Valheim has several bosses that players summon via rituals and kill to progress their technology. The first boss Valheim players will come across is Eikthyr: a massive Stag that presents a challenge if you're not prepared.

How to Summon Eikthyr in Valheim

Each Valheim boss requires different conditions to be summoned. For Eikthyr, players must travel to the Meadows biome and find this boss’s summoning altar. It’s possible to find the summoning altar on a random expedition. However, you can mark its location on the map by finding and interacting with a Vegvisir runestone. Once found, return 2 Deer Trophies found by hunting deer throughout the world. The best way to kill enough deer to loot these Deer Trophies is to practice throwing your spear, which will one-shot deer and take away the wasted time from chasing. You can also use a bow or a knife. Once you've got your Deer Trophies, return to Eikthyr's summoning altar. Once there, put your Deer Trophies into the platform, and Eikthyr will arrive.

How to Kill Eikthyr

Eiktyhr may just be the first boss, but if you aren't prepared for a fight, he'll be a massive test, especially if you’re a newly-spawned adventurer. Eikthyr has a few abilities that can threaten players very far away or up close and personal. For starters, Eikthyr's first ability shoots a lightning bolt in a line forward after rearing back. Avoiding this ability will give you a moment to be able to counterattack, so take advantage as you can. Eiktyhr's second ability creates an area of lightning around it after hanging in the air and crashing down. Avoiding this ability will be more difficult, requiring you to manage distance. Apart from these two abilities, Eikthyr will also try to ram players with its horns. To take down Eiktyhr without issue, you'll want to maximize your bow damage while being out of range of its abilities. If you are playing with friends on a Valheim server, one player can distract the boss while the other lights it up with arrows for a quick and painless kill. Additionally, here are some quick tips to help you complete the first major stepping stone into Valheim’s more difficult challenges:

• Stay patient and manage stamina. Staying on the offensive is a recipe for disaster. Instead, stave stamina for dodging and blocking rather than constantly sprinting. Pay attention to Eikthyr’s attacks, as each move has a signature tell so you can react accordingly.
• Use the environment. The nearby rocks and trees can block some of Eikthyr’s attacks, including its lightning strike. Use these natural barriers to create safe opportunities for ranged damage or help you breathe while you heal.
• Mix ranged and melee combat. Consider starting the fight by pelting Eikthyr with arrows. Then, switch to a strong melee weapon to close the gap. This balanced approach helps maximize damage while minimizing risk.

Eikthyr Loot & Rewards

Once Eikthyr is dead, you'll be able to progress to new technologies in Valheim, including mining with a pickaxe made from Eikthyr's horns, and as a result, smelting and more. This also unlocks the Harvester, which then unlocks farming. Defeating Eikthyr also lets you mount its trophy, and it’s no mere decoration in your base. Placing the Eikthyr Trophy grants the player and nearby allies a 60% reduction to stamina usage for running, jumping, and swimming that lasts for 300 seconds.