One of the best features of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is the ability to customize weapons, armor, and perks based on your fighting style. Maybe you like to dance around your enemies with a flurry of double axes or prefer to just charge them with a giant broadsword. Either way is an option.
However, there are benefits and drawbacks to choosing a lighter build. You’ll be less protected from damage, but you’ll be quick, versatile, and dangerous. There are also some unique abilities on the perk tree if you follow the Way of the Wolf or the Way of the Raven, as these two branches are the best suited for an agile fighting style.
10 Best: High Mobility
Obviously, with a light build, you’ll move a lot faster. This can be especially useful when fighting one of those lumbering Goliaths as they try to belly-slam you. Or if a training dummy comes alive. No matter the situation, if you’re using equipment that has a low Weight rating, it’ll be much easier to dodge or parry incoming attacks.
If outnumbered, a lighter build also gives you more flexibility to escape combat and regenerate health. None of your fellow Viking raiders will judge you if you need to flee. Probably.
9 Worst: Short Range
Though an agile weapon and armor build can be helpful against slower enemies, such as Goliaths, you may have trouble fighting Elites with long-range weapons. This is especially true for Spearmen, Archers, or Bannerets. A one-handed axe or hammer won’t reach the target before they attack with a spear or a crossbow bolt.
To get around this disadvantage, you’ll have to use up some extra stamina and dodge around their weapon’s attack range. You can jump behind an enemy and hit them in the back. There’s even an armor runestone that gives bonus damage for attacking from behind. Obviously, the creators of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla wanted to give players a better chance of defeating tricky enemies.
8 Best: Early Armor Perks
The first armor set received in the game is Raven Clan armor. Luckily, the Raven and Wolf Clan armors are the best options for a lighter build. They don’t weigh much, offer enough protection to survive in most fights, and this armor’s specific perks can be used to maximize the benefits.
On the three-pronged skill tree, it is best to focus on unlocking perks on the bottom left side. This is the Raven specialization. Select “The Way of the Raven” perk to gain permanent stat bonuses for each piece of Raven Clan armor that you are wearing. Since this is the first armor set in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, you’ll enjoy these early benefits.
7 Worst: Less Protection
One of the most annoying (and obvious) drawbacks of choosing a light build is that it offers less protection. Basically, when you get hit by an attack, it’ll cause a lot more damage. This is the price of using armor that has a lower weight.
However, having a lower Armor rating is nothing to be ashamed of. A lot of experienced players even prefer it that way. Really, it’s about how you account for the advantages and disadvantages of a light equipment set. So dodge, duck, dip, dive, and dodge to your heart’s content. Just try not to get hit too much.
6 Best: Adrenaline Generation
As many of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla players have noticed, Adrenaline abilities are seriously fun to use and extremely powerful. By finding Books of Knowledge scattered throughout the game’s map, special abilities can be unlocked that are useful both in and out of combat. You’ll be able to leap into the air and come crashing down on your enemies, fire powered arrow shots through walls, summon a wolf to attack your target, and so much more.
But there’s always a cost: Adrenaline. Adrenaline is primarily generated by successfully striking light attacks on enemies. With a light build, you’ll rely on light attacks more than heavy attacks, and this can help you gain Adrenaline points very quickly.
5 Worst: Long Elite Fights
As a light-equipped character’s individual attacks won’t be as powerful, they will need to hit their target more often with a light weapon than if they were using a heavy one. Elite enemies have extra health and, therefore, will take significantly longer to bring down.
Bosses are the worst because of their excessive health and their own special Adrenaline abilities. You’ll want to use a lot of your own Adrenaline attacks, but even with these overpowered moves, it will take a while.
4 Best: Strong Stamina Efficiency
Yes, light attacks do less damage, but they also cost less stamina. You’ll be able to land more successful hits if you have an agile build. Because light attack hits are one of the best ways to regenerate lost stamina, you shouldn’t experience a depleted stamina bar during a fight if you’re careful.
There is also the option to run away from the conflict and take a quick breather. This efficient stamina production, plus frequent use of Adrenaline abilities, will allow you to easily overcome a group of enemies or even a couple of elites.
3 Worst: Fast Stamina Drain
Though a light attack or two do not cost a lot of stamina, a long chain of dodges and unsuccessful hits will quickly deplete the stamina bar. This can put you in a tough position. Once you completely run out of stamina, it takes a moment to start regenerating, and you’ll be unable to dodge any incoming heavy or special attacks.
Axes can’t parry every attack, as Ubisoft had to add at least a couple of realistic limitations. Just be careful and don’t waste stamina on any unnecessary dodges or rolls. If you stay conservative with your stamina, you’ll be able to survive almost any combat situation.
2 Best: Armor Cosmetics
It’s time to state the obvious: the light armor sets of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla look seriously cool. One of the more popular sets, the Raven Clan armor, perfectly embodies Eivor’s combination of both Assassin and Viking. It is sleek without looking wimpy, and strong without feeling bulky. And the Epic version of this armor set comes with a raven-black cloak.
The other lightweight armor options also have an incredible cosmetic scheme, especially because they are an obvious tribute to the franchise’s previous games. Be sure to try out the Hidden Ones’, Mentor’s, and Huntsman’s armor sets. Plus their perks will allow you to fight like a warrior and look good while doing it.
1 Worst: Weapon Variety
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla offers many epic weapons to choose from: battle axes, spears, broadswords, warhammers, and even flails. Unfortunately, most of the game’s coolest weapons are better suited for a heavy build, even if a light build takes advantage of dual-wielding.
A light and quick attacker is pretty much limited to an axe, a small hammer, or a long dagger. These weapons have a low weight which makes them ideal for rapid attacking, but the variety just isn’t there. Even if you prefer to wear light armor and fight quickly, you should at least try some of the heavy weapons. It’s seriously fun to charge a group of soldiers with a giant flail.
NEXT: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: 5 Best Storylines (& The 5 Worst)
