Assassin's Creed Valhalla puts you in the boots of Eivor Varinsdottir, a Norse raider who leaves Rygjafylke in Norway in the year 873 and rebuilds a clan settlement called Ravensthorpe on English soil. Unlike Origins in Egypt or Odyssey in Greece, the spine of this game is a settlement you grow through six levels, a raiding economy that feeds it supplies and raw materials, and a skill constellation of star nodes instead of a perk menu.
Picking the right build determines how your experience plays out. These builds are ranked by overall effectiveness, factoring in damage, survivability, gear requirements, and how well they scale into endgame. New to the game? Start with our beginner's guide first.
Quick Rankings
| Build | Tier | Playstyle | Core Gear |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bear branch melee | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Wolf branch ranged | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Raven branch stealth | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Dual wield hybrid | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Raid captain | A | Balanced | Best available |
For detailed meta rankings, see our Assassin's Creed Valhalla tier list.
A-Tier: Bear branch melee
Bear branch melee is a top-performing option in Assassin's Creed Valhalla.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Varin's Axe | Eivor's inherited axe and the first weapon in the game. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Ravensthorpe settlement building | Ravensthorpe climbs six named levels, Encampment, Colony, Hamlet, Borough, Village and Town, and every level is bought with buildings rather than with time. |
How to Play Bear branch melee
Bear branch melee focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Varin's Axe does the damage and Ravensthorpe settlement building keeps it running, which is why this sits at the top of the list. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Highest overall performance
- Straightforward gearing path
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Popular pick, resources may be contested
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Wolf branch ranged
Wolf branch ranged is a strong option in Assassin's Creed Valhalla.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Hidden Blade | Kept from the earlier games and upgradeable at Gunnar's Blacksmith, where each rank raises its assassination damage multiplier. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Raids and River Raids | Blowing the horn on the longship sends your crew at a monastery or riverside camp, and the chests they break open are the main source of supplies and raw materials. |
How to Play Wolf branch ranged
Wolf branch ranged focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Pair Hidden Blade with Raids and River Raids and the build stops depending on a good start, so it holds up across most content. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Most versatile option
- Straightforward gearing path
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Lower peak damage than S-tier
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Raven branch stealth
Raven branch stealth is a strong option in Assassin's Creed Valhalla.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Fyrd Spear | A Raven-aligned spear with long reach that keeps you outside most enemy swing arcs. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | The skill constellation | Skill points buy nodes on a star map split by colour. |
How to Play Raven branch stealth
Raven branch stealth focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: The skill constellation covers the gap Fyrd Spear leaves open, so the build stays usable even when a fight goes badly. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Best survivability
- Straightforward gearing path
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Slower clear speeds
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Dual wield hybrid
Dual wield hybrid is a specialized option in Assassin's Creed Valhalla.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Excalibur | A mythical greatsword locked behind collecting all 11 Treasures of Britain tablets, each guarded by a Lost Drengr, then placing them in the pillars of a hidden underground chamber. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Jomsviking barracks | The Barracks lets you design a Jomsviking who then goes online for other players to hire. |
How to Play Dual wield hybrid
Dual wield hybrid focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: This one leans on Jomsviking barracks rather than raw numbers, and Excalibur is what makes that trade pay off. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Strong in group/team content
- Straightforward gearing path
- Excels in its niche
Cons:
- Weaker solo performance
- Requires deep game knowledge
A-Tier: Raid captain
Raid captain is a specialized option in Assassin's Creed Valhalla.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Mjolnir | Thor's hammer, and the reward for assembling the full Thor armour set, which means killing all three Daughters of Lerion and clearing the Order of the Ancients Zealots before digging it up in Hordafylke in Norway. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Alliance map and pledges | Randvi's alliance map inside the longhouse is the quest hub. |
How to Play Raid captain
Raid captain focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Mjolnir and Alliance map and pledges pull in the same direction here, which separates this from the safer picks above. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Unique, rewarding playstyle
- Straightforward gearing path
- Excels in its niche
Cons:
- High skill floor, punishing when misplayed
- Requires deep game knowledge
Build Progression Path
- Start with Wolf branch ranged: the most forgiving option for learning the game
- Transition to Bear branch melee once you understand core mechanics and have access to Varin's Axe
- Keep a Raven branch stealth setup for content that keeps killing you
- Try Raid captain for a fresh experience once you've mastered the basics
Follow our walkthrough for the optimal progression path through each area.
Gearing Tips
- Invest in your primary equipment first, since it gives the biggest power spike. See our weapons guide for rankings.
- Supplies and raw materials only come from raiding in useful quantities. If your settlement build queue has stalled, the fix is a raid loop rather than another hour of exploring.
- Follow the suggested power numbers on the alliance map in order: 20 for Ledecestrescire and Grantebridgescire, 55 for East Anglia, 90 for Oxenefordscire, 130 for Sciropescire. More than about 30 points above your own power and enemies stop taking meaningful damage.
- Don't spread upgrade resources across multiple builds until endgame
More Assassin's Creed Valhalla Guides
- Assassin's Creed Valhalla Assassin's Creed Valhalla Overview
- Assassin's Creed Valhalla Tier List
- Assassin's Creed Valhalla Walkthrough
- Assassin's Creed Valhalla Beginner's Guide
- Assassin's Creed Valhalla Tips & Tricks
- Assassin's Creed Valhalla Weapons Guide
- Assassin's Creed Valhalla Combat Guide
- Assassin's Creed Valhalla Boss Guide
- Assassin's Creed Valhalla Maps & Locations
- Assassin's Creed Valhalla Crafting Guide
- Assassin's Creed Valhalla Classes & Characters
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