Valheim is full of dangers, but not all of them look as threatening as they really are. Even if you’ve already defeated dragons and slime monsters, you should be cautious not to underestimate tiny mosquitoes.
What kind of enemies are they? We’re talking about Deathskitos. These are blood-sucking, tiny mosquitoes that you can find in the Plains biome. Deathskitos are currently the smallest enemies in Valheim.
The nasty thing about them is that they don’t look nearly as dangerous as they really are. They can easily kill an unprepared Viking with a single strike and will chase you even into the water. Memes about these mosquitoes have been circulating in the Valheim subreddit for some time now, and they are still relevant weeks later:
Deathskitos and the deadly Plains
Why are these creatures so tough? Deathskitos have some characteristics that make them incredibly dangerous:
- they are small and fast, making them hard to hit
- the damage they deal is very high, which can instantly kill players with poor food and armor
- they can fly, allowing them to reach you even on a ship if you just pass by
- when they attack you, your screen shakes more than during a troll attack, quickly disorienting you
Additionally, Deathskitos constantly cover a larger area. Coupled with their high speed, you can quickly find yourself in a fight with them, and if they are guarding the loot you lost upon death, getting it back can be very difficult.
On the other hand, Deathskitos have very little health. Usually, one hit is enough to kill them – if you manage to hit them. This also has a positive side: if you’re fast enough with the ship, you can just squash them at the bow like a fly on a windshield when you “drive over” them. Incredibly satisfying.
That’s why the Plains are dangerous: Deathskitos are not the only threats in the Plains. This biome is also home to Fulings, small (and large) goblins. You shouldn’t underestimate them either, even if they are small. They can also take you out with their small clubs in an instant.
The Plains are currently the hardest of the five land biomes that you can fully explore. Therefore, you should have strong armor from the Mountains with you and always reinforce yourself with the best food you can craft. Sausages, turnip stew and, if possible, serpent meat and its stew are advisable.
MeinMMO author Benedict Grothaus says: Even I have encountered this. Although I would consider myself an experienced Viking, I have a great deal of respect for these creatures. After I had already defeated Bone Mass, the third boss in the Swamp, as well as some dragons in the Mountains, I explored the world a bit.
In the Plains, I encountered Deathskitos and underestimated them considerably. Despite having bronze and iron armor, they were able to kill me with a single hit – since then, I have become extremely cautious.
Generally, it is a significant mistake to underestimate areas and enemies, as MeinMMO author Florian Franck has already found out. He presents you with 9 mistakes you should definitely avoid making in Valheim.
