Porcupine

Porcupine is a one-handed blunt-and-pierce weapon in Valheim’s black metal tier. It is the fifth one-handed club-type weapon, coming after Frostner, and it deals a mix of blunt and pierce damage, making it broadly effective against many enemies. It also has an alternate attack that trades speed for heavy impact and stun.

Its standard attack is a three-hit combo. The third strike deals double damage, so landing the full chain is important for maximizing output. The alternate attack is a slower overhead/backhand-style strike that deals 2.5 times the normal damage and inflicts strong stun, making it useful for opening enemies up or finishing staggered targets. Both attacks have solid stagger potential, and the weapon is especially notable for combining blunt and pierce damage in a single slot.

Porcupine is also unusual among black metal tier weapons because it does not require any black metal to craft. That means it can be made without having to transport or process black metal scrap. To unlock its recipe, every crafting material must have been in your inventory at least once, and it requires a level 4 forge.

• Crafting: 5 Finewood, 20 Iron, 5 Needle, 10 Linen Thread
• Upgrades:
  • Quality 2: 2 Iron, 2 Needle
  • Quality 3: 4 Iron, 4 Needle
  • Quality 4: 6 Iron, 6 Needle
• Forge level required to craft: 4
• Repair level: 4

Its base damage profile is 50 blunt and 45 pierce, with upgrades increasing the pierce portion while blunt damage stays the same. At maximum quality, it reaches 50 blunt and 63 pierce. Durability rises from 150 at quality 1 to 300 at quality 4.

Porcupine is relatively light and has useful defensive stats for a melee weapon. It weighs 2.0, has a block value of 39–58.5, a block force of 78–117, a 2x parry bonus, and a -5% movement speed penalty. Its glow is subtle, but it emits a small amount of light even when equipped.

In practice, Porcupine works well as a general-purpose melee weapon, especially against enemies that are vulnerable to either blunt or pierce damage. Its standard combo is efficient for sustained fights, while the alternate attack gives it a strong stun option. The weapon is less durable than some other maces, so upgrading it is worthwhile if you plan to use it heavily.