The Early Axes are a dual-wielded weapon in Valheim that hit fast and deal heavy Slash damage, which makes them one of the strongest options you can hold before the Black Forest. Forging them is simple, but the two components you need are rare drops hidden in specific Meadows buildings, so the real work is finding them.
Quick answer: Collect one Curious axe head (from a small tower-style Abandoned House) and one Mysterious axe head (from an A-shaped Abandoned House hovel) in the Meadows, then craft the Early Axes at a Workbench with 4 Wood.
Early Axes crafting requirements
Everything for the base weapon comes together at a covered Workbench. You only need the two axe heads plus a small amount of Wood, so once both components are in your inventory the crafting itself takes seconds.
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Station | Workbench (level 1) |
| Curious axe head | x1 (rare Meadows drop) |
| Mysterious axe head | x1 (rare Meadows drop) |
| Wood | x4 |
| Item ID | AxeEarly |
Where the Curious and Mysterious axe heads spawn
Both heads sit inside chests in two particular variants of the Abandoned House, and both appear only in the Meadows biome. Every Meadows region in your world can potentially contain the right buildings, but the chance of a head actually being inside is low, so expect to check several ruins.
| Component | Building shape | House variant |
|---|---|---|
| Curious axe head | Small tower-like structure | Abandoned House (variant 6) |
| Mysterious axe head | Medium A-shaped hovel | Abandoned House (variant 2) |
The heads are not guaranteed to appear even when the correct building type generates, so searching your own world can take a while. If you are on an existing save, the chest only rolls its contents when the structure loads for the first time, which means you need to explore fresh, undiscovered Meadows to give them a chance to generate. Many players simply spin up new worlds and comb the starting island until both heads turn up.
Seed with both axe heads near spawn: f4Ly2vpTU7
If you would rather skip the hunt, seed f4Ly2vpTU7 places both components close to the starting area on the same island. Generate a world with that seed and follow the two directions below from spawn.
Curious axe head: Head northwest toward a ruined tower. You are on the right track once you pass the remains of a fenced animal pen. The Curious axe head is in the chest inside the tower.
Mysterious axe head: Head southeast until you reach an A-shaped hovel sitting along the edge of a treeline. Open the chest inside to grab the Mysterious axe head.
How to craft the Early Axes
You know it worked when the Early Axes appear in your inventory and both axe heads are consumed. Once equipped, your character holds one axe in each hand. If the recipe does not show up, it means one of the two heads is missing, since you need both the Curious and the Mysterious versions rather than two of the same.
Early Axes upgrade path
You only need the rare heads once. Every upgrade after the base weapon costs nothing but Wood and Leather scraps, and repairs are free at the Workbench, which is a major reason the weapon stays practical through the early game. Each level requires a higher Workbench tier.
| Quality | Slash | Durability | Materials | Workbench |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 30 | 175 | 1 Curious head, 1 Mysterious head, 4 Wood | Level 1 |
| 2 | 35 | 225 | 6 Wood, 2 Leather scraps | Level 2 |
| 3 | 40 | 275 | 8 Wood, 4 Leather scraps | Level 3 |
| 4 | 45 | 325 | 10 Wood, 6 Leather scraps | Level 4 |
Why the Early Axes are worth the hunt
A level 1 Early Axes deals roughly 50 percent more Slash damage than a level 1 Flint Axe, so the payoff is immediate. The primary attack is a four-step combo made of two single swings followed by two double swings, ending in a strike that lands double damage with each blade. The secondary attack is a forward lunge that finishes with a slash from both axes at double damage, costing 16 stamina.
They also double as a strong early tool. The Early Axes deal Chop damage and can fell Birch, Oak, and Ancient Trees, which means you can start collecting Finewood right away without waiting on a Bronze Axe and the Copper and Tin it demands. Wielding them carries a minor 5 percent movement speed penalty, and their light block leaves you exposed, so pair them with careful dodging or parrying until you upgrade.
With both heads in hand and a Workbench nearby, you can go from empty-handed to a fully equipped dual-wield build within minutes, and every step forward from there only asks for Wood and Leather scraps.
