What is the Best Use for Boar Meat in Valheim?
The most advantageous use for boar meat in Valheim isn’t simply as a quick meal, although it serves that purpose well. The true value of boar meat lies in its role within a sustainable farming loop, primarily as a crucial food source for taming and breeding wolves. While raw boar meat can be cooked into Cooked Boar Meat for direct consumption and provide a base level of health and stamina, its significance is elevated when used to fuel a more complex and rewarding system of animal husbandry. Efficiently utilizing boar meat within the game involves a strategy that prioritizes long-term resource generation and the unique benefits offered by tamed wolves. In essence, boar meat’s peak potential comes from using it to build a powerful, self-sustaining wolf-breeding operation.
The Value of Cooked Boar Meat
Initial Sustenance and Early Game Utility
At the start of a Valheim playthrough, raw boar meat is a crucial food source, as it’s readily obtainable from hunting wild boars found throughout the Meadows biome. Placing it on a Cooking station or Iron cooking station transforms it into Cooked Boar Meat, which provides a decent boost to health and stamina. While this is helpful for early-game survival and exploration, it’s important to note that Cooked Boar Meat is not the most powerful or versatile food available in Valheim. As players progress through the game, they will unlock more powerful food options that offer significantly larger buffs. Therefore, while Cooked Boar Meat is invaluable initially, its importance is superseded by more strategic uses later on.
Overcooking and Coal Production
One often overlooked aspect of cooking boar meat is the potential to accidentally overcook it. When left on a cooking station for too long, it burns and transforms into Coal. While initially it may seem like a wasteful mistake, Coal is a vital crafting material. Players need Coal for several important crafting recipes, like smelting metal ores, especially when progressing through the game’s various stages. While this overcooking process is an inefficient way to produce Coal, it offers some utility when in a pinch.
The Superior Use: Feeding a Wolf Breeding Program
Why Wolves Over Boars
While a boar farm can provide an infinite source of leather and raw meat, the benefits are limited when compared to a well-established wolf breeding program. Tamed wolves not only provide raw meat, fangs, pelt, and trophies, but also act as powerful allies in combat. They can follow players on expeditions and roam around defensive structures to help ward off hostile threats, thus offering a much higher return than boars alone. The key to initiating this system hinges on the use of boar meat.
The Boar Meat – Wolf Breeding Loop
The heart of this strategy is the ability to use the raw meat from a boar farm to feed wolves and therefore set up a wolf breeding program. Boars breed quite easily, and by creating a pen with a handful of them, a player can generate a consistent flow of raw meat. This raw meat can then be used to feed the tamed wolves, which require a steady source of protein to become “happy” and ready for breeding. This system creates a self-sustaining cycle where boar meat isn’t just a meal, but a means to generate more powerful and versatile creatures that significantly aid the player.
Advantages of a Well-Fed Wolf Pack
Once a wolf breeding program is in full swing, players will have access to a steady supply of not only raw meat, but more importantly, wolf fangs, pelts, and trophies, as well as the invaluable benefit of having loyal combat companions. Tamed wolves are highly effective in battles and can turn the tide against many creatures. This combat benefit is arguably far more valuable than the relatively small health and stamina boosts from eating Cooked Boar Meat. Therefore, investing boar meat into wolf breeding is an efficient way of scaling your late game capabilities.
Strategic Implementation
Setting Up a Boar Farm
The initial setup requires a basic boar pen, constructed with round pole fences and a single gap for entry and exit. Feeding the boars with items like berries, mushrooms, carrots, or turnips makes them tame. Once a small herd is established, they will start breeding. The resulting raw meat and leather can be harvested.
Taming and Breeding Wolves
Taming wolves, particularly starred wolves, requires a specific method. Start at nighttime and feed them raw meat. Over time, their tame percentage will rise. Tamed wolves can then be bred by feeding them raw meat, like what you get from boars. Having a well-fed wolf population leads to a steady supply of combat companions and other valuable resources.
Optimizing the Cycle
To make this loop efficient, players must prioritize building a robust boar farm and keep a steady flow of raw meat. Continuously monitor the wolf population, and keep them well fed. The most efficient approach is to build both the boar pen and wolf pen near your base, so it is easy to maintain and utilize them.
Conclusion
While Cooked Boar Meat is useful during early gameplay, it’s ultimately the use of raw boar meat in establishing and maintaining a wolf breeding program that is its most significant value in Valheim. This strategy provides a far greater return on investment, generating not just more food, but also powerful combat allies and valuable crafting materials. Therefore, efficient use of boar meat isn’t about cooking it; it’s about using it to create a sustainable system that strengthens your ability to survive and thrive in the Valheim world.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can tamed boars starve in Valheim?
Tamed boars will not starve to death but they will not reproduce if they are hungry. Ensuring that your boars are consistently fed is crucial if you aim to breed them.
2. How many boars can you keep in a pen for breeding?
A maximum of 6 boars can be kept in a pen for breeding. If there are more than 6, they will not breed.
3. Can boars be transported through portals?
No, boars cannot be transported through portals. Players must use a boat to move them to new locations.
4. What foods tame boars in Valheim?
Boars are tamed by feeding them any food that grows in the ground – raspberries, blueberries, mushrooms (yellow or red), carrots, or turnips.
5. How do you tame a two-star boar in Valheim?
Taming a two-star boar is done the same way you would tame a regular boar. It only requires leaving food on the floor of the pen.
6. What happens if you overcook boar meat?
Overcooking boar meat on a cooking station results in the creation of Coal.
7. Why won’t my tamed boar eat in Valheim?
Boars might not eat if they are frightened. Sneaking around the pen will calm them. Also ensure that they are in the render distance.
8. What do tamed wolves do in Valheim?
Tamed wolves are powerful allies, they can follow the player and help defend their structures. They can also be a source of raw meat, fangs, pelts, and trophies.
9. What food do wolves eat in Valheim?
Wolves are tamed using raw meat, such as that obtained from boars and deer.
10. How many tame wolves can you have following you?
You can have a maximum of four wolves following you.
11. Can tamed wolves fight alongside you?
Yes, tamed wolves will actively participate in combat and will not retaliate against you if you or another wolf is attacked/killed.
12. How many wolves can you have in an area for breeding?
Wolves will breed provided there is another wolf within 3 meters and no more than 4 wolves within 10 meters.
13. Do starred (two-star) wolves need special taming conditions?
Starred wolves need to be initially fed during the night because they will try to despawn during the day.
14. Can other animals be tamed in Valheim?
Apart from boars and wolves, Lox can also be tamed. Chickens/Hens are already tamed once hatched from an egg.
15. What is the most efficient way to manage boar and wolf breeding?
The most efficient way is to set up both pens near your base, so that it’s easy to keep them fed and monitor their populations. This enables a reliable loop of meat for wolf breeding and combat allies.