How do you craft and use the Portal to aid in ocean exploration?

Crafting and using Portals in Valheim is a game-changing mechanic for ocean exploration, allowing you to quickly travel between distant locations without the need for long, risky voyages. To craft a Portal, you must first unlock the recipe by obtaining Fine Wood and Greydwarf Eyes. Fine Wood is gathered by chopping down Birch or Oak trees in the Meadows biome, while Greydwarf Eyes drop from Greydwarf enemies in the Black Forest. Once you have these materials, you can craft a Portal at the Workbench using 20 Fine Wood, 2 Greydwarf Eyes, and 10 Surtling Cores. Surtling Cores are found in Burial Chambers in the Black Forest or by defeating Surtlings in the Ashlands biome.\n\nTo use a Portal effectively for ocean exploration, you need to set up a network of Portals in key locations. Start by placing a Portal at your main base and naming it something memorable, like ''Home.'' Then, when you embark on an ocean voyage, bring the materials to craft a second Portal with you. As you explore, set up the second Portal on islands or coastal areas you want to revisit later. Name this Portal the same as the one at your base to link them. This allows you to instantly travel back to your base to restock supplies, repair your ship, or drop off valuable resources.\n\nOne common challenge during ocean exploration is running out of inventory space or encountering dangerous enemies. Portals solve this issue by providing a quick escape route. For example, if you find a large deposit of valuable resources like Silver in the Mountains biome on a distant island, you can mine it, store it in a chest near your Portal, and transport it back to your base in multiple trips. This eliminates the need to carry everything at once and reduces the risk of losing items if your ship is destroyed.\n\nAnother practical use for Portals is scouting new areas. When sailing, you may discover islands with dangerous biomes like the Plains or Swamp. Instead of risking your ship and gear, you can set up a Portal on a safe part of the island, explore on foot, and retreat through the Portal if things get too dangerous. This strategy is especially useful for new players who are still building up their gear and combat skills.\n\nTo maximize the efficiency of your Portal network, consider setting up multiple Portals with unique names at your base. For instance, you could have one named ''Exploration'' for temporary use during voyages and another named ''Resources'' for transporting materials. This way, you can easily switch between different destinations without needing to rename Portals constantly. Additionally, always carry extra Portal materials in case you need to set up a new one unexpectedly.\n\nIn summary, Portals are an essential tool for ocean exploration in Valheim, offering convenience, safety, and efficiency. By crafting and strategically placing Portals, you can explore the vast ocean biome with confidence, knowing you have a quick way to return to safety or transport resources. Whether you''re a new player or an experienced Viking, mastering the use of Portals will greatly enhance your gameplay experience.