How do you unlock the darkwood building pieces for your shelter?

Unlocking darkwood building pieces in Valheim is a mid-to-late game progression step that requires exploration, combat, and crafting. Darkwood is a premium building material that adds a sleek, elegant look to your structures, but it requires specific resources and tools to unlock. To begin, you must first defeat Moder, the fourth boss in the game, located in the Mountain biome. Moder drops the Dragon Tear, a key item needed to craft the Artisan Table, which is essential for unlocking darkwood.\n\nOnce you have the Dragon Tear, you can craft the Artisan Table at your base. This requires 10 wood, 2 dragon tears, and a workbench nearby. The Artisan Table is the gateway to advanced crafting, including darkwood building pieces. However, to craft darkwood items, you also need tar, a resource found in the Plains biome. Tar is harvested from tar pits, which are large, bubbling pools of black liquid. Be cautious, as tar pits are guarded by Growths, dangerous enemies that can deal significant damage.\n\nTo safely collect tar, approach tar pits with a strong weapon, such as a silver sword or blackmetal axe, and armor like wolf or padded armor. Clear the area of Growths before using a pickaxe to mine the tar. Each tar pit yields 4-6 tar, which is enough to craft several darkwood items. Once you have tar, return to your base and interact with the Artisan Table to unlock darkwood building recipes, such as darkwood beams, darkwood arches, and darkwood roofs.\n\nCrafting darkwood pieces requires fine wood and tar. Fine wood is obtained by chopping down birch or oak trees in the Meadows or Plains biomes. Use a bronze axe or better to harvest these trees. Combine fine wood and tar at the Artisan Table to create darkwood building pieces. These pieces are not only visually appealing but also highly durable, making them ideal for long-term shelters or decorative structures.\n\nA common challenge players face is locating tar pits in the Plains biome. The Plains is a dangerous area filled with Fulings, Deathsquitos, and Lox, so preparation is key. Bring healing meads, stamina meads, and a strong bow to deal with ranged threats. Additionally, consider building a small outpost near the Plains to store resources and respawn if needed. This minimizes the risk of losing progress while farming tar.\n\nIn summary, unlocking darkwood building pieces involves defeating Moder, crafting the Artisan Table, and farming tar in the Plains biome. This process requires careful planning, combat readiness, and resource management. Once unlocked, darkwood pieces can elevate your base designs, offering both aesthetic and functional benefits. For new players, focus on progressing through the game’s bosses and upgrading your gear before attempting to farm tar. Experienced Vikings can use darkwood to create intricate, high-end structures that stand out in the world of Valheim.