valheim hill
Image via Iron Gate/Coffee Stain

How to Level the Ground in Valheim – Guide

That hill could stand to be flatter.

I think one of the most annoying things about being a pioneer is finding a good place to set up a homestead. Nature, especially in the mountainous regions prevalent in Valheim, isn’t usually very accommodating of homes that require flat surfaces. Luckily, there is a way to give nature a gentle nudge in the right direction. Here’s how to level the ground in Valheim.

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How to Level the Ground in Valheim – Guide

In Valheim, in the event that your building spot of choice isn’t leveled out, you can use a couple of handy farming tools to subtlety adjust and shape the landscape to better accommodate it. These tools are easy to obtain, and in fact, doing so is an important part of early-game progress.

Related: Best Valheim World Seeds

The tools in question are the Stone Hoe and the Antler Pickaxe. While you’ll get access to stronger, more durable versions of these tools later on, they’ll work just fine when you’re starting out. Here are the materials you need to craft a Stone Hoe:

  • 5 Wood
  • 2 Stone

Meanwhile, here’s what you need for an Antler Pickaxe:

  • 10 Wood
  • 1 Hard Antler

Using Your Tools

valheim construct
Image via Iron Gate/Coffee Stain

Once you’ve obtained the materials you need and slapped them together at a crafting bench, you can start using the Stone Hoe and Antler Pickaxe to shape the land to your taste.

To begin with, equip the Stone Hoe, then face a patch of ground and left-click. The ground will automatically become level with the elevation of the spot you’re standing on, though if you want it to be at a different elevation, you can shift-click on a different patch of ground to set its elevation as your target level.

As you adjust the soil, you’ll eventually come upon hard patches of stone that the Hoe can’t touch. This is where the Antler Pickaxe comes in. Simply smack the stone patch with its primary melee attack, and eventually break up, allowing you to claim the stone and continue adjusting the soil beneath.

Keep in mind that both of these tools have limited durability, and will break after enough uses. If you’re planning on any large-scale landscaping projects, you’d do well to make a few Hoes and Pickaxes ahead of time and keep them in your inventory to use one after another. Rapid landscaping action!


For more useful items in Valheim, check out our guide on finding Soft Tissue and building your own Chicken Farm. Visit our Facebook page as well for more news and guides.

Author
Image of Daniel Trock
Daniel Trock
Since the first time he picked up a controller as a child, Daniel has been a dyed-in-the-wool gaming fanatic, with a Steam library numbering over 600 games. His favorite pastime, aside from playing games, is doing deep dives on game wikis to learn more about their lore and characters.