What is the best way to defend your shelter from draugr?

Defending your shelter from draugr in Valheim requires a combination of strategic building, crafting, and preparation. Draugr are hostile undead creatures found in the Swamp biome, and they can pose a significant threat if they invade your base. To protect your shelter, you need to focus on fortifications, traps, and combat readiness.\n\nFirst, choose a safe location for your shelter. Avoid building too close to the Swamp biome, as draugr spawn frequently there. Instead, set up your base in a Meadow or Black Forest biome, which are safer and easier to defend. If you must build near a Swamp, ensure your shelter is elevated or surrounded by natural barriers like water or steep terrain to limit draugr access.\n\nNext, fortify your shelter with strong walls and gates. Use core wood or stone for building, as these materials are more durable than basic wood. Core wood can be obtained by chopping down pine trees in the Black Forest, while stone is abundant in most biomes. Build a perimeter wall around your base, and consider adding a moat or trench to create an additional barrier. Draugr cannot swim or jump high, so a deep trench or moat will stop them from reaching your shelter.\n\nIn addition to walls, set up defensive structures like stakewalls or spike traps. Stakewalls can be crafted using wood and placed around your perimeter to deal damage to enemies that get too close. Spike traps, crafted with wood and resin, can be placed strategically near entrances or choke points to injure draugr as they approach. These traps are especially useful if you expect frequent attacks.\n\nLighting is another important factor in defending your shelter. Draugr are less likely to spawn near well-lit areas, so place torches or campfires around your base. This not only deters draugr but also provides visibility during nighttime raids. If you have access to surtling cores, consider crafting braziers or standing torches for a more permanent light source.\n\nCombat readiness is crucial when defending against draugr. Equip yourself with a strong weapon, such as a bronze sword or mace, and a shield to block their attacks. Draugr are weak to blunt damage, so a mace is particularly effective. Keep healing items like cooked meat or berries on hand to restore health during battles. If you have access to potions, craft poison resistance mead to reduce damage from draugr archers.\n\nFinally, consider recruiting allies to help defend your shelter. Tamed wolves or boars can act as additional defenders, attacking draugr that breach your perimeter. To tame wolves, you’ll need to venture into the Mountain biome and use raw meat to gain their trust. Once tamed, they can be stationed near your base to provide extra protection.\n\nBy combining these strategies, you can create a well-defended shelter that can withstand draugr attacks. Focus on location, fortifications, traps, lighting, and combat readiness to ensure your base remains safe. With proper preparation, you can turn your shelter into an impenetrable fortress, even in the most dangerous biomes.