Valheim SkToolbox Cheat Guide: Advanced Console Commands

Valheim stays one of the best survival games on PC, and SkToolbox is the mod I reach for when I need precise control — for testing builds, staging events, or finishing a big project without days of grinding. I don’t use it to cut corners; I use it to finish predictable tasks faster so the creative work actually gets done.

I’ve used SkToolbox since 2021 and we found it stable on dedicated servers running 2024–2025 Valheim builds (with the usual caveats). Below I give exact installation steps, core commands I rely on, a building workflow I developed, combat and server practices, troubleshooting, and safety notes. Expect direct advice, specific numbers, and blunt opinions — from a woman who’s run public servers and events.

🛠️ Installing SkToolbox: exact steps and why

Install BepInEx first. Get BepInEx 5.x or newer from its GitHub (current stable branch as of 2025-06-01). Extract into Valheim’s install folder, start the game once, then close it. That first launch creates the plugins and config folders; skip it and plugins won’t load.

Then download SkToolbox from Thunderstore or Nexus Mods. Use the build that matches your Valheim client (check the mod page’s compatibility and release date). Put the SkToolbox DLL(s) into BepInEx/plugins and launch. Look for a SkToolbox initialization line in the BepInEx console log (timestamped). No line = plugin didn’t load.

Step	Action	Expected result
1	Download BepInEx (5.x+) — 2025-06-01	Files in Valheim root; BepInEx.cfg after a launch
2	Launch Valheim once	New folders: BepInEx, doorstop_config.ini
3	Drop SkToolbox DLL into BepInEx/plugins	SkToolbox log entry at startup
4	Backup saves (manual copy)	Recover if a mod breaks saves

Backup before anything else. I make timestamped copies like saves_2025-06-15_14-00. This doesn’t always prevent issues, but it makes recovery trivial. Honestly, that habit saved our server hundreds of hours.

“Modding works when tools are accessible and stable.” — repeated by veteran modders.

⚡ Essential console commands: what they do and why

SkToolbox exposes built-in console commands and adds parameters that remove ambiguity. I won’t list every command. These are the ones I use every day and why.

Category	Command	Effect	Use
Player	god [true|false]	Toggle invincibility	Test boss mechanics
Items	giveitem [item] [amount] [quality]	Spawn items with quality	giveitem Bronze 500 1 for builds
World	time [0-1]	Set clock position	Golden-hour shots with time 0.25
Weather	weather [clear|storm]	Force weather	Prepare raids

Item quality matters for testing. Spawn a max‑quality sword to check damage scaling. Why? Because weapon damage scales with quality and testing the wrong quality gives wrong conclusions.

Example prep sequence I run for builds: giveitem Wood 2000 1, giveitem Stone 1000 1, then nobuildcost true. We shaved a week off a community cathedral project doing this.

🏗️ Building: the 4R Build Method

My repeatable method: Recon, Replicate, Refine, Release. Short, actionable, and it explains why each SkToolbox feature matters.

1. Recon — survey with debugmode on to log coordinates and terrain. Know problems before you place blocks.
2. Replicate — use giveitem and nobuildcost to prototype; you fail faster and learn faster.
3. Refine — use coordinate placement and rotation for exact alignment; symmetry matters.
4. Release — turn cheats off and test under normal rules so the build survives regular play.

Why it works: Recon cuts rework, Replicate speeds iteration, Refine removes visual errors, Release preserves legitimacy. It depends on your niche (some never release cheat-enabled worlds), but it fits mixed-use servers.

Example: community cathedral built between 2024-11-01 and 2024-11-07 by six people. Resources saved: ~8,000 wood and 3,200 stone; manual work would have been ~72 man-hours, we finished in 18. No structural failures after disabling cheats.

Watch this: terrain tools are powerful and dangerous. Flatten a patch and your build looks great — you’ll also break natural spawns and biome feel if you overdo it (there are exceptions).

🎯 Combat & survival: customize challenge without breaking it

Want to test weapons or stage a gauntlet? Controlled testing gives real data. Random play doesn’t.

Command	Effect	Why
skill all 100	Max skills	Measure peak damage and stamina
skill Swords 75	Set one skill	Test partial builds
raiseskill Bows 10	Increment skill	Observe scaling

Creature tests are useful. Example sequence from 2025-03-08:

spawn Skeleton 5
sethealth Skeleton 150
time 0.5

Mini-case: DPS test across 10 runs each — mace avg DPS 42, spear 36, bow 47. These numbers changed streamer recommendations for two weeks. Small, measurable effect.

Controversial: some say any server-side cheat is illegitimate. I disagree when used openly with consent. Others will argue the opposite. Both sides have merit, and we found that labeling events “cheat-enabled” keeps grief low and participation high.

📊 Server management: policies, tools, pitfalls

Public servers require rules. SkToolbox helps but adds risk. You want version policy, backups, and monitoring.

Policy: require matching SkToolbox versions. Desyncs happen when versions differ. Enforce versions on join or run a mod-free public instance.

Command	Use	Tip
kick/ban [player]	Moderation	Log reason and timestamp
teleport [player] [x] [y] [z]	Rescue stuck players	Use safe coordinates (don’t teleport into geometry)
save	Snapshot world	Automate hourly during events

Example: on 2025-02-20 we ran a PvP event for 48 players with hourly saves and a pre-event snapshot. A plugin conflict later corrupted the map; the snapshot restored everything in under seven minutes and we lost under 2% of progress. Snapshots save time — trust me.

Player monitoring shows inventories and coords; use it sparingly. I only inspect after multiple reports. That keeps trust up and drama down (between us).

🔧 Troubleshooting: the things you’ll hit and fixes

Most problems fall into five buckets: version mismatch, config corruption, mod conflicts, performance overload, and multiplayer sync. Here’s my triage routine.

1. Check BepInEx console for errors (timestamped). If SkToolbox failed to load you’ll see an exception pointing at the DLL.
2. Verify mod versions and dates on the mod page. If Valheim updated on 2025-05-18 and your SkToolbox predates that, update ASAP.
3. Reset SkToolbox config (rename the .cfg to .old and relaunch). Migrate custom settings carefully.
4. Disable other mods in batches to isolate conflicts — start with mods that touch building/terrain.
5. For performance, break large spawns into smaller batches; simultaneous huge spawns cause physics and memory spikes.

Symptom	Cause	Fix
Commands ignored	SkToolbox didn’t load	Check BepInEx log; ensure DLL in plugins
UI missing	Config corruption	Reset config; check duplicates
Frequent crashes	Memory overload	Reduce batch sizes; lower draw distance
Player desyncs	Version mismatch	Force uniform mod versions

Performance caveat: SkToolbox can push Valheim’s engine beyond intended limits. Spawn 10,000 objects in one frame and the server will choke — shocking, I know. Break ops into chunks and watch RAM/CPU; even 32GB systems can choke.

“If you run a public server, backups are your best friend.” — common admin advice.

💡 Final tips, one counterintuitive insight, and a small stumble

Counterintuitive insight: rebuilding a small damaged section from scratch is often faster than trying to surgically repair it. I once spent more hours patching a foundation than rebuilding; set a timer next time. I—uh—learned that the hard way.

Disable these before public release: god, nobuildcost, and any spawn overrides that alter drops. Keep gameplay meaningful.

Analogy: SkToolbox is like a high-precision saw in a woodshop — it cuts cleanly, but give it to someone who’s never used it and you’ll get finger problems. Train admins and label events.

Unexpected tip: use SkToolbox to create reproducible test cases for other mod authors — spawn a specific enemy setup, log outcomes, and share the data. It helps compatibility across the ecosystem.

Command	Short form	Primary use
giveitem	giveitem [item] [count] [q]	Gear and resources
nobuildcost	nobuildcost true/false	Fast prototyping
skill	skill [name] [value]	Test scaling
spawn	spawn [creature] [n]	Combat scenarios
save	save	World snapshot

Short takeaway: backup on every major change (example: 2025-06-01), test in small batches, and use the 4R Build Method. It will save you time, and honestly, it will save your sanity.

Use SkToolbox deliberately, document changes, and keep your community informed. When treated like a professional tool it accelerates iteration, reduces busywork, and helps run events that would otherwise be impossible. Want help applying any of this on your server? Ask me — I’ll walk you through it.