How to Start River Raids in Assassin‘s Creed Valhalla

ByJames Dorn Last Update on

As a veteran gamer specializing in open world action RPGs like Assassin‘s Creed Valhalla, one question I see often from new players looking to explore end-game content is "how do I unlock and start river raids?"

So let‘s dive into everything you need to know to start reaping those sweet late-game rewards!

Prerequisites to Access River Raids

Before river raids become available, you need to reach a certain point of progression in Valhalla:

  • Power Level 130+ – Grind those abilities and gear until you hit this threshold to qualify for river raids
  • Game Version 1.1.2+ – Make sure to install the latest game patches via internet connection to activate this game mode
  • Complete "A River to Raid" Quest – This key many-part questline eventually unlocks the river raid map and introductory mechanics

Walkthrough: The "A River To Raid" Questline

Without spoiling too much, here‘s what you can expect as you progress through this prerequisite river raid quest:

  • Raid an abbey for resources to build a Jomsviking hall…
  • Construct the hall to house and manage your raiding crews…
  • Join your first scripted river raid to learn the basics…
  • Return victorious to unlock custom river raids!

Expect this whole arc to take around 1-3 hours. Stick with it to unlock glorious late-game looting!

How to Select and Launch River Raids

Once you‘ve completed the quest above, here‘s how to choose and depart on river raids from your settlement:

  1. Interact with Vagn at the River Raid dock to bring up the raid map:

    Vagn‘s dock location highlighted

  2. Choose any unlocked river region to sail down on your longship:
    3. River NameRecommended ForKey Rewards
    River SevernBeginnersNickel Ingots
    River DeeIntermediateTungsten Ingots
    River ThamesExpertsTitanium Ingots
  3. Pay 50 silver to select a raiding crew from available Jomsvikings
  4. Depart on river raid to pillage camps, monasteries, and tombs!

Now the raiding fun begins!

River Raiding Gameplay, Mechanics Tips

Once your longship hits the rivers, here crucial elements to know:

  • Manage crew rations carefully – they heal wounds and revive fallen raiders
  • Prisoners give large rations rewards upon freeing them!
  • Don‘t let Jomsvikings die! Rescue them from bleed-out when possible
  • Fallen raiders are unavailable for future raids unless rescued
  • Destroying all monasteries raises raid mastery for better rewards

Pro Tip: Upgrade Jomsviking gear before raids to improve damage and ration carrying capacity

Unlocking New Raids, Champions, and Regions

As you gain more River Raid Mastery from successful runs, you make progress towards two key goals:

  1. Unlocking more challenging Champions to defend certain rivers
  2. Accessing completely new river Regions with greater rewards

For example, at 20 mastery you may face the devious Champion Sister Bluebeard guarding enhanced loot drops!

Maximizing Raid Runs for Materials and Loot

As a high level player, you unlock river raids to collect rare materials for gear upgrades and special loot like ability buffs. Here are my top 5 tips for flawless runs:

River raid gear lets you terrorize regions in style!

  1. Bring a small, elite crew of well-outfitted Jomsvikings
  2. Equip crew with ration capacity upgrades to heal more
  3. Chain together monasteries quickly to maximize mastery gain
  4. Free region-specific hostages for big morale boosts
  5. Target weapons and armor first in raid locations

Follow those tips and you‘ll have rare nickel, tungsten, and titanium ingots overflowing in no time!

Show Off Your Conquering Style

Finally, don‘t forget to customise your River Raid Longship and raiding crew armor to show off your own personal flair. Intimidate those rivers in style!

My crew rocks the Bone-Biter set fit for Odin himself!

So ready your blades and sails for glorious battle! Now that you know how to unlock and start your own journey into river raiding, let the plunder commence!

Have more questions? Let me know in the comments below and I‘ll provide additional tips from hundreds of hours raiding. Glory awaits, raiders!

James K. Dorn, a passionate gamer deeply immersed in the world of video gaming. My journey in gaming is not just about playing; it's about exploring every facet of the games I love. I am particularly fascinated by the intricate worlds of role-playing games like "The Witcher" series and "Elder Scrolls: Skyrim," where every decision shapes the story.

As a strategy game enthusiast, I spend hours devising tactics in games like "Civilization VI" and "StarCraft II," always eager to share my strategies with fellow gamers. I'm also an ardent follower of the ever-evolving landscape of indie games, finding gems like "Hollow Knight" and "Celeste" that offer unique, compelling experiences.

My content isn't just reviews; it's about deep dives into game mechanics, storytelling, and the art of game design. I love dissecting the narratives of games like "The Last of Us" and discussing the innovative gameplay of titles like "Death Stranding."

Being at the forefront of gaming news, I eagerly anticipate and share insights on upcoming releases like the next big open-world adventure or the latest in the "Final Fantasy" series. My goal is to build a community where we not only play games but also appreciate the artistry and effort behind them. Join me in this gaming journey, where every session is an adventure, and every game is a story waiting to be told.

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