Classes

Fifth Edition Fantasy adds 13 classes. Each one has one or two active abilities, most have passive bonuses and a spell list, and each has 2 to 8 subclasses (47 in all). Since 1.2.0 every class also has its rulebook class features for levels 1 to 12, skill proficiencies and saving throws. You have one class at a time (plus a second one through multiclassing).

This page covers, in order: choosing a class, controls and shared rules, class features, skills and saves, leveling, a class overview, each class from Barbarian to Runesmith, and the subclasses.

Choosing a class

1. Press L to open the character sheet. You can also open it with its tab button in the inventory screen.
2. Open the Class tab. Click a class to see what it does, then click Change Class. Your first pick is free; after that the sheet says Already chosen, and you change it with the trader reset below.
3. When you are high enough level, open the Subclass tab beside it (with [UI] Ribbon off, click Choose Subclass on the Class tab to get there). See the Subclasses section below.

Any trader (Haldor, Hildir, and so on) offers Reset Race, Class & Feats for 200 coins. It clears your race, class, subclass and feats.

Multiclassing (since 1.0.7): from level 4 you can train in a second class on the Adventurer's Log's Multiclass tab (press K). You learn its spells 3 levels later than a single-class caster would. See the Adventuring page.

Controls and shared rules

You can rebind every key under Settings > Keyboard & Mouse, in the Fifth Edition Fantasy section below the vanilla keys.

Uses (new in 1.1.0): with spell slots on (the default), class abilities use their 2014 number of uses instead of Eitr: Rage, Bardic Inspiration, Channel Divinity (Heal Pulse), Wild Shape, Second Wind, Giant's Might, Ki, a Lay on Hands healing pool and Divine Smite with spell slots. Uses come back on a short or long rest; the table is on the Fifth Edition Rules page, and each ability's description in the game shows its uses. Blink Strike and Otherworldly Leap are at will.

"Free once per rest" (Eitr mode): the Cost column below is the pre-1.1.0 rule, still used when the server sets SpellSystem = Eitr. Abilities cost nothing the first time you use them, then cost Eitr each time after that, and become free again when you become Rested.

Level scaling: numbers marked "scales with level" grow by +6% per character level above 1. That's ×1.00 at level 1, ×1.30 at level 6 and ×1.66 at level 12. Numbers without that note, such as most class heals, stay the same at every level.

Class features (new in 1.2.0)

Every class now has its 2014 class features for levels 1 to 12. See them all, and make your choices (fighting style, maneuvers, metamagic, invocations, pact boon...), on the Features tab of the Adventurer's Log (K). Features you trigger yourself go on the class feature key (G): press Shift+G to select one, then G to use it. Reactions such as Uncanny Dodge trigger on their own (see Fifth Edition Rules).

Reincarnate (Druid 9, 1.5.1): stand next to a downed ally, or at the tombstone of a friend who really died (as long as Raise Dead would still work), and use it with G. It costs a 5th-level spell slot (60 Eitr in Eitr mode) and 1,000 coins ([FifthEdition] ReincarnateCoins). Your ally comes back like Raise Dead, at full health, but in a new body: a race rolled at random from the races the world offers, never the one they had. Class, level, feats and gear stay.

Ability animations (1.5.1): starting a Rage plays a roar, Lay on Hands kneels, and Divine Smite flares golden light on the weapon and the target. Everyone sees the emotes. [FEFHud] ClassAbilityAnimations.

Battle Master maneuvers (Tactician): Trip Attack, Precision Attack, Riposte, Parry, Menacing Attack, Pushing Attack, Disarming Attack, Distracting Strike, Goading Attack, Sweeping Attack, Rally and Feinting Attack. They use superiority dice (4 d8), which come back on a short rest.

Cantrips known: casters know a set number of class cantrips (2 to 6 by class and level). See Fifth Edition Rules.

Skills and saving throws

Each class is proficient in two saving throws and picks some skills (on the Skills tab of the Adventurer's Log). Your hit die sets the health you gain each level.

Leveling

Your character level runs from 1 to 12.

• You start at level 1.
• You gain +1 level for each boss or miniboss you help kill. "Help" means you landed at least one hit on it, or were within 60 m of it when it died. You don't need to deal the killing blow. In multiplayer, every player who qualifies gets the level. If you hit it but were dead when it died, you get the level when you respawn.
• There are 11 boss encounters that count, so killing all of them puts you at level 12. The order doesn't matter, and each boss only counts once per character.

What levels give you

• You get feat picks at levels 1, 4, 8 and 12 (4 in total), and you choose feats on the Feats tab.
• Level scaling (+6% per level) also applies to many class abilities and spells.

On the character sheet

• Character tab: shows Level X / 12, Feat picks: used/available, Spell tier unlocked: X / 6, your race, class and subclass with descriptions, your feats, and the spells you know.
• Spells tab: every spell, whether you know it, and if you don't, the level and source (race, class, subclass or feat) that would unlock it.
• Class tab: your subclass status, for example "unlocks at character level 3" or "none chosen yet".

Class overview

Spellcasting progression

Your class decides which spells you can learn and at what character level each spell level unlocks. Spells from your race, subclass or feats are added on top.

Barbarian, Fighter, Monk and Rogue have no class spells. They can still cast spells from their race, subclass (Spellblade, Spellthief, Way of Dusk) or feats.

Barbarian

A rage-fuelled melee bruiser who trades defense for damage and refuses to die.

Passives

• Relentless: once, a hit that would kill you while Raging leaves you at 1 HP instead. It recharges when you rest (become Rested).

Abilities

Spellcasting: none.

Bard

A support caster who heals allies and hits a little harder with everything.

Passives

• Jack of All Trades: +5% damage on every hit.

Abilities

Spellcasting: Full

Cleric

A divine healer whose every strike carries holy damage.

Passives

• Radiant Smite: +8 spirit damage on every hit.
• Divine Ward: spirit damage resistance improves by one step (for example, Normal becomes Slightly Resistant).

Abilities

Spellcasting: Full

Druid

A nature caster who can take the shape of Valheim's own creatures.

Passives

• Nature's Ward: poison damage resistance improves by one step.

Abilities

Wild Shape

Learning forms (since 1.0.7): you learn a creature's form by getting a good look at it, within about 30 m. Forms you haven't seen yet are greyed out in the picker. A druid grove can teach one too. Druids made before 1.0.7 keep every form.

Press Z to open a picker with a tile for each creature, then click one to shift into it. Press Z again (or click Cancel) to close the picker without shifting. While you're shifted, Z turns you back.

While wild shaped:

• Your gear is taken off, and it goes back on automatically when you return to normal.
• Your max health and damage resistances become the creature's, and you start at the creature's full health.
• When you turn back, for any reason, your health returns to what it was when you shifted. A hit that would kill you in beast form turns you back instead of killing you. That makes Wild Shape a spare health bar.
• Food timers pause. Other status effects keep running.
• You can't cast spells. That includes O/P spells, Goodberry and race spell abilities.
• You can't dodge-roll.
• Primary attack uses the creature's attacks. Secondary attack uses its heavy attack if it has one, and otherwise its normal attacks.
• Non-flying forms can't fly. Gull, Crow, Bat and Volture are flying forms for a Druid of any race: while you are in one of them, you are put into flight automatically (Space to climb, Left Ctrl to descend), and flight's other rules (stamina, interiors and so on) still apply.
• Other players see your creature form move and attack.

New forms (1.2.0): you can also learn SRD beasts you've seen: Giant Rat (level 2), Giant Frog and Giant Poisonous Snake (level 4, they swim), Giant Spider (level 8; Circle of the Beast at 2) and Stirge (level 8, it flies). Circle of the Beast druids can become an Air Elemental at level 10, for two Wild Shape uses.

Challenge rating limits (1.2.0): forms follow the 2014 table: CR 1/4 with no flying or swimming at level 2, CR 1/2 with no flying at level 4, CR 1 at level 8. Circle of the Beast druids can take CR 1 forms from level 2 and CR level ÷ 3 from level 6. The picker shows why a form is locked. Server admins can switch the limits off for the vanilla forms with WildShapeCrLimits.

Circle of the Beast druids take less damage and deal more while shifted. See the Subclasses section below.

Spellcasting: Full

Fighter

A steady weapon master with a burst of size and a self-heal.

Passives

• Weapon Mastery: +10% damage on every hit.

Abilities

Spellcasting: none.

Monk

A fast, unarmored striker who stuns foes and heals with a touch.

Passives

• Unarmored Movement: +10% move speed while you have no chest armor equipped.

Abilities

Spellcasting: none.

Paladin

A holy warrior with a constant healing aura and Eitr-powered smites.

Passives

• Aura: every 4 s, you and every player within 10 m heal 6 HP. It's always on.

Abilities

Spellcasting: Half (no cantrips)

Ranger

A hunter who marks prey and finishes off wounded targets.

Passives

• Stealthy: creatures notice you from 10% closer.
• Colossus Slayer: +20% damage against targets below half health.

Abilities

Spellcasting: Half (no cantrips)

Rogue

A slippery skirmisher who blinks around and shrugs off big hits.

Passives

• Stealthy: creatures notice you from 10% closer.
• Uncanny Dodge: the next hit you take has its damage halved. This can happen at most once every 8 s.

Abilities

Spellcasting: none.

Sorcerer

A draconic blaster built around one fire bolt who grows real wings at level 12.

Passives

• Draconic Resistance: fire damage resistance improves by one step.
• Dragon Wings (level 12): you can fly with the flight key (F toggle, Space up, Left Ctrl down), and dragon wings appear while you're in the air.

Abilities

Spellcasting: Full

Warlock

A pact caster whose Eldritch Blast gains extra beams as you level.

Passives

• Dark One's Blessing: you regain 30 stamina whenever you kill something.

Abilities

Spellcasting: Full

Wizard

A scholar with the biggest spell list, a damage-soaking ward and a force shove.

Passives

• Grim Harvest: you heal 15 HP whenever you kill something.

Abilities

Spellcasting: Full

Runesmith

A tough tinkerer with a hand cannon, extra health and efficient stamina use.

Passives

• Armor Plating: +20 max HP.
• Efficient Systems: all stamina costs are 10% lower.

Abilities

Spellcasting: Runesmith

Subclasses

How to pick one

• Open the character sheet (L) and go to the Subclass tab (since 1.3.2; with the ribbon off, Choose Subclass on the Class tab takes you there). It lists your class's subclasses. Click one to read about it, then click Choose Subclass. Like your class, it's locked in once chosen; the trader reset clears it.
• You can only choose once you reach your class's subclass level:

• A subclass only works while you're in its class. If you switch class, it goes dormant, and it becomes active again if you switch back. The Reset Race, Class & Feats option at a trader clears it.
• Subclass bonuses stack with the base class.
• "Weapon hits" means hits that aren't from spells or magic skills.

Barbarian (level 3)

Bard (level 3)

Cleric (level 1)

Druid (level 2)

Fighter (level 3)

Monk (level 3)

Paladin (level 3)

Ranger (level 3)

Rogue (level 3)

Sorcerer (level 1)

Warlock (level 1)

Wizard (level 2)

Runesmith (level 3)