What are the best early-game foods to maximize health for a no-death run?

In Valheim, a no-death run requires careful planning, especially when it comes to food choices. Early-game foods are critical for maximizing health and stamina, as they directly impact your survivability. The game mechanics tie food to your overall health pool, stamina regeneration, and healing rate, making it essential to prioritize high-quality meals. For a no-death run, you need to focus on foods that provide the best health bonuses while being relatively easy to obtain in the early stages of the game.\n\nOne of the best early-game foods for health is Cooked Meat. This is obtained by hunting Boars in the Meadows biome, which are abundant and easy to kill with a basic bow or spear. Cooked Meat provides 40 health and 30 stamina, making it a reliable staple for early survival. To cook it, you’ll need to build a Campfire and place the raw meat on it. Always carry a stack of Cooked Meat to ensure you have a steady health boost during exploration or combat.\n\nAnother excellent early-game option is Grilled Neck Tail. Neck Tails are dropped by Neck creatures found near water in the Meadows biome. Grilled Neck Tail provides 35 health and 12 stamina, which is slightly less than Cooked Meat but still valuable. To cook it, use the same Campfire method as with Cooked Meat. This food is particularly useful if you’re struggling to find Boars or want to diversify your food sources.\n\nFor a more balanced meal, consider crafting Queens Jam. This requires Raspberries and Blueberries, which are found in the Meadows and Black Forest biomes, respectively. Queens Jam provides 40 health and 15 stamina, making it a great option for both health and stamina regeneration. To craft it, you’ll need a Cauldron, which requires Tin and a Forge. While this requires a bit more effort, the long-term benefits of Queens Jam make it worth the investment.\n\nHoney is another underrated early-game food that provides 20 health and 20 stamina. It’s easy to obtain by finding Beehives in abandoned structures in the Meadows biome. Once you’ve collected Honey, you can eat it directly without cooking. While it doesn’t provide as much health as other options, its stamina boost is useful for running or dodging during combat. Always keep a stack of Honey in your inventory for quick recovery.\n\nTo maximize your health in a no-death run, always aim to have three different food types active at all times. This ensures you have a balanced mix of health and stamina bonuses. For example, combining Cooked Meat, Grilled Neck Tail, and Queens Jam will give you a total of 115 health and 57 stamina, which is more than enough to handle early-game threats like Greydwarfs or Skeletons. Avoid relying on single food types, as this limits your overall survivability.\n\nFinally, always prioritize food over other resources in the early game. Hunting Boars, gathering berries, and looting Beehives should be your top priorities. Avoid unnecessary risks, such as exploring the Black Forest without proper preparation, as this can lead to unexpected deaths. By focusing on these early-game foods and strategies, you’ll set a strong foundation for your no-death run in Valheim.