Winding Tunnels: Entrances, Loot and Route

Winding Tunnels is a Deep North dungeon tied to Frostcores, Intricate Key moulds, Elaking Hair, and Long Claws. It fits into the route mapped in the Deep North guide and the locations catalog.

Quick facts

How to reach it

1. Search Abandoned Villages in the Deep North.
2. Check the largest building and the ground beneath it for the dungeon entrance.
3. Mark the entrance and establish a portal before starting a full clear.

What you get from it

• Frostcores for the Frigid Kiln and Frost Foundry.
• A mould used to make the Intricate Key.
• Elaking Hair Bundles and Long Claws from dungeon enemies.

Tactics

• Bring rested food, healing, and inventory space for cores and moulds.
• Fight from cleared rooms rather than pulling enemies into unexplored passages.
• Mark branches so a retreat does not become another search.
• Do not leave before confirming whether the key mould dropped.

Dungeon route and progression checklist

Winding Tunnels are large multi-room dungeons beneath Abandoned Villages. Expect Elaking, Draugr variants, skeleton variants, and Eyeless Ones. Elaking supply Elaking Hair Bundles, while Eyeless Ones supply Long Claws. Pull each group into a cleared room and mark branches so a retreat remains readable.

Frostcores appear embedded through walls, floors, and dungeon features rather than only as a final chest reward. The first pickup reveals the Frigid Kiln and Frost Foundry; keep collecting until you have 20 for both stations. Key moulds can appear in dungeon loot, and each mould is consumed when a cast is made. Search for three before leaving if the dungeon layout allows it.

Place a portal outside the entrance and bank rare materials between branches. Carry a hoe or signs for route marking, food, healing, and enough weapon durability for a long clear. The practical loot order is Frostcores first, three key moulds second, then equipment moulds and enemy materials. A single mould is only one-third of the Mörkhalla route.

Frequently asked questions

How many key moulds should I collect?

Aim for three. Each mould is consumed to make one cast, and three finished keys are required for the Mörkhalla loop.

How many Frostcores should I leave with?

Collect at least 20 to build both the Frigid Kiln and Frost Foundry, then keep extras needed by later crafting.

Documentation status

Iron Gate's 1.0 notes confirm the named content; exact quantities and route details here are included where current hands-on guides and game-data references agree.

Sources

Sources: Official Valheim 1.0 notes, Deep North overview — BisectHosting, All Things How guide, Valheim.tools game-data guide.