How do I use portals to avoid long treks across the ocean?

Portals in Valheim are one of the most efficient tools for fast travel, especially when navigating vast oceans or distant biomes. To use portals effectively, you must first craft them using resources found in the Black Forest biome. Each portal requires 20 Fine Wood, 2 Surtling Cores, and 10 Greydwarf Eyes. Fine Wood is obtained by chopping down Birch or Oak trees, while Surtling Cores are found in Burial Chambers or dropped by Surtlings in the Ashlands. Greydwarf Eyes are dropped by Greydwarfs, common enemies in the Black Forest.\n\nTo set up a portal, you need to craft a Workbench and place it in a safe location. Once the Workbench is placed, open the crafting menu and select the Portal. Place the portal in your desired location, ensuring it is protected from enemy attacks. Portals must be paired to function, meaning you need at least two portals with matching tags. To pair portals, interact with one and assign it a unique tag (e.g., ''Home''). Then, assign the same tag to the second portal. Once paired, stepping into one portal will instantly transport you to the other.\n\nWhen traveling across the ocean, portals can save you significant time and effort. For example, if you are exploring a distant island and need to return to your base, you can set up a portal on the island and pair it with one at your base. This eliminates the need for long, risky boat trips. However, note that certain items, such as metals (e.g., Copper, Iron, Silver), cannot be transported through portals. To work around this, you can craft a Karve or Longship to transport metals back to your base, then use the portal for quick trips to gather other resources.\n\nA common challenge is running out of resources to craft portals while exploring. To avoid this, always carry extra materials for at least one portal in your inventory. This ensures you can set up a return portal if you discover a new biome or resource-rich area. Additionally, consider building small outposts with portals in key locations, such as near Swamps for Iron or Mountains for Silver. These outposts can serve as staging points for further exploration.\n\nFor new players, it is important to prioritize unlocking portals early in the game. Focus on exploring Burial Chambers in the Black Forest to gather Surtling Cores, as these are essential for crafting portals. Experienced Vikings can optimize portal usage by creating a central hub with multiple portals, each labeled for specific biomes or purposes (e.g., ''Swamp'', ''Mountain'', ''Boss''). This strategy streamlines travel and resource management.\n\nIn summary, portals are a game-changing mechanic in Valheim that allow you to avoid long treks across the ocean and other biomes. By crafting and pairing portals strategically, you can save time, reduce risk, and focus on exploration and resource gathering. Always carry portal materials, build outposts in key locations, and use a central hub system to maximize efficiency. With these tips, you can master portal usage and enhance your Valheim experience.