How to Walk on Lava – Valheim

Lava is one of the more dangerous environmental hazards you’ll encounter in Valhiem’s Ashlands biome. And while simply not going near lava is a good way to avoid it, you actually have to explore lava lakes to get to the shiny new Flametal ore. As such, this guide will tell you how to safely cross lava and how to retrieve your gear if you end up taking a swim in it.

Surviving Lava

When you step or fall into lava, you’ll start taking damage at a rapid rate. Fire resistance won’t help you there, and you’ll end up grilled in seconds. Here are the main ways to avoid this:

• Use Basalt Bombs to create temporary platforms
• Ride a tame Asksvin
• Build a simple bridge

Keep in mind that lava itself is only one of the dangers. Lava lakes will periodically produce fireballs that shoot up and deal damage over time. The biome’s enemies also feel at home in the fiery lakes. Meaning you’ll need to watch out for them as well, as you won’t have too much room to dodge, and some of their attacks will easily push you into lava.

Basalt Bombs

This is perhaps the main intended way of traversing lava. Throwing a Basalt Bomb into a lava lake creates a floating platform you can walk on with no fear of getting roasted. Platforms created by Basalt Bombs stay up for 30 seconds, and then gradually start to sink. Which means you’ll have plenty of time to move away or create a new platform for yourself. To craft a bundle of 5 Basalt Bombs, you’ll need:

• Asksvin Hide
• Asksvin Bladder
• Proustite Powder x3

You can craft these at a simple Workbench. Asksvin Hides and Bladders are dropped by the Asksvin monsters inhabiting the biome. They look like overgrown Neck monsters from the Meadows.

Proustite Powder is dropped by Lava Blobs and can be mined from unstable lava rocks. Keep in mind that the rocks explode when damaged, so try to hit them from a safe distance. Bows and crossbows work particularly well there.

When you have some Basalt Bombs, simply put them on your hotbar and start tossing them in lava. Then use the platforms to get to where you need to go. Usually this will be a Flametal deposit. Mine as much as you can from it, then make your way back after it sinks.

Riding an Asksvin

You can actually tame an Asksvin and ride it as a mount. Since the creatures are immune to lava damage, you will be as well when riding one. Here’s how to tame an Asksvin:

• Approach it without aggroing (no red exclamation mark)
• Toss a Fiddlehead, Smoke Puff, or Vineberry Cluster on the ground
• Let it eat and stay nearby
• Wait ~30 minutes (15 with Brew of Animal Whispers)

Afterwards, the Asksvin’s health bar will change to green and you’ll be able to pet the beast. At this point you can tame more Asksvin and start breeding them, or ride this current one. To do so, you’ll need to craft an Asksvin Saddle at a Black Forge:

• Flametal x6
• Linen Thread x20
• Morgen Sinew x4

With a saddle ready, put it in your hotbar, approach your Asksvin and use the saddle on the beast. This will equip the saddle on your mount and allow you to ride it.

When you’re riding an Asksvin, it will have a mind of its own. And its own health bar. Controlling it can be tricky, especially when the creature decides to fight some enemy in your path. Another thing to note is that while Asksvin are immune to lava, they do still get damaged by the fireballs launched from it. Try to avoid those. Otherwise, your new steed will take you to where you need to go.

Temporary Bridge

Most structures start burning when they’re placed too close to lava. They don’t get destroyed immediately, so you’ll still be able to quickly cross a pool of lava this way. You can also build your stone or wooden platforms slightly above lava. This will prevent them from taking direct damage from it, and still allow you to cross the lake.

The enemies living in the area will likely still destroy your builds soon enough. So will the fireballs the lakes produce. But you’ll have plenty of time to reach your goal or do some Flametal mining.

What to Do When You Fall in Lava

Regardless of your precautions, there may come the time when you end up falling into lava. This will make it tough to retrieve your gear. Luckily, if you die in lava, your gravestone will float up to the top and stay there.

From there, you can use any of the methods outlined above to reach your body and retrieve your gear. Since you’re likely to do some jumping and running away from monsters as you attempt to get your stuff back, you should probably eat some stamina food before you leave your base.

Then, you’ll need a Hammer and some Wood or a few Basalt Bombs to create platforms leading to your floating gravestone. It has a pretty generous hitbox. Simply approach and use it, and you’ll get all your stuff back.