Convert Old Valheim Terrain to New System

This guide explains how to convert terrain that was modified before Valheim’s Mistlands update (or any older terrain data) to the new terrain system introduced in later patches. The new system uses a different heightmap format and supports features like the cultivator’s “level” tool working on player-built ground. You’ll need a world where you’ve already built or terraformed, and you’ll be using console commands to force the game to regenerate the terrain data. This process preserves your buildings and most of your terrain modifications, but it can cause minor visual glitches that are usually fixed by re-loading the area.

What You’ll Need

• A Valheim world with old terrain (created before patch 0.217.24, the Mistlands update).
• Access to the in-game console (F5 key) and admin/cheat commands enabled (press F5, type devcommands and press Enter).
• A backup of your world files (just in case).
• Patience – the conversion can take a few minutes on large worlds.

Step-by-Step

1. Back up your world. Navigate to %USERPROFILE%\AppData\LocalLow\IronGate\Valheim\worlds (Windows) or ~/Library/Application Support/unity.IronGate.Valheim/worlds (Mac). Copy the .db and .fwl files for your world to a safe location. This is essential because the conversion process modifies the world file, and if something goes wrong, you can restore it.
2. Launch Valheim and load your world. Start the game, select your character, and enter the world you want to convert. Make sure you are in a location where you have built or terraformed – the conversion affects the entire world, but you’ll want to be near your structures to see the results.
3. Open the console and enable devcommands. Press F5 to open the console. Type devcommands and press Enter. You should see a message confirming that cheats are enabled. If you don’t have cheats enabled, the next command won’t work.
4. Run the terrain conversion command. In the console, type terrain and press Enter. This command forces the game to re-save the terrain data in the new format. You’ll see a message in the console like “Terrain saved” or similar. This may take a few seconds – wait for it to finish.
5. Save the world and exit. Press F5 to close the console, then press Esc and select “Save & Exit”. This ensures the converted terrain data is written to disk.
6. Reload the world. Re-enter your world. The game will load the new terrain system. You may notice that some terrain modifications look slightly different, but your buildings should be intact. If you see floating terrain or holes, don’t panic – this is often due to the game not fully loading the new heightmap. Walk around the affected areas to force them to reload.
7. Verify and fix minor issues. If you see any terrain that is clearly wrong (e.g., huge cliffs where there were none), you can use the cultivator’s “level” tool or the hoe’s “raise” and “lower” options to smooth things out. In most cases, the conversion is seamless and you won’t need to do anything.

Common Mistakes

• Not backing up the world. If something goes wrong, you’ll lose all your progress. Always back up first.
• Running the command while not in the world. The terrain command must be executed while you are inside the world you want to convert. Running it from the main menu will do nothing.
• Forgetting to save after the command. If you exit without saving, the conversion won’t be written to disk, and you’ll have to repeat the process.
• Using the command on a world that already has the new system. This is harmless but unnecessary. The command simply re-saves terrain data.

Tips

• Do the conversion during a time when you can stay in the world for a few minutes. The game needs to load and save the terrain, which can cause a brief freeze.
• If you have a very large world (many explored areas), the conversion may take longer. Be patient and don’t close the game during the process.
• After conversion, consider using the genloc command (also in the console) to regenerate location data if you notice any dungeons or structures missing. This is not always needed, but it can help.
• Test on a copy of your world first. If you’re nervous, copy your world files, rename the copy, and test the conversion on that. This way, you can see the results without risking your main world.

Troubleshooting

• Terrain looks jagged or has holes after conversion. This is usually a loading issue. Walk around the affected area or use the resetregion command (with devcommands enabled) to force the game to reload the terrain chunks. If that doesn’t work, try exiting and reloading the world.
• Buildings are floating or sunken. This can happen if the heightmap changed slightly. Use the hoe’s “level” tool to adjust the ground under the building, or use the debugmode to fly and reposition items if needed. In most cases, the change is minor and easily fixed.
• The terrain command doesn’t seem to do anything. Make sure you have devcommands enabled and that you’re typing the command correctly. The console should show a confirmation message. If not, try typing help to see a list of commands.
• World fails to load after conversion. This is rare but can happen if the world file is corrupted. Restore your backup and try again, making sure to follow the steps exactly. If it still fails, your world may have been too old or damaged – consider starting a new world.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Will this delete my buildings?
A: No, buildings are stored separately from terrain data. The conversion only affects the heightmap, so your structures will remain.

Q: Do I need to do this for a new world?
A: No, new worlds created after the Mistlands update already use the new terrain system. This guide is only for worlds created before that update.

Q: Can I revert the conversion?
A: Yes, if you have a backup, you can simply restore the old world files. If you didn’t back up, there’s no official way to revert, but you can manually edit the terrain with tools.

Q: Why does my terrain look different after conversion?
A: The new system uses a different heightmap resolution, so minor differences in elevation are expected. This is normal and usually not noticeable.

Q: Does this affect multiplayer servers?
A: Yes, the conversion must be done on the server’s world file. If you’re playing on a dedicated server, you’ll need to run the command on the server console or have an admin do it.

Q: Will this fix terrain that was bugged before?
A: It can fix some issues, like terrain that was unlevelable or had invisible walls, but it won’t fix all bugs. If you have specific terrain issues, you may need to manually repair them.

Related

• Blox Fruits Tiger Fruit Guide: Moves, Awakening & More
• Dyson Airwrap Styler: Use It Without Damaging Hair
• Fix Steam Remote Play Not Working