What Animals Are Tamable in Valheim? A Comprehensive Guide
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In the harsh and beautiful world of Valheim, survival often hinges on resourcefulness and strategic planning. One key aspect of this is the ability to tame and utilize the local wildlife. But what creatures can you actually befriend and bring under your wing? This guide will break down all the tamable animals in Valheim, detailing how to tame them and what benefits they offer.
The Core Tamable Creatures
Currently, Valheim offers four primary tamable creatures: Boars, Wolves, Lox, and Drakes. Each animal has its own specific needs and benefits that cater to different playstyles and game stages. These tamable creatures can significantly enhance your gameplay.
Boars: The Early Game Farm Animals
Boars are the first creatures you’ll likely encounter and the first you’ll be able to tame in Valheim. They are abundant, and taming them provides a reliable source of meat and leather.
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Taming Process: To tame a boar, you will need to build a pen and lure boars inside using food. Berries, mushrooms, and carrots are among their favorite treats. Throw these inside the enclosure, and the boar will begin eating. Over a few in-game days of feeding, the boars will become tame.
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Benefits: Once tamed, boars will follow you within a certain radius and can be bred to create an endless supply of resources. They also provide a good source of raw meat and leather scraps. Remember, however, that if they see an opening in their pen, tamed boars will seek their freedom.
Wolves: Ferocious Companions
Wolves are a bit more challenging to tame, but their combat prowess makes them invaluable allies in Valheim. They’re powerful when following the player or left to guard your base.
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Taming Process: Wolves must be captured in a pen similar to boars. The best method is to trap them with a pen and then throw raw meat over the walls until they become tame. Nighttime wolves must initially be fed during the night, and if it is daytime, the player must trap the wolf and wait nearby to prevent it from despawning. They will not eat until night.
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Benefits: Tamed wolves will fight alongside you against hostile creatures. If you tame more than one, you can even breed them, creating a pack of loyal protectors. They do not retaliate against players even if attacked. They can be useful for base defense.
Lox: The Plains Mount
Lox are massive creatures that roam the Plains biome. They are essential as a mount, allowing quick travel across the biome.
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Taming Process: Taming a lox requires creating a base in the Plains. Build a pen and lure the lox inside. You can feed them using food such as barley, cloudberries, and flax. The taming process is lengthy, similar to wolves, and you must stay within render distance for the process to advance.
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Benefits: Once tamed, you can equip a Lox Saddle to ride them. They make traversing the dangerous plains much safer and provide a considerable carrying capacity advantage. Directional keys will not cause the Lox to turn while riding.
Drakes: The Only Dragon Option
Drakes are a less straightforward tamable creature, and they have limitations. You cannot tame full-grown dragons, but you can tame a drake that is hatched from a dragon egg.
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Taming Process: To tame a drake, you must find a dragon egg in the Mountain biome. Place it in your Hotbar, then use it on a campfire. The egg will spawn the drake on you, and it will turn into a tame drake after 5 minutes. It’s essential that you do not use the egg on a house campfire, as the drake will become stuck.
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Benefits: While not as useful as other tamable creatures in a direct combat or farming sense, a tamed drake provides a unique, novelty experience. They will not be aggressive towards the player. Unfortunately, they do not provide much more use beyond that.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some common questions regarding taming animals in Valheim:
1. Can tamed animals starve?
Yes, tamed animals can starve if not fed regularly. Boars, for example, eat the same food as wild boars: mushrooms, carrots, and berries. Ensure you periodically check your animal pens and provide food to avoid starvation.
2. Will tamed boars run away?
Tamed boars are not completely loyal. If they see an opening in their fence, they will try to escape. Be sure to maintain a secure pen.
3. Will tamed wolves follow you?
Yes, tamed wolves will follow you within a certain radius, making them valuable companions during exploration and combat.
4. Why won’t the wolf eat?
Night time wolves, and starred wolves, must initially be fed during the night. If it’s daytime, the player must trap the wolf and wait nearby to prevent it from despawning. It will not eat until night. Also, failing the pathfinding check prevents them from eating even if the food is within range.
5. Do tamed wolves fight for you?
Yes, tamed wolves will attack hostile creatures, providing valuable assistance in fights. They will not retaliate against the player, even if the player attacks them.
6. Do tame animals have to be fed in an enclosure?
No, they do not. Once tame, animals will not actively flee. You can have your tame animals roam free as long as you are nearby to ensure their safety.
7. Can you breed deer in Valheim?
No, you cannot breed deer in Valheim. While deer do reproduce in the wild, there is no way to actively breed or tame them.
8. Can tamed animals take collision damage?
Yes, both boars and wolves can take collision damage if placed on top of a boat. This collision can occur from various sources, and it can instantly kill them.
9. What is the point of taming Lox?
Tamed Lox can be utilized as a mount. With the Lox Saddle, you can ride them across the Plains, making transportation easier and quicker.
10. How do you tame a werewolf in Valheim?
The “werewolf” you’re referring to are actually just the wolves. Throwing raw meat to them is the best method to tame them. You can get raw meat from other animals such as boars and deer.
11. Do Dragon Eggs Disappear?
No, dragon eggs will respawn after 480 minutes (8 in-game hours). They are usually found tucked up against mountainsides in the Mountain biome.
12. How long does it take to tame a wolf?
Taming a wolf takes approximately 30 minutes, provided you keep them consistently fed with raw meat.
13. How long does Lox taming take?
Lox taming also takes roughly 30 minutes, but you must stay within render distance for the process to continue. If you move too far, the timer will stop progressing.
14. Why are my boars not mating?
For boars to breed, ensure they are happy and fed inside the enclosure. Also, don’t overcrowd the pen and provide ample room for them to roam.
15. Can you parry wolves?
Yes, you can parry wolf attacks, giving you more time to counterattack. If facing multiple wolves, try to pick them off one at a time.
Conclusion
Taming animals in Valheim is a crucial aspect of the gameplay experience. From the humble boar to the mighty Lox, each animal offers unique benefits that can aid you on your Viking journey. By understanding the taming processes and their needs, you can establish powerful allies and resources within the challenging world of Valheim. Happy taming!