Valheim included support for the Vulkan API in its 0.146.8 update, which thrilled many players. Despite all the positives of the game, in reality, the survival game lacks good performance and optimization. However, what will change if you use Vulkan? 

In this guide, we will tell you what Vulkan is, how to enable it, and whether it's worth playing Valheim using Vulkan. Let's go!

What is Vulkan for Valheim

Vulkan is an API (Application Programming Interface), similar to DirectX or OpenGL. It helps improve the performance and quality of the game, regardless of your computer's graphics processor. Overall, it's very good news for those who want to enhance the game's quality. 

How to Use Vulkan for Valheim

To run Vulkan, follow these steps:

1. Right-click on the Valheim icon in your Steam library and select Properties;
2. Click on the General tab, and in the bottom input field under Launch Options, enter "-force-vulkan" (without quotes, but with both dashes);
3. Click the X button to close the Properties window and then launch Valheim.

However, there are cases where the system itself will prompt you to use Vulkan when trying to launch the game. If you didn't receive such a notification, use the actions mentioned above.

Is It Worth Playing Valheim with Vulkan?

Actually, it all depends on your computer. Vulkan has indeed helped some users double their frame rates, while it fixed random GPU driver-related crashes for others. However, a third group of players didn't notice any changes at all.