How do you craft a Portal to avoid long sailing trips?

Crafting a Portal in Valheim is one of the most efficient ways to avoid long sailing trips and quickly travel between distant locations. Portals allow you to instantly teleport between two connected points, saving you time and resources. However, there are specific requirements and mechanics you need to understand to use them effectively.\n\nTo craft a Portal, you first need to unlock the recipe by obtaining Fine Wood and Greydwarf Eyes. Fine Wood is gathered by chopping down Birch or Oak trees in the Meadows or Black Forest biomes, while Greydwarf Eyes drop from Greydwarf enemies found in the Black Forest. Once you have these materials, you can craft a Portal at the Workbench using 20 Fine Wood, 2 Greydwarf Eyes, and 10 Surtling Cores. Surtling Cores are obtained from Burial Chambers in the Black Forest or by defeating Surtlings in the Ashlands biome.\n\nAfter crafting a Portal, you need to place it in a suitable location. Portals require a flat surface and enough space around them to function. Once placed, you must name the Portal by interacting with it. The name you choose is crucial because it determines which Portal it connects to. For example, if you name one Portal ''Home'' and another Portal ''Home,'' they will link together, allowing instant travel between them. Note that you cannot transport metals like Copper, Tin, or Iron through Portals, so you’ll still need to sail or walk if you’re transporting these materials.\n\nA common challenge players face is forgetting to name Portals or mismatching names, which prevents them from connecting. To avoid this, always double-check the names of your Portals before placing them. Additionally, it’s a good idea to carry portal materials with you when exploring. This way, you can set up a temporary Portal to return to your base and then dismantle it later. For example, if you’re exploring a new island, bring the materials to craft a Portal and name it something unique like ''Exploration1.'' Then, create a matching Portal at your base to ensure a quick return.\n\nAnother practical tip is to establish a network of Portals at key locations. For instance, you might have a Portal named ''Swamp'' near a Swamp biome for quick access to resources like Iron, or a Portal named ''Mountain'' for Silver mining. This strategy minimizes the need for long sailing trips and makes resource gathering more efficient. However, remember that you’ll still need to sail if you’re transporting metals, so plan your routes accordingly.\n\nIn summary, crafting and using Portals in Valheim is a game-changing mechanic that saves time and effort. By gathering Fine Wood, Greydwarf Eyes, and Surtling Cores, you can create Portals and link them with matching names. Always carry portal materials during exploration, and establish a network of Portals at strategic locations to optimize your gameplay. While Portals cannot transport metals, they are invaluable for quick travel and resource management.