Valheim is a game where players explore a vast world and build their own bases in a hostile jungle. There is a lot to worry about, from feral pigs to sea monsters, but one chief in particular is causing everyone a big headache. Meet Bonemass, a Slimer type guy who, despite being only the third boss, is somehow the biggest obstacle in the game.
At the Valheim, their progression and exploration are blocked by chiefs, who can be summoned to mysterious altars hidden around the world. For example, to extract ore from the mysterious Black Forest, players must kill a giant lightning elk and grab its hardened horn. This allows players to make a pick and, as they venture into the Black Forest, they will find the altar for the next boss, a giant Ent carrying some swamp keys.
The first boss is a useful exercise to teach Vikings to block with a shield and control their resistance while hitting a big enemy. Elder Ent teaches players to avoid area-of-effect attacks and distribute damage while on the move.
Bone mass, on the other hand, apparently has no limits. Wow, Iron Gate, why Bonemass manages to have six mechanics? It has tons of environmental damage, which means that players have to dodge a lot of gases and area effect hits. He summons adds, and they are surprisingly difficult to fight. He’s the king of poison damage, so be sure to bring resistance potions. It crashes like a truck and has a huge health reserve, so maybe bring some health potions too, because you’ll be there for a while. Finally, your sharp weapons are useless, so bring clubs and clubs.
There is a lot going on there! Players have definitely realized how tough Bonemass is and are sharing stories on social media about their long struggle to eliminate it and acquire their reliable lucky bone. Some players have learned that they can harpoon Bonemass, pull it into the ocean and then circle it with a boat while lowering it. This is not how the fight should be, but hey, everything is fair in love and war. Especially if you are fighting a giant slime man.
“Sure, we will listen to feedback from the community, and you never know what we will do in the future to balance it out,” said Henrik Törnqvist, co-founder of Iron Gate. “Bringing poison resistance potions is my best tip.” (We have some suggestions in our guide on how to defeat Bonemass.)
Overall, Bonemass is not a game-breaking boss or an unstoppable force. It’s just an extraordinarily tough fight in a game that would otherwise have a good pace. The jump from boss one to boss two is enough to feel that you have been properly challenged and grown as a Viking. The jump to boss three seems twice as difficult, while boss four looks like a relegation in difficulty. Fortunately for everyone, a little dedication, a good team and / or a desire to make Bonemass cheese by dragging it to the ocean, is enough to overcome this challenge.