controls

Valheim’s controls cover movement, combat, building, and a set of console commands for debugging and server administration. Most actions are keyboard-driven on PC, with full gamepad support as well.

Basic gameplay controls

Movement and interaction

WASD moves the character.
Mouse movement controls the camera and aiming direction.
Space performs a jump.
Shift is used for sprinting and also has special building uses.
E interacts with objects, stations, doors, and other usable world elements.

Dodging and posture

Dodge roll grants invulnerability for the duration of the roll and consumes stamina based on movement speed penalty.
Dodging is especially efficient against multiple enemies and against attacks that cannot be blocked.
X makes the character sit.

Combat controls

Attacks and blocking

Left click uses the primary attack for the equipped weapon.
Right click blocks with a shield or weapon that can block.
Middle click uses an alternate attack where available.
Some weapons have combo chains and different attack timings on primary and alternate inputs.

Battleaxe attacks

Left click performs a 3-hit combo:
- first hit: a wide sweep
- second hit: a quick reverse strike
- third hit: an overhead smash
Middle click performs a faster forward strike that uses less stamina than the left-click combo and is better against a single enemy.

Building controls

Building with the Hammer is done inside the range of a Workbench. When building, the following controls apply:

[1-8] select the Hammer in the hotbar
Right click opens the building menu
Q/E switch between building categories
Left click places the selected piece
Middle click picks up a placed piece
Mouse wheel rotates the piece
Hold Shift temporarily disables snapping
Hold Shift after middle click places the piece where you are looking

Construction pieces must often be placed near the proper station, depending on the material:

Workbench for most early and general building pieces
Smelter for many metal-related building pieces
Stonecutter for stone building pieces

The Workbench itself is used by standing close enough to it when it is covered and enclosed enough, then pressing E to open its crafting menu.

The build, destroy, and repair keys can be changed in the settings under controls.

Console and developer controls

Opening the console

Since version 0.148.6, the in-game console is disabled by default.

Add -console to the Steam launch options to enable it.
Press F5 to open or close the console.

Enabling developer commands

Enter devcommands to toggle developer/debug commands in single-player.
These commands do not work in multiplayer.

Developer commands

Common developer commands include:

beard [beard1 ... beard10 | none]: changes the beard style or removes it
debugmode: toggles debug mode
dpsdebug: toggles DPS display while in debug mode
env [environment]: changes the weather/environment
exploremap: reveals the entire map
event [event]: triggers the specified event
ffsmooth [0/1]: toggles smooth movement for free camera
fly: toggles flying mode
freefly: toggles free camera
ghost: toggles ghost mode, making creatures ignore you
god: toggles god mode, making the character invincible

Server commands

Server commands are entered in the console and are available to the host:

help: shows available server commands
kick [name/IP/userID]: removes a player from the server
ban [name/IP/userID]: permanently bans a player
unban [IP/userID]: removes a permanent ban
ping: shows server latency
lodbias [1-5]: sets the server map visibility distance
info: shows current system information
banned: lists banned players
save: saves the world immediately

Chat and emotes

Chat commands

After opening chat with Enter, special commands can be entered by starting with /.

/w: whisper
/s: send a server-wide message
/die: kill yourself
/resetspawn: reset the spawn point

Emotes

/blowkiss
/headbang
/bow
/kneel
/comehere
/laugh
/cower
/nonono
/challenge
/point
/cheer
/roar
/cry
/shrug
/dance
/sit
/despair
/thumbsup
/flex
/wave

Console and chat usability notes

The console is a separate in-game interface from normal chat.
Multiplayer server administration is restricted to the host.
Developer commands are intended for solo play.

Gamepad support

Valheim supports gamepads.

It is fully compatible with the Microsoft Xbox 360 controller.
It is also compatible with the Xbox One controller, though a small number of buttons may behave differently.