Enigma Mode

Valheim with Flat Progression

Enigma can run on your Valheim client on PC. It also can run server-side and supports crossplay. Players joining an Enigma server do not need client mods. This is how xbox and other crossplay players can play on Enigma servers if crossplay is enabled.

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Start Here

This 15-minute guide explains the beginning without spoiling the wider world.

You do not need to learn every mechanic before playing. Important mechanics explain themselves when you reach them.

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⚠️ Updating to Enigma 3.0.3 ⚠️

Enigma 3.0.3 is a major update. Do not install it over an older Enigma setup without deleting the previous files.

1. Stop the game or server.
2. Find BepInEx/config/expand_world/ewp_data.yaml.
3. Copy ewp_data.yaml somewhere outside BepInEx/config.
4. Delete only the old Enigma folders at BepInEx/config/data, BepInEx/config/expand_world, and BepInEx/config/PlanBuild.
5. Copy the new package folders data, expand_world, and PlanBuild into BepInEx/config.
6. Copy your saved ewp_data.yaml back to BepInEx/config/expand_world/ewp_data.yaml.
7. Remove the Cron Job mod. Enigma now runs all scheduled features through Expand World Prefabs.

ewp_data.yaml contains the Enigma progression for the world and its characters. Back it up before deleting anything.

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Bosschests Replace Boss Progression

Bosschests are the main Enigma progression path.

Each Forsaken altar has a Bosschest with three challenges. The challenges ask for materials from different parts of the world. Completing them grants resources, permanent perks, and new abilities.

Bosschests can be completed in any order.

The Forsaken are still present. They are built as endgame fights and will overwhelm most early characters.

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Keep One Main Base

Valheim often leaves players with several abandoned bases as progression moves outward. Enigma makes it easier to maintain one important home while still using the whole world.

Rifts and other earned travel systems connect distant experiences as you progress. Enigma Paths provide direction in a Nomap world.

Three core player tools remove much of the friction from building and carrying supplies across Enigma:

• Builder's Refuge — use /say refuge twice to create a protected remote building area.
• Deposit Box — /say box summons a portable personal 4×8 chest. Its 32 slots effectively double normal character storage.
• Pocket Dimension — use /say pocket twice to enter a private building and storage space outside the normal world.

Other player tools extend the same freedom:

• SaGarren's Lifts — use /say lift to summon a standard lift or /say liftbig for a 4×4 lift. Use /say 1 through /say 6 nearby to choose a floor.
• CargoCrates — use /say crate or /say full to summon one for large rewards and dungeon cargo without filling the player's inventory.
• Blueprints — use /say blueprint NAME twice to save a large owned structure, /say blueprint place NAME twice to rebuild it, and /say blueprints to list saved designs.

You still travel but will be able to spend less time hauling the same items and rebuilding the same base.

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More Reasons to Revisit the World

Old biomes and locations stay useful.

• Trees, rocks, metals, dungeons, and other world resources can return.
• Dungeons and camps have more monster variety and can react to player activity.
• Slayer Tasks create repeatable combat goals.
• Trophies can be sold, mounted, used in raids, or committed to player Arenas.
• Gemstones can improve equipment, reset dungeons, or permanently fuel supported fires.
• Old equipment and extra materials can be sold instead of discarded.

Enigma gives familiar Valheim items more than one purpose.

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Equipment Does Not End at Crafting

You can keep improving a favorite weapon instead of replacing it once and forgetting it.

• Tempering adds durability at low risk.
• Empowering gambles the item for a major increase in power.
• Strengthening uses gemstones to bring eligible equipment to level 4.

These systems create more reasons to gather materials, craft another weapon, and return to older regions.

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Dvergr Trade and Services

Dvergr appear throughout Enigma as traders, specialists, and local protection.

They buy surplus gear, food, fish, trophies, and resources. Some sell building materials or provide equipment services. Chefs help with cooking. Blacksmiths handle Tempering, Empowering, and Strengthening.

Dvergr have names and clans. Their professions and locations affect what they do.

How players treat them matters.

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Building Is Progression

Enigma gives builders useful progression before the final Bosschests.

Building activity raises a persistent Builder Rank. Higher ranks place stronger structures and unlock tools such as Ultrabenches and Blueprints.

Builder's Bunkers provide a quick protected base. Building modes unlock pieces that are normally unavailable. Visual Wards can be used without locking nearby containers and doors.

Builders progress by building.

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Dungeons, Camps, and Monsters

Enigma changes the population and behavior of familiar locations.

Dungeons can contain unexpected enemies and later reinforcements. Camps have broader monster pools. Some creatures receive behaviors such as Sapper, Glutton, Tough, Empowered, or Weeping.

The result is less predictable than vanilla Valheim. A familiar location may not play the same way twice.

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Paths, Floating Islands, and the World Edge

Enigma Paths give players a shared direction without restoring the normal map-and-portal loop.

The paths extend as the world is explored. They reach distant biomes, the World Serpent, Floating Islands, and routes beyond the normal world edge.

Players leave behind useful roads and connections for everyone who arrives later.

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Larger Systems

Some Enigma mechanics take longer to find or require more preparation:

• Build a player Arena and turn monster trophies into staged fights.
• Follow Sky Paths through locations above and beyond the normal world.
• Complete persistent quests tied to trade, death, exploration, and old landmarks.
• Discover Trinket Game Modes that change monster or world behavior.
• Reach Townfall, a long town-defense challenge built around Moder's altar.

These systems are part of Enigma, but they are not required reading for a new player.

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What to Expect

• Flat progression instead of a fixed boss-to-biome order
• Bosschests as the main progression path
• Forsaken as endgame fights
• Earlier access to metals, building pieces, and crafting facilities
• Nomap and noportal travel supported by paths, Rifts, and earned travel tools
• A practical way to keep one main base
• More storage and safer item recovery
• Reusable dungeons, resources, equipment, and trophies
• Dvergr trade and specialist services
• Builder progression and movable structures
• Solo, private-server, and long-running multiplayer support
• Server-side delivery with no required client mods

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Enigma Mode QoL

Enigma Mode QoL is the recommended client-side companion pack to play Enigma Mode with.

It adds extra slots, quickslots, craft-from-chests, first person, a quieter HUD, and Cartography Table map access. It does not add Enigma progression or change server rules.

Enigma Mode QoL on Thunderstore

The QoL pack also configures access to the public Enigma server, Islands of Magic.

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Play on Islands of Magic

Islands of Magic is the public Enigma development and playtesting server.

Character progression is individual. You can join an established world, leave, and return later without needing to follow the progress of another group.

Talk to other Enigma Valheimers here at The Poolside community Discord.

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Development and Credits

Enigma Mode is an open-source project managed by JPValheim.

It would not be possible without Jere, Raaka, Dhakhar, Zeall, CaptainCrumbs, SplashOPain, Teenzie, Leftaf, StarDancer, Haloa, Fire, GeriAtiric, Panand, AlexWho, Erik, Baleog, Shinuii, Ping, ConSeannery, Naoima, Nars, Rose, Indexx, Reapersix01, Fischmaster, MDMchan, Cavalier, Relic, Frank from ZAP, Maxime, Krewe, Rayuzanda, VassagoTemplarus, DrDank, Zeus, Ashenius, the modders Azumatt, Shudnal, TheJotunnTeam, and more than 200 playtesters since January 2024.

Learn more through the Valheim scripting series on YouTube.