How do you craft a Blast Furnace, and what resources are needed?

Crafting a Blast Furnace in Valheim is a crucial step for progressing to mid-to-late game content, as it allows you to smelt advanced metals like Black Metal and Flametal. To craft a Blast Furnace, you must first unlock its recipe by obtaining Artisan Table access, which requires defeating Moder, the fourth boss in the Mountain biome. Once you have the Artisan Table, you can build the Blast Furnace using specific resources and a suitable location.\n\nTo craft the Blast Furnace, you will need the following resources: 20 Fine Wood, 10 Iron, 5 Surtling Cores, and 20 Stone. Fine Wood is obtained by chopping down Birch or Oak trees in the Meadows or Plains biomes. Iron is gathered from Muddy Scrap Piles in the Swamp biome, which requires a Wishbone (dropped by Bonemass, the third boss) to locate. Surtling Cores are found in Burial Chambers in the Black Forest or by killing Surtlings in the Ashlands biome. Stone is a common resource found throughout the world.\n\nOnce you have gathered the required materials, you must place the Blast Furnace near your base or smelting area. It requires a flat surface and enough space to operate. To place it, open your crafting menu, navigate to the Artisan Table tab, and select the Blast Furnace. Ensure you have a Workbench nearby to enable construction. Once placed, the Blast Furnace will allow you to smelt Black Metal Scraps and Flametal Ore into bars, which are essential for crafting high-tier weapons and armor.\n\nA common challenge players face is locating Iron in the Swamp biome. To efficiently gather Iron, equip the Wishbone and explore the Swamp at night when visibility is low but Muddy Scrap Piles are easier to detect. Use a Bronze Pickaxe or better to mine the scrap piles, and bring a Cart or Portal to transport the heavy Iron back to your base. Another tip is to build a small outpost near the Swamp to store resources and avoid multiple trips.\n\nFor Surtling Cores, farming Surtlings in the Ashlands biome is more efficient than exploring Burial Chambers. Surtlings drop 1-2 cores each and respawn quickly, making them a reliable source. Alternatively, you can create a Surtling Core farm by digging a trench near a Fire Geyser in the Swamp biome, as Surtlings spawn from these geysers and die instantly in water.\n\nOnce your Blast Furnace is operational, prioritize smelting Black Metal Scraps, which are dropped by Fulings in the Plains biome. These scraps are used to craft powerful weapons like the Black Metal Sword and Atgeir. Flametal, found in the Ashlands biome, is rarer but essential for crafting endgame gear. Always keep your Blast Furnace fueled with Coal, which can be produced by burning Wood in a Charcoal Kiln or obtained from Surtling Cores.\n\nIn summary, crafting a Blast Furnace requires preparation, resource gathering, and strategic planning. Focus on defeating Moder to unlock the Artisan Table, gather the necessary materials, and optimize your resource collection methods. With a Blast Furnace, you can unlock advanced crafting options and prepare for the challenges of the Plains and Ashlands biomes. Happy smelting, Viking!