Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: Dawn of Ragnarok – what you need to know

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: Dawn of Ragnarok delves further into mythology than any game in the series has done so far. Since Altair’s journey through the Holy Land, Ubisoft has continued to wind real world history with its own fictional narrative thread.

However, in more recent entries, we’ve gone way beyond fun cameos and “what if” scenarios, starting to hunt monsters of lore and parlay with ancient pantheons. Dawn of Ragnarok is a culmination of this shift, leaving the mortal world behind as players take up Odin’s mantle on an adventure across the Nine Realms.

We were lucky enough to get an early look at the meaty expansion as Ubisoft demoed an early story quest, showing off Valhalla’s supercharged combat and exploration. Here are seven things you need to know before Dawn of Ragnarok drops on March 10, 2022.

How to access Dawn of Ragnarok

First, let’s dispel some of the confusion surrounding this expansion. Dawn of Ragnarok is not a standalone game – you will still need a base copy of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla to play, though you won’t require previous DLCs, Wrath of the Druids or The Siege of Paris.

assassins creed valhalla dawn of ragnarok

Do I need to complete Valhalla first?

No. It doesn’t matter how far you are into Valhalla, the expansion offers a power level boost for those wanting to dive into Dawn of Ragnarok, even if you’re completely new to the game. With that said, this has been designed as endgame content, so expect a potentially steep learning curve as Odin if you choose to take that path.

How long is Dawn of Ragnarok?

This expansion will be much larger than those offered via the season pass. You can expect over 35 hours of brand new content, though Ubisoft hasn’t put a number on how long it will take to blitz the main story quests.

Who’s making it?

Ubisoft Sofia is being named as the lead developer on Dawn of Ragnarok. The Bulgarian game studio has existed within Ubisoft’s network of talented teams since 2006, working on various franchises. Ubisoft Sofia has supported development on numerous Assassin’s Creed titles but is perhaps best known for taking a main role in creating Assassin’s Creed III: Liberation and Assassin’s Creed Rogue.

assassins creed valhalla dawn of ragnarok

What are Odin’s powers?

The Allfather has a range of supernatural powers that influence every facet of Assassin’s Creed’s gameplay. There were a handful of these on show during the demo with more becoming available as you progress through the story.

We saw Odin shapeshift into enemy NPCs as well as a raven, allowing players to fly freely and even transition into an aerial assassination. In combat, he can raise fallen foes to fight alongside him, which will be crucial for those larger battles.

assassins creed valhalla dawn of ragnarok

What is the Atgeir?

Dawn of Ragnarok introduces a brand new weapon class – the Atgeir. This trusty poleaxe will help you fend off legions of Jotuns and Muspels, introducing advanced combat mechanics. There seems to be a greater emphasis on skill when using this weapon as you cash in combos for power attacks such as wide area slashes, overhead slams, and a shunt.


Of course, there’s a lot more to this expansion fans are sure to love. We haven’t touched on the story, its characters, or how Ubisoft leans into its mythological influences. Then there are other highlights such as the Valkyrie combat arenas where players can test their might, as well new Odin Runes to customise your loadout. All this and more will be available when Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: Dawn of Ragnarok launches next month.

Time Stamp:

More from TheSixthAxis