While Assassin’s Creed Valhalla might look like it’s very similar to the previous iteration of the franchise, AC Odyssey, or even AC Origins, the combat is actually not as identical as it looks, which is surprising given its level of success compared to that game. The game still emphasizes plenty of fast-paced hacking, though there's plenty of nuance with this revamped system as well; with features like skills, abilities, and special attacks rounding out Eivor's arsenal of moves.

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Some players have run into some trouble transitioning from Odyssey's to Valhalla's combat without really knowing why. So, let’s take a look at some of the biggest features of Valhalla’s intense action which players are either missing or utilizing incorrectly.

Updated August 18th, 2021 by Stephen LaGioia: Players continue to be captivated by this Viking epic, thanks to its seemingly endless gameplay, added content, and of course, the fun and intense combat that scarcely gets old. With the recent release of the grandiose, action-packed DLC campaign, Seige of Paris, being skilled and effective in combat is more crucial than ever. But despite its seemingly simple exterior, there's a deceptive amount of depth to the mechanics which can be tricky to master. With that said, this piece has been refreshed and fleshed out to include even more common mistakes, missteps, and missed opportunities players often succumb to in Assassin's Creed Valhalla.

How To Regenerate Stamina During Combat

Assassin's Creed Valhalla Eivor crushing shield

Stamina management is more important in this AC game than it ever has been, yet the game only really introduces people to one way of regaining it during combat, which involves using Light Attacks. However, there are a couple of other ways to get stamina back quickly in a fight. Some examples include:

  • Landing Light Attacks against enemies who are blocking
  • Successful parries
  • Most successful abilities will also refresh the stamina bar completely.

Stun Finishers Can Stomp Out Threats Quickly While Healing Eivor

soldier down and being attacked in courtyard in Assassin's Creed Valhalla

Given how simple and effective they are in the heat of battle, it's rather stunning (sorry) how underutilized the handy Stun Finisher remains for many players. Not only is Eivor impervious to damage while the animation for these plays out, but they also get a huge chunk of adrenaline and health when landing one.

This move can be especially useful in chaotic fights with several foes, as many will end up hobbled; allowing a brief window for Eivor to swoop in and quickly end them. These can also be implemented in chains - which can delete groups of baddies quickly and efficiently - so keep your eyes peeled for multiple visual cues on the battlefield after foes have been struck.

As a side note: these attacks are also likely the reason why it's so difficult to gather new rations mid-combat, as Ubisoft was assuredly trying to incentivize players to heal by using Stun Finishers on nearby weaker enemies.

Heavy Attacks Can Stagger, Stunlock, And Stop Potential Counters

Assassin's Creed Valhalla cinematic with green tint Viking striking foe with giant battle axe

Heavy Attacks in Valhalla, with any weapon, have a much higher chance to stagger and Stunlock the enemy than Light Attacks. They also do more damage and their combo has a bit of power armor on it. Quite frankly, Light Attacks should be used as sparingly as possible, as plenty of enemies (especially on the harder difficulties) can start their counter-attack in the middle of Eivor's swing.

Simply opting to press the trigger buttons (shift + left moust button on PC) will trigger these heavier strikes. While they take longer to pull off, they usually prove worthwhile, as they'll inflict quite a bit more damage and often throw enemies off-balance, even disrupting their attacks. With the sluggish animation and depletion of stamina, they shouldn't be overused. However, it should be exploited when facing an enemy's back or when they're in between attacks. Good timing and precision with Heavy Attacks can make Eivor an offensive powerhouse.

Taking Advantage Of I-Frames (When They Work)

Assassin's Creed Valhalla Eivor kicking downed soldier from below

Just like any Character Action or Souls-like series, Valhalla has a lot of different ways to abuse I-frames. For those unaware, I-frames are “Invincibility Frames” or frames of animation where the player quite literally can’t be hit by enemies.

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These I-frames initiate during a roll in Dark Souls, during a somersault in Bayonetta, and also while rolling and executing most of the Abilities in Valhalla. Just be aware that this doesn’t apply to every single Ability, and it doesn’t work with Eivor’s Stomp. Players are often hesitant to bust out some of the more lengthy, complex moves in Valhalla as it would seem to make Eivor vulnerable to counter-attack. However, these should be utilized relatively frequently as the I-frames will very often kick in when initiated.

Abuse The Weak Spot Mechanic

Assassin's Creed Valhalla striking enemy soldier with bow near fortress entrance

Weak Spots are an entirely new system added in Valhalla, and it allows Eivor to even the playing field quite quickly against tougher enemies like Legendary Animals or Zealots. Due to how poorly it’s explained early on, tons of players either missed this mechanic entirely or weren’t utilizing it as they should.

To put it simply, hitting an enemy's weak point with an arrow eliminates a huge chunk of their health or even completely obliterates their stamina bar. There are also certain perks that reward players with weak point hits with various stat boosts (such as critical chances) for gear and weapons.

With the Zealots & Legendary Animals mentioned earlier, there are actually multiple Weak Spots that can be hit. If Eivor manages to strike them all, they then get to capitalize on a free Stun Attack animation, which kills normal mobs and often turns the tide in those grueling Zealot encounters. While it might not seem like it at first, hitting every Weak Spot on an enemy is something Eivor should do while they are relatively close, in order to capitalize on their stunned state. Using accurate bows (especially Predator Bows) can aid in this pursuit.

Utilize Special Attacks - While Keeping In Mind Their Unique Traits

Eivor hacking a soldier with a heavy blow in sunlight in Assassin's Creed Valhalla

Many players tend to underutilize their Special Attacks tied to the various weapons in the game. Special Attacks are the varying moves Eivor can use by holding the block button depending on whatever weapon is in their offhand. With a two-handed axe, it’s a spinning attack; with any one of the many greatswords, it's a running charge. Or players can take advantage of a two-handed sword by charging at a foe and often knocking them clean off their feet; even some larger enemies and Zealots.

While the animations might be different, it's important to keep in mind that these moves all devour stamina like nothing else. Though this is a pretty big detriment, it doesn't mean these moves are useless, just situational.

Players should tinker with many of them and figure out the optimal situation to use them. For instance, the two-handed spin move is useful when surrounded by enemies on all sides, while a greatsword charge is great for gaining an edge on beefier foes that absorb and block various attacks.

Rely On The Bow In Combat

Eivor fighting soldier wielding large swinging sword in Assassin's Creed Valhalla

It might seem counter-intuitive to switch back and forth between the bow and whatever primary weapon Eivor is using during combat, but it’s actually pretty useful. In fact, there are entire skills in the skill tree dedicated to this. But, why should players attempt this back-and-forth rather than simply swinging their flail a couple of times? Simply put, bows are more accurate.

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While there are plenty of enemies that hide behind an annoying shield, their feet and head are usually sticking out, so popping either with an arrow is a great way to stagger them. Plus, hitting an enemy shield with a charged arrow usually breaks their guard as well.

Learn To Exploit Dodge-Canceling

Eivor leaping and striking with small sword in indoor cinematic shot in Assassin's Creed Valhalla

While the animations in Valhalla certainly feel a bit more weighty than in previous games, once the player gets used to combat, they’ll realize how floaty it all is. The game doesn't feel nearly as heavy as it appears to be, and no mechanic makes that more clear than Eivor’s ability to dodge-cancel out of any animation.

No Heavy Attack, Light Attack, or even charge attack is uncancelable, which is preferable to the alternative. A quick joystick flick and button tap - Square for PS consoles, X for Xbox, Alt for PC - is all it takes to trigger this. It's useful as it makes Eivor swifter and more evasive while still allowing him to commit to slower, hard-hitting attacks when it's ideal.

In similar titles like Dark Souls, players had to commit to their swings, as they’d get stuck in an animation, but Eivor doesn’t need to worry about that. Enemy attacks come out ridiculously fast at times, and being able to bait these out with a Light Attack into a dodge-cancel can prove to be crucial.

Don't Neglect Stealth And Assassination Moves

Assassin's Creed Valhalla Assassination Position Above Grigorii
Assassin's Creed Valhalla Assassination Position Above Grigorii

While Ubisoft hasn't been shy about amping up the action elements this time around, this is still an Assassin's Creed game, thus it still has an array of handy stealth and assassination moves, which can allow for instant (or at least quicker) enemy deletions.

Make a point to go back to basics at times by sneaking through the grass, hopping across rooftops, or balancing across tightropes and keeping your eyes peeled for assassination cues. These will instantly take out smaller foes, and inflict large chunks of damage on larger ones and even some Zealots. Use Eivor's Odin's Sight (double-tap right stick, or "V" key on the PC) to scout out heavily-guarded areas in advance, and use the whistle (left on the d-pad) to lure foes towards you.

At the very least, just starting battles in this more stealthy manner before going in swinging can make a difference. It will thin out the opposition's numbers early, giving a decided advantage when the fight heats up.

Plunging Attacks Are More Useful Than They Appear

Eivor leaping through the trees in Assassin's Creed Valhalla

The plunge move is one that seems to remain fairly underused despite being a rather effective - and satisfying - move in Eivor's arsenal. Basically, when falling from any height (even a small wall), players can bust out the plunging attack on an unsuspecting foe below. This attack seems to cover an area of several feet and inflicts pretty significant damage.

But even more critically, plunging attacks will knock down virtually any enemy, even Zealots. This can easily be exploited in towns and fenced-in areas to make easy work out of what seemed like an impossible enemy. It's also a great way to kick off a raid or assault on an enemy encampment, as targetting a beefier foe can swing momentum in Eivor's favor right out of the gate.

NEXT: Assassin's Creed Valhalla: 5 Best Things About A Light Build (& The 5 Worst)