What is the best strategy to gather black metal for the forge?

Gathering black metal in Valheim is essential for upgrading your forge and crafting high-tier weapons and armor. Black metal is a late-game resource found in the Plains biome, and acquiring it requires preparation, strategy, and combat skills. This guide will walk you through the best strategies to gather black metal efficiently, including biome exploration, enemy encounters, and crafting requirements.\n\nFirst, you must prepare for the Plains biome, which is one of the most dangerous areas in Valheim. Before venturing into the Plains, ensure you have upgraded your gear to at least iron-tier or better. Equip yourself with a strong weapon like the iron mace or sword, a sturdy shield, and high-quality armor such as wolf or padded armor. Additionally, bring healing meads, stamina potions, and food that boosts your health and stamina, such as serpent stew, lox meat pie, or bread. The Plains biome is home to deadly enemies like Fulings, Deathsquitos, and Lox, so being well-prepared is crucial.\n\nTo gather black metal, you need to defeat Fulings, the goblin-like creatures that roam the Plains. Fulings drop black metal scraps when killed, which can be smelted into black metal at a blast furnace. Fulings come in various types, including melee fighters, spear throwers, and shamans. Melee Fulings are the most common and drop black metal scraps reliably. Spear throwers and shamans are more dangerous but also drop valuable loot. Always approach Fulings cautiously, as they often travel in groups and can overwhelm unprepared players.\n\nOne effective strategy for farming black metal is to locate a Fuling village in the Plains. These villages are densely populated with Fulings and often contain valuable resources like barley and flax. However, attacking a Fuling village head-on can be risky. Instead, use stealth and ranged weapons to pick off enemies one by one. A bow with needle arrows or frost arrows works well for this purpose. Alternatively, you can lure Fulings out of the village and fight them in smaller groups. Be mindful of Fuling berserkers, which are larger and more powerful versions of regular Fulings.\n\nAnother way to gather black metal is by defeating Fuling berserkers and Fuling shamans. These enemies are tougher than regular Fulings but drop more black metal scraps. Fuling shamans can heal other Fulings and summon fire attacks, so prioritize taking them out first. Fuling berserkers deal massive damage with their clubs, so use a shield to block their attacks and counter with well-timed strikes. Fighting these enemies requires patience and skill, but the rewards are worth it.\n\nOnce you have collected black metal scraps, you need to smelt them into black metal bars. To do this, you must build a blast furnace, which requires 20 fine wood, 10 iron, 5 surtling cores, and 5 chains. Fine wood can be obtained from birch or oak trees, iron is mined in the Swamp biome, surtling cores are found in burial chambers or dropped by surtlings in the Ashlands, and chains are dropped by Wraiths in the Swamp or obtained from chests in crypts. Place the blast furnace near your forge to streamline the smelting process.\n\nA common challenge when farming black metal is dealing with Deathsquitos, which are fast and deadly. These enemies can one-shot players with low health, so always keep your health topped up and carry a shield to block their attacks. If you see a Deathsquito approaching, stop moving and prepare to block or dodge. Alternatively, use a bow to take them out from a distance before they can reach you.\n\nFinally, consider building a small outpost near the Plains biome to store your loot and rest between farming sessions. This outpost should include a portal for quick travel, a workbench, and a bed for respawning. Having a nearby base will save you time and reduce the risk of losing your progress if you die.\n\nIn summary, the best strategy to gather black metal involves preparing for the Plains biome, defeating Fulings and their stronger variants, and smelting black metal scraps into bars using a blast furnace. Always prioritize safety by bringing strong gear, healing items, and food. Use stealth and ranged weapons to handle Fuling villages, and be cautious of Deathsquitos. With these tips, you’ll be able to gather black metal efficiently and upgrade your forge to craft powerful late-game gear.