Part 3: The Swamp and Bonemass | Walkthrough and Progression Guide

This is part three of our Walkthrough and Progression Guide for Valheim. Read on to learn important tips and strategies to conquer the Swamp and its boss, Bonemass!

Preparing for the Swamp: List of Key Objectives

Step	Key Objectives
1	Build a Cauldron and Fermenter in your Base
2	Stock up on Poison Resistance Mead
3	Explore the Swamp Biome
4	Gather Scrap Iron and Withered Bones from Sunken Crypts
5	Craft Iron Tools, Weapons, and Armor

Build a Cauldron and Fermenter in your Base

Cauldron

Fermenter

The Cauldron and Fermenter are essential crafting stations at this point of the game. These are primarily used to craft various types of Mead that provide Healing, Stamina, and Damage Resistance.

Start off by building these two crafting stations in your base!

Stock up on Poison Resistance Mead

Craft the Mead Base in the Cauldron

Place the Mead Base in the Fermenter

NEVER venture into the swamp without Poison Resistance Mead! Swamp monsters such as Blobs and Leeches deal very high poison damage with all of their attacks — Getting ambushed by these monsters almost always results in death if you aren't prepared.

Luckily, the ingredients for Poison Resistance Mead can be easily obtained in the Black Forest and Meadows biomes. Take the time to gather a good stock of this Mead and bring at least three with you when exploring the swamp.

Explore the Swamp Biome

The next biome you are going to need to explore to progress is the Swamp Biome. Here you will find new dangers lurking around in the muddy waters. There are new enemies like the Draugr's but also new materials. If you wish to face the next boss you will need to explore this new biome plenty!

Swamp Biome Guide

Gather Scrap Iron and Withered Bones from Sunken Crypts

Defeating The Elder rewards you and your allies with Swamp Keys. These special keys are used to unlock Sunken Crypts within the Swamp biome.

Explore these crypts to collect Scrap Iron and Withered Bones from Muddy Scrap Piles and Chests inside. Always bring your Pickaxe with you because Muddy Scrap Piles can only be destroyed via Pickaxes!

Keep in mind that you need at least 10 Withered Bones to summon Bonemass at the end of this walkthrough.

Craft Iron Tools, Weapons, and Armor

After collecting a good amount of Scrap Iron, it's time to place them in the smelter to create Iron. Use your first batch of Iron to craft Iron Tools, Weapons, and Armor at the Forge.

Blunt weapons like the Iron Mace are excellent weapons to kill Blobs, Blob Elites, and even Bonemass itself!

Click the button below to see all of the craftable items from the Forge:
List of Forge Items

Preparing for the Swamp: List of Side Objectives

Priority	Side Objectives
★★★	Build a Karve or Longship (if you haven't already)
★★★	Stock up on Sausages
★★★	Build Beehives in your Base (if you haven't already)
★★★	Look out for one of Bonemass' Vegvisirs
★★★	Upgrade your Iron Armor & Weapons
★★★	Defend your Base against Raids
★★	Stock up on Minor or Medium Healing Mead
★★	Craft an Iron Sledge
★★	Build a Stonecutter in your Base
★	Craft Frost Arrows

Build a Karve or a Longship

Priority Level:	★★★

A Karve or a Longship is mandatory at this point of the game since your search for Sunken Crypts and Bonemass itself can take you across the seas!

Stock up on Sausages

Priority Level:	★★★

Sausages are one of the best food items in the game at this point. Hunt Draugrs and Draugr Elites within the swamp and collect their Entrails.

Build Beehives in your Base

Priority Level:	★★★

Beehives are an absolute necessity in your base at this stage of the game because they provide a steady supply of Honey for your Cauldron Recipes.

Look out for one of Bonemass' Vegvisirs

Priority Level:	★★★

Keep an eye out for one of Bonemass' Vegvisirs during your ventures into the Swamp and Sunken Crypts. These will mark one of Bonemass' summoning skulls in the world.

Upgrade your Iron Armor & Weapons

Priority Level:	★★★

Take the time to upgrade your Iron Gear! The Swamp is a perilous place that is filled with dangers at every corner.

Defend your Base against Raids

Priority Level:	★★★

The death of The Elder unlocks a number of possible raid parties against your base at any time.

Click the button below to know more about Raid Mechanics and a list of possible raids:
List of Raids: How do Raids Work?

Stock up on Minor or Medium Healing Mead

Priority Level:	★★

You can never be too careful inside the Swamp! We recommend stocking up on Minor or Medium Healing Mead and bring at least three with you at all times to prevent swift and untimely deaths.

Craft an Iron Sledge

Priority Level:	★★

The Iron Sledge is an amazing AoE melee weapon that is flat out superior to a maxed out Stagbreaker. The only drawback is its expensive crafting and upgrade costs. Only consider crafting this weapon after clearing your more important objectives first!

Build a Stonecutter in your Base

Priority Level:	★★

The Stonecutter is a crafting station that unlocks recipes for building options that use Stone! It also allows you to craft a Sharpening Stone, an item required to build the Grinding Wheel.

Craft Frost Arrows

Priority Level:	★

Frost Arrows are the only type of arrows that are effective against Bonemass and can significantly decrease the difficulty of its boss fight. Crafting them, however, is incredibly dangerous and time consuming at this stage of the game.

Frost Arrows require Freeze Glands and Obsidian, two materials only found in Mountain biomes. You're going to have to stock up on Frost Resistance Mead to safely venture up the Mountains.

Wolves, Stone Golems, and Fenrings are also present in the Mountains, making it even more dangerous to craft at this stage of the game.

Only do this if you feel like the reward outweighs the overall risk involved.

How to Summon and Defeat Bonemass

Once you have cleared all of the Key Objectives above and gathered at least ten Withered Bones, its time to face Valheim's third boss!

Click the button below to see our in-depth guide against Bonemass:
Bonemass Boss Guide

Valheim Related Guides

Complete Walkthrough and Progression Guide

Walkthrough & Progression Guides

Part 1: The Meadows	Part 2: The Black Forest
Part 3: The Swamp	Part 4: The Mountain
Part 5: The Plains