Summary
AsValheimprogresses throughout its ongoing development, Iron Gate Studios should consider adding more animals that can be tamed and used as mounts. Not only could this add more traversal options toValheim, but it could also open the door for other unique interactions between players and their tamed animals.
At the moment, there are very fewanimals that can be tamed inValheim, and among them, the lox is currently the only animal that players can ride. Ultimately, allowing players to tame and ride a larger selection of creatures inValheimcould be a major improvement toValheim’s existing animal-taming mechanics.
The Problem With Taming Animals in Valheim
Taming animals inValheimcan be quite a difficult and time-consuming task, and it generally takes a big investment for it to pay off. The lox in particular is a highly difficult animal to tame due to its strong attacks that can kill players or break any structures that players build to trap it. However, the lox is arguably a worthwhile animal to tame and breed, because it can give players a reliable source ofstrong food buffs inValheim, as well as a faster way to travel on land, and a powerful companion to help in combat.
Outside the lox, the other animals that can currently be tamed inValheimarguably aren’t worth the effort. So, aside from adding more new animals that can be tamed,future updates forValheimshould consider adding more functionality to new and existing animals that can be tamed. Given how effective the lox is as a mount, allowing players to ride a larger selection of animals could make taming animals inValheimmore worthwhile.
Animals That Can Currently Be Tamed In Valheim:
Why Valheim Needs More Traversal Options
Overall, the main advantage of traveling by lox inValheimis that it’s much faster than running. Also, since lox mounts aren’t affected by the player’s inventory, players can exceed their maximum weight limit and still travel at full speed on a lox.Inventory management inValheimcan be a big burden, especially for solo players, which makes this feature extremely useful.
On the other hand, the downside to traveling by lox in is that it can only cross land. Players have discovered that lox can technically be transported across bodies of water via the large boats inValheim, but it’s arguably time thatValheimconsidered adding mounts that can either fly or travel across water.
As much asValheim’s overall gameplay balances elements of realism with fantasy, the Mistlands update outright adding magic weapons was a bit of a turning point for the game. While adding flying mounts would initially be a big change forValheim, it wouldn’t necessarily be an inappropriate progression for the game. The drakes from the mountain biome or the cadaver-bengt expected to arrive inValheim’s upcoming Ashlands updatecould be good candidates for flying mounts.
Mounts that provide travel by water could significantly improve the player’s mobility compared to traveling via boats inValheim. Additionally, players currently have very limited options for fighting enemies in open waters, so rideable sea creatures could also prove useful as a more efficient way to battle hostile sea creatures. The serpents that currently exist inValheimcould be a perfect sea mount.
Given all the potential benefits that air and water-based mounts could bring to the game,Valheimneeds more rideable animals. Additionally,Valheimshould also consider adding increased functionality for tamed animals and allowing more of the existing animals to be tamed.
