Assassin's Creed Valhalla Classes & Characters: Complete Guide

Q: How is Valhalla different from Odyssey and Origins?

The settlement. Ravensthorpe grows through six levels, Encampment to Town, and buildings are paid for with supplies and raw materials that only raiding produces. Origins and Odyssey had no equivalent economy. Valhalla also replaces the ability menu with a skill constellation of star nodes and adds the Jomsviking system, where players design warriors other players hire.

Q: Which skill branch should I pick first?

Bear if you want to fight in the open, because Heavy Dual Wield is the standout node and Valhalla's melee is generous. Raven if you want the classic Assassin's Creed loop, since Chain Assassination is the branch's real payoff. Wolf is the specialist pick and shines against Lost Drengr and Zealots.

Q: How do Jomsvikings work?

Build the Barracks, design a warrior at the quartermaster, and yours goes online for other players. Every time someone recruits yours you collect 100 silver from your own quartermaster. You hire other players' Jomsvikings at docks for 100 silver and take up to six warriors raiding, and they can be killed for good.

Q: How do I get Excalibur and Mjolnir?

Excalibur needs all 11 Treasures of Britain tablets, each guarded by a Lost Drengr, placed in pillars in a hidden chamber. Mjolnir needs the complete Thor armour set, which means defeating the three Daughters of Lerion and the Order of the Ancients Zealots, then recovering the hammer in Hordafylke in Norway.

Q: Where is Ravensthorpe and can I move it?

Ravensthorpe sits on a river in England, established after Eivor leaves Rygjafylke in Norway, and it cannot be relocated. What you control is which buildings go up and in what order, and each new building pushes the settlement toward the next of its six levels.

Every Assassin's Creed Valhalla build and class explained. Strengths, weaknesses, best gear, and which to pick for your playstyle.

EarlyGuides Editorial Team

Researched and editorially reviewed. Updated August 12, 2026.

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.

Choosing the right build shapes your entire experience. This guide breaks down every option: what they're good at, what they struggle with, and which one matches your playstyle. For optimized builds with full gear sets, see our builds guide.

Quick Comparison

Build	Tier	Playstyle	Best Equipment	Beginner Friendly?
Bear branch melee	A	Balanced	Varin's Axe	Yes
Wolf branch ranged	A	Balanced	Hidden Blade	Yes
Raven branch stealth	A	Balanced	Fyrd Spear	Yes
Dual wield hybrid	A	Balanced	Excalibur	Yes
Raid captain	A	Balanced	Mjolnir	Yes

New player? Start with Wolf branch ranged. See our beginner's guide for why.

Bear branch melee

Bear branch melee is a strong option in Assassin's Creed Valhalla.

Attribute	Detail
Tier	A
Playstyle	Balanced approach
Best Equipment	Varin's Axe
Stat Priority	Balanced stats
Core Gear	Best available
Key Mechanic	Ravensthorpe settlement building

Strengths

Highest overall performance across all content types
Solid all-around choice
Pairs well with Varin's Axe

Weaknesses

Popular choice, competition for resources
Needs specific gear to reach full potential

Recommended Progression

Start in Ravensthorpe to learn Bear branch melee-specific mechanics
Focus on Ravensthorpe settlement building. It's this build's primary system
Prioritize Varin's Axe as your first major upgrade
See our full Bear branch melee build guide for the optimal gear progression

Wolf branch ranged

Wolf branch ranged is a strong option in Assassin's Creed Valhalla.

Attribute	Detail
Tier	A
Playstyle	Balanced approach
Best Equipment	Hidden Blade
Stat Priority	Balanced stats
Core Gear	Best available
Key Mechanic	Raids and River Raids

Strengths

Most versatile, adapts to any situation
Solid all-around choice
Pairs well with Hidden Blade

Weaknesses

Lower peak damage than S-tier options
Needs specific gear to reach full potential

Recommended Progression

Start in Ravensthorpe to learn Wolf branch ranged-specific mechanics
Focus on Raids and River Raids. It's this build's primary system
Prioritize Hidden Blade as your first major upgrade
See our full Wolf branch ranged build guide for the optimal gear progression

Raven branch stealth

Raven branch stealth is a strong option in Assassin's Creed Valhalla.

Attribute	Detail
Tier	A
Playstyle	Balanced approach
Best Equipment	Fyrd Spear
Stat Priority	Balanced stats
Core Gear	Best available
Key Mechanic	The skill constellation

Strengths

Best survivability for learning hard content
Solid all-around choice
Pairs well with Fyrd Spear

Weaknesses

Slower progression speed
Needs specific gear to reach full potential

Recommended Progression

Start in Ravensthorpe to learn Raven branch stealth-specific mechanics
Focus on The skill constellation. It's this build's primary system
Prioritize Fyrd Spear as your first major upgrade
See our full Raven branch stealth build guide for the optimal gear progression

Dual wield hybrid

Dual wield hybrid is a strong option in Assassin's Creed Valhalla.

Attribute	Detail
Tier	A
Playstyle	Balanced approach
Best Equipment	Excalibur
Stat Priority	Balanced stats
Core Gear	Best available
Key Mechanic	Jomsviking barracks

Strengths

Excellent in group and cooperative content
Solid all-around choice
Pairs well with Excalibur

Weaknesses

Less effective solo
Requires deep game knowledge to use effectively

Recommended Progression

Start in Ravensthorpe to learn Dual wield hybrid-specific mechanics
Focus on Jomsviking barracks. It's this build's primary system
Prioritize Excalibur as your first major upgrade
See our full Dual wield hybrid build guide for the optimal gear progression

Raid captain

Raid captain is a strong option in Assassin's Creed Valhalla.

Attribute	Detail
Tier	A
Playstyle	Balanced approach
Best Equipment	Mjolnir
Stat Priority	Balanced stats
Core Gear	Best available
Key Mechanic	Alliance map and pledges

Strengths

Highest skill ceiling with unique mechanics
Solid all-around choice
Pairs well with Mjolnir

Weaknesses

Steep learning curve, punishing mistakes
Requires deep game knowledge to use effectively

Recommended Progression

Start in Ravensthorpe to learn Raid captain-specific mechanics
Focus on Alliance map and pledges. It's this build's primary system
Prioritize Mjolnir as your first major upgrade
See our full Raid captain build guide for the optimal gear progression

Which Build Should You Pick?

For Beginners

Wolf branch ranged is the clear winner. It's forgiving, teaches core mechanics, and remains competitive into endgame. Follow our beginner's guide for the best first-session experience.

For Maximum Performance

Bear branch melee is the top pick once you understand the game's mechanics. Pair it with Varin's Axe for the strongest overall setup.

For a Challenge

Raid captain offers the highest skill ceiling. It's punishing when misplayed but incredibly rewarding when mastered. Only recommended after you've completed the game with another build.

For Group Play

Dual wield hybrid shines in cooperative content with utility and team support capabilities.

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