How to Find Infested Mines in Valheim: A Comprehensive Guide

Finding Infested Mines in Valheim’s Mistlands biome is crucial for obtaining vital resources needed to progress in the game. These dungeons, teeming with enemies and valuable loot, are not always easy to spot. This guide will provide a comprehensive overview of how to locate them, what to expect once you’re inside, and answer some common questions about these challenging areas.

Locating Infested Mines: The Search Begins

The Infested Mines are typically found beneath the surface, usually situated beneath or within large rock formations or hillsides within the Mistlands. These are not standard structures and are identifiable due to a unique combination of visual cues. You won’t find them in just any Mistlands area; they have specific spawning conditions and appearances to look for. Here is a breakdown of what to look for:

Recognizing the Exterior

• Black Marble Structures: The outer entrance of an Infested Mine is generally a damaged, Dvergr-made structure built with black marble. This is the first visual sign that a potential mine entrance exists nearby. The structure is often damaged, suggesting its age and the battles that might have taken place there.
• Location Under Rock: These black marble structures are often nestled beneath large, conspicuous rocks. Look for areas where the structure seems to be half-buried or integrated into the rock face.
• Staircase and Entrances: Some entrances are marked by a large staircase leading up to a doorway or mine opening carved into the side of a hill or cliff. These are generally located near the black marble structure.
• Dvergr Vault Entrance: The actual entrance to the mine within the rock is usually blocked by a Dvergr vault, which is a large door bearing a runic inscription and a locking mechanism. You will need the correct key to unlock this door (more on that later).
• Not all Dvergr structures contain them: It’s important to note that Dvergr towers that are populated by Dvergr do not contain mines. However, the Dvergr towers that are instead filled with Seekers do often have mines associated with them.

The Mistlands Environment

• Travel Requirements: The Mistlands biome doesn’t appear close to the center of the Valheim map. You will need to travel quite a distance to find one. Generally, they start appearing around the halfway point between the center and the edge of the map.
• Careful Exploration: Traversing the Mistlands is perilous. The dense fog makes navigation tricky, and the dangerous fauna requires caution. It’s crucial to prepare adequately for these conditions before you set out looking for mines.

Spotting the Entrance: A Closer Look

• Under large rock structures: The structures are usually placed under/at the base of a large rock or mountain within the Mistlands.
• Runic doors: The door you’re looking for is a large Dvergr vault bearing a runic inscription and a visible locking mechanism.
• Damaged appearance: The black marble structures often look damaged or worn, giving them a distinctive look from other structures in the Mistlands.

Understanding the Interior: What to Expect

Once you find the Dvergr vault entrance and manage to get inside, it’s important to understand the layout of Infested Mines.

• Layout: The dungeon consists of multiple rooms of varying sizes and shapes that are linked to a central rectangular hallway chamber. The rooms branch out in a variety of different directions, making navigation through the mine a challenge.
• Hidden Doors: Some rooms or passageways will be hidden behind two different kinds of secret doors:
  • Old Dvergr gate: This looks almost identical to solid marble walls except for a Dvergr face pattern.
  • Hidden door: This is a small marble block with blue runes inscribed on it.
• Enemy Types: Expect to encounter various enemies within the mines, primarily Seekers and Seeker Brood. These enemies can be tough, so prepare accordingly.

Why Explore Infested Mines? Valuable Resources

Infested Mines are the source of essential resources needed to progress in the Mistlands. These include:

• Black Cores: These are needed to build Mistlands-tier crafting stations such as the Eitr refinery, Black forge, and Galdr table.
• Sealbreaker Fragments: These fragments are required to access The Queen’s Citadel.
• Royal Jelly: Used in mead bases and eitr-based foods, Royal Jelly is another valuable resource that can be gathered within the mines.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How many black cores can you find in an infested mine?

The number of black cores varies greatly, depending on the randomly generated rooms and total number of rooms. Mines can range from 16 to 96 rooms, so it’s not uncommon to find a mine with zero cores.

2. Do black cores respawn in infested mines?

No, black cores do not respawn once picked up. This makes the need to explore multiple mines to get them more prevalent.

3. Do Infested Mines respawn?

Yes, while the layout of the dungeon and the locations of the loot will not change once discovered, Royal Jelly piles will respawn every 4 hours making farming them fairly easy.

4. What are the secret doors in infested mines?

There are two types of hidden doors: the Old Dvergr gate with a Dvergr face pattern and the Hidden door, a small marble block with blue runes.

5. How do you open secret doors in Infested Mines?

Secret doors are typically opened by clicking in the background or pressing the up arrow, similar to how you’d enter a regular door.

6. What kind of enemies are found in Infested Mines?

You’ll primarily encounter Seekers and Seeker Brood within the mines. Be prepared for a challenging fight!

7. How many black cores do I need to create all the Mistlands crafting stations?

You need a total of 15 black cores to build one of each of the Mistlands crafting stations.

8. What is the Royal Jelly used for?

Royal Jelly is primarily used at the Cauldron for cooking and creating mead bases, and for crafting Eitr-based foods.

9. What is the best weapon to use against the Gjall in the Mistlands?

Ranged weapons, like Bows, Crossbows, or Magic, are ideal for fighting Gjall. Aim for the orange egg sacs on its underside for critical damage.

10. What weapons should I use against the Queen?

The Staff of Embers or the Staff of Frost are great choices, as they don’t rely on pierce damage. Be sure to quickly take out the summons the Queen creates!

11. Does the Queen respawn in Valheim?

Yes, after the initial defeat, you can summon her again by offering 3 Seeker soldier trophies on the hive seat at the top of her Citadel.

12. What are the secret rooms for in Infested Mines?

These rooms may contain black cores and other resources.

13. How do you pronounce Gjall?

The closest pronunciation is g’yall, with a hard “g” like in “get”, or /jɑl/ similar to “yal.”

14. What are Blood clots used for?

Blood Clots are used for crafting the Staff of Protection, the major healing mead base, and the uncooked magically stuffed shroom.

15. What does the Queen’s trophy give you when placed at the starting stones?

When activated, the Queen’s power gives you: Faster mining and +100% Eitr regeneration.

Conclusion: Mastering the Hunt

Finding and exploring Infested Mines is a crucial step in mastering Valheim’s Mistlands update. By understanding where to look and what to expect, you can effectively gather the necessary resources to continue building and thriving within the game. Pay close attention to the clues in the terrain, prepare thoroughly for the challenges ahead, and don’t be afraid to venture deep within these dungeons. With patience and perseverance, you’ll unlock the secrets of the Mistlands and obtain the materials you need to further your journey.