Assassin's Creed Valhalla's 1.4.1 update, which requires users to reinstall the game, brought back the Yule festival for 2021. In many ways, it's similar to last year's Yule festival with a few new additions. However, 2021's events have started off rocky with some players experiencing issues.
Assassin's Creed Valhalla is the first game in the series to offer continual in-game festivals year-round. Along with utilizing historical events to construct the game's narrative, Ubisoft has provided extra content that connected the past's culture with modernity. On-going festivals became that avenue for connection, with Assassin's Creed Valhalla's 2020 Yule festival becoming the first. After that, Ubisoft added more seasonal festivals throughout the year with celebratory events. Some festivals were added in to pave the way for approaching DLCs, like Sigrblot before Siege of Paris. Nonetheless, Valhalla officially completed its first year after launch in November 2020, which means the Yule festival has made its way back in to prepare for winter and the holiday seasons.
Much of this year's Yule festival events feel like a copy-and-paste format from the last one; Indeed, the activities and seasonal quests are the exact same, and most of the rewards are too. However, there are new cosmetic items, settlement decorations, and a weapon in Norvid's festival shop. Unfortunately, the Yule festivities haven't started off very well for the players unable to access the events whatsoever, and it points to the fact that Valhalla's festivals need improvements.
All Returning Activities, Quests, & Rewards In AC Valhalla's 2021 Yule Festival
Three activity games returned to AC Valhalla's Yule festival this year: Bruns Folly, Twirling Targets, and Yule Brawl. Bruns follow is a spin-off of the drinking competition that already exists in various parts of the game. Evior and an opponent face off in a challenge to see who can drink four rounds of alcohol without messing up. Twirling Targets is the second game, and it's a quick-paced archery challenge. Evior must shoot the correct red, green, or orange targets that pop up in order to earn points; the higher the points, the greater the reward. The last and third returning activity is the best - Yule Brawl. Evior must face off in 6-10 rounds of hand-to-hand combat with other strong opponents, but there's a twist: with each round won, Evior must drink a helping of alcohol, making Evior drunk and the waves of opponents more challenging. After each festival event victory, Evior earns Yule Tokens for rewards in Norvid's shop.
Two quests - "Cow Catcher" and "The Case of the Missing Ale" - have also returned to AC Valhalla's Yule festival this year. During the first quest, Evior helps Bertham solve an issue related to his missing cows. In the second quest, Evior embarks on a journey to find Ake's missing Ale barrel that's been stolen. Unlike last year, the quests aren't buggy, which is a huge plus, and they even start Evior off with a decent amount of tokens to spend on rewards. However, the quests are fairly straightforward and redundant. Ubisoft should look at changing these for 2022's Yule festival, especially Cow Catcher (if it returns for a third time).
For a second time now, the Modraniht armor set has made its way back into Norvid's reward shop. Those who were able to purchase it last year can also purchase it again this year, but there's really not much point to this. Nonetheless, the armor set - when fully equipped - promotes Evior's "Way of the Wolf" skills and helps bolster bow power. Although it's not the strongest gear in the game, it can put out some impressive stats, especially if items are upgraded a decent amount. There are much stronger armor sets that Evior can buy with tokens outside the Yule festival, like AC Valhalla's Valkyrie armor set.
AC Valhalla's New Additions To The 2021 Yule Festival
While there aren't many new aspects to the Yule festivities this year, the little that got added are good additions. King Aethelwulf's Bow is one of those additions, and it's the best item added to the Yule festivals rewards because of its interesting historical elements and weapon buff. King Aethelwulf was king of Wessex before there was a united England; he was also the father of the famous Alfred the Great, who's featured in AC Valhalla's main questline. Additionally, the bow is the finishing piece to the Modraniht armor set and puts out an impressive +30.0 headshot damage bonus. With its perks and its "The Way of the Wulf" skill tree boost, the bow could be one of Valhalla's most powerful weapons.
New hair cosmetics and settlement decorations also came into AC Valhalla's Yule festival reward shop. Together, these elements are meant to shine a more humorous and laidback light on the seasonal festivities. Both the cosmetics and decorations don't cost as many tokens as the armor set and bow, so it'll probably be one of the last rewards players will want to spend their currency on.
Early AC Valhalla Issues Haven't Allowed Players Access To The Yule Festival
This year's Yule festival events haven't gone without their problems. Most players are accessing the festivities normally, but others are experiencing the complete opposite. Some players who participated in the Yule festival in 2020 aren't able to access this year's events, which seems to be a glitch that thinks the player has already completed the festival's events. Ubisoft announced that it is extending Valhalla's Yule festival following widespread issues. However, the company has yet to set an extension date and said the dev team would bring out an update in early January, after the holidays. This will give some players extra time to finish up the quests and other activities that the Yule festival has to offer.
Other than the accessing problems, AC Valhalla's seasonal Yule festival events have been smooth, with fewer bugs than last year. One of the biggest problems with this year's festival is that it's practically a carbon copy of the year prior, and the uniqueness is turning more into monotony. New players who didn't get to experience the festival last year will probably have an all-around enjoyable time playing. Most gamers who've played Assassin's Creed Valhalla from the beginning are looking most forward to the Dawn of Ragnarok, possibly the last DLC of the game.