How do I build a portal near my ship for quick travel?

Building a portal near your ship in Valheim is a smart strategy for quick travel and efficient exploration. Portals allow you to instantly teleport between two linked points, saving time and resources when moving between distant locations. To set up a portal near your ship, you''ll need to gather specific materials, craft the portal, and ensure it''s properly linked to another portal in your base or another key location.\n\nFirst, you need to unlock the portal recipe by defeating the first boss, Eikthyr, and obtaining Hard Antlers. These are used to craft an Antler Pickaxe, which allows you to mine Surtling Cores in the Black Forest biome. Surtling Cores are essential for crafting portals, as each portal requires 2 cores, 20 Fine Wood, and 10 Greydwarf Eyes. Fine Wood can be obtained by chopping down Birch or Oak trees in the Meadows or Black Forest, while Greydwarf Eyes drop from Greydwarf enemies.\n\nOnce you have the required materials, craft a portal at your base or another safe location. Place it in a secure spot, such as inside a building or behind a wall, to protect it from enemy attacks. Next, travel to your ship and find a suitable location nearby to place the second portal. Ideally, this should be on flat ground and close enough to the ship for easy access but far enough to avoid interference from waves or enemies.\n\nTo link the two portals, you must give them the same tag. When placing the second portal, interact with it and enter a unique name (e.g., ''ShipLink''). Then, go back to the first portal and enter the same tag. Once linked, you can step through either portal to instantly travel between the two locations. This setup is particularly useful for transporting resources, exploring new areas, or quickly returning to your ship after an adventure.\n\nOne common challenge is ensuring the portal near your ship remains safe from environmental hazards or enemy raids. To mitigate this, consider building a small shelter or fence around the portal. This will protect it from Greydwarfs, Skeletons, or other hostile creatures. Additionally, avoid placing the portal too close to the water, as waves can damage it over time.\n\nFor new players, it''s important to note that portals cannot transport certain items, such as metals (e.g., Copper, Tin, Iron). If you''re carrying these materials, you''ll need to sail back to your base manually. Experienced Vikings can use this limitation to their advantage by setting up multiple portals for different purposes, such as one for resource transport and another for exploration.\n\nIn summary, building a portal near your ship involves gathering Surtling Cores, Fine Wood, and Greydwarf Eyes, crafting the portal, and linking it to another portal with a matching tag. Protect the portal from enemies and environmental hazards, and remember that certain items cannot be transported through portals. With this setup, you''ll enjoy faster travel and more efficient resource management in Valheim.