Valheim 1.0 - Deep North Best Weapons

The Deep North introduces an entirely new tier of weapons, but the best option for you will depend heavily on how far you have progressed through the biome.

When you first arrive, you will still be relying on strong Ashlands weapons. Once you begin collecting Bloodgold, Moulds, and using the Frost Foundry, you can transition into the new Nord weapon tier. Finally, before facing Kall Fimbulbringer, some weapons become much better choices than others due to his resistances.

In this guide, we will cover the best weapons for each major stage of Deep North progression:

Early Deep North

The best weapons to bring with you from the Ashlands.

Mid Deep North

The strongest weapons to craft once you unlock Bloodgold and the Frost Foundry.

Before Kall Fimbulbringer

The best options to bring into the final boss fight.

This guide is focused on weapon progression rather than the boss mechanics themselves. For a full breakdown of Kall's phases, attacks, resistances, and strategy, refer to our dedicated Kall Fimbulbringer Boss Guide.

When you first enter the Deep North, you will not have access to Nord weapons yet. Your best options are therefore still the strongest weapons you brought with you from the Ashlands.

At this stage, the goal is not to completely rebuild your character. You mainly want a reliable weapon that can handle early Deep North enemies while you collect Frost Cores, Moulds, Petrified Tissue, and the materials needed to start your Bloodgold progression.

Nidhögg

Nidhögg is one of the safest melee weapons to bring into the Deep North.

It provides strong Slash damage, a fast enough moveset for aggressive enemies, and still allows you to use a shield. This makes it a very reliable all-round option while you are still learning the new enemies and terrain.

If you already used Nidhögg throughout the Ashlands, there is very little reason to replace it immediately.

Berserkir Axes

The Berserkir Axes are another excellent early option.

Their fast attack speed and high sustained damage make them especially strong when you can stay close to an enemy and maintain pressure. They are less defensive than a sword and shield setup, but they reward confident melee play very well.

Against slower Deep North enemies, the axes can deal extremely high damage during larger punish windows.

Dyrnwyn

Dyrnwyn remains a strong choice when entering the Deep North.

It provides high melee damage and works well as a general-purpose sword before you have access to the new Nord weapon tier.

Its Fire damage will not always be equally effective against everything in the biome, but the weapon still has enough physical damage to remain useful during the early stages of progression.

Ash Fang

Even if you primarily play melee, bringing a strong ranged option is highly recommended.

Ash Fang remains one of the best Bows available when you first enter the biome and is useful for dealing with enemies at range, pulling individual targets away from groups, and attacking threats that are awkward to reach in melee.

You will eventually gain access to stronger Deep North ranged weapons, but there is no need to replace Ash Fang immediately.

Magic Weapons

Magic builds can continue using their strong Ashlands and Mistlands Staffs when first entering the Deep North.

Weapons such as the Staff of the Wild remain useful for controlling groups and dealing damage while staying at a safer distance.

You do not need to abandon an established Eitr build just because you entered a new biome. Deep North progression eventually gives magic users new options as well.

What Should You Use?

For most players, there is no need to craft something specifically before entering the Deep North.

If you already have a strong Ashlands setup, continue using it until you start unlocking the new weapon tier.

Nidhögg is the safest general melee recommendation, Berserkir Axes are excellent for aggressive melee builds, and Ash Fang is worth carrying regardless of your main weapon.

Your early Deep North resources are better spent on progressing toward Bloodgold, the Frost Foundry, and the Nord weapon tier rather than replacing equipment that is still performing well.

If you are not sure how to unlock Bloodgold, Frost Cores, the Frigid Kiln, or the Frost Foundry, refer to our Deep North Progression Guide, where we cover the full crafting and progression route through the biome.

Once you have unlocked Bloodgold, the Frost Foundry, and weapon Moulds, you can finally start replacing your Ashlands gear with the new Nord weapon tier.

At this stage, I would not recommend crafting every weapon you find a Mould for. Most Nord weapons cost 20 Bloodgold plus their Mould and additional materials, so it is much better to focus on one or two weapons that actually fit your build.

Nord Greatsword

The Nord Greatsword is one of the strongest all-round melee weapons available in the Deep North.

It deals 210 Slash damage, has excellent reach, and hits hard enough to stagger many normal enemies. It is a particularly good choice if you already used Greatswords or other two-handed weapons throughout the Ashlands.

Its slower attack speed means you need to choose your openings carefully, but the combination of range and raw physical damage makes it one of the safest high-damage recommendations for the biome.

Nord Sledge

The Nord Sledge is one of the best weapons for dealing with groups.

It deals 225 Blunt damage and gives you strong area coverage, which is especially useful in enclosed areas or when several Deep North enemies begin pressuring you at once.

The major downside is mobility. It carries a larger movement-speed penalty than most Nord weapons, so it is better suited to players who are comfortable committing to slower attacks.

Nord Sword

If you prefer a more defensive setup, the Nord Sword is one of the easiest weapons to recommend.

It deals 170 Slash damage, attacks much faster than the Greatsword, and still lets you use a shield.

You sacrifice some raw damage, but the added safety can be extremely valuable while learning new enemies or clearing Mörkhalla.

Nord Mace

The Nord Mace is the Blunt alternative to the Sword and also deals 170 physical damage.

It is a strong choice if you prefer one-handed weapons but want access to Blunt damage instead of Slash. Like the Sword, it pairs naturally with a shield and gives you a much safer playstyle than the heavier two-handed options.

Nord Crossbow

For ranged players, the Nord Crossbow is one of the largest upgrades available.

It deals 264 Pierce damage per shot, giving it extremely high single-hit ranged damage.

It is particularly effective for opening fights, targeting dangerous enemies from a distance, or exploiting weak points. The reload is slow, so it works best when you can create enough space between shots.

It is worth noting that this is a better Deep North exploration weapon than a final-boss weapon, since Kall resists Pierce damage. We cover that matchup in the next section.

Frostfire and Thunderblood Weapons

Later in your Deep North progression, your base Nord weapons can be upgraded into Frostfire or Thunderblood variants.

Frostfire weapons trade some physical damage for a combination of Fire and Frost, while Thunderblood weapons add Lightning-based damage. These upgrades require special Essences obtained through the Memorial Coal and Ancient Altar progression.

These versions can be stronger than their base Nord counterparts against the right enemies, but the highest total damage isn't always the best choice. Resistances still matter, so a pure physical Nord weapon can outperform an elemental version against enemies that resist the added damage type.

What Should You Craft First?

For most melee players, I would prioritize either the Nord Greatsword for raw damage and reach or the Nord Sword for a safer shield-based setup.

If you regularly fight groups or prefer Blunt weapons, the Nord Sledge is an excellent alternative. Ranged players should strongly consider the Nord Crossbow once its Mould becomes available.

Do not feel pressured to convert every Nord weapon into Frostfire or Thunderblood immediately. The base versions are already extremely strong, and keeping a high physical-damage option becomes particularly useful once you start preparing for Kall Fimbulbringer.

If you are still missing Bloodgold, weapon Moulds, or the Frost Foundry, refer back to our Deep North Progression Guide for the full crafting route.

For Kall Fimbulbringer, weapon choice matters more than it does against most Deep North enemies. Kall resists Pierce, Fire, Frost, and Lightning, while Spirit damage is completely ineffective.

Because of this, the safest choices are weapons that deal high Slash or Blunt damage without relying heavily on elemental bonuses.

Nord Greatsword

The Nord Greatsword is one of the best overall weapons for Kall.

Its high Slash damage works well against him, and its reach makes it easier to punish recovery windows without having to stand directly underneath the boss.

The main drawback is its slower attack speed. Kall can punish long commitments, especially during Phase 3, so focus on landing one or two safe attacks instead of trying to complete long combos.

If you are comfortable with two-handed weapons, this is probably the strongest general recommendation.

Nord Sledge

The Nord Sledge is another excellent option because its damage is primarily Blunt, which Kall does not resist.

It hits extremely hard and can also be useful during the second phase, where additional enemies become part of the fight.

The slower moveset does require good timing. You need to know when Kall has actually finished an attack before committing to a swing.

For players already comfortable with heavy weapons, the Nord Sledge is one of the strongest choices available.

Nord Sword

The Nord Sword is the safer alternative.

It deals less damage per hit than the Greatsword but attacks faster and allows you to use a shield, which can make learning Kall's chain attacks much more forgiving.

This is especially useful if you prefer shorter punish windows and do not want to commit to the slower animations of a two-handed weapon.

For a first Kall attempt, Sword and shield is one of the easiest setups to recommend.

Nord Mace

The Nord Mace fills a similar role to the Sword but gives you access to Blunt damage instead.

It works well with a shield and provides a good balance between damage, speed, and defense.

If your Club skill is already much higher than your Sword skill, there is little reason to switch weapon classes just for this fight. The Nord Mace is completely capable of taking you through Kall.

Avoid Building Around Elemental Damage

Frostfire and Thunderblood variants can have impressive total damage numbers, but they are not automatically better against Kall.

He resists Fire, Frost, and Lightning, so part of that listed elemental damage is reduced during the fight.

A base Nord weapon with higher physical Slash or Blunt damage can therefore perform better than an elemental version that looks stronger on paper.

You do not need to rebuild your entire weapon setup if you already use a Frostfire or Thunderblood weapon, but for a dedicated Kall loadout, prioritizing physical damage is generally more efficient.

Ranged Weapons

Bows and Crossbows can still be useful during the encounter, particularly when you need distance or want a safer way to deal with certain targets during Phase 2.

However, most ranged weapons rely heavily on Pierce damage, which Kall resists.

For that reason, ranged weapons are better treated as a secondary option rather than your main source of boss damage.

Best Overall Choices

For most players, the best Kall weapons are:

• Nord Greatsword for high Slash damage and reach.
• Nord Sledge for heavy Blunt damage.
• Nord Sword for a safer one-handed setup with a shield.
• Nord Mace for the same defensive playstyle with Blunt damage.

You do not need one specific weapon to beat Kall. The most important thing is to bring an upgraded weapon that deals Slash or Blunt damage and that you are already comfortable using.

If you want the full strategy for each phase, including his chain attacks, Forsaken Aspects, and final-phase Tendrils, check our Kall Fimbulbringer Boss Guide.