Here’s how to effectively fight the Elder using effective tactics:

Positioning: Before the fight begins, create pillars from stone near the boss altar. This ensures you have cover during the confrontation.
Attack Patterns: The Elder will use two main abilities:
- Tendrils Attack: He shoots wooden tendrils; use your pillars for protection.
- Vines Summon: When the boss summons vines around the arena, dashed to safety, staying alert to potential follow-up attacks.

Damage Strategy

Use Fire Arrows: Shooting fire arrows not only deals immediate damage but also provides burn damage over time, which can help in reducing the Elder's overall health while you maintain mobility.
Pillar Strategy: Constantly move from pillar to pillar, keeping distance from the Elder's attacks.

Conclusion

After defeating the Elder, you'll receive a swamp key and a trophy, opening up further exploration opportunities. This guide provided a detailed look into the next steps following the Ichthyr boss encounter, focusing on dungeon exploration, resource collection, and efficient boss fight strategies. I hope this information proves helpful in your Valheim journey. Happy gaming!