GamesSurvivalValheimValheim’s massive new Ashlands update gives the survival RPG its “most challenging biome yet” plus raid-like sieges and new endgame weaponsWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
GamesSurvivalValheimValheim’s massive new Ashlands update gives the survival RPG its “most challenging biome yet” plus raid-like sieges and new endgame weaponsWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Coffee Stain Studios)

Valheim’s"most challenging biome yet" is now available for public testing.
TheValheim Ashlands updatelooks like something straight out of Mordor. Fiery landscapes and suffocating smoke billow all around you, making the entire atmosphere look incredibly daunting and threatening. That’s setting the stage for a tough biome pretty perfectly. Check it out below.
A highlight is the brand-new enemies themselves. There are weird walking skeleton monsters strutting around, which look set to pummel us into the ground, as well as bat-like creatures that look like they’ve just come straight out of hell. Honestly, the entire Ashlands map wouldn’t look out of place inDiablo 4.
These enemies even have a new name: the Charred. They’ve holed up in huge fortresses, which introduce raid-like battles to Valheim in the form of Sieges. You need to group up with others and use new gear like catapults and battering rams to breach the fortresses and take out the Charred lying in wait within.
Here’s howtwo Valheim players spent 1,000 hours building their own RPG inside the survival game.
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1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1
Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
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Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
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1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
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2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
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3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
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4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4
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5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
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1
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2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
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3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
3
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4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
4
Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”
5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”
5
Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”