How do I unlock the forge to smelt copper and tin?

To unlock the forge in Valheim and begin smelting copper and tin, you must first progress through the early stages of the game and gather the necessary resources. The forge is essential for crafting advanced tools, weapons, and armor, making it a critical milestone for survival and progression. Here’s a detailed step-by-step guide to help you unlock and build the forge.\n\nFirst, you need to craft a workbench, which is the foundation for most crafting in Valheim. To build a workbench, gather 10 wood by chopping down trees with your fists or a crude axe. Place the workbench in a sheltered area, as it requires a roof and walls to function. Once the workbench is built, you can craft basic tools like the hammer, which is necessary for constructing the forge.\n\nNext, you’ll need to gather the materials required to build the forge. The forge requires 4 stone, 4 coal, 10 wood, and 6 copper. Stone can be found scattered on the ground or mined from large rocks using a pickaxe. Coal is obtained by burning wood in a charcoal kiln, which you can craft using 20 stone. Wood is easily gathered from trees, and copper is mined from copper deposits found in the Black Forest biome.\n\nTo mine copper, you’ll need a pickaxe. Craft a pickaxe at the workbench using 10 wood and 1 hard antler, which is obtained by defeating the first boss, Eikthyr. Once you have a pickaxe, head to the Black Forest biome, identifiable by its dense pine trees and dark atmosphere. Look for large, greenish rock formations with copper veins running through them. Mine these deposits to collect copper ore.\n\nAfter gathering the required materials, return to your base and place the forge near your workbench. The forge must be placed under a roof to function, so ensure your crafting area is properly sheltered. Once the forge is built, you can use it to smelt copper and tin ore into bars. To smelt ore, you’ll need to build a smelter, which requires 20 stone and 5 surtling cores. Surtling cores are found in burial chambers within the Black Forest or dropped by surtlings in the Ashlands biome.\n\nWith the smelter built, place copper or tin ore into the top slot and fuel it with coal. Each piece of ore takes 30 seconds to smelt into a bar. Once you have copper and tin bars, you can use the forge to craft advanced tools, weapons, and armor. For example, combining copper and tin bars at the forge allows you to craft bronze, a stronger material for crafting.\n\nA common challenge players face is locating copper deposits in the Black Forest. These deposits are often hidden beneath the ground, so look for small, glowing green rocks on the surface as indicators. Additionally, ensure you have enough food and stamina before mining, as it can be a time-consuming process. Bringing a portal to the Black Forest can also save time by allowing quick travel back to your base.\n\nIn summary, unlocking the forge requires gathering resources like stone, wood, coal, and copper, crafting a pickaxe, and building a smelter. Focus on exploring the Black Forest biome for copper and tin, and ensure your crafting area is properly sheltered. With the forge unlocked, you’ll be well-equipped to progress further in Valheim and tackle more challenging enemies and biomes.\n\nPractical tips: Always carry a portal with you when exploring new biomes to save time traveling back to your base. Use the antler pickaxe to mine copper until you can upgrade to a bronze pickaxe. Keep an eye out for surtling cores in burial chambers, as they are essential for building the smelter. Finally, prioritize upgrading your forge to unlock more advanced crafting recipes and improve your gear.