Characters & Roles

Characters & Roles Guide for Assassin's Creed Valhalla

This guide covers every major character, role, and playable unit in Assassin's Creed Valhalla. While Eivor is the sole playable protagonist, the game offers deep customization through three distinct skill trees (Raven, Wolf, Bear) that define your playstyle. Supporting characters and Jomsvikings round out the experience.

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Main Character: Eivor Varinsdottir / Varinsson

Background: Eivor is a fierce Viking raider from Norway, driven by a quest for glory and vengeance after a childhood tragedy. Players can choose between male (Eivor Varinsson) or female (Eivor Varinsdottir) versions at the start, with the option to let the Animus decide. The canonical lore favors the female version, but both are fully voiced and supported.

Strengths:

• Extremely versatile: can excel in stealth, ranged, or melee combat depending on skill allocation.


• Dual-wield any weapon combination, allowing for creative builds.


• Access to the Hidden Blade for guaranteed assassinations after upgrading.


• Strong base stats (health, stamina) that grow with power level.


Weaknesses:

• Jack-of-all-trades early on; specialization requires deliberate skill point placement.


• Limited stamina in early game; spam attacks leads to exhaustion.


• Assassinations fail against higher-level enemies until Hidden Blade upgrades are applied.


Playstyle:
Eivor’s playstyle is entirely defined by the three skill trees. You can invest points freely, but most players specialize in one or two trees. The game encourages mixing for synergy.

Unlock Conditions:
Eivor is unlocked immediately upon starting a new game. No progress is needed.

Recommended Equipment & Builds:

Build 1: Raven Assassin (Stealth-focused)

• Skill Tree: Invest heavily in Raven (stealth, assassination, critical strikes).


• Weapons: Varin’s Axe (starting) or Yngling Seax (dagger) for fast, silent kills. Upgrade Hidden Blade to max.


• Armor: The Hidden Ones set (bonus to assassination damage and stealth). Acquired via the Hidden Ones Bureau quests.


• Abilities: Chain Assassination, Advanced Assassination, Raven’s Distraction.


• Runes: Focus on assassination damage, stealth movement speed, and crit chance.


• Strengths: Can eliminate entire camps without detection.


• Weaknesses: Struggles in open combat against multiple strong foes.


Build 2: Wolf Hunter (Ranged/Utility)

• Skill Tree: Wolf tree (bow damage, time-slowing, predator abilities).


• Weapons: Hunter Bow (preferably the Petra’s Arc legendary) for precision shots; light shield for defense.


• Armor: The Huntsman set (bonus to headshot damage and bow speed).


• Abilities: Focus of the Nornir, Sharp Shot, Blinding Smoke.


• Runes: Bow damage, headshot multiplier, fire or poison effects.


• Strengths: Deadly at range; can thin enemies before engaging.


• Weaknesses: Weak in close quarters; slow bow draw time can be punished.


Build 3: Bear Juggernaut (Melee/Brute)

• Skill Tree: Bear tree (melee damage, armor, health, heavy attacks).


• Weapons: Dual Dane Axes (e.g., Sepulcher Axe + Mjölnir) for massive stagger and area damage.


• Armor: The Brigandine set (bonus to armor and melee resistance) or Thegn’s set (bonus to heavy attacks).


• Abilities: Dive of the Valkyries, Rush & Bash, Harpoon Impalement.


• Runes: Melee damage, armor, health regeneration.


• Strengths: Can absorb damage and deal heavy blows; excellent for raids.


• Weaknesses: Slow movement; struggles against agile enemies and archers.

Team Synergy:
Eivor does not have a traditional party, but during story missions you ally with various NPCs who accompany you temporarily. Eivor’s build should complement the mission type. For stealth missions, use Raven; for large battles, use Bear; for hunting or skirmishes, use Wolf.

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Supporting Characters (Key NPCs)

While not playable, these characters provide essential story, quests, and upgrades.

Note: These characters do not have “strengths/weaknesses” as they are NPCs. Their importance lies in how they shape Eivor’s journey.

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Jomsvikings (Customizable Raiding Crew)

Description: Jomsvikings are AI-controlled Viking warriors that you can recruit, customize, and deploy during river raids and large-scale attacks. They are not directly playable but serve as your personal army.

Background: After building the Jomsviking Hall in Ravensthorpe, you can recruit crew members from other players’ creations online or create your own.

Strengths:

• Provide significant support in battles, drawing enemy aggro and dealing damage.


• Can be equipped with weapons and armor you choose, affecting their performance.


• Recruited Jomsvikings level up with you.


Weaknesses:

• AI can be unpredictable; they may ignore commands or get stuck.


• They are not essential for most solo content; mainly for river raids and optional assaults.


• Cannot be directly controlled.


Playstyle Integration:

• Use Jomsvikings to overwhelm fortified positions during river raids.


• Equip them with heavy weapons (e.g., Dane axes) for maximum damage.


• For stealth-focused players, Jomsvikings are a liability; better to leave them behind.


Unlock Condition:

• Build the Jomsviking Hall (requires 400 Supplies and 300 Raw Materials) in Ravensthorpe.


• Then interact with the dock to recruit or manage your crew.


Recommended Equipment for Crew:

• Weapons: Spears or Great Swords (good range and damage).


• Armor: Heavy armor (Brigandine or Thegn) to increase survivability.


• Runes: Add health or armor runes to keep them alive longer.


Team Synergy:

• Best used with a Bear or Wolf build that can draw attention while they flank.


• Avoid using them if you plan to stealth; they will break cover.


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Skill Trees as Roles



Assassin’s Creed Valhalla does not have fixed classes. Instead, the three skill trees act as roles that define your specialization.

#### Raven Tree (Stealth & Assassination)

• Focus: Silent movement, assassination damage, critical opportunities, and utility tools.


• Key Skills: Chain Assassination (kill two enemies in quick succession), Advanced Assassination (QTE to kill higher-level enemies), and Stealth Recon (reveal enemy patrols).


• Best For: Players who prefer infiltrating forts, eliminating targets quietly, and avoiding direct combat.


#### Wolf Tree (Ranged & Utility)

• Focus: Bow accuracy, time-slowing, predator abilities, and crafting bonuses.


• Key Skills: Focus of the Nornir (slow time when aiming), Brush with Death (slow time on dodge), and Predator Sense (highlight enemies through walls).


• Best For: Players who enjoy sniping, scouting, and controlling the battlefield from a distance.


#### Bear Tree (Melee & Brute)

• Focus: Weapon damage, armor, health, stagger, and heavy attacks.


• Key Skills: War Cry (increase damage for self and allies), Charge (break shields), and Tireless (reduce stamina costs).


• Best For: Players who charge into combat head-on, dual-wield heavy weapons, and want to tank damage.

Build Flexibility: You can reset skill points at any time for a small cost (500 silver at the skill reset vendor in Ravensthorpe). This allows you to adapt to different challenges or try new playstyles without starting a new game.

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Playable Units: Final Verdict

Only Eivor is directly playable. However, the depth of customization through skill trees, weapon combinations, and gear sets effectively creates multiple “character builds” that feel like different roles. Supporting characters and Jomsvikings enhance the experience but are not player-controlled. Master all three trees to become the ultimate Viking raider.