How do I build a portal to travel between biomes quickly?

Building a portal in Valheim is one of the most efficient ways to travel between biomes quickly, saving you time and resources. Portals allow you to instantly teleport between two linked locations, making them essential for exploring distant areas like the Black Forest, Swamp, or Mountains. To build a portal, you need to unlock the crafting recipe, gather the required materials, and set up the portal correctly.\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. You need at least two Surtling Cores to craft a portal. Once you have the cores, interact with a Workbench to unlock the recipe. The portal requires 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, while Greydwarf Eyes drop from Greydwarfs.\n\nTo craft a portal, place a Workbench in a suitable location and open the crafting menu. Select the portal from the Miscellaneous tab and place it in your desired location. Portals require a flat surface and enough space to function, so clear the area of obstacles. Once placed, you need to link two portals by assigning them the same tag. Interact with the portal and enter a unique name (e.g., ''Base'' or ''Swamp''). The name is case-sensitive, so ensure both portals have identical tags.\n\nA common challenge is forgetting to bring materials to build a second portal when exploring. To avoid this, always carry the required resources (20 Fine Wood, 2 Surtling Cores, and 10 Greydwarf Eyes) in your inventory when venturing into new biomes. This way, you can set up a return portal immediately after arriving at your destination. For example, if you''re heading to the Swamp, build a portal at your base and name it ''Swamp.'' Then, when you arrive in the Swamp, place a second portal and name it ''Swamp'' as well to link them.\n\nPortals cannot transport certain items, such as metals (e.g., Copper, Tin, Iron). This is a game mechanic designed to encourage exploration and resource management. To work around this, you can transport metal ores and bars manually by sailing or running back to your base. Alternatively, set up a secondary base near resource-rich areas like the Black Forest or Swamp to process metals locally.\n\nFor new players, it''s important to prioritize building a portal early in the game. Once you have access to the Black Forest, focus on exploring Burial Chambers to collect Surtling Cores. Experienced Vikings can optimize portal networks by creating hub-and-spoke systems. For example, build a central hub portal at your main base and link it to multiple biomes like ''Meadows,'' ''Black Forest,'' and ''Swamp.'' This reduces clutter and makes navigation easier.\n\nIn summary, portals are a game-changing tool for efficient travel in Valheim. By gathering the right materials, setting up linked portals, and planning ahead, you can save time and focus on exploring and conquering new biomes. Always carry portal materials when exploring, and remember that portals cannot transport metals. With these tips, you''ll master portal travel and enhance your Valheim experience.