How to find Haldor the Valheim merchant

valheim guides — (Image credit: Iron Gate)

The Valheim merchant, Haldor, is an important person to find. He's your only source of resources like Ymir Flesh, Fishing Bait, and plenty more. While this is a game mostly about making your own way, if you want to make significant progress in Valheim, you will have to pay Haldor the merchant a visit.

The obvious hurdle here is that Haldor’s location is not easy to find - he appears randomly, won't appear on the map until you locate him and he only appears in one of the harder areas to explore. You can use a specific world seed that will lead you to Haldor directly if you want to basically cheat a little bit but, whatever you're thinking, we've got both options covered here.

Where to find the Valheim merchant

Valheim merchant trader — (Image credit: Coffee Stain Publishing)

The Valheim merchant will only spawn in Black Forest biomes. This is tricky for beginners because the Black Forest is one of the more difficult biomes that you're not meant to enter right away. Fortunately, the merchant is not a huge use to you if you're only just starting out anyway, so there's no need to rush there.

Once you set out looking for him, explore the forest and you'll see a sack icon appear on the map when you get close. Approach him and you'll notice a protective bubble around his camp, which prevents any hostile creatures from attacking you, or him, while you're bartering.

One tip is to place a Portal (2 Surtling Cores, 10 Greydwarf Eyes, 20 Fine Wood) near the merchant, so you can return whenever you like instantaneously. That saves you travelling back and forth if your base isn't nearby.

Valheim merchant stock

Here's a full list of what Haldor sells, along with the price for each item in coins:

Yule Hat (100)
Ymir Flesh (120)
Fishing Rod (350)
Fishing Bait x50 (10)
Dverger Circlet (620)
Megingjord (950)

The Dverger Circlet (provides lighting in front of you in the dark) and the Megingjord (increases carry capacity to 450lbs) are two of the most useful items in the game, so it makes sense that they're so expensive.

Haldor will also buy Amber and Amber Pearls off you for 5 and 10 coins apiece, along with Rubies for 20 coins. So if you want to maximise your first trip to the merchant, bring all your gems, as that's all they're used for.

Valheim merchant world seed location

One seed that has been discovered with a guaranteed merchant not too far from the spawn location is 42069lolxd. If you head south-east from the spawn point, follow the coast, then cross into the Black Forest, you should find Haldor nearby on your map. You can just about make it here from the start if you run and avoid Greylings along the way.