The Troll is the first enemy in Valheim that can delete you in two hits, and it lives in the Black Forest where new players are still figuring out the game. Know where to find it, what it resists, and how to win the fight before you step into the trees.
Where Trolls are
Trolls spawn in the Black Forest, both on the surface at night and inside certain dungeons. They are rare compared to Greydwarves, but when one appears it dominates the area. If you hear a deep roar or see a shape swinging a log, you have found one.
What the data says
- Location — Black Forest.
- Resists — Blunt damage. This is the key fact: anything that bonks does reduced damage.
- Drops — Troll hide, Troll trophy, and coins.
- Abilities — Unarmed it punches, does a ground slam, and throws rocks. With a log it does vertical and horizontal log swings.
Troll hide is not junk. It crafts the root armor set and the abyssal razor, two of the best early-mid items in the game. So a Troll is a target, not just a threat.
Why Trolls kill players
Two mistakes get people killed. The first is bringing a club or relying on fists against something that resists blunt. The second is standing still during the ground slam, which hits hard and knocks you down. Trolls are also faster than they look when they commit to a charge.
The weapon choice
Because Trolls resist blunt, reach for a slash or pierce weapon. A finewood bow with fire arrows lets you poke and reposition, and fire is a bonus the Troll has no special resistance to. A sword or spear works in melee. Avoid the club and the stagbreaker here.
How to fight one
- Open at range. Fire a few arrows to pull it and confirm the surroundings are clear of Greydwarves.
- Kite the slam. When it rears for the ground slam, step back or sidestep. The slam is slow to land and punishes standing still.
- Dodge the log swing. The horizontal swing covers a wide arc. Roll through it or back off, then hit during the recovery.
- Finish with melee once it is low, or keep plinking arrows from a safe distance.
Tame or avoid
Trolls are not tameable, so there is no pacifist route. If you are undergeared, flee to water or a field where its log swings whiff on terrain. A Troll in a tight forest is dangerous; a Troll in open ground is a target you can circle.
What to do with the drops
Save every Troll hide. The root set needs several, and the abyssal razor needs one plus some from the Elder fight. The trophy is a summon item and a base decoration. Coins are coins.
Stats at a glance
| Location | Black Forest |
| Resists | Blunt |
| Drops | Troll hide, Troll trophy, coins |
| Abilities | Punch, ground slam, rock throw, log swings (V and H) |
Common mistakes
- Bringing a club. The Troll resists blunt, so your best Black Forest weapon does the least. Use a sword, spear, or bow.
- Standing in the slam. The ground slam is slow but brutal and knocks you down. Sidestep it every time.
- Fighting in a tight forest. Trees block your kites and let the log swing connect. Pull it into open ground.
- Forgetting it is fast. A Troll commits to charges quicker than its size suggests. Do not back yourself into a corner.
Related guides
- Valheim hub — all guides for this game.
- How to beat Abominations in Valheim.
- How to beat Blobs in Valheim.