The Valheim Ashlands update will add the next major biome to the 10th Scandinavian world. On top of that, they announced the first of a series of minor updates called Hildir’s Quest. While the Ashlands release date is still a long way off, Iron Gate has already shared some really creepy concept art and details.
Everything we know about the Valheim Ashlands and everything else on the current roadmap is here.
No Valheim Ashlands release date yet
Developer Iron Gate announced The next Valheim update is on January 16, and there is currently no official Ashlands release date yet, and we shouldn’t wait for a while. Considering it took over a year to finish the clunky job Valheim Mistlands updateAshlands could easily come to late 2023 or early 2024.
Note that Iron Gate has dropped a few minor updates between Hearth, Home, and Mistlands, and they plan to do the same for Ashlands. In other words, while the wait for Ashlands may be quite long, we can look forward to some fun gameplay additions in the coming months.
What are the Valheim Ashlands?
Unlike previous biomes, Valheim Ashlands has a permanent location in the deep south of the map. This means that instead of the usual mix of biomes, all the southern islands are part of the Ashlands. So far we know that the Ashlands was intended to be turned into a “land of the dead” with a “volcanic nature” as the name suggests.
You can already visit the Ashlands in the current version of the game, but you’ll find nothing more than an empty, desert-like ‘fill’ landscape that provides little indication of the final version of the biome. A group of fiery Surtlings are the temporary inhabitants of this fill biome.
If you still want to explore this area, be aware that unexplored parts of the map often cannot be ‘rebuilt’ after an update. If you want to explore the finished Ashlands in your current world, don’t go there yet!
Valheim Ashlands creatures
Despite the (very) early development phase, Iron Gate has already shown some Ashlands concept drawings. The image above shows a group of skeleton warriors named The Charred. They were probably conceived as a common Mistlands foe. Apparently, there are two types of melee (one with a great sword and a double sword) and a mage. If the number of skulls on their bodies is any indication, the double-bladed Charred and the mage are the most dangerous.
The second concept artwork shows another creature that clearly fits the “immortal” theme; morgen This creature, which looks a little more frightening and unique, could be a mini-boss, perhaps located in an Ashlands dungeon. Who knows, he might even be the next big biome boss!
Note that this is just a concept drawing, not a finished design. As the developers noted, some of these creatures may not even make the final cut.
Valheim roadmap
Valheim will receive some minor updates before the Ashlands biome arrives. In short, here’s what to watch out for (not in release order):
- New difficulty settings
- Hildir’s Quest update
- Xbox Game Pass version
- Accessibility update
First of all, the developers are considering adding new difficulty settings that will allow you to make these Deathsquitos much less scary… Or much more.
Second, Valheim will receive a new NPC, Hildir, in the “Hildir’s Quest” update. Hildir’s Quest also adds the ability to reshape your character’s hair, as well as a bunch of stylish new outfits that you can admire in the image above.
While Valheim has been available on PC Game Pass for a few months now, Xbox gamers aren’t so lucky. The Valheim Xbox version with cross-play support is scheduled for release in early 2023.
Finally, the developers want to make Valheim more accessible. If anything is affecting your Valheim experience, Iron Gate welcomes emails with accessibility recommendations.
That’s all we know about the Ashlands and Valheim roadmap for now. Happy sailing, Vikings!
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