What is the best way to gather stone for crafting a smelter?

Gathering stone for crafting a smelter in Valheim is a crucial early-game task that requires strategic planning and efficient resource collection. A smelter requires 20 stone, 5 surtling cores, and 10 wood to craft, making stone one of the most accessible materials needed. Stone is abundant in most biomes, but knowing where and how to gather it quickly will save you time and effort.\n\nTo gather stone, you can find it scattered across the ground in nearly every biome, including Meadows, Black Forest, and Mountains. The most common method is to pick up small stones, which are plentiful in the Meadows biome. These stones are small, gray, and easy to spot on the ground. Simply walk over them and press the interact key (default E) to collect them. Each stone pickup yields one unit, so you’ll need to gather 20 individual stones for a smelter.\n\nAnother efficient way to gather stone is by mining larger rock formations. In the Meadows and Black Forest biomes, you’ll find large boulders and rock towers. These can be mined using a pickaxe, which requires crafting a workbench and gathering 10 wood and 1 hard antler (obtained by defeating Eikthyr, the first boss). Each boulder or rock tower yields 10-20 stone, making this method much faster than picking up small stones. However, it requires more effort and preparation, as you’ll need to craft a pickaxe first.\n\nIf you’re in the Black Forest biome, you can also find stone deposits in the form of Greydwarf nests. These nests are guarded by Greydwarfs, but destroying them yields stone and other resources. Additionally, mining copper deposits in the Black Forest will occasionally drop stone as a byproduct, though this is less efficient than targeting boulders or small stones.\n\nFor experienced players, the Mountains biome offers a high concentration of stone in the form of silver veins and large rock formations. However, this biome is dangerous for new players due to freezing temperatures and hostile creatures like wolves and drakes. If you’re well-prepared with frost resistance mead or wolf armor, mining in the Mountains can yield large amounts of stone quickly.\n\nA practical tip for gathering stone is to always carry a pickaxe and keep an eye out for boulders while exploring. Marking resource-rich areas on your map can help you return to them later. Additionally, using a cart to transport large amounts of stone can save time, especially if you’re mining in bulk. For new players, focusing on the Meadows biome for small stones and occasional boulders is the safest and most efficient method.\n\nIn summary, the best way to gather stone for a smelter depends on your progress and biome accessibility. New players should focus on picking up small stones in the Meadows and mining boulders with a pickaxe. Experienced players can venture into the Black Forest or Mountains for larger yields. Always prioritize safety and efficiency, and consider using a cart for transporting large amounts of stone.