How can you avoid wasting time on unnecessary crafting recipes in a speedrun?

In Valheim speedrunning, avoiding unnecessary crafting recipes is crucial to save time and resources. The key is to focus only on essential items that directly contribute to your progression. This means skipping recipes that are not immediately useful or can be delayed until later stages of the game. For example, early-game tools like the Flint Axe or Crude Bow are necessary, but decorative items or advanced weapons like the Bronze Mace can often be skipped if they don''t align with your speedrun strategy.\n\nTo optimize your crafting choices, prioritize items that help you gather resources faster or survive in dangerous biomes. For instance, the Antler Pickaxe is essential for mining Tin and Copper in the Black Forest, while the Flint Spear or Club can be used for basic combat. Avoid crafting items like the Hoe or Cultivator unless you plan to farm, as these are not critical for a speedrun. Instead, focus on upgrading your workbench and crafting station to unlock better tools and armor.\n\nAnother way to avoid wasting time is by planning your resource gathering. For example, in the Meadows biome, collect only enough Wood, Stone, and Flint to craft the basics. Avoid over-farming resources like Leather Scraps or Resin unless they are needed for immediate upgrades. In the Black Forest, prioritize Tin and Copper for Bronze, but skip unnecessary Bronze items like the Bronze Atgeir or Bronze Nails unless they are part of your strategy.\n\nGame mechanics also play a role in optimizing your crafting choices. For example, the Workbench and Forge upgrades require specific materials like Fine Wood and Core Wood. Plan ahead to gather these efficiently by targeting specific trees or biomes. Additionally, avoid crafting items that require rare resources, such as the Troll Armor, unless they are absolutely necessary for your run. Instead, rely on basic armor like Leather or Bronze to save time.\n\nPractical examples include skipping the crafting of the Finewood Bow until you reach the Swamp biome, where you can gather Ancient Bark for better weapons. Similarly, avoid crafting the Stagbreaker unless you plan to fight large groups of enemies, as it is not essential for most speedrun strategies. Instead, focus on crafting the Abyssal Razor or Iron Mace in the Swamp biome for better combat efficiency.\n\nFinally, always consider the biome you are in and the resources available. For example, in the Mountains biome, prioritize crafting Frost Resistance Mead and the Draugr Fang bow, as these are essential for survival and combat. Skip unnecessary items like the Wolf Armor unless you need the extra protection. By focusing on essential recipes and planning your resource gathering, you can save valuable time and complete your speedrun more efficiently.\n\nPractical tips for speedrunning include creating a checklist of essential items and biomes to visit. This helps you stay focused and avoid distractions. Additionally, practice efficient resource gathering techniques, such as using the Stagbreaker to mine multiple Copper nodes at once. Finally, always keep an eye on your inventory and drop unnecessary items to free up space for critical resources.