We all know weapons and armor can make any Viking look cool, but really, one defining characteristic of a player can also be with the cape they wear, and in Valheim, they happen to be present in making your fearless Norse slayer stand out from the rest. Despite being the coolest wearable to have around, the cape doesn’t have much influence on the game until the mid to late game. There are some exceptions to the rule, and in this list, we show you what they offer, and what happens when fashion meets function.

As with all Valheim lists, this was written at the time of the game’s latest version (version 0.156.2) and is based on the progression of function throughout the game and even some style points. All tabled data is from Valheim's wikia.

5. Cape of Odin – Best Rare Cape

Rarely seen, even rarer to use. (YouTube Channel: Michal M)

Starting the list with arguably the most difficult to obtain, the Cape of Odin. While this doesn’t offer any protection, it does fetch something very worthwhile, which I’ll get to later.

What’s Good About the Cape of Odin?

In-game, it doesn’t offer anything too valuable, because it’s more of a cosmetic piece, but given that this was only given to those who joined Valheim’s Beta, it does fetch some real-life cash for those Viking die-hards who wants it.

Cape of Odin:

• A nice matte black motif
• Exclusive to early players of the game
• Can fetch some money in the right market

If you ever need the look to channel the power of a mighty god, then this should do the trick, assuming you have spent for it or have been playing this way before this became the craze it is today.

How to Get the Cape of Odin?

Only a few have the privilage of wearing it.

Assuming you have the game code used up and claimed, you should be able to craft and use it after combining the following:

Cape of Odin:

• A code sent by the developers during the games period in beta

Surprise, it doesn’t need materials. It's a claim-and-go type of deal, and that’s one way to have a ready-made cape for you to show off to your foes, but please have some armor before you do so. As an in-game item, however, don’t bother, and as for going on quests, the next set of capes can complement better (but in reality, not by much).

For a detailed look at the capes’ stats, you may look at the table or use the key points below.

Cape of Odin:

• Cape of Odin:
• Key Stat Gained: N/A
• Armor: N/A
• Armor Set Family: Odin Set

4. Deer Hide Cape – Best Entry Cape

While hunting it for food is the most common reason, the deer does provide some good cloaks. (YouTube Channel: Moshman Gaming)

We now go on to the capes you can make, and can offer a very slight armor increase (and by very slight, I mean non-existent). The deer cape also happens to be the first cape you’ll ever make in the game, which will pretty much reveal the purpose of the cape for almost the entirety of the game.

What’s Good About Deer Hide Cape?

The thing about the early capes in this game is that it’s purely a cosmetic thing, and if there is a benefit, it’s negligible as seen by the list below.

Deer Hide Cape:

• Provides 1-4 armor depending on the upgrade
• Blends with your rag, tunic, or bronze armor the best

From a strategic standpoint, you gain 1-4 armor, which is next to nothing in the whole swing of things, but cosmetically, you’re looking at blending with up to the bronze armor. They may not be protecting your backsides from enemies, but hey, it’s something extra.

How to Get Deer Hide Cape?

Make the meadows your runway, or personal hunting grounds.

Materials should be about the same as the family of armor it is related to, the leather armor. With that in mind, the materials to craft it are as follows.

Deer Hide Cape:

• 4 Deer Hide
• 5 Bone Fragments

As these materials are shared with the leather armor set, the same procedures apply here, which is killing deers for deer hide, and killing or picking up bone fragments from skeletons, or nearby crypts. While deers are harmless and, runs away from you, prepare to stock up on health and stamina to battle possible hoards of skeletons.

For a detailed look at the capes’ stats, you may look at the table or use the key points below.

Deer Hide Cape:

• Key Stat Gained: Armor
• Armor: 1-4 (depending on upgrade level)
• Armor Set Family: Leather Set

3. Troll Hide Cape – Best Stealth Cape

The bigger they are, the harder they die, unless you cheese them to death. (YouTube Channel: 04AM)

Being blue isn’t a bad thing here, as, in Valheim, blue is for blending in. For wearing this and the accompanying armor set, the troll set, it gives you a mechanic that makes this cape a must-have for a specific kind of gameplay.

What’s Good About Troll Hide Cape?

The mechanic in question is stealth, and it is achieved by wearing the full set, including the troll armor set. Other benefits also give the following.

Troll Hide Cape:

• Provides 1-4 armor depending on the upgrade
• Unlocks the sneak effect when the set is worn
• Troll set doesn’t give a movement speed penalty vs. metal armor sets

While you very rarely would use sneak constantly, it does offer an alternative way to hunt deer and other tamer mobs for their resources, and that makes it a more useful cape than the previous capes on this list.

How to Get Troll Hide Cape?

Sneaky assassins always keep a low profile.

To repeat the statement from the Deer Hide Cape, materials should be about the same as the family of armor it is related to, and that being the troll set. No variations here, as seen below.

Troll Hide Cape:

• 10 Troll Hide
• 10 Bone Fragments

We already learned how the bone fragments are obtained, now for the real challenge, killing the Troll. Expect a lot of kiting, a bunch of arrows, and if you’re brave enough, a few parry/attack moves to vanquish the massive giant. Do those and you’ll be rewarded with their skin (hide) and some gold for your troubles.

For a detailed look at the capes’ stats, you may look at the table or use the key points below.

Troll Hide Cape:

• Key Stat Gained: Armor, Stealth
• Armor: 1-4 (depending on upgrade level)
• Armor Set Family: Troll Set

2. Linen Cape – Best Customizable Cape

A cape tailor made to your special style of Viking appeal starts at 4:27 of the video. (YouTube Channel: Quicksand Riggs)

If you’re looking for a splash of color into your Viking’s blood-soaked body, then the linen cape is the perfect way to tell those around who’s who. Choices go a long way for this cape and a strong one at that for those looking to stand out.

What’s Good About Linen Cape?

It’s the best cosmetic cape in terms of customizability, which is a perk for this cape in general. It’s the only one that has the option to change the whole look of the cape compared to every cape on this list.

Linen Cape:

• Customizable cape colors
• Smooth looking textures that make it shiny

Again, it’s mostly a cosmetic piece and you won’t get good stats out of it in case you are wondering.

How to Get Linen Cape?

Rock the cape with these distinct colors.

The materials are pretty high grade, but unlike its weapon counterparts, you only need a limited amount to make one, which is the following.

Linen Cape:

• 20 Linen Thread
• 1 Silver

Again, like its weapon counterparts, you need to farm silver by going to the mountains with a wishbone (an item you get from killing the games’ 3rd boss, Bonemass), and mining until you get the ore, and smelting it to make the metal. For linen thread, you get flax from the plains (and not die), and process it through the spinning wheel, which is crafted using 20 Fine Wood, 10 Iron Nails, and 5 Leather Scraps. A lot of resources, yes, but hey, look at the rainbow of capes you can do.

For a detailed look at the capes’ stats, you may look at the table or use the key points below.

Linen Cape:

• Key Stat Gained: N/A
• Armor: 1-4 (depending on upgrade level)
• Armor Set Family: Padded Set

1. Lox Cape / Wolf Fur Cape – Best Mountains Cape

An overview to both the Wolf Fur and Lox Cape, and its pre-requisites. (YouTube Channel: Lucky Shot)

Now we go to the best cape in Valheim, and honestly, you can toss it up between these two, the Lox Cape and the Wolf Fur Cape. Both offer similar usability and while the materials are both a relative challenge to get, it’s the only cape worth equipping in the game.

What’s Good About Lox Cape / Wolf Fur Cape?

Both of these capes offer the same core use, Frost Resistance. If you are going to be spending time in the mountains and don’t have Frost Resistance Mead (basically an anti-freezing potion), it will bypass the hassle of grabbing that and you can walk on through as if you live there. Expect similar benefits with some differences like the following.

Lox Cape:

• Easier to obtain than the Wolf Fur Cape
• Gains Frost Resistance

Wolf Fur Cape:

• Cooler looking than the Lox Cape
• Gains Frost Resistance
• Part of the Wolf Set

Comparing these two is a question of stats vs style. If you want to just go to the mountains asap, then the Lox Cape is the way to go, and if you want to do the same, but have an imposing-looking wolf head next to you, go for the Wolf Fur Cape.

How to Get Lox Cape?

If you choose the Lox Cape, you’ll need to get the following:

Lox Cape:

• 6 Lox Pelt
• 2 Silver

We’ve already discussed silver on the linen cape, now for the other material, Lox Pelt. That is obtained by killing the Lox, which also gives Lox Meat that gives you good health stats.

How to Get the Wolf Fur Cape?

If you choose the Wolf Fur Cape, you’ll need to get the following

Wolf Fur Cape:

• 6 Wolf Pelt
• 4 Silver
• 1 Wolf Trophy

Here it’s a little more expensive by 2 Silver, but that’s negligible given the amount of ore you can get. The hard part here is the Wolf Trophy and Wolf Pelt. You’ll have to hunt (and not get hunted by) a Wolf, and that’s no easy feat as they hurt a lot (but no worse than the Lox). Hope that luck also is on your side as it’s also not a guarantee, meaning you may have to hunt the whole pack to get the fluffiest, and coolest cape in the whole game.

No matter what you choose, you’ll feel warm against the winter’s bite.

For a detailed look at the capes’ stats, you may look at the table or use the key points below.

Lox Cape:

• Key Stat Gained: Frost Resistance
• Armor: 1-4 (depending on upgrade level)
• Armor Set Family: N/A (Independent)

Wolf Fur Cape:

• Key Stat Gained: Frost Resistance
• Armor: 1-4 (depending on upgrade level)
• Armor Set Family: Wolf Set

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