How do you unlock stone building pieces for base upgrades?

Unlocking stone building pieces in Valheim is a significant milestone for upgrading your base, as stone structures are far more durable and resistant to damage compared to wood. To unlock stone building pieces, you must first progress through the game''s early stages and defeat the second boss, The Elder. This boss is found in the Black Forest biome and is a key step in advancing your crafting capabilities.\n\nTo prepare for The Elder, you will need to gather resources and craft better gear. Start by mining copper and tin in the Black Forest to create bronze tools and weapons. These materials are essential for crafting a bronze axe, which is needed to harvest fine wood from birch and oak trees. Fine wood is required to build a fermenter, which is crucial for brewing meads that provide buffs during boss fights. Additionally, craft a bow and stockpile fire arrows, as The Elder is weak to fire damage.\n\nOnce you feel prepared, locate The Elder''s summoning altar in the Black Forest. You will need three Ancient Seeds to summon the boss, which can be obtained by destroying Greydwarf nests or defeating Greydwarf Brutes. After summoning and defeating The Elder, you will receive the Swamp Key, which grants access to the Swamp biome. This biome is critical for unlocking stone building pieces, as it contains iron, a key resource for advanced crafting.\n\nIn the Swamp biome, explore Sunken Crypts to gather scrap iron. These crypts are guarded by Draugr and other hostile creatures, so bring a strong weapon, a shield, and healing items. Use the Swamp Key to unlock the crypts and mine the muddy scrap piles inside to collect scrap iron. Once you have enough scrap iron, return to your base and smelt it into iron bars using a smelter.\n\nWith iron bars, you can now craft a stonecutter. The stonecutter requires 10 wood and 2 iron bars to build and must be placed near your workbench. Once constructed, the stonecutter unlocks a variety of stone building pieces, including stone walls, floors, and arches. These pieces are ideal for creating sturdy, long-lasting structures that can withstand enemy attacks and harsh weather conditions.\n\nA common challenge players face is transporting iron from the Swamp biome to their base. To make this easier, consider building a portal near the Swamp biome to quickly transport resources. Alternatively, use a cart to haul large quantities of iron, but be cautious of enemies and terrain obstacles. Another tip is to build a small outpost near the Swamp biome to store resources temporarily before transporting them to your main base.\n\nIn summary, unlocking stone building pieces requires defeating The Elder, exploring the Swamp biome, and crafting a stonecutter. This process involves gathering resources, upgrading your gear, and overcoming challenging enemies. Once you have access to stone structures, your base will become significantly more resilient and visually impressive. Focus on strategic planning and resource management to make the most of your stone-building capabilities.\n\nPractical tips for success include always carrying a pickaxe and a weapon when exploring the Swamp biome, as well as using portals to streamline resource transportation. Additionally, consider reinforcing your base with stone walls and towers to defend against raids and improve overall security. With these steps, you''ll be well on your way to creating a formidable Viking stronghold.