The Elder is Valheim’s second boss — a towering ancient tree creature in the Black Forest. Beating him drops the Swamp Key, unlocking iron. Here’s how to beat The Elder.
How to summon The Elder
Place 3 Ancient Seeds on his altar in the Black Forest. Ancient Seeds drop from Greydwarf Brutes and Shamans, and can be found in Burial Chambers. The altar’s Vegvisir runestone marks his location.
Prepare before the fight
- Weapon: a bow with Fire Arrows — The Elder is weak to fire, making this the fastest kill.
- Gear: Bronze or Troll Hide armor and your best early food.
- Arena: fight in an open area with a few stumps or pillars for cover.
The fight
The Elder has three threats: a stomping melee attack, a barrage of homing vines at range, and summoned roots that erupt from the ground to trap and damage you. Keep your distance and rain fire arrows on him, using cover to break line of sight on the vine volleys. Move away from root spawns under your feet. Stay mobile and he goes down steadily.
Rewards
The Elder drops his trophy and the Swamp Key, which unlocks the Sunken Crypts in the Swamp — your source of iron. His Forsaken Power speeds up tree-chopping. See the boss tracker.
What’s next
With the Swamp Key, head to the Swamp for iron, then take on Bonemass. See the boss order guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is The Elder weak to?
Fire. Bring a bow and Fire Arrows for the fastest kill.
How do you summon The Elder?
Place 3 Ancient Seeds on his Black Forest altar.
What does The Elder drop?
His trophy and the Swamp Key, which unlocks the Sunken Crypts for iron.
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