Iron Sword

Iron sword is a one-handed sword in Valheim and the next step up from the Bronze Sword. It deals slash damage and is a straightforward melee weapon for players moving into the Iron Age. Like other swords, it has a three-hit primary attack combo, with the third hit dealing double damage, and a slower secondary thrust that deals triple damage. The sword also benefits from stealth attacks, which deal 3x damage.

The weapon is crafted at a Forge, and the recipe is unlocked once all required materials are in the inventory. Crafting requires Wood, Iron, and Leather Scraps, along with a Forge of level 2 or higher. Upgrading the weapon increases both its durability and slash damage. At quality 1 through 4, its durability rises from 200 to 350, while its slash damage increases from 55 to 73.

Its upgrade costs are:

• Quality 1: 2 Wood, 20 Iron, 3 Leather scraps
• Quality 2: 1 Wood, 10 Iron, 2 Leather scraps
• Quality 3: 2 Wood, 20 Iron, 4 Leather scraps
• Quality 4: 3 Wood, 30 Iron, 6 Leather scraps

At maximum quality, the sword reaches 73 slash damage, 35 block power, and 350 durability. It weighs 0.8 and reduces movement speed by 5%. Its parry bonus is 2x, with a defensive value ranging from 21 to 31.5 and a parry force of 42 to 63, making it a solid one-handed weapon for both offense and defense.

In combat, the primary combo is quick enough to be practical in close-range fights, and the final hit’s doubled damage makes it best used when you can safely commit to the full sequence. The secondary attack is much slower but hits significantly harder, making it useful for punishing staggered or vulnerable enemies. Because the sword has a strong parry profile for its class, it can also serve as a reliable shielded melee option when paired with proper timing.