Valheim’s full release introduced many new items into the game to aid adventurers in dominating the Deep North and earning their rightful place in Valhalla. One notable item type included in Update 1.0 is the idol, which unlocks the ability to craft powerful gear. Keep reading this guide to learn about where to find and how to use Idols in Valheim, so you can dominate foes, preventing your right to ascension.

Where to Find Idols in Valheim 1.0

Players can find Idols throughout the Valheim world map. However, specific biomes generally only reward curious adventurers with certain Idols. For instance, you’ll have better luck finding Flametal Idols in the Deep North than in any other biome.

• Wooden Battle Idol: Travel to the Meadows biome to randomly find this idol inside chests.
• Wooden Protection Idol: Travel to the Meadows biome to randomly find this idol inside chests, particularly those in abandoned houses and landlocked shipwrecks.
• Bronze Battle Idol: Randomly find this idol in chests in the Black Forest biomes, particularly those in Troll Caves, Stone House Ruins, and Burial Chambers.
• Bronze Protection Idol: Randomly find this idol in chests in the Black Forest biomes, particularly those in Troll Caves, Stone House Ruins, and Burial Chambers.
• Iron Battle Idol: Travel to the Swamp to find this idol inside chests in various areas, particularly within graves and Sunken Crypts.
• Iron Protection Idol: Travel to the Swamp to find this idol inside chests in various areas, particularly within graves and Sunken Crypts.
• Silver Battle Idol: Travel to the Mountain biomes to randomly find this idol inside chests, particularly in caves and abandoned cabins.
• Silver Protection Idol: Travel to the Mountain biomes to randomly find this idol inside chests, particularly in caves and abandoned cabins.
• Black Metal Battle Idol: Travel to the Plains biomes to randomly find this idol inside chests, particularly in towers, ruins, and Goblin trash piles. Caves and abandoned cabins may also have this idol for players to loot.
• Black Metal Protection Idol: Travel to the Plains biomes to randomly find this idol inside chests, particularly in towers, ruins, and Goblin trash piles. Caves and abandoned cabins may also have this idol for players to loot.
• Black Marble Battle Idol: Travel to the Ashlands to randomly find this idol inside chests in Charred Fortresses and Morgen holes. Dvergr guard towers in the Mistlands may also have this idol for players to loot.
• Black Marble Protection Idol: Travel to the Ashlands to randomly find this idol inside chests in Charred Fortresses, Charred Ruins, and Morgen holes. Towers in the Mistlands may also have this idol for players to loot.
• Flametal Battle Idol: Travel to the Ashlands, Mistlands, or the Deep North to randomly find this idol inside chests, particularly those in Dvergr Towers, Charred Villages, and Lumber Camps.
• Flametal Protection Idol: Travel to the Ashlands, Mistlands, or the Deep North to randomly find this idol inside chests, particularly those in Dvergr Towers, Charred Villages, and Lumber Camps.
• Bloodgold Battle Idol: Travel to the Deep North to randomly find this idol inside Ancient and Jotun chests in various areas, particularly in the Morkhalla dungeons.
• Bloodgold Protection Idol: Travel to the Deep North to randomly find this idol inside Ancient and Jotun chests in various areas, particularly in the Morkhalla dungeons.

How to Use Idols in Valheim

Upgrading armor and weapons in Valheim to have their late-game stats generally requires using Idols. Use Battle Idols for weapons and Protection Idols for armor. Note that you can only upgrade endgame gear and use Idols at a Forge of Potential, a non-craftable workstation. So, it’s imperative that you find a Forge of Potential first before you can upgrade your armor and weapons using Idols. Find this unique workstation in the Mountain biomes, and it’s typically surrounded by statues. An idol or totem icon appears on the map when a Forge of Potential is near, making it difficult to miss. Tip: Work with other players in a Valheim multiplayer server to have a better chance of finding the Forge of Potential sooner rather than later. Once found, you can use the Forge of Potential at its original location. Alternatively, use a Shovel to unearth the workstation, place it in your inventory, and return to base with it. The latter option helps eliminate lengthy travel times that you’d otherwise spend going back and forth to the Forge of Potential when you need it. The names of each Idol should give you an idea of which item tier they’re compatible with. For example, a Wooden Battle Idol only works with weapons and tools like the Flint Knife, Stagbreaker, Club, and Wooden Knife. Conversely, the Bloodgold Protection Idol is only compatible with items like the Nord Buckler, the Caller armor set, and the Vanguard armor set. Remember, late-game upgrading sessions aren’t guaranteed operations. The item to upgrade may break if the upgrade attempt fails, resulting in the loss of the Idol. However, you’ll recover some of the materials used to craft that piece of equipment, though the amount will be less than its original cost. It’s also important to note that each upgrade attempt uses an Idol, regardless of whether the operation succeeds. Note: At the time of writing, canceling the lengthy animation when upgrading an item using an Idol cancels that operation. Doing so won’t consume Idols, but it won’t upgrade the chosen piece of equipment either.