Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Story Choices Guide

This guide covers all important story choices in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla (ACV) that have lasting effects. There are more choices than this, but anything not listed here only has short term effects (such as changing the next line of dialogue or having minor effects on the next quest objective). The choices listed here are the ones that can “come back to haunt you” at much later points.

Before we start, let’s quickly go over 2 important categories of choices: There are choices that affect who joins you at your settlement as a Jomsviking (clan member), and there are choices that affect the game ending. It goes without saying there are some major spoilers ahead so if you care about spoilers read this after your playthrough to see how else things could have played out. Either way you can still return to all regions and clean up Collectibles after the story. The outcome doesn’t have a big impact on post-story gameplay.

Recruitable Jomsvikings

The following people can join your clan depending on your choices. These are marked orange in the chronological guide further below.

Here’s a quick overview:

• [Birna] Grantebridgescire – Main Quest “The Stench of Treachery”: You will have to choose who is the traitor (Birna, Lif, Galinn). The real traitor is Galinn (he has visions and is a little insane). Picking the traitor correctly (choosing Galinn) will make Birna join your clan/settlement at the end of Grantebridgescire story arc. If you choose the wrong traitor (Birna / Lif), then Birna will not join your village and Soma will be disappointed in you.
• [Finnr] East Anglia – Main Quest “A Fury from the Sea”: After the Rued boss battle you can choose “Rued will die” or “Rued will live”. If you let Rued die he can’t cause trouble later at the wedding (at end of East Anglia story arc). If you let Rued live, he will show up later at the wedding. Then at the wedding you can let Oswald duel Rued or you can step in and duel Rued yourself. If you let Oswald do the duel it causes Finnr to not join your clan/settlement. If you do the Rued duel at the wedding yourself, then Finnr will join your clan/settlement.
• [Rollo] Essexe – Main Quest “Old Wounds”: At Rollo’s camp you’ll have to figure out who the traitor is – Gerhild or Lork. The true traitor is Gerhild. If you accuse Gerhild (the true traitor), then Estrid won’t get injured later in the Essexe story arc. If you pick the wrong traitor (Lork), then Estrid will get injured. Picking Gerhild is preferable so the traitorous snake can’t cause any trouble. Regardless of your choice, Rollo will always join you as a Jomsviking after completing the Essexe story arc and reporting back to Randvi.
• [Vili] Snotinghamscire – Main Quest “Under the Skin”: If you let Trygve burn himself alive at the pyre (he wants to sacrifice his life to the gods), you won’t get to pick an Earldorman. Pick dialogue “Snotinghamscire can’t lose another” so he won’t burn himself or “Do as you must, Trygve” if you want him to burn. Assuming you let Trygve live, then later at the end of the Snotinghamscire story arc, during Main Quest “Farewells and Legacies” you can pick between Vili and Trygve for Earldorman. The dialogue “I see a jarl in you” will pick Vili, and “I see Trygve as jarl, and you with me” will pick Trygve. If you pick Trygve as jarl then Vili will join you at your settlement. If you let Trygve burn himself then Vili will automatically be Earldorman and won’t join your settlement. If Trygve is alive but you pick Vili for Earldorman he will stay behind and not join your settlement.

Sigurd Choices (Game Endings)

There are 5 choices in the game that affect what ending you get. These are the Sigurd Choices. If you make 3 Choices against Sigurd (Sigurd Strikes), he will dislike you and leave England to go back to Norway at the end of the game. If you do the opposite and pick the choices in support of Sigurd, he will like you and stay with you in England at the end of the game. What outcome you get only affects the final cutscene, nothing else. Either way you still have access to everything after the story and can return to all regions.

These choices impact whether Sigurd leaves or stays in England at the end of the story:

• [Sigurd Choice] Prologue – At the end of the Norway chapter, you can choose whether to take the Cargo with you to England (dishonorable) or leave it behind (honorable). Taking the Cargo gives you some good starting amount for your first building in your settlement but it counts as a Sigurd Strike (makes him more likely to leave at end of the game).  Leaving the Cargo behind makes Sigurd like you a little more (he’s more likely to stay in England at the end of the story).
• [Sigurd Choice] At some point in the story you will get a new dialogue option with Randvi (woman at the Alliance Map in your settlement) to take her on a joyride. You can entirely skip this quest or do it. If you do this quest, it will end on a tower with a nice view and a romance option (dialogue with heart icon). If you start a romance with Randvi, it counts as a Sigurd Strike. Choosing to “Stay Friends” or skipping the quest entirely will not give you a Sigurd Strike.
• [Sigurd Choice] Oxenefordscire – Main Quest “Blood from a Stone”: You will have an argument with Sigurd and Basim. There are the following dialogue choices “Take Breath”, “Punch Basim”, “Enough of This”, “Punch Sigurd”. If you punch Sigurd and Basim it will count as a Sigurd Strike (see explanation at start of the guide). Not punching them will not give you a strike.
• [Sigurd Choice] Ravensthorpe – Main Quest “A Brewing Storm”: After completing the Cent story arc, when you return to Ravensthorpe you’ll need to rest in your bed and then Dag challenges you to a duel. After defeating Dag you have two choices “(Give Dag His Axe)” or “(Deny Dag His Axe)”. If you deny him his axe it counts as a Sigurd Strike (see explanation at start of the guide). Giving him his axe will not give you a strike.
• [Sigurd Choice] After completing Suthsexe & Essexe Story Arcs – After you’ve finished the Suthsexe & Essexe story arcs, return to the longhouse at your settlement Ravensthorpe. There a cutscene will start as soon as you enter. You’re supposed to make a judgment to solve a dispute between two people. While you sit on the throne, Sigurd walks in to take up his role as leader and casts his judgment. If you say “This Judgment isn’t fair” it will give you a Sigurd Strike (makes him more likely to leave for Norway at end of game), if you say “I support Sigurd’s Judgment” it doesn’t give you a strike and counts towards Sigurd staying in England after the story.

Chronological Choices

Now that we went through the types of choices above, let’s go through everything in the actual chronological order. Below some other important choices are included as well with explanations how each of them impacts the outcome. There are no “right” or “wrong” choices. Rather, you should decide what outcome you want. There’s always a tradeoff. One choice might make someone dislike you but gives a quick reward. Look at the outcome of each choice and decide based on that.

• [Sigurd Choice] Prologue – At the end of the Norway chapter, you can choose whether to take the Cargo with you to England (dishonorable) or leave it behind (honorable). Taking the Cargo gives you some good starting amount for your first building in your settlement but it counts as a Sigurd Strike (makes him more likely to leave at end of the game).  Leaving the Cargo behind makes Sigurd like you a little more (he’s more likely to stay in England at the end of the story).
• [IMPORTANT] Ledecestrescire – Main Quest “Heavy is the Head”: After the Leofrith boss battle, you can choose whether to spare Leofrith’s Life “(Spare) Burgred abandoned you” or to kill him “(Kill) Pray to your god now”. If you spare him, he will tell you about the Zealots and a scroll you can burn so they will not chase you for the rest of the game. If you kill him, the Zealots will start chasing you for the rest of the game (they are a powerful enemy class). Zealots count as Order of the Ancients members. If you’re going for the platinum trophy / 1000 Gamerscore and 100% game completion, it is HIGHLY recommended to kill Leofrith so the Zealots hunt you. Because in the open world they spawn in random places and by making them hunt you they will come to you. This makes them easier to find (basically automatic) so you don’t have to waste time looking for them. This can make things a little harder (especially on higher difficulties), but it’s a good time saver when going for completion.
• [Recruit: Birna] Grantebridgescire – Main Quest “The Stench of Treachery”: You will have to choose who is the traitor (Birna, Lif, Galinn). The real traitor is Galinn (he has visions and is a little insane). Picking the traitor correctly (choosing Galinn) will make Birna join your clan/settlement at the end of Grantebridgescire story arc. If you choose the wrong traitor (Birna / Lif), then Birna will not join your village and Soma will be disappointed in you.
• [Recruit: Finnr] East Anglia – Main Quest “A Fury from the Sea”: After the Rued boss battle you can choose “Rued will die” or “Rued will live”. If you let Rued die he can’t cause trouble later at the wedding (at end of East Anglia story arc). If you let Rued live, he will show up later at the wedding. Then at the wedding you can let Oswald duel Rued or you can step in and duel Rued yourself. If you let Oswald do the duel it causes Finnr to not join your clan/settlement. If you do the Rued duel at the wedding yourself, then Finnr will join your clan/settlement.
• [Sigurd Choice] Oxenefordscire – Main Quest “Blood from a Stone”: You will have an argument with Sigurd and Basim. There are the following dialogue choices “Take Breath”, “Punch Basim”, “Enough of This”, “Punch Sigurd”. If you punch Sigurd and Basim it will count as a Sigurd Strike (see explanation at start of the guide). Not punching them will not give you a strike.
• [Miscellaneous] Sciropescire – Main Quest “Wear Weary”: You are given 650 Silver and must decide who to give it to. Or you can lie about giving it to someone and keep it for yourself instead. Regardless of your choice, it will always result in Ivar starting a fight and a big battle at Quatford ensues. Even if you give the silver to Ivar he’ll still start the fight. You might as well keep it for yourself.
• [Miscellaneous] Sciropescire – Main Quest “King Killer”: At the very end of the Sciropescire story arc, when reporting back to Ubba you can tell him the truth about what happened to his brother Ivarr or lie about it. Ubba will show up at your settlement later (after Jorvik story arc). What you picked will determine his feelings towards you. If you told the truth he’ll gift you a silver ring (after Jorvik story arc). If you lied he will be angry.
• [Sigurd Choice] Ravensthorpe – Main Quest “A Brewing Storm”: After completing the Cent story arc, when you return to Ravensthorpe you’ll need to rest in your bed and then Dag challenges you to a duel. After defeating Dag you have two choices “(Give Dag His Axe)” or “(Deny Dag His Axe)”. If you deny him his axe it counts as a Sigurd Strike (see explanation at start of the guide). Giving him his axe will not give you a strike.
• [Recruit: Rollo] Essexe – Main Quest “Old Wounds”: At Rollo’s camp you’ll have to figure out who the traitor is – Gerhild or Lork. The true traitor is Gerhild. If you accuse Gerhild (the true traitor), then Estrid won’t get injured later in the Essexe story arc. If you pick the wrong traitor (Lork), then Estrid will get injured. Picking Gerhild is preferable so she can’t cause any trouble. Regardless of your choice, Rollo will always join you as a Jomsviking after completing the Essexe story arc and reporting back to Randvi.
• [Sigurd Choice] After completing Suthsexe & Essexe Story Arcs – After you’ve finished the Suthsexe & Essexe story arcs, return to the longhouse at your settlement Ravensthorpe. There a cutscene will start as soon as you enter. You’re supposed to make a judgment to solve a dispute between two people. While you sit on the throne, Sigurd walks in to take up his role as leader and casts his judgment. If you say “This Judgment isn’t fair” it will give you a Sigurd Strike (makes him more likely to leave for Norway at end of game), if you say “I support Sigurd’s Judgment” it doesn’t give you a strike and counts towards Sigurd staying in England after the story.
• [Miscellaneous] Lincolnshire: During this story arc you will have to cast your vote for who should become Earldorman of Lincolnshire (the choices are: Bishop Herefrith, Aelfgar, Hunwald). If you vote for Bishop Herefrith the story arc will end right away and he’s revealed as an Order Member later (happens automatically after you complete your next story arc, e.g. Jorvik story). Then you’ll have to come back to Lincolnshire to kill the Bishop. If you vote for Aelfgar or Hunwald, the Bishop will be revealed as an Order Member immediately and you must kill him in his castle to complete the story arc. Regardless, the story will always force you to kill the Bishop and your choice only impacts the timing of when that will happen.
• [Miscellaneous] Jorvik – Main Quest “Closing the Vault”: At the feast you have to talk to different people to figure out who the Vault (Order Member) is. When talking to Ljufvina, you have to accuse someone (Hjorr, Faravid, Ricsige, Audun). The correct answer is “Audun”, he is the Vault.
• [Miscellaneous] Eurvicscire – Your choices during this story arc will decide whether Faravid lives or dies.
• [Recruit: Vili] Snotinghamscire – Main Quest “Under the Skin”: If you let Trygve burn himself alive at the pyre (he wants to sacrifice his life to the gods), you won’t get to pick an Earldorman. Pick dialogue “Snotinghamscire can’t lose another” so he won’t burn himself or “Do as you must, Trygve” if you want him to burn. Assuming you let Trygve live, then later at the end of the Snotinghamscire story arc, during Main Quest “Farewells and Legacies” you can pick between Vili and Trygve for Earldorman. The dialogue “I see a jarl in you” will pick Vili, and “I see Trygve as jarl, and you with me” will pick Trygve. If you pick Trygve as jarl then Vili will join you at your settlement. If you let Trygve burn himself then Vili will automatically be Earldorman and won’t join your settlement. If Trygve is alive but you pick Vili for Earldorman he will stay behind and not join your settlement.

For more guides check out the complete Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Wiki & Strategy Guide.