What’s the fastest way to unlock portals for faster travel?

Unlocking portals in Valheim is essential for efficient travel across the vast world. Portals allow you to instantly teleport between two linked points, saving significant time and effort. To unlock portals, you need to craft them using specific materials and progress through the early game efficiently. Here’s a detailed guide to speedrunning portal access.\n\nFirst, focus on gathering the necessary resources. Portals require Fine Wood, Greydwarf Eyes, and Surtling Cores. Fine Wood is obtained by chopping down Birch or Oak trees in the Meadows biome, but you’ll need a Bronze Axe to harvest them. Greydwarf Eyes drop from Greydwarves, which are common in the Black Forest biome. Surtling Cores are found in Burial Chambers in the Black Forest or by defeating Surtlings in the Ashlands biome.\n\nTo speedrun portal access, prioritize exploring the Black Forest early. After gathering basic resources like wood and stone in the Meadows, craft a Crude Bow and Flint Arrows to defend yourself. Enter the Black Forest and locate Burial Chambers. These dungeons contain Surtling Cores, which are critical for crafting portals. Clear the chambers carefully, as they are filled with Skeletons and Ghosts. Aim to collect at least 10 Surtling Cores, as you’ll need two for a portal and additional cores for other crafting recipes like the Charcoal Kiln and Smelter.\n\nOnce you have the Surtling Cores, return to your base and craft a Workbench. Upgrade it to level 2 by adding a Chopping Block and Tanning Rack. This allows you to craft a Bronze Axe, which is required to harvest Fine Wood. Chop down Birch or Oak trees in the Meadows to gather Fine Wood. You’ll need 20 Fine Wood, 2 Surtling Cores, and 10 Greydwarf Eyes to craft a single portal.\n\nAfter crafting your first portal, place it at your base. Then, craft a second portal and carry it with you as you explore. When you reach a new location you want to link back to your base, place the second portal and name it the same as the first. This will instantly connect the two, allowing for fast travel. Remember to always carry portal materials with you to establish new connections as needed.\n\nA common challenge is running out of Greydwarf Eyes or Surtling Cores. To mitigate this, farm Greydwarves in the Black Forest by luring them into open areas where you can easily defeat them with ranged attacks. For Surtling Cores, revisit Burial Chambers or explore the Ashlands biome, where Surtlings spawn near fire geysers. Defeating Surtlings is easier with a Frostner or other frost-based weapons, as they are weak to frost damage.\n\nTo optimize your speedrun, consider building a small outpost near the Black Forest to store resources and reduce travel time. Use a Karve or Raft to explore coastal areas, as Burial Chambers are often located near the shore. Additionally, always carry a Hammer and Workbench materials to repair your gear and craft portals on the go.\n\nIn summary, the fastest way to unlock portals involves early exploration of the Black Forest, efficient resource gathering, and strategic crafting. By focusing on Surtling Cores, Greydwarf Eyes, and Fine Wood, you can quickly establish a portal network for faster travel. Always plan ahead, carry essential materials, and build outposts to streamline your progress. With these strategies, you’ll master portal travel and dominate Valheim’s world in no time.