What’s the best way to mark locations of surtling geysers for coal farming?

Marking surtling geysers for coal farming in Valheim is a crucial strategy for efficient resource gathering, especially for mid-to-late game players who need large amounts of coal for smelting and crafting. Surtling geysers are found in the Swamp biome, and they are a renewable source of coal and surtling cores. To maximize their utility, you need to mark their locations clearly on your map and set up a farming system.\n\nFirst, you need to locate surtling geysers in the Swamp biome. These geysers emit fire and spawn surtlings, which drop coal and surtling cores when killed. When you find a geyser, open your map (default key: M) and place a marker. Use a clear and consistent icon, such as a fire symbol, to distinguish geysers from other points of interest. Naming the marker something like ''Coal Farm'' or ''Geyser'' can help you remember its purpose later.\n\nOnce you''ve marked the geyser, consider building a small base or portal nearby to make farming more efficient. Surtlings are weak to water, so you can dig a trench around the geyser to create a water-filled moat. This will automatically kill surtlings as they spawn, allowing you to collect coal and cores without fighting. To dig, equip a pickaxe and remove the ground around the geyser until water fills the area. Be cautious of nearby enemies in the Swamp, as they can interrupt your work.\n\nAfter setting up the trench, place a workbench nearby to enable building. You can construct a portal to connect this location to your main base, making it easy to return for farming. Portals require 20 fine wood, 10 greydwarf eyes, and 2 surtling cores to craft. Fine wood can be obtained from birch or oak trees in the Meadows or Plains biomes, while greydwarf eyes drop from greydwarfs in the Black Forest. Surtling cores are dropped by surtlings or found in burial chambers.\n\nTo optimize your coal farming, visit the marked geysers regularly. Surtlings respawn quickly, so you can collect coal and cores multiple times per in-game day. If you have multiple geysers marked, create a farming route to visit them in sequence. This ensures a steady supply of coal for smelting metals like bronze, iron, and silver, which are essential for crafting advanced gear and tools.\n\nA common challenge is dealing with hostile creatures in the Swamp biome. Draugr, leeches, and blobs can pose a threat while farming. To mitigate this, bring a strong weapon, such as an iron mace or bow, and wear armor with high poison resistance. Poison resistance mead, crafted from honey, thistle, and neck tails, can also help you survive encounters with blobs and leeches. Always be prepared for combat when venturing into the Swamp.\n\nFor new players, it’s important to note that surtling geysers are only found in the Swamp biome, which is a dangerous area for early-game Vikings. Before attempting to farm coal from geysers, ensure you have adequate gear and supplies. Bronze or iron-tier equipment is recommended for exploring the Swamp safely. Additionally, bring a hoe to level the ground and create paths, as the Swamp’s uneven terrain can slow you down and make navigation difficult.\n\nIn summary, marking surtling geysers on your map is the first step to efficient coal farming. Use clear icons and names for your markers, and consider building trenches and portals to streamline the process. Regularly visit your marked locations to collect resources, and always be prepared for combat in the Swamp biome. With these strategies, you can maintain a steady supply of coal and surtling cores for all your crafting and smelting needs.