Can I use portals to transport building materials for outposts?

In Valheim, portals are a powerful tool for fast travel, but they come with restrictions that limit their use for transporting building materials. Portals cannot transport certain items, including ores, metals, and other valuable resources like black metal or dragon tears. This restriction is a deliberate game mechanic to encourage exploration and resource management. However, you can still use portals to transport most other items, such as wood, stone, and basic crafting materials, making them useful for setting up outposts.\n\nTo create a portal, you will need to craft it using Fine Wood, Greydwarf Eyes, and Surtling Cores. Fine Wood is obtained by chopping down birch or oak trees, Greydwarf Eyes drop from Greydwarf enemies, and Surtling Cores are found in Burial Chambers or dropped by Surtlings in the Ashlands biome. Once you have the materials, craft a portal at a workbench and place it in your desired location. Each portal must be paired with another portal by assigning them the same tag, which is a customizable name you input when interacting with the portal.\n\nWhile portals are great for transporting lighter materials, transporting heavy resources like ores and metals requires alternative strategies. One common method is to use a cart or a longship to haul materials over long distances. For example, if you are mining copper in the Black Forest, you can load the ore into a cart and drag it back to your base. Alternatively, you can use a longship to transport large quantities of ore from coastal mining sites. This approach requires planning and preparation but is essential for gathering resources efficiently.\n\nAnother strategy is to establish temporary bases near resource-rich areas. For instance, if you are mining silver in the Mountains biome, you can set up a small outpost with a forge and smelter to process the ore on-site. This reduces the need to transport heavy materials back to your main base. Once the resources are processed into bars, you can use a portal to transport the lighter bars back to your main base. This method saves time and effort while adhering to the game''s portal restrictions.\n\nFor new players, it is important to prioritize which materials to transport via portals. Focus on transporting wood, stone, and other non-restricted items to build outposts quickly. For experienced Vikings, consider creating a network of portals to connect key locations, such as resource-rich biomes, outposts, and your main base. This network will streamline your resource management and make exploration more efficient.\n\nIn summary, while portals cannot transport ores and metals, they are still invaluable for transporting lighter building materials and setting up outposts. By combining portals with carts, longships, and temporary bases, you can overcome the game''s restrictions and manage resources effectively. Always plan your resource-gathering trips carefully and use portals strategically to maximize their benefits.