What’s the fastest way to build a functional longship for ocean travel?

Building a functional longship in Valheim is a significant milestone for ocean travel, as it allows you to explore distant lands, transport large amounts of resources, and survive the dangers of the open seas. The longship is the fastest and most durable ship in the game, making it essential for late-game exploration. To build one, you’ll need to progress through the game’s crafting tiers, gather specific resources, and unlock the necessary crafting station.\n\nFirst, you must unlock the ability to craft the longship by defeating the second boss, The Elder, in the Black Forest biome. Defeating The Elder grants you the Swamp Key, which allows access to the Swamp biome, where you’ll find Iron Scrap. Iron is a critical resource for crafting the longship, as it’s required to make Iron Nails, one of the key components. To prepare for this, ensure you have a Bronze Pickaxe to mine Muddy Scrap Piles in the Swamp, which yield Iron Scrap when processed in a Smelter.\n\nOnce you’ve gathered enough Iron Scrap, smelt it into Iron Bars at a Smelter. You’ll need 80 Iron Nails to craft the longship, which requires 20 Iron Bars. Additionally, you’ll need 40 Fine Wood, 10 Deer Hide, and 40 Resin. Fine Wood is obtained by chopping down Birch or Oak trees in the Meadows or Plains biomes using a Bronze or Iron Axe. Deer Hide is collected by hunting Deer in the Meadows, and Resin is a common drop from Greydwarfs or by chopping down trees.\n\nTo craft the longship, you’ll need to build a level 3 Workbench. This requires upgrading your Workbench with a Chopping Block, Tanning Rack, and Adze, which are crafted using Wood, Flint, Leather Scraps, and Bronze. Place the upgraded Workbench near a body of water, as ships can only be built in water. Once your Workbench is ready, open the crafting menu and select the longship. Ensure you have all the required materials in your inventory, then place the longship in the water.\n\nOne common challenge players face is locating Iron Scrap in the Swamp biome. Swamps are dangerous, with enemies like Draugr and Leeches posing significant threats. To mitigate this, bring Poison Resistance Mead, crafted at a Fermenter using Honey, Thistle, Neck Tail, and Coal. This will protect you from poison damage caused by Leeches and Blobs. Additionally, bring a strong weapon, such as a Bronze Mace, to deal with Draugr effectively.\n\nAnother challenge is transporting Iron Scrap back to your base. Since Iron Scrap is heavy, consider building a Karve, the mid-tier ship, to carry larger amounts of resources. Alternatively, you can set up a temporary base near the Swamp with a Smelter and Forge to process Iron Scrap into Iron Bars on-site, reducing the need for multiple trips.\n\nFinally, once your longship is built, it’s important to protect it from damage. Serpents, hostile sea creatures, can attack your ship during ocean travel. To defend against them, bring a strong bow and arrows, or use the Harpoon to drag them closer for melee combat. Additionally, always repair your longship at a Workbench before embarking on long journeys to ensure it’s in top condition.\n\nIn summary, the fastest way to build a functional longship involves defeating The Elder, gathering Iron Scrap in the Swamp, and crafting the required materials at an upgraded Workbench. Prepare for the dangers of the Swamp with Poison Resistance Mead and strong weapons, and consider setting up a temporary base to streamline resource processing. Once your longship is ready, protect it from Serpents and keep it repaired for safe ocean travel.