From Humble Longhouse to Mighty Stronghold: A Comprehensive Guide to Settlement Prosperity in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
Welcome, Jarl! As you lead your Viking clan from the harsh shores of Norway to the promising lands of England, your Settlement in Ravensthorpe becomes the very heart of your saga. It’s more than just a collection of buildings; it's your legacy, your sanctuary, and the primary source of your strength. Seeing it flourish, bustling with activity and adorned with grand structures, is one of the most rewarding experiences in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. But the path from a fledgling camp to a prosperous Viking settlement is paved with strategic decisions, relentless exploration, and a fair share of raids.
If you're wondering how to efficiently boost settlement prosperity and unlock all the vital settlement upgrades and benefits, you've landed at the right longhouse. This guide is designed to walk you through every method, from the fundamental to the advanced, ensuring your Ravensthorpe becomes the envy of all England.
The Twin Pillars of Prosperity: Raw Materials and Supplies
Before you can even think about constructing the Seer's Hut or the Barracks, you need to understand the two core resources for building: Raw Materials and Supplies.
- Supplies: These are the common, wooden crates and barrels you'll find scattered throughout the world. They are essential for the initial construction of almost every building. The best way to gather supplies for building upgrades is to simply explore the world. Loot every small chest, break every crate you see in abandoned camps, and raid every small encampment. England is littered with them. While you can get some from completing quests, exploration and looting are the most reliable methods early on.
- Raw Materials: These are the large, ornate chests often found in heavily fortified military locations, monasteries, and large enemy compounds. They are the lifeblood of major settlement expansion. There is only one truly effective way to acquire them: Raiding for Raw Materials.
Let's talk about raiding, the quintessential Viking activity and your primary engine for growth.
The Art of the Raid: Your Primary Engine for Growth
To initiate a raid, simply sail your longship to any location marked with two red axes on the map and blow your horn. Your loyal crew will storm the shores, and the chaos begins. The primary objective in these raids is to locate and open the large Raw Materials chests.
Effective raiding strategies for settlement growth involve a mix of brute force and smart planning:
- Upgrade Your Longship: A stronger longship allows you to take more damage during river raids and reach deeper into enemy territory. Don't neglect it.
- Recruit a Powerful Crew: Visit the Barracks in your settlement to recruit Jomsvikings created by other players. A higher-level crew will fight more effectively, making raids smoother.
- Target Monasteries: Monasteries are often the most lucrative targets, typically containing at least one Raw Materials chest and a wealth of standard supplies and wealth.
- Systematic Looting: Don't just charge in. Clear the perimeter, then have your crew create a distraction by engaging the main force while you slip in to open the chest. Or, lead the charge yourself – the choice is yours!
Remember, raiding is not just about the main chest. You'll also amass a huge amount of silver, gear, and the all-important Supplies, making it the most comprehensive activity for boosting settlement prosperity.
Building a Legacy: Strategic Construction and Upgrades
Once you have the resources, the next step is spending them wisely. The construction of new buildings is what directly increases your Settlement Prosperity Level, which you can track in the menu. Each new building or upgrade adds a chunk to this progress bar.
Here’s a strategic look at what to build and when, focusing on essential settlement buildings for progression:
- The Blacksmith & Stable (Early Game): Your very first priorities. Upgrading the Blacksmith allows you to enhance and upgrade your gear, directly increasing your combat effectiveness for tougher raids. The Stable allows you to improve your horse, making exploration and getting to raid locations faster.
- The Barracks (Early-Mid Game): This allows you to recruit your Jomsviking crew and, later, embark on the fantastic River Raids game mode. River Raids are a repeatable source of foreign supplies and unique gear, providing an endgame stream of resources for your settlement.
- The Hidden One's Bureau (Mid Game): This building unlocks a new storyline and provides access to contracts that offer valuable rewards. It's a key part of the narrative and a good source of ongoing income and experience.
- The Seer's Hut (Mid Game): This unlocks the "A Fated Encounter" quest, allowing you to travel to the mythical realm of Asgard. Beyond the incredible story content, these quests yield significant experience and skill points.
- The Cartographer (Mid-Late Game): A fantastic quality-of-life building. The Cartographer sells maps that reveal the locations of all the wealth, mysteries, and artifacts in a given region. If you're focused on 100% completion, this building is a must-have.
- The Museum & Fishing Hut (Optional but Rewarding): While not essential for raw power, the Museum (unlocked by finding Roman artifacts) and the Fishing Hut add depth to the world and offer unique rewards and quests, contributing to the overall vibrancy and prosperity of your settlement.
Beyond Buildings: The Unsung Heroes of Prosperity
While raiding and building are the main events, don't overlook these crucial supporting activities that significantly contribute to your settlement wealth accumulation:
- Complete Alliance Map Arcs: The main story quests tied to each region on your alliance map almost always conclude with a reward of Raw Materials and Supplies. Progressing the story is intrinsically linked to growing your settlement.
- Engage in World Events and Mysteries: These short, often humorous side stories don't always give building resources directly, but they reward you with Silver and Experience. Silver is vital for purchasing rare materials from merchants that you need for gear upgrades.
- Hunt for Gear and Abilities: A stronger Eivor is a more efficient raider. Use your Raven, Synin, to scout and locate wealth icons on your map. These often contain powerful gear, abilities, and books of knowledge that make acquiring Raw Materials much easier.
- Trade with Merchants: As your settlement grows, the goods available from your local merchant will improve. You can often trade your silver for leather, iron ore, and titanium, which are crucial for personal power and indirectly support your raiding capabilities.
Advanced Prosperity: The River Raids and Mastery Challenges
Once your settlement reaches a high level, two endgame activities become vital for continued growth and maximizing your rewards:
- The River Raids Mode: Unlocked via the Barracks, these are harder, repeatable raids on unique maps. They are the best way to farm foreign supplies needed to upgrade your Jomsviking crew and acquire unique weapons and cosmetics. A well-upgraded crew makes standard raids trivial, creating a positive feedback loop for resource gathering.
- Mastery Challenges: While not directly tied to resources, these challenges test your skills and offer tokens that can be exchanged for powerful runes and gear. A more powerful Eivor, in turn, makes every resource-gathering activity in the game more efficient.
A Final Word from the Jarl
Building a prosperous Viking settlement in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is a marathon, not a sprint. It’s a deeply integrated gameplay loop where raiding fuels building, which in turn unlocks new stories and makes you stronger for more raiding. The key is balance. Don't burn out on just raiding; mix in story missions, exploration, and side activities. The resources will come.
By focusing on strategic raiding, prioritizing the right buildings, and engaging with all the content England has to offer, you will see your humble Settlement of Ravensthorpe transform into a powerful, thriving stronghold—a true home worthy of your clan and a testament to your journey as a legendary Jarl. Now, ready your longship and sound the horn! Glory and prosperity await. Skål
