Valheim is ringing in the holidays with Yule items and less slippery fish

Valheim Yule items
(Image credit: Iron Gate Studio)

A new Valheim update rings in the holidays with newly enabled Yule items and a boatload of bug fixes.

To be clear, the new Valheim update is in the public testing phase right now, so if you want to indulge in the festivities early you can swap over to the public test branch and download the patch. In addition to the Yule tree, Yuleklapp, Yule wreath, Yule garland, and Mistletoe, Valheim patch 0.212.7 includes a laundry list of fixes - a number of which are dedicated to improving fishing.

For example, the patch notes state that "fish are no longer as slippery and you can now pick them up again by pressing the 'use' button." The patch also makes it so that fish "no longer float in the air," because that's not a very fishy thing to do at all. The pufferfish's poison radius has also been lowered, and fishing bait recipes will yield more bait. So, all in all, the fishing experience should be more realistic and less dangerous.

Elsewhere, the patch apparently adds more interesting items in chests in Mistlands dungeons, makes ballista stop going ballistic at low health, and makes mobs spawn correctly in Mistlands' new events. Check out the full patch notes for the complete list.

Valheim Mistlands still doesn't have an official release date in the main early access game, but like I mentioned earlier, you can check out everything new right now by switching over to the public test branch. And don't worry, you can jump right back to the main game whenever you want, just be sure you're backing up your saves, as test-phase updates are inherently wonky.

In case you missed it: Valheim devs want to make a sequel, but one idea has already been vetoed.

CATEGORIES
Jordan Gerblick

After scoring a degree in English from ASU, I worked as a copy editor while freelancing for places like SFX Magazine, Screen Rant, Game Revolution, and MMORPG on the side. Now, as GamesRadar's west coast Staff Writer, I'm responsible for managing the site's western regional executive branch, AKA my apartment, and writing about whatever horror game I'm too afraid to finish.

Read more
Mirthwood
One of the most enchanting games like Stardew Valley I played in 2024 just got a big new update, placing the medieval life sim RPG back on my radar
Manor Lords
Manor Lords patch adds new maps and a city builder staple, bridge-building, and also makes it so "taverns realize ale isn't magic – it's just ale"
One of Manor Lords citizens building in a new update
Manor Lords' next big update adds the city builder's first new maps and lets you build bridges to stop drunk villagers from drowning
Helldivers 2 Escalation of Freedom
Helldivers 2's funniest feature was removed last year, but it's finally been reinstated – although it won't save you from certain doom anymore
Baldur's Gate 3
Baldur's Gate 3's unreleased Patch 8 is getting its own patch today, because Mystra forbid Gale goes another day without eating magic shoes
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 screenshot showing a group of medieval men sitting at a table with food, cheering together with wooden mugs of beer lifted high
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is getting its new 1.2 update soon, and it sounds absolutely massive as Warhorse reveals there are "34 pages of patch notes"
Latest in Action
best zombie games
The Last of Us "became the brand name for quality and storytelling within games" says Joel actor Troy Baker: "It became like the fridge"
Rift Apart
Retiring Insomniac boss says developers should still tackle new genres, but it's much riskier these days due to time and money
Dollman being buckled into a seat in Death Stranding 2
Hideo Kojima left "a number of clues" in the new Death Stranding 2 trailer, including hints of a day/night cycle
Assassin's Creed Shadows cinematic screenshot
Ubisoft shareholder plans protest in response to mismanagement, Assassin's Creed Shadows delays, and alleged acquisition talks with Microsoft and EA
Key art for Assassin's Creed Rogue Remastered showing Shay Patrick Cormac in a black and red outfit that's a cross between Assassin and Templar armor, with his ship The Morrigan behind him
Assassin's Creed Shadows can wait – I spent 40 hours mopping up the map in the one game in the series everyone skipped
GTA 3 Mobile screenshot showing claude running away from police near a casino
The fan-made Dreamcast version of GTA 3 is looking way better in the latest look, introducing tech that "would’ve previously been a slideshow"
Latest in News
Warfare movie
First reactions to Ex Machina director's "intense" new war movie are comparing it to Black Hawk Down
Jack Quaid in The Boys
The Boys star and self-proclaimed "huge video game nerd" Jack Quaid says his dream role would be in a BioShock movie because it's "one of my favorite games of all time"
harry holding a molotov as kim stands by, hands in pockets - he's so cool
After a landmark RPG, Disco Elysium mobile wants to "captivate the TikTok user," which is maybe the worst thing I've ever read in my entire life
Screenshot from PowerWash Simulator 2, showing two jet washers spraying one dirty wooden house.
After 3 years and 44,327 overwhelmingly positive Steam reviews, viral hit PowerWash Simulator is finally getting a sequel complete with split-screen co-op
Nintendo Store NYC
After 20 years, a second Nintendo Store is set to open in the US this May
Vincent D'Onofrio as Wilson Fisk in Daredevil: Born Again
Daredevil: Born Again fans would love this Marvel character to appear, even if it's extremely unlikely