Valheim is an island world, and sooner or later the sea is the only way forward. Knowing your boats and how wind works turns dangerous, slow voyages into efficient expeditions. This guide covers every ship in Valheim and how to sail.
The boats, in order
- Raft — your first boat, made from wood and resin. Slow and fragile, but it gets you across short stretches early on.
- Karve — a bronze-era upgrade. Faster, more durable, with a few cargo slots — good for coastal exploration and light hauling.
- Longship — the iron-era workhorse. Large storage, tough hull and ocean-worthy, ideal for hauling ore and long expeditions.
- Drakkar — unlocked after defeating The Queen. The only ship that survives the boiling sea around the Ashlands, making it essential for the endgame.
How sailing works
Boats are driven by wind. You control three speeds: paddle/reverse (into the wind, slow), half sail and full sail. The key skill is tacking — angling your ship across the wind when you can’t sail directly into it. Watch the wind indicator and adjust your heading to keep the sail full. The rudder steers; hop off the helm to drop anchor.
Moder’s tailwind
One of the best sailing perks in the game comes from the Mountain boss. Moder’s Forsaken Power gives you a constant favourable wind, letting you sail full-speed in any direction for its duration. It transforms long voyages — see the boss order guide.
Sailing tips
- Beware sea serpents at night and in storms — keep a bow handy, and serpent meat is great food.
- You can’t portal metals (on default settings), so ore travels home by boat — protect your cargo.
- Watch the weather. Storms whip up big waves that can capsize a raft and slow bigger ships.
- Build docks with portals at your coastal bases so you can ship cargo in and fast-travel out.
Sail a persistent world
Long expeditions are better with a crew manning the sails and watching for serpents. A Valheim dedicated server keeps your shared world — and your fleet — online 24/7, so your group can explore the seas together any time, on any platform.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best boat in Valheim?
The Longship for general use, and the Drakkar for the Ashlands since it’s the only ship that survives the boiling sea.
How do you sail against the wind in Valheim?
You tack — angle the ship across the wind rather than directly into it — or paddle slowly straight into it.
How do you sail faster in Valheim?
Keep the wind behind you, use full sail, and use Moder’s tailwind power for a constant favourable wind.
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