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How to Find Trolls in Valheim: A Comprehensive Guide

Finding Trolls in Valheim is crucial for crafting powerful gear and progressing through the game. These towering blue behemoths, while formidable, are not particularly elusive once you know where to look. The most straightforward method to find Trolls involves exploring the edges of the Black Forest biome. These colossal creatures tend to spawn in the transition zones between the Meadows and the Black Forest, making them quite noticeable thanks to their size and distinctive blue skin. Unlike some other creatures, Trolls are not hidden away in obscure locations; they patrol these outer areas, making them relatively easy to spot if you actively explore. By simply walking or running around the outskirts of the Black Forest, you’ll likely encounter one eventually. Patience and exploration are key to locating these lumbering giants.

Troll Habitats and Behaviors

Understanding where Trolls typically roam is essential for efficient hunting. They are predominantly found in the Black Forest biome, but they prefer the outskirts, not the dense, inner regions. This positioning helps players find them relatively early in their playthroughs without venturing too deep into dangerous territory.

Troll Encounters: Not Always in Caves

While Troll caves do exist, they are not the primary spawning location for the vast majority of Trolls. Troll caves will only ever have 0 or 1 trolls inside, and they do not respawn once the cave has been explored. Moreover, these caves serve as a one-time encounter, with the troll not returning nor do forest trolls retreat back to any particular cave. Therefore, if you’re looking to farm trolls, focusing on the outskirts of the Black Forest is a more sustainable approach than repeatedly entering and exiting caves. Instead, these caves are useful only as a potential sanctuary as nothing other than the player can enter, making empty caves completely safe havens.

Identifying Troll Spawns

Trolls are generally not very hard to miss; their large size and distinct blue coloration make them stand out against the darker backdrop of the Black Forest. Unlike some creatures that may blend into their environment, Trolls are hard to miss. Keep an eye out for the telltale sign of a lumbering figure that stands much taller than you or any of the other creatures in the area. If you are on the edge of the Black Forest biome and you do not see any other creatures, then it might be worth searching around to see if you can find a troll there.

Hunting Trolls Effectively

Once you’ve located a Troll, engaging it in combat requires a bit of strategy. Trolls are slow, but their attacks pack a punch. This makes kiting them with a bow and arrow an effective strategy.

Bow and Arrow Tactics

Using a Finewood Bow if you can get it, is preferable as it has increased accuracy. You can obtain core wood which is required for this bow, from pines found in the same area as trolls. This strategy involves maintaining a safe distance while peppering them with arrows. Their slow movement makes this tactic quite manageable as their slow attacks give you plenty of time to get out of the way.

Troll Weaknesses

Headshots are more effective against trolls. Since they are large targets it can be easier to land headshots, maximizing damage. Using bows is the most effective strategy overall, but melee weapons can be used if you are daring and skilled enough. However, it is safer to fight trolls with ranged attacks if you wish to survive the encounter.

Troll Gear and Resources

Defeating Trolls is not just for sport; they drop valuable resources crucial for crafting essential gear.

Troll Hide

The primary drop from Trolls is Troll hide, which is needed to craft the Troll Armor Set and the Troll Hide Cape. The Troll armor set, with +15 Sneak skill and +19 Armor, provides a significant upgrade from the Leather Set, making you more resilient and sneaky in the early game. This set does not slow you down and has lower armor values than the Bronze set, but it has the advantage of increased sneak. The Troll Hide Cape further enhances your survivability.

Leveraging Trolls for Resources

If you are able to deal with trolls efficiently then this allows you to farm them for gear. This gear can then aid in the fights that come later in the game. As they are found in Black Forests, you should be able to find core wood to make the Finewood Bow, which is the recommended bow to fight trolls. These resources are intertwined, allowing you to grow stronger by taking on greater challenges.

Frequently Asked Questions About Trolls in Valheim

Here are 15 frequently asked questions (FAQs) to address common concerns and provide further insights about Trolls in Valheim:

Why aren’t Trolls spawning in my game?
- Trolls generally spawn on the outskirts of the Black Forest, but they are not a constant spawn. If you have cleared all trolls in the immediate area, you may need to explore further or wait for them to respawn. Remember that Troll Caves are single-use spawn points, so trolls will not respawn there.
Are Trolls rare in Valheim?
- While they’re not the most common enemy, they aren’t particularly rare either. They are often found on the edges of the Black Forest, and players will commonly encounter them when exploring there. 2 star trolls are much rarer, however, and you may need to play for over 100 hours to encounter one.
How do I deal with Trolls if I’m a beginner?
- Beginners should use the kite method with a bow. Maintain a distance and shoot arrows. Be sure to use the landscape to your advantage and avoid close-quarters fights until you have better gear. Use the initial leather armor you start with, or you could craft the troll hide armor set from the first troll you kill.
What kills Trolls efficiently in Valheim?
- Bows are the most efficient way to kill trolls, particularly the Finewood Bow. Aim for headshots for increased damage, and remember to keep kiting the troll.
Do Trolls leave their caves?
- No, Trolls do not leave their caves once they’re inside. The caves serve as single-use spawns and nothing else can enter them, making them safe if empty.
Can I build in a Troll cave in Valheim?
- Yes, you can build a campfire, a cooking station, and a sitting log inside a Troll cave. However, workbenches cannot be placed there due to the cave being classified as a dungeon. Wards also cannot be placed there as the cave is a dungeon.
Where exactly are Trolls located on the map?
- Trolls are generally found around the edges of the Black Forest biome. They also tend to spawn at locations such as Feldcroft, Coast Cavern, Marunweem Lake, Glagmar Coast, and more. These spawn locations may be indicated by cave icons.
What is the best armor against Trolls?
- The Troll Armor Set is the best early-game armor against Trolls. It provides +19 Armor and +15 Sneak. Other armor will give you more armor, but this armor is useful for early exploration and gathering resources. It also gives an edge in sneak for other encounters.
How do I unlock the Troll Hide Cape?
- You need a level three Workbench and ten Troll hides. The cape provides a decent boost in armor.
Can I make a moat to defend against Trolls?
- Yes, you can make a moat that is deeper than the height of your character. This will cause the trolls to fall into the moat, effectively trapping them, and allowing you to shoot them from above.
What is the Troll Armor Set in Valheim?
- The Troll Set is a Black Forest-tier armor that provides lower armor values than the Bronze set, but does not reduce movement speed. Simultaneously wearing all four pieces provides the Sneaky Effect. This set is replaced by the Root Set or Iron Armor.
How high can you build in Valheim to avoid Trolls?
- A pole can rise 16m before it cannot support anything above it.
Where can I find cave trolls?
- Cave trolls are found in specific dungeon locations. Some of these locations include a bridge/bandit camp west of a crossroads fast travel location in the southeastern part of Velen, directly south from the ancient oal fast travel location.
Are there any special fish in the caves that Trolls inhabit?
- Frost caves have unique fish called Tetra that can be caught using Cold Fishing Bait. This bait is made in a Cauldron using a Tuna and an Ulv Trophy. Tuna can be caught in the water around the Meadows or Black Forest.
Are there Surtling Cores in Troll Caves?
- Yes, in the early game, Surtling Cores are found in Burial Chambers and Troll Caves, both of which are usually in Black Forest biomes. They may also be found in the caves around the Black Forest.

By understanding their habits, employing effective combat strategies, and crafting the right gear, players can confidently hunt Trolls and use their resources to progress in Valheim.

How do you find trolls in Valheim?