Getting Started

This page covers installing Fifth Edition Fantasy, setting up your first character and what is different from vanilla Valheim.

Installing

With a mod manager (recommended)

1. Install r2modman or the Thunderstore Mod Manager.
2. Select Valheim and search for Fifth Edition Fantasy.
3. Click Download. BepInExPack_Valheim and Jotunn are installed automatically as dependencies.
4. Start the game with Start modded.

With Vortex (Nexus Mods)

1. Open Fifth Edition Fantasy on Nexus Mods and click Mod Manager Download.
2. Install its requirements from Nexus too: BepInExPack for Valheim and Jotunn.
3. Enable all three in Vortex and start Valheim.

Manual install

1. Install BepInExPack_Valheim into your Valheim folder by following its own instructions.
2. Install Jotunn into BepInEx/plugins.
3. Put FifthEditionFantasy.dll into BepInEx/plugins. (The Nexus Mods download already has the folders: unzip it into your Valheim folder.)
4. Start Valheim.

Checking that it loaded

• Open Settings > Keyboard & Mouse. A Fifth Edition Fantasy section should appear below the vanilla key list.
• In game, press L to open the character sheet.
• Interact with a trader such as Haldor. You should get the mod's vendor dialog, with a Shop button for the normal store.

If none of this happens, see the Troubleshooting section of the Multiplayer & FAQ page.

Your first character

A new or existing character starts with no race picked (plain vanilla Human), no class, level 1 and one unused feat pick. Everything is chosen on the character sheet, and the first pick costs nothing.

1. Open the character sheet

Press L. It opens the inventory with the sheet beside it, from anywhere in the world. You can also press Character Sheet in the header of the inventory window (Tab). 1.7.2: while any menu is open, a ribbon runs across the top of the screen: Character is the sheet (Character, Race, Class and Subclass tabs), and Spells and Feats are pages of their own. Click one, or press its key, to switch. If you haven't picked a race yet, a reminder appears a few seconds after you load in. Until you pick anything, the Character tab reads: "No race picked yet - visit the Race tab to choose one and get started."

Closing the inventory also closes the character sheet. The next time you open it, it starts on the Character tab with nothing selected.

2. Pick a race

1. Go to the Race tab.
2. Hover over or click a race to read its traits and abilities.
3. Click Change Race.

Your first race pick is free. After that it's locked: to choose a different race, use Reset Race, Class & Feats at a trader (200 coins). After a reset, picking your class opens Session Zero again so you can choose new ability scores. "Human" is on the list if you want the vanilla baseline with no racial traits. See the Races page.

3. Pick a class

1. Go to the Class tab.
2. Hover over or click a class to read what its abilities do.
3. Click Change Class.

Your first class pick is free, like race, and then locked until a trader reset. Picking a class opens Session Zero, where you set your ability scores. See the Classes page and Fifth Edition Rules.

4. Pick a subclass (when unlocked)

Go to the Subclass tab (with the ribbon off, click Choose Subclass on the Class tab to get there). It lists the subclasses for your current class. Click one to read about it, then click Choose Subclass.

Your first subclass pick is free and then locked until a trader reset. A subclass only works while you have its class and have reached its unlock level.

5. Take a feat

1. Go to the Feats page (the ribbon's Feats, or the Feats tab with the ribbon off). The top line shows how many feat picks you have used (for example Feat picks: 0/1 used).
2. Click a feat to preview it. Hovering also shows its description and whether you meet its prerequisite.
3. Click Take This Feat.

The button only works if you have an unused pick, meet the prerequisite and don't already have the feat. Feats are permanent. The only way to remove them is the paid reset at a trader (see the Vendors & Appearance page). You get more picks at levels 4, 8 and 12. See the Feats page.

6. Pick your spells

1.7.2: you pick your class spells and cantrips yourself on the Spells page (the ribbon's Spells). Nothing is picked for you: a message tells you when picks are waiting.

1. Open Spells. There is a tab for each spell level you've unlocked (Cantrips, 1st, 2nd...), and it lists only the spells you can pick.
2. The counter on top shows what you've picked against what you're allowed, for example Cantrips 3 / 4 Spells 5 / 6. It turns gold while picks are waiting.
3. Click a spell to read what it does, then click it again to learn it (or forget it). The button under the list does the same.

Spells from your race, feats or subclass are always ready and don't count. A learned spell goes straight into your O / P cycle, the spellbook (hold O) and the hotbar's ability list. See the Spells and Leveling & Character Sheet pages.

First steps in the world

• The ability hotbar: the bar at the bottom of the screen holds your spell and abilities, each with its key, icon, name and cooldown. Your spell slots and class resources show above it.
• Cast spells: press O to step through your known spells (I or Shift+O steps back, hold O for the spellbook) and P to cast the selected one. The selected spell sits in hotbar slot 1.
• Class abilities: Z, and X for classes with a second one. Race abilities: H, and J for the Fairy and the Aesborn. Feat abilities: N, B, Y, U. These are the hotbar's default slots: open the inventory and press Abilities to rearrange them or put a spell on its own key.
• Fly: if your race can fly, press F to take off. Hold Space to climb and Left Ctrl to descend.
• Spell slots and rests: cantrips only have a short cooldown. Leveled spells use spell slots (shown above the ability hotbar). Sit by a fire for 60 seconds (less with more comfort) for a short rest (heal with hit dice, some abilities come back) and sleep in a bed for a long rest (everything comes back). See Fifth Edition Rules.
• Moving on its own? That's Valheim's Auto-run, on Q by default. Press Q again, or any movement key, to stop.
• Level up: land at least one hit on a boss or miniboss, or be within 60 m when it dies, to earn a level. See the Leveling & Character Sheet page.

What changes compared to vanilla

• Traders: interacting with Haldor, Hildir or any other trader opens the mod's vendor dialog first. Click Shop to reach the normal store.
• Race traits: your race can change your size, carry weight, stealth, damage resistances and movement, and some races have restrictions (for example on heavy weapons). A character with no race picked plays like vanilla.
• Levels: your character has a level from 1 to 12. It is separate from Valheim's skill levels, which work as normal.
• Flight: some races can fly. Flying costs stamina while you move, and you can't fly while wearing heavy armor, carrying too much, swimming, sitting or inside a dungeon. Your Flying skill goes up as you fly and makes flying cheaper, down to half the stamina at skill 100.
• Spells cost stamina (1.2.3), like weapon swings. Your Spellcasting skill goes up as you cast and halves the cost by skill 100.
• New keys: the mod uses L, H, J, O, P, Z, X, F, N, M, B and Y by default. Rebind them if they clash with another mod. See the Controls & Settings page.
• Everyone in a multiplayer game needs the mod. See the Multiplayer & FAQ page.