Ultimate Grinding Guide for New Players in Odin Valhalla Rising
Grinding is the backbone of progress in Odin: Valhalla Rising. Whether you're chasing higher levels, farming gold, or hunting for rare skill books, knowing how to grind efficiently will save you countless hours and boost your overall power. Many new players stumble in the early game, unsure whether they should rely on idle mode, where to farm, or how to maximize rewards. This guide breaks everything down into clear strategies so you can get the most out of every session.
Online Grinding vs. Idle Mode
The first and most important tip is this: always choose auto-grinding online over idle mode when you can. While idle mode lets your character continue farming while you're offline, it doesn't apply buffs like XP boosts or gold multipliers. For example, consumables such as Mimir's Wisdom only work when you're actively online.
Tests confirm that online grinding yields far better results. Running the same spot for an hour produced significantly more XP and gold compared to idle farming. Whenever you have buffs active, log in and let your character grind in real time. Idle mode still has its uses, but save it for nights or long breaks when you can't check in.
Picking the Best Farming Spot
Location is everything in Valhalla Rising. Choosing the right farming spot determines not only how fast you level but also what resources you gather. Here's what to keep in mind:
Hunt for skill books - Some mobs drop essential skill books that unlock passives or abilities. Always check which monsters drop the skills for your class and farm accordingly. For example, warriors get their first passive from field mobs, making early farming crucial.
Test combat efficiency - Use the in-game "School" feature to track XP and gold per minute. Spend a few minutes testing a spot to see how fast you're gaining rewards and whether potion consumption is manageable.
Aim for optimal kill speed - The best farming areas are usually where you can kill monsters in two normal hits or one skill. Higher kills per minute (KPM) generally means more XP and loot. But don't always go for the weakest mobs-sometimes stronger ones drop better items and spawn more consistently.
Balance safety and efficiency - If you're burning through potions too quickly, the spot isn't sustainable. Ideally, you should be able to grind for extended periods without draining your supplies.
The rule of thumb: test several spots, track your KPM and potion use, then commit to the most efficient one for your character's power level.
Make Use of Alt Characters
Grinding doesn't mean you should only stick to your main. If you have time to play actively, log in with your alt characters and complete their daily dungeons and missions. These provide valuable resources that add up over time, and in many cases, it's more rewarding than leaving your main AFK farming.
In the early game, especially, alt rewards contribute greatly to your overall account progression. Later, once you've outgrown some of those rewards, you can relax and focus more on your main goal.
Dungeon Tips for Efficient Farming
Dungeons are another excellent source of loot and XP, but a few simple habits make them far more efficient:
Always set your character to auto-grind before entering. When the dungeon timer ends, you'll be teleported back outside. If your character was already farming, they'll resume grinding immediately-no wasted time.
Carry teleportation scrolls. These allow you to jump instantly to farming zones inside dungeons, cutting down on travel time. Even saving a minute or two can mean extra loot. Blessed scrolls are especially handy.
Plan for dungeon cooldowns. Once you finish your daily dungeon runs, shift back to farming spots for continuous progression.
Inventory Management Matters
One of the most overlooked aspects of grinding is inventory space. If your bags fill up mid-farm, loot stops dropping, and your time is wasted. For free-to-play players, this is especially painful.
That's why it's strongly recommended to spend early gems on inventory expansion instead of gacha pulls. An expanded bag lets you grind overnight or while at work without losing rewards to a full inventory. It's a long-term investment that pays off immediately.
Gear and Enhancements in the Early Game
Grinding isn't only about XP and gold-it's also about gearing up. Here are some efficient upgrade practices:
Craft green gear early. Don't settle for white quality items when you can craft green ones with better stats.
Enhance safety. For armor, enhance up to +5. For accessories, stick to +1. Don't push higher right away, since there's a risk of breaking items.
Prioritize safe skill upgrades. Upgrade each skill to +1 first, since that's a guaranteed success. Once all skills are at +1, you can invest in higher upgrades where they matter most.
Focus on your first skill. It usually has the shortest cooldown, and upgrading it boosts your overall DPS significantly.
Extra Tips for Smarter Grinding
Monitor while multitasking. Even if you're not sitting at your device, keeping an eye on your character while doing chores helps prevent unnecessary deaths or potion waste.
Use energy-saving mode. If you're testing spots, toggle the save energy option to track potion use and efficiency.
Don't overwork yourself. Grinding is important, but Valhalla Rising is a marathon, not a sprint. Prioritize daily tasks first, then let farming fill the gaps.
Final Thoughts
Grinding in Odin: Valhalla Rising is both an art and a science. Choosing online auto-grind over idle mode, testing farming spots for efficiency, managing your alts, and investing wisely in gear and inventory all contribute to steady progression. The desert of Valhalla rewards those who prepare, and with these tips, you'll be farming smarter-not harder.
Whether you're chasing rare skill books, aiming for higher combat power, or just stockpiling gold, this guide should give you the foundation you need to get ahead. Remember: every minute counts, every drop matters, and efficiency is the true key to victory in Odin: Valhalla Rising. Having enough Odin Diamonds can also help you win.
MMOexp Odin Valhalla Rising Team