As players dive deeper into the world of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, upgrading gear becomes essential to survive the increasingly dangerous encounters across England and beyond. One of the most important crafting resources for improving your weapons and armor is the Nickel Ingot. This valuable material plays a key role in enhancing your equipment from Fine to Superior quality, unlocking better stats and new rune slots. Understanding where to find Nickel Ingots, how to use them effectively, and the best strategies to farm them will give players a considerable advantage as they progress through the game.
What is Nickel Ingot in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla?
Nickel Ingots are mid-tier upgrade materials used to enhance weapons and armor at the blacksmith. They allow players to improve gear quality, not just level. Upgrading with Nickel Ingots gives your equipment better scaling, more rune slots, and visual enhancements. It bridges the gap between Carbon Ingots, which are used in early game regions, and Tungsten Ingots, which are reserved for high-level upgrades in endgame areas.
Why Nickel Ingots Matter
- Required to upgrade Fine gear to Superior gear
- Unlocks rune slots on weapons and armor
- Improves gear stats and appearance
- Necessary for maximizing power level efficiently
Without Nickel Ingots, players will be unable to push their gear to the next level, which can significantly affect combat effectiveness against stronger enemies and bosses.
Where to Find Nickel Ingots
Nickel Ingots become accessible once players move beyond the early regions of Norway and the low-level areas of England. They are primarily found in mid-tier territories, and their availability increases as you pledge to more advanced regions through the alliance map.
Regions That Contain Nickel Ingots
- Oxenefordscire (recommended power: 90)
- Lincolnscire (recommended power: 160)
- Essexe (recommended power: 160)
- Sciropescire (recommended power: 130)
- Cent (recommended power: 130)
Within these territories, players should look for wealth markers on the map. Nickel Ingots are generally classified as wealth and can be found in chests guarded by enemy strongholds or hidden in underground tunnels and buildings.
Types of Activities Yielding Nickel Ingots
- Looting chestsmarked as Wealth in mid-level areas
- Raiding monasteriesand military camps
- Clearing out fortresseswhere elite enemies reside
To increase efficiency, make sure to upgrade your Raven to mark wealth from the air and use Odin’s Sight frequently while exploring.
How to Use Nickel Ingots
Once you’ve collected a decent amount of Nickel Ingots, head back to your settlement in Ravensthorpe. Visit Gunnar, the blacksmith, and access the upgrade interface. Gear that is of Fine quality (blue tier) can be upgraded to Superior quality (purple tier) using Nickel Ingots.
Upgrading Gear at the Blacksmith
- Select the piece of gear you want to upgrade
- If it’s Fine quality, you’ll need a specific number of Nickel Ingots
- Confirm the upgrade to unlock new stats and rune slots
This process not only improves the weapon or armor’s stats but also often changes its appearance, adding visual flair to match its newfound power level. Keep in mind that some upgrades may also require leather, iron ore, or other materials.
Tips for Farming Nickel Ingots Efficiently
Farming Nickel Ingots can be time-consuming if approached without strategy. Here are several tips to help make your gathering process more efficient and rewarding:
1. Target Mid-Level Regions
Focus on regions with power recommendations between 90 and 160. These areas have a higher chance of yielding Nickel Ingots from Wealth chests compared to lower-tier areas like Ledecestrescire or Grantebridgescire.
2. Use the Alliance Map Strategically
Plan your next pledges based on regions known to contain Nickel Ingots. For example, pledge to Oxenefordscire or Cent early so you can begin farming while advancing the main story.
3. Fully Explore Wealth Icons
Every gold Wealth icon on the map may hide a valuable item, including ingots. Prioritize clearing all Wealth in a region before moving on to the next.
4. Utilize Your Abilities
Use Odin’s Sight and Synin the Raven to locate hidden chests. Some chests are behind locked doors or underground, so look for keys and hidden entrances as well.
5. Upgrade Your Settlement
Increasing your settlement level can indirectly help you gather resources faster. For example, building a cartographer’s hut can give you maps pointing to ingot locations.
Nickel Ingots vs Other Ingots
In Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, there are three types of ingots:
- Carbon Ingots Found in low-level regions; used to upgrade Common gear to Fine
- Nickel Ingots Found in mid-level regions; used to upgrade Fine to Superior
- Tungsten Ingots Found in high-level regions; used to upgrade Superior to Flawless and Mythical
Each tier of ingot unlocks a higher quality of gear. Nickel Ingots are crucial during the mid-game, as most enemies and quests start becoming more challenging during this phase.
How Many Nickel Ingots Do You Need?
The exact number of Nickel Ingots required depends on how much gear you intend to upgrade. Weapons and armor each require a few ingots per upgrade. Here’s a general estimate:
- Weapon upgrade: 34 Nickel Ingots
- Armor piece upgrade: 23 Nickel Ingots
If you plan to upgrade a full gear set and multiple weapons, aim to collect at least 3040 Nickel Ingots over the course of your journey. This ensures you always have enough materials when you acquire a new weapon or armor piece.
Best Time to Farm Nickel Ingots
While you can start finding Nickel Ingots as early as level 90, it’s best to begin dedicated farming once you’ve pledged to two or three mid-tier regions. By this point, your power level should allow you to clear enemy strongholds more efficiently and handle tougher challenges without delay.
Don’t wait too long to start collecting either upgraded gear makes battles far easier, especially during story-heavy quests or boss fights. Even if you don’t use them immediately, storing Nickel Ingots will prepare you for future upgrades.
Nickel Ingots in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla are a vital resource that every player should actively pursue during the mid-game phase. They serve as the key to unlocking superior gear performance and customizing your combat style with upgraded weapons and armor. By exploring mid-tier regions, completing wealth objectives, and making strategic choices on the alliance map, you’ll ensure a steady supply of Nickel Ingots to keep your Viking warrior strong and stylish. Mastering the hunt for these resources is a major step toward becoming a legendary assassin in the world of Valhalla.