Ways To Shake Up A Second Playthrough

The Assassin’s Creed franchise has been running for almost two decades, allowing players to dive into different moments in history by joining the Assassins to take down the villainous Templars. The games have changed drastically since the outings of Ezio and Altaïr, switching from the stealth action mechanics many players loved in favor of the RPG mechanics present since Assassin’s Creed Origins.

In Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, players take on the role of a Viking warrior during their expansion into England from 872 to 878 AD. The game sees protagonist Eivor inadvertently get involved in the fight between the Assassins and Templars whilst aiming to establish a Viking clan in England. With the game being out for over four years, many players have already committed countless hours to completing it. While everyone prepares for the release of Assassin’s Creed Shadows, here’s how players shake up a second playthrough in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla.

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7

Choose A Different Protagonist

A Different Animus Option Can Freshen Up A Second Playthrough

At the start of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, players are given a choice that allows the narrative to take shape in slightly different ways. They have the option of choosing either a male or female Eivor, while the default option is to let the animus decide.

If, upon a first playthrough, players didn’t pick the default option of letting the animus decide, they didn’t experience the narrative as intended. The female Eivor is the canon protagonist whilst playing as the male version of Eivor during the sections in Asgard and Jotunheim, playing into the mythical elements. If players didn’t use the default option in their first playthrough, it’s worth exploring this option in the second.

6

Focus On Stealth Whenever Possible

Take The Games Back To Their Roots As A Silent Viking Assassin

Upon the release of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, the allure of becoming an all-conquering Viking warrior was irresistible. The ability to run in with two axes and hack and slash enemies to pieces became a go-to method of completion for many players.

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But this is Assassin’s Creed. Many objectives can be completed without being seen, taking out enemies from the shadows. Not every mission can be completed stealthily, especially raiding missions, which are an all-out brawl. But attempting to complete the game as stealthily as possible provides an excellent way to shake up a second playthrough.

5

Try Out Different Weapon Types

Switch Things Up By Committing To A Hammer Only

Variety is the spice of life. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla introduced a wide range of weapons for players to choose from, including one-handed and two-handed weapons, bows and shields. With all the weapons available, it’s only natural that players may have neglected a whole group of options.

With the Viking raider experience, in their first playthrough, maybe players chose to use mainly one-handed weapons or didn’t use the bows available. Setting a challenge to master the skills of a different weapon class can provide a whole new gameplay experience.

4

Play Without The Heads-Up Display

Explore 800’s AD England Without The HUD

Exploring England in the ninth century is a massive draw for Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, with the luscious green landscapes and rural towns to explore. The open world is the second biggest featured in the Assassin’s Creed franchise, only behind Odyssey. Split across Norway and England, the map is packed with enemy encounters, mysteries to solve, and world events to complete.

When turning off the HUD, the challenge of exploring Norway and England is increased, but so is the immersive nature of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. The beauty of the game is shown off to its full extent when removing all the display features, putting players into the shoes of Eivor trying to find their way in a foreign land.

3

Investing In Different Skills

Players Will Have Focused On Skills To Fit Their First Playthrough

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla has 135 skills for players to unlock to craft Eivor into a fighting machine. With three different branches to explore within the skill tree, divided into melee, stealth, and ranged, players can enhance Eivor’s abilities in a variety of ways.

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If, during the first playthrough, players neglected the ranged section of the skill tree, why not start by turning Eivor into the ninth century’s answer to Legolas? Players can do this with whichever section of the skill tree they didn’t give enough love to the first time around. In the game, players can unlock every skill, but by the time players reach the higher levels in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Eivor will already be a master of combat. If the player chooses different options early in the game by investing in different skills, this can create a new experience.

2

Make Different Story Choices

Become A Revered Or Feared Leader

Within Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, players make choices along the way that shape interactions with the characters and ultimately the end of Eivor’s story. These seem to begin rather trivially, but can shape the game in unexpected ways.

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With choices appearing sporadically during the game, important ones to look out for are Kjotve’s cargo, fighting in Oxenefordscire, and whether to challenge Sigurd’s judgement whilst he operates a jarl. These choices will shape the way characters interact with Eivor, and ultimately lead to a different ending to Assassin’s Creed Valhalla.

1

Complete All The Asgard Sections

If Players Neglected The Story Concerning The Gods, It Adds A New Element

In Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, players can explore the land of the Gods through a sequence of visions with Valka the Seeker. During a first playthrough, players may have been engrossed by the events unfolding across Norway and England and not visited this series of side quests.

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For players who didn’t take this opportunity the first time round, it should be considered a must-do sequence the second time . The sections taking place in Asgard and Jotunheim add an extra couple of hours to the game, and an additional five skill points from collecting Ymir’s tear stones. If players haven’t completed the Asgard questline and additional objectives, it’s a great way to freshen up a second playthrough.

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Released

November 10, 2020

OpenCritic Rating

Strong