In a pack of Greydwarfs, the basic ones are noise. The Greydwarf Shaman is the fight. It heals its allies and throws magic at you, and a pack with a live Shaman is a pack you cannot put down. This guide is about ending that problem first.
Where the Shaman is
The Shaman appears in the Black Forest with other Greydwarfs, and it hangs toward the back of a group. It does not rush you, which is exactly why players ignore it and then wonder why the Brutes will not die.
What the data says
- Location — Black Forest.
- Weakness — Fire.
- Drops — Greydwarf eye, Greydwarf Shaman trophy, resin, wood, and bukeperries.
- Abilities — a magic attack, a melee attack, and a heal.
The heal is the ability that matters. It periodically restores the other Greydwarfs around it, so your damage is partly canceled as fast as you deal it.
Why it controls the fight
A Shaman turns a beatable group into a grind. Every time you drop a Brute to half health, the Shaman tops it back up. Meanwhile its magic attack chips you while you are busy. The longer the fight runs, the more Greydwarfs spawn into it. Killing the Shaman ends that loop.
How to kill it fast
- Spot it early. It stands back and glows when it heals. That glow is your target marker.
- Fire it down. It is weak to fire like the rest. A torch swing, fire arrows, or the stagbreaker all work; the stagbreaker is especially good because its AoE can hit the Shaman and the pack at once.
- Do not let it retreat. If you chase the Brutes, the Shaman keeps healing from safety. Lock it down first, then mop up.
- Block the magic. The Shaman’s magic is telegraphed. A raised shield negates most of it while you close in.
If you are overwhelmed
Fall back to a kill box: a gap in a wall with a campfire behind you. The fire damages everything that follows, the Shaman included, and the narrow entrance stops the pack from surrounding you. Kill the Shaman through the gap, then the rest.
Drops worth keeping
The Shaman trophy is a base trophy and a minor summon ingredient. The eyes and resin are the same useful materials as the basic Greydwarf. Bukeperries are a rare food reagent, so grab them when they drop.
Stats at a glance
| Location | Black Forest |
| Weakness | Fire |
| Drops | Greydwarf eye, Shaman trophy, resin, wood, bukeperries |
| Abilities | Magic attack, melee attack, heal |
Common mistakes
- Chasing the Brutes. The Shaman heals from the back while you pursue the front. Lock it down first.
- Letting the fight run long. More Greydwarfs spawn into a live Shaman’s group. End it fast.
- No fire. It is weak to fire like the rest; the stagbreaker’s AoE can hit the Shaman and the pack together.
- Eating the magic. Raise your shield when it glows for a cast. The magic is telegraphed.
Related guides
- Valheim hub — all guides for this game.
- How to beat Greydwarfs in Valheim.
- How to beat Abominations in Valheim.