// PC GAMER — GAMING
How to use Battle Idols and Protection Idols in Valheim, and where to find the Forge of Potential
Valheim 1.0 has added a new way to upgrade your gear.
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If you've started a new character or world in Valheim 1.0 from the beginning (or are playing it for the first time ever), you may be wondering about the Battle Idols and Protection Idols you've found. While opening chests in Valhiem's various biomes, you will occasionally come across an item called a Battle Idol or Protection Idol made of wood, bronze, iron, or other materials.
These Idols don't seem to serve an immediate purpose, but hang onto any you find because you'll eventually be able to use them to upgrade your weapons and armor.
Idols can randomly be found as loot in chests, and chests can spawn in various places in the world: abandoned houses, burial chambers, ruined towers, shipwrecks, Viking graveyards, and other points of interest.
Which type of Idol you find will depend on what biome you're in:
The Idols will allow you to upgrade your weapons and armor: the Battle Idols are used to improve your weapons, and the Protection Idols are used to improve your armor. You can only use Idols at one place: the Forge of Potential.
To find Valheim's Forge of Potential, you'll need to search the Mountains biome. Since it's so cold there, be sure to have items that keep you warm, like frost resistance mead, or a wolf fur cape or wolf fur armor chestpiece to avoid freezing.
Once you're close to the Forge of Potential, an icon that looks like an Idol will appear on your map:
In both worlds I've found it in, the Forge of Potential has been very close to boss Moder's summoning altar, but I don't know if that's a rule for where it appears or if that was just luck. Both times it has been near the top of a tall peak, however.