Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Order of the Ancients locations
Where to find every Order of the Ancients target and beat the Zealots in Assassin's Creed Valhalla
Hunting down your ever-growing list of targets plays a big role in the story of Assassin's Creed Valhalla, and some are better at hiding than others. Early in Eivor's adventure, they meet a pair of Hidden Ones, Basim and Hytham, in Norway, and agree to take up arms against the Order of the Ancients in an effort to liberate England of their influence.
Throughout Assassin's Creed lore, the Order of the Ancients, later known as the Templars, are a shadowy organisation of puppet masters - pulling the strings to further their own mysterious agenda.
Once the Raven clan reach England, Hytham sticks around to set up a headquarters in town - feeding Eivor intel, and leading them towards new targets.
Across England and beyond, there are 30 full Order of Ancients targets to find Assassin's Creed Valhalla, plus 15 Zealots who serve as enforcers for each branch (four Zealots for every branch except the Wardens of War, which only has three).
Many of these targets reveal themselves during the main story of the game, but to uncover them all, Eivor to search the medieval countryside and defeat Zealots for clues.
First we'll going through some tips on how to take down the Order of Ancients' feared Zealots, before going into the locations of some of the early full members you can find:
- How to beat Order of Ancients Zealots in Assassin's Creed Valhalla
- Assassin's Creed Valhalla Order of Ancients Locations
- Order of Ancients: Wardens of War locations (right-hand branch)
- Order of Ancients: Wardens of Law locations (centre-right branch)
- Order of Ancients: Wardens of Wealth locations (centre-left branch)
- Order of Ancients: Wardens of Faith locations (left-hand branch)
- Order of the Ancients: Warden of Relics location (central branch)
- The Grand Maegester of the Order of the Ancients
How to beat Order of Ancients Zealots in Assassin's Creed Valhalla
The relentless Zealots of the Order of Ancients are some of the toughest foes you'll face in the whole of Assassin's Creed Valhalla. Not only do they spam un-blockable runic attacks and often come heavily armoured, but they can't really be stealth attacked, ambushed, or fired on with arrows.
And what's worse, if you fail to spare Leofrith, or don't burn Burgred's order quickly enough at the climax of the Ledecesterscire arc, you will be actively hunted by these super enemies.
Plus to make matters even more difficult, when you first encounter them, Eivor is massively underleveled to take on the challenge. The lowest power level of any Zealot is 90, a full 70 higher than the 20 power level of Ledecestrescire and Grantebridgescire areas where they appear.
However, there is one early way to defeat them very easily. As shown in the embedded clip below:
Since you can re-spec your skills at any time for free in Assassin's Creed Valhalla, you can go down to the bottom of the Raven line (the left-hand side of the skill tree) and acquire Missile Reversal pretty much from when you reach England.
Now, get the attention of a Zealot, lock on, then backpedal away from them until you reach medium distance.
From here, the Zealot will try to throw spears, mines, or other projectiles at you.
But since you've got Missile Reversal, the fight now just becomes a question of pressing L1 just as the spear is about to hit you. Eivor will then throw the projectile back at the Zealot and deal a good chunk of damage.
Continue to backpedal away from them, throw back their ranged attacks, and they should go down in about 10-15 shots. Some Zealots can heal themselves, in which case it will take longer.
As we said, this also works if you climb up to a high place, or if the Zealot throws a different projectile - like a mine or gas bombs - at you.
Assassin's Creed Valhalla Order of Ancients Locations
The Order of Ancients has spread its tendrils all throughout medieval England. To root them out you'll need to search the whole of the country, finding clues at hidden locations and in the belongings of the members you hunt down.
There are four branches of the Order of the Ancients as it appears in the menu, with six members per branch. Broadly speaking, you'll uncover these branches beginning with the furthest right-hand branch and then move left through the menu, so we've chosen to present the branches from right to left in this guide.
Taking one target down gives you clues to finding the others and eventually the branch's leader, known as their Maegester. The Maegester of the Wardens of War is revealed during the course of the story; for the remaining three branches, once you've defeated all six members, you'll uncover the Maegester of that branch. There's also a fifth Maegester who isn't affiliated with any branch, whose identity you'll uncover as you progress through the story.
Defeat all five Maegesters of the Order of Ancients, and you'll uncover the Grand Maegester behind it all.
To avoid spoilers, after covering Kjotve the Cruel from the game's prologue, we refer to each member of the Order by their code name in this guide, rather than by the character's real name.
Order of Ancients: Wardens of War locations (right-hand branch)
Kjotve the Cruel (The Axe)
You defeat Kjotve the Cruel early on in Assassin's Creed Valhalla's story. He's an unmissable part of your adventure in Norway.
The Scabbard
You learn about The Scabbard from Hytham. They can be found in Utbech in the east of Grantebridgescire.
Killing The Scabbard gives notes on The Keel and The Anvil.
The Baldric
You learn about The Baldric from Hytham. They can be found in the market in the town of Ledecestre.
Killing The Baldric reveals clue to The Vellum.
The Leech
As well as the main story arc with Sigurd, you can pledge yourself to towns and cities across England where the Order of Ancients is fighting to seize control. Hytham will reveal The Leech on the targets screen, and you uncover their location during your pledge to Lunden.
The Arrow
Just like the above, Hytham reveals The Arrow and you find their location during the Lunden pledge quest line.
The Compass
Finally, The Compass is the last member of the Order of the Ancients revealed by Hytham in Lunden.
Maegester: The Keel
Uncover the rest of the Order members in the Wardens of War branch and you'll learn about The Keel. Return to Randvi and pledge yourself to the Vinland arc by scrolling all the way to the bottom of the map to defeat them.
Order of Ancients: Wardens of Law locations (centre-right branch)
The Vellum
You learn about The Vellum from The Baldric in the Wardens of War.
For the next clue, investigate the Thieves' Den north of Glowcestre.
Finally, find The Vellum at the docks in Glowcestre.
The Dart
You learn about The Dart from a Flyting match in Sciropscire.
For the next clue, investigate the ruined tower to the east of Caustow Castle in Sciropshire.
Finally, you can locate The Dart at Quatford stables in Sciropshire.
Killing The Dart gives notes on The Adze.
The Adze
You learn about The Adze from The Dart above.
Complete the drinking challenge in Ledecestre for more clues.
Then investigate the watermill south of Tonnastadir in west Ledecestrescire for yet more clues.
Finally, you can locate The Adze at the dock in Repton.
Killing The Adze gives notes on both The Lathe and The Oil.
The Firebrand
Like in Lunden, pledging yourself to Jorvik sends you after three more members of the Order of the Ancients. You learn about The Firebrand by searching the archives in Jorvik. There will be decoys throughout the city who you have to take out first, before defeating The Firebrand at the climax of the quest.
The Needle
To make your way to The Needle, you also have to complete the quests in your pledge to Jorvik. You learn about The Needle by searching the Trade Depot.
The Vault
You learn about The Vault from Ljufvina, but we have a full page on their identity for when you reach that part of the story. During your pledge to Jorvik, complete the quests where you locate The Firebrand and The Needle, and you'll be set after this member.
Maegester: The Vice
You learn the identity and location of The Vice after assassinating the six Wardens of Law. They'll be marked on the map from the targets screen - but we won't spoil their identity.
Order of Ancients: Wardens of Wealth locations (centre-left branch)
The Tang
Eivor will receive the first clue as to The Tang's identity and location from Hytham. Then, The Tang is killed during the Grantebridgescire story arc.
The Crozier
Like the previous Order member, you receive the first clue as to The Crozier's identity and location from Hytham. When it says, "Continue the story to reveal more information", The Crozier is killed later during the Lincolnscire story arc.
The Anvil
You initially learn about The Anvil from The Scabbard in the Wardens of War branch. For the next clue, investigate the Smithy at St. Albanes Abbey in Oxenefordscire.
Finally, find The Anvil at the forge in Oxeneforda on the western border of Oxenefordscire.
Killing The Anvil gives notes on The Billhook and The Bell.
The Billhook
As we said above, you learn about The Billhook from fellow Warden of Wealth The Anvil. For their location, investigate Aelfgarstun farm northwest of Lincoln.
Killing The Billhook gives notes on The Sickle in the Wardens of Wealth.
The Lathe
Initially, Eivor learns about The Lathe from The Adze in the Wardens of Law branch.
For the next clue, defeat the dice champion in Buckingham Inn in Oxenefordscire.
From there, investigate the sealed chamber at Eatun Barn in Oxenefordscire.
You can then find The Lathe at the docks in Buckingham in Oxenefordscire.
Killing The Lathe gives notes on The Ash-Spear, another Warden of Wealth.
The Ash-Spear
When you take out the other Warden of Wealth, The Lathe, Eivor will learn about The Ash-Spear.
For the next clue, investigate the Roman tower north of Northwic.
From there, search the bandit camp between Britannia's Watch and Thetford in East Anglia.
Finally, you can find The Ash-Spear at the Forest Hideout in west of East Anglia.
Maegester: The Lyre
You learn the identity and location of The Lyre after assassinating the six Wardens of Wealth.
Mark them on the map from your targets menu to hunt them down.
Order of Ancients: Wardens of Faith locations (left-hand branch)
The Bell
Defeating the Warder of Wealth, The Anvil, will start you on the path towards The Bell.
To uncover The Bell's clue you'll need to investigate the chain blockade on the Ember River in Suthsexe, far down in the south of the map.
Shoot an arrow through the grate above the door, then collect the clue to their location.
The Oil
Defeating the Warden of Law, The Adze, gives Eivor the first clue for The Oil.
The next clue as to The Oil's identity and location is found by investigating Henge Farm, to the south of Stonehenge in Hamtunscire.
The Oil's second clue is found in the northeast of Hamtunscire. Search the pig farm on the western side of Readingum Abbey to find the clue down a well.
The Sickle
To get the starting clue for The Sickle, you need to take out the Warden of Wealth, The Billhook.
To uncover the next clue as to The Sickle's location and identity, investigate Maeldun's Saltern Camp along the eastern coast of Essexe.
Shoot an arrow through the window to unlock the door.
Once inside, you can collect the clue that will lead you to The Sickle.
The Gallows
Like in Lunden and Jorvik, Eivor will learn about and defeat The Gallows during the Wincestre pledge quests with Goodwin.
The Quill
Next on the block during your quests in Wincestre is The Quill. Pledge yourself to Wincestre and hunt them with Goodwin.
The Seax
Finally, to complete your pledge to Wincestre, finish your quests with Goodwin to learn about and uncover The Seax.
Maegester: The Rake
Like the other Maegesters of the Order, you learn the identity and location of The Rake after assassinating the six Wardens of Faith.
Order of the Ancients: Warden of Relics location (central branch)
The Instrument is the only member of the Warden of Relics branch Eivor encounters, so it's fortunate that they're unmissable as you play through the Cent questline. Follow this storyline to its conclusion and you go head-to-head with The Instrument in a boss fight.
The Grand Maegester of the Order of the Ancients
Once you've made your way through the entire targets screen and rooted the Order of the Ancients out of England, the Grand Maegester is vulnerable.
To unlock the final quest, you need to have collected every Order of the Ancients medallion. This means that you've cleared not just every Warden, but all 15 Zealots to grab their medallions too.
When you've completed that arduous task, return to Hytham for one last tip from your old friend, the Poor Fellow-soldier of Christ.
For more on Assassin's Creed Valhalla, check out our run-down of the full skill tree. Or if it's action you're after, here are our picks of the best weapons for the early, mid, and late game.