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Want to play Valheim in co-op but wonder how? Here, you’ll learn all about Valheim multiplayer, how it works, and how to set up and join a multiplayer server.

The Viking survival game that has taken the world by storm isn’t just designed to be played alone. In fact, many Viking gamers, including lots of us at Hostari, prefer Valheim multiplayer. Slaying Odin’s ancient rivals (and celebrating with tankards of mead afterwards) as a co-op is a whole new world of fun.

Want to branch out into Valheim co-op but wondering how? Keep reading to learn all about Valheim multiplayer, how it works, and how to set up and join a multiplayer Valheim server.

How Does Valheim Multiplayer Work?


Valheim multiplayer supports up to 10 players, so you can play co-op with 9 other friends or people you don’t know. You can join your fellow Viking gamers in an already existing world or create your own new game specifically for the group.

When you swap between Valheim worlds, your character, their inventory, and skills progress is transferred as is. That means if you lose equipment in one world, it will still be lost in the new game if you don’t retrieve it before swapping games. If you’re planning on playing in multiple worlds or in community servers, the game’s developers suggest having a separate character for single and multiplayer just in case you run into trouble.

The more players in a game, the harder the enemies become, and vice versa. When a player leaves, the enemies get easier.

IMPORTANT: Valheim developers Iron Gate AB recommend playing in groups of 3-5 people for optimum play.

You can play Valheim multiplayer on local, dedicated, and/or community servers. We’ll look into the pros and cons of each later in this article.

Is Valheim Multiplayer PvP or PvE?

Valheim multiplayer is PvE (player vs. environment) as standard, and player damage is turned off by default, but it does have a competitive PvP (player vs. player) multiplayer option.

To turn on Valheim multiplayer PvP, head to the Inventory Screen in your game. Click the icon with two swords in the top-right corner. The swords will cross and the “PVP-damage enabled” or “Friendly fire enabled” notification will appear. Note that all participants who want to play PvP must follow this same process to activate it.


Source: ValheimFandom.com

How To Start A Multiplayer Valheim Server

There are a few different factors to consider before deciding whether to set up a locally hosted or dedicated server for your Valheim multiplayer game. The choice depends how many players you are, when and how often you’ll be playing together.


Local Server For Valheim

When you play Valheim multiplayer on a local server, the game is hosted on your (or a friend’s) own PC server. Hosting locally works best for 2-3 players who will always be online at the same time.

Local servers are easy to set up. Either create a new world or choose an existing one, then select Start Server. You'll be prompted to enter a password and then just have to click Start to load the game.

Unlike setting up a dedicated server, playing on a local server has its limitations:

  • You’re reliant on the person who has the game saved on their computer to be online when you want to play
  • Your gameplay is subject to security issues, lag, and downtime depending on how powerful the hosting player’s gaming rig is

Dedicated Server For Valheim

Creating a dedicated Valheim server means your game gets to use the full power of the entire server. Provided you rent a high-spec server, like ours at Hostari, you can forget being restricted by bandwidth, connection strength, and PC hardware. Plus, you can play 24/7 no matter when your fellow players come online.

If you’re tech-savvy, you can set up your own dedicated server manually. However, this requires being able to change your router settings, edit server files, and handle port forwarding, amongst other steps. The much easier option is to rent a dedicated Valheim server instead.

With Hostari, all you need to do is enter your email address, pick a server name and a password, and select your preferred server region, and you’ll be playing Valheim on your new, high-spec dedicated server within minutes.

How To Join A Valheim Multiplayer Server

Joining a Valheim multiplayer game and inviting friends to join is the same whether your game is locally hosted or on a dedicated server. Make sure you (and your fellow players) know the game’s password, its server host name or IP address, and its port number. You’ll find this data on your Hostari dashboard if you’re renting a dedicated server from us.

Joining Valheim Multiplayer In-Game:

  • Click Start Game
  • Choose your character
  • Select Join Game
  • Search for the saved game from the Select Server list, OR click Join IP and enter the server IP or name, followed by a colon and the port number (“servername:portnumber”).
  • Enter the password to join

Joining Valheim Multiplayer Via Steam:

  • Select View > Servers > Favorites
  • Click Add A Server
  • Enter the host name and port, or IP address and port, separated by a colon, and click Find Games At This Address
  • If it’s up and running, your server will appear, and you can then select Add This Server To Favorites
  • Once you’ve saved the server on Steam, you can enter your Valheim game directly by accessing via your Favorites

Passwords

If you trust everyone on your friends list, then you don’t need to use a password, but it’s best to use one to avoid griefers. If you end up in a scenario where you need to ban a player from your Valheim server, you can do so easily thanks to the admin functions on your Valheim Server Hosting dashboard.


Setting Up & Joining A Valheim Community Server

A final option if you want to play Valheim multiplayer but don’t know anyone personally who wants to join, is to set up (or join an existing) community server. These are servers that are accessible to the general public and can be browsed on the Select Server list.

After setting up your dedicated Valheim server, simply turn on the “Community Server” feature so other players can join your co-op game. You can still password-protect these to keep safe and ensure no griefers join: just share the password via Steam Chat or Discord before you play.

Upgrade Your Valheim Multiplayer Experience With Valheim Server Hosting

Now you know all there is to know about Valheim multiplayer, all that’s left is to decide whether a local or dedicated server is right for you.

Sign up for a 24-hour free trial with Hostari and start enjoying uninterrupted multiplayer Valheim gameplay straight away!