What’s the best way to optimize your rested buff for speedrunning?

Optimizing the rested buff is crucial for speedrunning in Valheim, as it significantly boosts stamina regeneration and health recovery. The rested buff is activated when you rest near a fire and under shelter, and its duration depends on the comfort level of your surroundings. To maximize its effectiveness, you need to focus on increasing your comfort level and ensuring the buff is active as much as possible during your run.\n\nFirst, understand the mechanics of the rested buff. The base duration of the buff is 8 minutes, but this can be extended by increasing your comfort level. Comfort is determined by the number of nearby comfort items, such as chairs, rugs, and decorations. Each additional comfort item increases the duration of the buff by up to 23 minutes at a comfort level of 18. To achieve this, you need to craft and place items like the deer rug, banner, and dragon bed in your base or temporary shelters.\n\nFor speedrunning, you should prioritize setting up small, efficient shelters throughout the map. These shelters should include a fire, a bed, and at least a few comfort items. For example, in the Meadows biome, you can quickly build a basic shelter with a campfire, a bed, and a chair. This setup will give you a decent comfort level and allow you to reset the rested buff as you progress through the game. In more dangerous biomes like the Black Forest or Swamp, consider building sturdier shelters with walls and a roof to protect against enemies.\n\nOne common challenge is maintaining the rested buff while exploring or fighting. To address this, always carry materials for a campfire and a workbench. This allows you to quickly set up a temporary shelter in any biome. For example, if you''re in the Mountains biome and need to recover stamina, place a campfire under an overhang or in a small cave, and sit near it to activate the buff. This strategy is especially useful during boss fights or when traversing long distances.\n\nAnother tip is to use portals strategically. Portals allow you to return to your main base to refresh the rested buff without losing progress. For instance, if you''re exploring the Plains biome and your buff is about to expire, use a portal to return to your base, rest, and then return to your exploration point. This ensures you always have the buff active, which is critical for maintaining stamina during intense speedrunning segments.\n\nFinally, always plan your route and rest stops in advance. Identify key locations where you can build shelters or use existing structures to rest. For example, in the Swamp biome, look for crypts or abandoned huts where you can place a campfire and rest. This minimizes downtime and keeps your rested buff active throughout your run.\n\nIn summary, optimizing the rested buff for speedrunning involves increasing your comfort level, building efficient shelters, and using portals strategically. By following these steps, you can maintain the buff for longer periods, ensuring better stamina and health recovery during your speedrun. Remember to carry essential materials and plan your route to maximize efficiency.