What’s the fastest way to gather core wood for early-game building in Valheim?

Gathering core wood quickly in Valheim is essential for early-game building, especially when constructing structures like the Longhouse or crafting advanced tools. Core wood is obtained from pine trees, which are primarily found in the Black Forest biome. To maximize efficiency, you’ll need a Flint Axe or better, as core wood cannot be harvested with a basic Stone Axe. Here’s a step-by-step guide to gathering core wood as fast as possible.\n\nFirst, ensure you have the right tools. Craft a Flint Axe by gathering Flint from riverbeds in the Meadows biome and combining it with Wood and Leather Scraps. Flint is easy to spot along shorelines, and Leather Scraps can be obtained by hunting Boars. Once you have your Flint Axe, head to the Black Forest biome, identifiable by its dense pine trees, dark atmosphere, and occasional Greydwarf enemies.\n\nWhen you arrive in the Black Forest, focus on pine trees, which are taller and thinner than regular trees. These trees drop core wood when chopped down. To save time, avoid cutting down every tree you see. Instead, look for clusters of pine trees close together. Chopping one tree can cause it to fall onto others, creating a domino effect that knocks down multiple trees at once. This method saves stamina and speeds up the gathering process.\n\nStamina management is crucial when gathering core wood. Eating food like Cooked Meat, Raspberries, or Honey before starting will increase your stamina pool, allowing you to chop more trees without resting. Additionally, avoid engaging with Greydwarfs unless necessary, as they can waste your time and resources. If you encounter them, use a Flint Spear or Club to deal with them quickly and return to gathering.\n\nOnce you’ve gathered enough core wood, transport it back to your base efficiently. If you’re far from your base, consider building a small outpost with a Workbench and a Chest to store your wood temporarily. This prevents you from losing progress if you die or run out of inventory space. Alternatively, use a Cart to transport large amounts of wood, but be cautious of uneven terrain and enemies.\n\nFor experienced players, consider using a Bronze Axe for even faster gathering. To craft a Bronze Axe, you’ll need to mine Copper and Tin in the Black Forest, smelt them into Bronze, and combine it with Wood and Leather Scraps. While this requires more preparation, it significantly speeds up the process of chopping down pine trees.\n\nFinally, always be prepared for unexpected challenges. The Black Forest is home to Trolls, Skeletons, and other dangerous enemies. Carry a Shield and healing items like Cooked Meat or Berries to stay alive. If you’re playing with friends, coordinate your efforts to gather core wood faster while keeping each other safe.\n\nIn summary, the fastest way to gather core wood in Valheim involves preparing the right tools, targeting pine trees in the Black Forest, managing stamina, and transporting resources efficiently. By following these steps, you’ll have plenty of core wood for early-game building projects in no time.