Introduced in Valheim 1.0, Writhan is a strange, uncommon creature living in the bog. Its unusual behavior can catch some players off guard. But those foolish enough to take on this foe without proper preparation are in for an “explosive” treat. So, keep reading to learn where to find this foe and how to defeat it to reap the rewards.

Where to Find the Writhan in Valheim

Writhan is a rare hostile enemy found in the Swamp biome. Currently, players in Valheim servers have a better chance of finding it within 5,000 to 8,000 meters from the center of the world seed. Also, it seems that only one Writhan can exist at a time, so you’d better make your kill count. Once you know where to look, the next step is learning how to defeat it.

How to Defeat the Writhan (Fight Tips)

Writhan is resistant to Blunt and Fire damage, and it’s immune to Poison and Chop. Equip a sword, axe, or other Slash weapon against it. The safest approach is to kite it from a distance, since its slow attacks make ranged weapons and spells effective for quick kills. Speaking of defeating it quickly, ensure to kill a Writhan fast when its health reaches a critical level. Otherwise, it’ll explode, dropping nothing. Note that the Writhan will still blow up if its health depletes, but you should be able to get loot from the kill. Additionally, getting hit by the explosion can deplete a huge chunk of an unprepared player’s health.

Writhan Loot & Drops

Generally, the Writhan in Valheim drops two items upon death: Writhan Roots and the Writhan Trophy. Prioritize Writhan Roots, as they unlock recipes for the Birds’ Nest, Lox Fur Hood, and Shield of Roots. The Trophy is mainly a simple decoration for your base. Similar to the Beehive, the Birds’ Nest is a structure that produces 1x Feather every 20 in-game minutes. Note that it produces the resource only during the day and has a maximum capacity of 4 pieces before it stops. Use 2x Writhan Roots, 5x Thistle, and 3x Acorns at the Workbench to craft one 1x Birds’ Nest. As for the Lox Fur Hood, it’s the headpiece to the Lox Fur armor set. Craft it at the Workbench using 2x Writhan Roots, 4x Bone Fragments, and 4x Lox Pelt. At Quality 1, this helmet has 16 base defense points but no special effects. Nonetheless, it’s part of an armor set that’s a tier above the Wolf and Fenris armor set. Finally, the Shield of Roots can be a prized piece of equipment for certain adventurers. Aside from reducing attack stamina usage by 10%, it’s also the only shield in Valheim that doesn’t bring forth a movement speed penalty. To craft it, use 10x Finewood and 1x Writhan Roots at the Workbench.