the description on the stat for each weapon simply reads "damage done with X". is the stamina use made better as well? I've been playing for a long time and never been clear on that.

Originally posted by UncleAcidic:

the description on the stat for each weapon simply reads "damage done with X". is the stamina use made better as well? I've been playing for a long time and never been clear on that.

try the wiki:
Polearms +131% damage and knockback, -33% stamina usage
for example
https://valheim.fandom.com/wiki/Skills

For weapons, the damage and knockback are increased by 131% at a skill level of 75, and there is no improvement after that, which means you do double damage at a skill level of around 57, which is significant.

Stamina usage is reduced by 1/3 at a skill level of 100, so only 1/6 at a skill level of 50. I, personally, don't consider that very significant.

I just noticed the "and knockback" part. In most cases I find knockback a disadvantage, but that's a personal preference.

I notice a pretty drastic difference in run and jump between my main, which usually is pretty close to max run, and a pretty high jump, and a new character. It almost seems unfair (and likely is) starting my main on a new world

Originally posted by jonnin:

weapon skills over 50 really neutralizes the so-called 'stamina problem' where people run out in fights due to low skill and heavy draining weaponry. 75 is even better, but now you are talking a lot of time fighting.

The thing is, when you reach level 50 with a weapon, you should be able to manage your stamina in the game. If not, your clearly doing something wrong.

edit: typo

Originally posted by Nogen:

Originally posted by jonnin:

weapon skills over 50 really neutralizes the so-called 'stamina problem' where people run out in fights due to low skill and heavy draining weaponry. 75 is even better, but now you are talking a lot of time fighting.

The thing is, when you reach level 50 with a weapon, you should be able to manage your stamina in the game. If not, your clearly doping something wrong.

I agree: you should know how to manage it by the end of the forest, if this is what you are trying to say.

That does not change the effect of skill, though. For most weapons, 50 is a good place at current end game (mistlands). Below that by too much and you do less damage per hit while using more stamina per swing, at an alarming rate below 30! Above 50, you do even better to the point of trivial fights. At 75+ you can get away with lower tier or easy to make (eg grilled lox meat type stuff) foods even in a mine.

High enough is whatever you think you need.

Skills just make the game easier. Some might also say more fun, at least when it comes to stamina drain, and that is at least somewhat valid for skills like running and jumping, but the primary effect is that it lowers your stats in several ways, which means you have to hit more, track stamina more closely, run slower, etc.

I worked my way to mistlands the first time swinging a sword, and then switched to frostner, and added an atgier soon after, both with 0 skill to start, and did okay. I'm sure it would have been easier with higher skill, but is easy the primary goal in this game?

I died lost 5 points here, 4 over there , 2 on some and and 1 one some, you know what I did? got my stuff back and kept playing and didn't cry once about losing skills

Skill drain on death is as stupid as food that is only 100% effective for 2/3 of its total duration.

Honestly skill drain is garbage and needs an option to disable without mods. Skills take long enough to level up and one glitch death can make you lose upto 5 skill levels (at skill 100) which is just awful.

For bow 85 is the level to aim for. It has insane scaling, low level bow is worst weapon in the game, high level bow is best weapon in the game.

For other stuff i'd say grow organically, the bonuses are nice but not as impactful as other decisions like picking the right tool for the job, proper food etc.

Personally i completely dropped bows because of the skill scaling, for the small amount of time they are actually needed/good for i cant level them up enough to feel any good (even when doing hardcore playthough). And if im gonna struggle shooting bow, i might as well struggle throwing a spear at a drake... similar amount of pain for 2-3 less inventory slots taken.

Originally posted by Sarcasteik:

Skill drain on death is as stupid as food that is only 100% effective for 2/3 of its total duration.

Honestly skill drain is garbage and needs an option to disable without mods. Skills take long enough to level up and one glitch death can make you lose upto 5 skill levels (at skill 100) which is just awful.

I always hated that sense of loss in progress, like what is even the point if you lose 5 skills points in your best skill at death? Plus some deaths are just bs like the you are hunted event with wolves spawning on you.

Originally posted by OctoberSky:

The question is how high is enough?

The answer is: Doesn't matter so long as you're aware of the situation.

Originally posted by Dracoco OwO:

I always hated that sense of loss in progress, like what is even the point if you lose 5 skills points in your best skill at death?

It's either that or a chance at permanently losing your gear. Neither option is wrong, the only wrong would be having death go unpunished entirely.

Originally posted by Dracoco OwO:

Plus some deaths are just bs like the you are hunted event with wolves spawning on you.

Wolves can't climb, but vikings can jump, so there's nothing bs about that. It's actually less threatening of all events because it almost always occurs when you're not at your base where all your constructions and potential animal farms are found, but it's entirely fine to be of different opinion on that too.

Originally posted by ling.speed:

For bow 85 is the level to aim for. It has insane scaling, low level bow is worst weapon in the game, high level bow is best weapon in the game.

I have not made it to Ashlands yet, but going bow tf out of anything up to it, just give me arrows. It`s slow, painful, but it`s my favorite play with two vikings. One holds the shield, the other arrows from behind. Mango beater style: if in doubt, pull out the bow. I guess i like the arrow lobbing effect similar to palying war Thunder

Originally posted by Dracoco OwO:

Originally posted by Sarcasteik:

Skill drain on death is as stupid as food that is only 100% effective for 2/3 of its total duration.

Honestly skill drain is garbage and needs an option to disable without mods. Skills take long enough to level up and one glitch death can make you lose upto 5 skill levels (at skill 100) which is just awful.

I always hated that sense of loss in progress, like what is even the point if you lose 5 skills points in your best skill at death? Plus some deaths are just bs like the you are hunted event with wolves spawning on you.

The point is obvious.

It's to use your loss aversion to induce a sense of danger in the game. Otherwise, you would run recklessly. The would have a total other feeling is this penalty wasn't there.

I think the skill drain is a decent punishment for death, and if it bothers you so much you should try and get good enough at the game to not die.

weapon skills over 50 really neutralizes the so-called 'stamina problem' where people run out in fights due to low skill and heavy draining weaponry. 75 is even better, but now you are talking a lot of time fighting.
after mistlands, if your jump and run are not in top shape, they should have been just from playing. That leaves swimming, which seems to be a bit more useful in the island-like blobs of ashland and far north (??). But you don't have to, there are large areas without that as well.
if you got weapons and physical movement skills, maybe its time to move off to magic and beef up your shield staff and maybe the elemental ones as well. You may also pick up a second weapon type, since there is no assurance we will get a new sword or mace or anything else, it can't hurt to have > 30 in a variety in case like mistlands there are one or two weapons that outshine the rest.

Note that staves and crossbows don't use stamina, so having a solid 50+ in those would also do you well to conserve stamina esp if you struggle with it.