Published , by Josh Hawkins
Published , by Josh Hawkins
Unlike previous Assassin’s Creed games, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla actually requires players to unlock Books of Knowledge to acquire different ranged and melee abilities. Because of this, you’re going to need to find every Book of Knowledge location in the game if you want to unlock all of the abilities that are available to you. Luckily, we’ve taken all of the guess work out of it, and this guide will detail the locations of each Book of Knowledge below.
Last updated November 12, 2020.
Each region in Valhalla includes a couple of different Books of Knowledge for players to acquire and we’ve broken them each down into the main areas that you’ll visit below. We’ve also included images of the map, as well as descriptions on how to locate each book itself. As such, spoilers abound below, this is your only warning.
The first Book of Knowledge that players can find during the opening section of the game is for Throwing Axe Fury. This particular ability can be unlocked as you finish up the raid on Nottfall. Head to the southern end of the village and look for a cave that you can run into.
Head to the back of the cave and you’ll come to a locked door. There’s a hole to the right that you can climb through to reach the area behind it. Grab the book off the pedestal to unlock Throwing Axe Fury.
The only way to grab the second Book of Knowledge for this upgrade is to advance through the game until you raid the castle during the Sciropescire story arc. Look out for a room with a locked door to the left of the throne room and then break down the breakable wall on the left to make your way inside and grab the ability point.
This particular ability can be found in a fortified location just south of Nottfall. Head over the mountains until you reach an encampment called Gryttirsand. This location holds year another ability you can unlock.
To unlock the Thorn of Slumber ability, head into the encampment using one of the lower entryways on the northern, southern, and eastern sides of the outer edge. This will eventually lead you to the center, where a large tower rises above the rest of the camp. Unfortunately, the door that leads inside is barred from the interior, so you’re going to need to go up to get in.
Climb up the outer wall of the tower and head into the first window that you see. Make your way as far down as you can before you spot a breakable surface blocking your progress. Shoot this with an arrow to break it and then head inside to find the Book of Knowledge waiting below. Grab it to unlock this ability.
While taking part in the Dover Fortress raid, head up the steps to the building that is connected to the large ruined looking tower. The base of the tower is locked, but you can find the key above you by using your Raven. It is near the top of the tower. Climb up, grab it, then make your way back down and open the door to find the Book of Knowledge inside.
If you continue through the main story, you’ll soon find yourself going after Kjotve’s Fortress. This is where the next Book of Knowledge resides. Go ahead and complete the quest to take down Kjotve, and once completed, you’ll have free roam of the area. There are more than a couple secrets here.
To find the Rage of Hellheim Book of Knowledge, make your way to the eastern edge of the area and head up the hill. Climb the cliffside until you reach a cave entrance behind the waterfall. Head inside and follow it to the back. You may see a notice appear on screen saying, “Area Not Available” depending on when you try to grab this one. Simply ignore this and continue until you reach an ice wall that you can attack with your weapon to break through. The book is just beyond this broken wall. Grab it to acquire this ability.
Make your way over to Jorvik in Eurvicscire. Once you get there, look for a building along the left side of the area and then climb up and look for a locked door. You’ll need to make your way inside the building and then up a ladder that you can shoot to knock down to gain entry to the area with this Book of Knowledge.
The next Book of Knowledge can be found while exploring the eastern areas of East Anglia. Look out for a ruined church and when you find it, head inside to find this item waiting to be claimed.
To find this upgrade, head over to East Anglia and make your way west of Brisleah Farm. Look for a ruined tower and then shoot through the boarded-up floor to drop down into a lower area. You’ll then need to break through a nearby wall to find the Book of Knowledge waiting to be claimed.
Head over to the Isle of Ely Monastery. The easiest way to find this one is during a raid, as there are several enemies to deal with here. Either way, head over to the monastery and then look out for a large courtyard surrounded by several verandas. Once here, move over to the south-east corner and look for a door that you can head through. Continue down the stairs and you will come to the room that contains this ability.
The upgrade for this ability can be found over in Cent. Locate the Lolingestone Bandit Camp and then look for the Book of Knowledge on an overheard hanging platform inside of the main building.
Finding this Book of Knowledge will require players to make their way over to the Leah Villa Garrison in Oxenefordscire. There’s a locked room inside that holds this Book of Knowledge.
Players can also find a Book of Knowledge over in Lincolnscire, at Bolingbroc Castle. It’s really easy to see this one while exploring the main castle area.
The first version of this ability can be found in Ledecestrescire, while exploring near the river that runs north of Alcestre Monastery. Look for a secret entrance in the area that leads down into a hole. Follow the corridors and then swim around the gate to find a breakable wall with this Book of Knowledge behind it.
The next Book of Knowledge is found inside of a church in the eastern part of Essexe, just northwest of Colcestre. You’ll find a locked door inside that can be opened with a key that is hidden on the opposite side of the church. It’s a bit of a puzzle, so you’ll want to enter from the main window, grab the key, and the head to the locked door. Unlock the door and then move across the platform and shoot the lock on a nearby ladder to gain access to the area above.
Head to Grantebridgescire to find the next ability unlock. This one can be found inside of the monastery at Walden.
Just north of where Suthsexe is found on the map, look for a tower that you can climb up and interact with. This Book of Knowledge awaits your claiming.
This Book of Knowledge can be found over in Crepelgate Fort, along the outskirts of the city of Lunden.
The first iteration of Mark of Death can be found in Hordafylke. Head to the town of Alrekstad and look for a small house with a bunch of rocks being held up by a chain. If you shoot the metal connected the rocks to a hook, then a gap will open up, giving you room to continue forward. Make sure to grab the key from the nearby pig pen before heading down.
The upgrade for Mark of Death can be found inside of a guard tower along the southern edge of Medleburne in Grantebridgescire.
Make your way to Templebrough Fort in Ledecestrescire to find this book. Climbup through the windows into the room and take out any guards before trying to claim the Book of Knowledge.
This next Book of Knowledge is a little tricky to acquire. First, head over to Tonnastadir in Ledecestrescire. Once here, investigate the longhouse for a key that you’ll need to progress. From here you will want to look for a secret passage door, that you can then use the key to unlock, gaining access to the book.
If you head to Essexe and look for a small church along the southwestern part of the area, you’ll be able to find this upgrade. Use your arrows to shoot the wooden barricade at the back of the church down, giving you access to a door lock that you can destroy. Head around and through the now unlocked door to grab the upgrade.
Head to Ravensburg in Grantebridgescire and explore the houses in the village to find this Book of Knowledge inside one of them.
The upgrade for Rush and Bash can be found on the outcropping of land that juts off of the southern area of East Anglia. Head to this location to find a fort-like encampment that you can explore. If you look for the room with the Master-At-Arms and then kill him, he’ll drop a key that you can use to gain access to his book. Break down the nearby breakable wall, then drop down and move a shelf out of the way to find the door that you need to unlock with the key. The upgrade is just beyond the door.
Make your way all the way over to the western edge of Oxenefordscire to Oxenforda. Once here, look for the Leah Villa Garrison and enter through the same locked room where you found the Feign Death ability. Just below this room is a barricade that you can destroy which will lead you to a small room. If you search the room, you’ll find a key that you can use to unlock the tower door to the north of the building. This Book of Knowledge is inside the tower.
There are also some abilities that are tied directly to defeating the Order of the Ancients. Each agent that you defeat will drop a special medallion that you must then bring to the Hidden Ones Bureau. Here’s a look at the abilities you can unlock by turning in these medallions:
We’ll be updating this guide with more abilities and Books of Knowledge as we uncover them. For now, make sure you’re ready for what’s next by heading over to our Assassin’s Creed Valhalla guide, where you’ll find detailed info on how to respec and even a walkthrough on how to obtain Thor’s hammer and armor.