How do you craft a portal to connect your shelter to other locations?

Crafting a portal in Valheim is a game-changing mechanic that allows you to connect your shelter to distant locations, saving time and resources. Portals are essential for efficient exploration, resource gathering, and base management. To craft a portal, you need to unlock the recipe, gather the required materials, and set up the portal correctly. This guide will walk you through the process step-by-step, including tips for overcoming common challenges.\n\nFirst, you must unlock the portal recipe by obtaining Surtling Cores. These are found in Burial Chambers in the Black Forest biome or dropped by Surtlings in the Ashlands biome. You need at least 10 Surtling Cores to unlock the portal recipe, as they are also used to craft the Charcoal Kiln and Smelter. Once you have the cores, the portal recipe will appear in your crafting menu under the Hammer''s Misc tab.\n\nTo craft a portal, you need the following materials: 20 Fine Wood, 2 Surtling Cores, and 10 Greydwarf Eyes. Fine Wood is obtained by chopping down Birch or Oak trees in the Meadows or Black Forest biomes using a Bronze Axe or better. Greydwarf Eyes drop from Greydwarfs, which are common enemies in the Black Forest. Once you have the materials, equip your Hammer, select the portal from the Misc tab, and place it in your desired location.\n\nPortals must be paired to function. Each portal has a name tag that you can customize. To connect two portals, ensure they have the exact same name. For example, if you name one portal ''Base'' and the other ''Mining,'' they will not connect. Both portals must be named ''Base'' or ''Mining'' to establish a link. This naming system allows you to create multiple portal networks for different purposes, such as connecting your main base to resource-rich areas or distant biomes.\n\nOne common challenge is transporting materials through portals. Portals block certain items, including metals like Copper, Tin, Iron, and Silver. To work around this, you can either transport these materials manually or set up a secondary base near resource-rich areas. For example, if you find a large Copper deposit in the Black Forest, consider building a small outpost with a Smelter and Forge to process the materials on-site before transporting the finished products through the portal.\n\nAnother tip is to secure your portals. Enemies can destroy portals, cutting off your connection to important locations. To prevent this, build a protective structure around your portal, such as a small stone or wood enclosure. Adding a Workbench nearby will also prevent enemy spawns in the immediate area. Additionally, always carry portal materials when exploring, so you can set up a temporary portal to return home quickly if needed.\n\nPortals are especially useful for connecting biomes. For instance, if your main base is in the Meadows but you need resources from the Swamp or Mountains, a portal network can save you significant travel time. You can also use portals to connect multiple bases, such as a farming base in the Plains and a mining base in the Mountains. This flexibility makes portals one of the most valuable tools in Valheim.\n\nIn summary, crafting a portal requires Surtling Cores, Fine Wood, and Greydwarf Eyes. Pair portals by giving them identical names, and protect them from enemy attacks. While portals cannot transport certain materials, they are invaluable for exploration and base management. By mastering portal mechanics, you can streamline your gameplay and focus on conquering Valheim''s challenges.