Greydwarfs are the wall every Valheim player hits after leaving the Meadows. They are weak, but they swarm, and the Black Forest is where you first meet archers and shamans alongside them. Fight them with the right tool and they fall; fight them wrong and the pack swarms.
Where they are
Greydwarfs spawn across the Black Forest at all times, and they appear in spawn events that can erupt right next to your base. They come in three flavors: the basic Greydwarf, the Greydwarf Brute (bigger), and the Greydwarf Shaman (the healer). Treat the Shaman as a priority target.
What the data says
- Location — Black Forest.
- Weakness — Fire.
- Drops — Greydwarf eye, resin, stone, wood, and a trophy.
- Abilities — a melee attack and a rock throw.
The Greydwarf eye is one of the most used materials in the game. It crafts portals, the summon item for the Elder, and several utility items. You will need a stack, so fighting Greydwarfs is never a waste.
Why they are annoying, not hard
Individually a Greydwarf is weak. The danger is volume plus the rock throw, which snipes you while you are busy with another. Brutes hit harder and have more health, and Shamans heal the group and throw magic. The Shaman is the real threat in a pack.
The fire trick
Because Greydwarfs are weak to fire, carry a torch and keep a campfire near a fight you expect to last. Fire arrows and the stagbreaker both exploit the weakness. A burning Greydwarf takes damage over time and cannot be healed fast enough by a Shaman.
How to fight a pack
- Kill the Shaman first. It heals the others and throws magic. Without it, the pack collapses.
- Use terrain. Fight with your back to a rock or tree so rock throws have something to hit besides you.
- Bring a shield. Block the melee hit, counter, repeat. Greydwarfs are weak enough that a blocked hit then a sword swing ends most of them.
- Avoid overcommitting. If a spawn event triggers, retreat to a prepared kill box with walls and a campfire rather than fighting in the open.
Drops you actually want
Greydwarf eyes are the priority. Resin fuels torches and the torch upgrade. Stone and wood are everywhere already. Trophies are for the base and minor summons.
Stats at a glance
| Location | Black Forest |
| Weakness | Fire |
| Drops | Greydwarf eye, resin, stone, wood, trophy |
| Abilities | Melee attack, rock throw |
Common mistakes
- Ignoring the Shaman. The pack never dies while a Shaman heals it. Kill the Shaman first, always.
- Fighting in the open during a spawn event. Retreat to a wall or campfire kill box instead.
- No torch. You are leaving free damage on the table. Fire is the weakness; use it.
- Tunnel vision on one target. Rock throws snipe you while you swing at another. Keep your shield up.
Related guides
- Valheim hub — all guides for this game.
- How to beat Greydwarf Shamans in Valheim.
- How to beat Abominations in Valheim.