What is the best way to secure your shelter from raids?

Securing your shelter from raids in Valheim is crucial for survival, especially as you progress and attract more dangerous enemies. Raids are triggered by specific events, such as defeating bosses or spending time in certain biomes. To protect your base, you need to understand game mechanics and implement defensive strategies.\n\nFirst, build a strong perimeter around your shelter. Use wooden or stone walls to create a barrier. Wooden walls are easier to craft early on, but stone walls are more durable and resistant to attacks. To craft stone walls, you need a Stonecutter, which requires Iron and Stone. Place the walls in a way that covers all sides of your base, leaving no gaps for enemies to exploit.\n\nNext, dig a moat around your base. This is one of the most effective ways to stop enemies from reaching your shelter. Use a pickaxe to dig a trench at least two meters deep and three meters wide. Mobs cannot jump or climb, so this will prevent them from crossing. Ensure the moat is continuous and surrounds your entire base, including any entrances.\n\nAdd defensive structures like stake walls or spike traps. Stake walls can be placed around the perimeter of your base to deal damage to enemies that get too close. Spike traps are crafted using Wood and require a Workbench. Place them strategically near entrances or choke points where enemies are likely to gather. These traps can significantly weaken or kill weaker mobs before they reach your walls.\n\nLighting is another important factor. Place torches or campfires around your base to deter Greydwarfs and other creatures that fear fire. This won''t stop raids entirely, but it can reduce the number of weaker enemies that approach your shelter. Additionally, lighting improves visibility at night, making it easier to spot incoming threats.\n\nConsider building a raised platform or watchtower. This allows you to spot enemies from a distance and gives you a safe vantage point to attack from. Use stairs or ladders to access the platform, but ensure they are not accessible to enemies. You can also place ranged weapons like bows or atgeirs on the platform for better defense.\n\nFinally, recruit allies or tame wolves to help defend your base. Tamed wolves can be a powerful deterrent against raids. To tame wolves, you need raw meat and a secure pen. Once tamed, they will attack any enemies that approach your base. This is especially useful in the Mountains biome, where wolves are abundant.\n\nIn summary, securing your shelter from raids requires a combination of strong walls, moats, traps, lighting, and defensive structures. By understanding game mechanics and planning your defenses carefully, you can protect your base from even the toughest raids. Always be prepared to adapt your strategies as you progress and face new challenges.