Stone Axe

The Stone axe is the first craftable axe in Valheim and one of the earliest tools a player can make. It is used for basic tree felling and works well on softer wood sources such as beech, fir, and pine, but it cannot cut down birch or oak. Like other early-game tools, it is crafted from the player’s build menu or at a Workbench.

Crafting a Stone axe requires 5 Wood and 4 Stone. At quality 1, it has 100 durability, 15 slash damage, and 20 chop damage against trees. It also provides a modest combat option early on, with a defense value of 10, a 2x parry bonus, 50 knockback, 3x backstab damage, and a -5% movement speed penalty.

The Stone axe can be upgraded to improve its durability and effectiveness:

• Quality 2: 130 durability, 20 slash damage, 23 chop damage, requires 2 Stone, and needs Workbench level 2
• Quality 3: 160 durability, 25 slash damage, 26 chop damage, requires 4 Stone, and needs Workbench level 3
• Quality 4: 190 durability, 30 slash damage, 29 chop damage, requires 6 Stone, and needs Workbench level 4

Because it is available very early, the Stone axe is a practical stopgap before stronger axes are unlocked. It is especially useful when starting a new world, since it lets the player gather basic wood quickly and begin base construction without needing advanced materials. Its limited tree range is the main restriction: if the goal is to clear birch or oak, a different tool is required.

In combat, the Stone axe is serviceable but not ideal. Its slash damage is low compared with dedicated weapons, so it is best treated as a utility tool that can defend the player in a pinch rather than as a primary weapon. Upgrading it increases both damage and durability, which makes it more comfortable to carry during the opening stages of survival.

Overall, the Stone axe is a foundational early-game tool that bridges the gap between hand gathering and more specialized equipment, giving the player a reliable way to harvest wood and survive the first days in the Meadows.