How much black metal is needed to craft a full set of padded armor?

Crafting a full set of padded armor in Valheim is a significant milestone for players venturing into the late-game stages. Padded armor is the best armor set available in the game, offering high protection and durability, making it essential for surviving the Plains biome and beyond. To craft the full set, you will need a total of 42 black metal, along with other materials like linen thread and iron. Black metal is a rare resource obtained primarily from Fulings, the hostile goblin-like creatures found in the Plains biome.\n\nTo begin, you must first unlock the ability to craft padded armor by defeating Moder, the fourth boss in Valheim. Moder drops Dragon Tears, which are required to build the Artisan Table. The Artisan Table allows you to craft the Spinning Wheel and Windmill, both of which are essential for processing flax into linen thread. Without these tools, you cannot create the linen thread needed for padded armor.\n\nOnce you have the necessary crafting stations, the next step is to gather black metal. Black metal is obtained by defeating Fulings in the Plains biome. These enemies drop black metal scraps, which can be smelted into black metal bars at a Blast Furnace. The Blast Furnace requires Artisan Table access and is crafted using 20 fine wood, 10 iron, 5 surtling cores, and 20 stone. Ensure you have a steady supply of coal to smelt the black metal scraps efficiently.\n\nA full set of padded armor consists of three pieces: the padded cuirass, padded greaves, and padded helmet. The padded cuirass requires 10 black metal, 10 linen thread, and 15 iron. The padded greaves require 10 black metal, 10 linen thread, and 15 iron. The padded helmet requires 10 black metal, 10 linen thread, and 15 iron. In total, you will need 30 black metal for the armor pieces. Additionally, the cape, which is optional but highly recommended, requires 4 black metal and 20 linen thread, bringing the total black metal requirement to 34.\n\nHowever, it is important to note that the cape is not part of the armor set but provides additional protection and warmth. If you choose to craft the cape, you will need an additional 4 black metal, bringing the total to 34. For players focusing solely on the armor set, 30 black metal is sufficient. To maximize efficiency, consider farming Fulings in groups or setting up a base near a Fuling village to ensure a steady supply of black metal scraps.\n\nOne common challenge players face is the difficulty of farming black metal in the Plains biome. Fulings are aggressive and often attack in groups, making it dangerous to farm alone. To mitigate this, bring a strong weapon like the black metal sword or atgeir, and consider using a shield to block their attacks. Additionally, setting up a portal near a Fuling camp can save time and resources, allowing you to quickly return to your base with your loot.\n\nAnother tip is to use the Bonemass power, which reduces physical damage taken, making it easier to survive encounters with Fulings. Alternatively, the Eikthyr power can help you escape dangerous situations quickly. Always ensure you have plenty of healing items like cooked food and meads to sustain yourself during battles.\n\nIn summary, crafting a full set of padded armor requires 30 black metal for the armor pieces and an additional 4 black metal for the cape. To gather black metal, focus on farming Fulings in the Plains biome and smelting their scraps into bars. Use the Artisan Table and its associated crafting stations to process flax into linen thread. With proper preparation and strategy, you can efficiently gather the resources needed to craft this powerful armor set and dominate the late-game challenges in Valheim.