What’s the fastest way to unlock the blast furnace for black metal crafting?

Unlocking the blast furnace in Valheim is a critical step for crafting black metal gear, which is essential for surviving the Plains biome and beyond. The blast furnace allows you to smelt black metal scraps into black metal bars, which are used to craft powerful weapons, armor, and tools. To unlock the blast furnace, you must first defeat Moder, the fourth boss, and obtain the Dragon Tears required to craft the Artisan Table. This guide will walk you through the fastest way to achieve this goal.\n\nStart by preparing for Moder. You will need to gather resources for Frost Resistance Mead, as Moder''s lair is located in the Mountain biome, where freezing temperatures can quickly kill you. Craft a cauldron and fermenter to brew Frost Resistance Mead using honey, thistle, bloodbags, and greydwarf eyes. Additionally, equip yourself with Wolf Armor or a Lox Cape for extra frost resistance. Bring a Draugr Fang bow and plenty of poison arrows, as Moder is weak to poison damage.\n\nNext, locate Moder''s summoning altar. Moder''s Vegvisir (location marker) can be found in Mountain biome caves or stone structures. Once you have the location, prepare for the fight by building a small base nearby with a portal for quick respawns and restocking. Moder is a challenging boss, so ensure you have plenty of healing mead, stamina mead, and food like Serpent Stew or Lox Meat Pie to maximize your health and stamina.\n\nAfter defeating Moder, you will receive Dragon Tears. These are essential for crafting the Artisan Table, which unlocks advanced crafting stations, including the blast furnace. Return to your base and place the Artisan Table near your existing crafting area. The Artisan Table requires 10 wood and 2 Dragon Tears to craft. Once built, you can now craft the blast furnace.\n\nThe blast furnace requires 20 fine wood, 10 iron, 5 surtling cores, and 5 chains to build. Fine wood can be obtained by chopping birch or oak trees in the Meadows or Plains biomes. Iron is found in the Swamp biome, typically in Sunken Crypts. Surtling cores are commonly found in Burial Chambers in the Black Forest or by killing Surtlings in the Ashlands biome. Chains can be obtained by defeating Wraiths in the Swamp biome or by looting chests in Sunken Crypts.\n\nOnce you have all the materials, place the blast furnace near your smelting area. The blast furnace allows you to smelt black metal scraps, which are dropped by Fulings in the Plains biome. To farm black metal scraps efficiently, equip yourself with strong gear like silver weapons or an iron mace, and bring plenty of healing items. Fulings are aggressive and can overwhelm you if you''re not prepared, so consider using a bow to pick them off from a distance.\n\nA common challenge is gathering enough chains for the blast furnace. If you''re struggling to find chains, focus on exploring Swamp biomes thoroughly. Wraiths spawn at night and can be found near water or in abandoned structures. Alternatively, you can use a wishbone (obtained from Bonemass) to locate buried iron scrap piles in the Swamp biome, which often contain chains.\n\nIn summary, the fastest way to unlock the blast furnace involves defeating Moder, crafting the Artisan Table, and gathering the necessary materials for the blast furnace. Prioritize efficient resource gathering and preparation for boss fights to save time. With the blast furnace, you can craft black metal gear, giving you a significant advantage in the Plains biome and beyond.\n\nPractical tips: Always carry a portal with you when exploring new biomes to avoid losing progress. Use the Stagbreaker or iron sledge to locate buried iron scrap piles in the Swamp biome. When farming Fulings, consider building a small outpost with a portal in the Plains biome for quick access and safety.