How do I build a smelter to process ores into bars?

To build a smelter in Valheim, you must first gather the necessary materials and unlock the recipe. The smelter is essential for processing raw ores like copper, tin, and iron into usable metal bars, which are critical for crafting advanced tools, weapons, and armor. The smelter requires 20 Stone and 5 Surtling Cores to craft. Surtling Cores are found in Burial Chambers in the Black Forest biome or dropped by Surtlings in the Ashlands biome. Stone is abundant and can be gathered by mining rocks or picking up small stones scattered across the world.\n\nOnce you have the materials, you need to unlock the smelter recipe. This is done by discovering Surtling Cores. Simply pick up a Surtling Core, and the recipe will be added to your crafting menu. To build the smelter, open your crafting menu (press Tab), navigate to the Crafting tab, and select the smelter. Place it in a suitable location near your base, as it requires fuel and space to operate efficiently.\n\nThe smelter requires fuel to function, which is typically Coal. Coal can be obtained by burning wood in a Charcoal Kiln or by defeating certain enemies like Greydwarf Brutes. To start smelting, place the raw ore (e.g., Copper Ore or Tin Ore) into the smelter''s input slot and add Coal to the fuel slot. Each ore takes a specific amount of time to process, and the smelter can hold up to 10 ores at a time. Once the process is complete, the metal bars will appear in the output slot, ready for use.\n\nA common challenge players face is managing fuel efficiency. To optimize your smelting process, always ensure you have a steady supply of Coal. Building multiple Charcoal Kilns can help produce Coal faster. Additionally, consider building multiple smelters if you have a large amount of ore to process. This will save time and allow you to focus on other tasks while the smelters work in the background.\n\nAnother tip is to place your smelter near your storage area or forge for convenience. This reduces the time spent running back and forth between crafting stations. If you''re in the early game and struggling to find Surtling Cores, focus on exploring Burial Chambers in the Black Forest. These dungeons often contain multiple Surtling Cores, making them a reliable source for unlocking the smelter recipe.\n\nIn summary, building a smelter in Valheim is a straightforward process that requires 20 Stone and 5 Surtling Cores. Once built, it allows you to process raw ores into metal bars, which are essential for crafting advanced gear. Always ensure you have enough Coal to fuel the smelter, and consider building multiple smelters for efficiency. With these tips, you''ll be well-equipped to handle the demands of metalworking in Valheim.