How do I unlock the stone oven for cooking food while mining?

To unlock the Stone Oven in Valheim, you must progress through the game''s crafting system and gather specific resources. The Stone Oven is a mid-to-late-game cooking station that allows you to bake bread and other advanced foods, which are essential for sustaining your health and stamina during mining expeditions. Unlocking it requires defeating the second boss, The Elder, and obtaining the Artisan Table, which is a prerequisite for crafting the Stone Oven.\n\nFirst, you need to defeat The Elder, a boss found in the Black Forest biome. This boss drops the Swamp Key, which grants access to the Sunken Crypts in the Swamp biome. Inside these crypts, you can mine Scrap Iron, a crucial resource for crafting the Artisan Table. To prepare for The Elder fight, craft a Finewood Bow and Flinthead Arrows, and gather enough food like Cooked Meat and Carrot Soup to boost your health and stamina.\n\nOnce you have defeated The Elder and obtained the Swamp Key, head to the Swamp biome to locate Sunken Crypts. These crypts are guarded by Draugr and Blobs, so bring a strong weapon like a Bronze Mace or Iron Sword. Inside the crypts, use your Antler Pickaxe or better to mine Muddy Scrap Piles, which yield Scrap Iron. Smelt the Scrap Iron in a Smelter to create Iron Bars, which are required for the Artisan Table.\n\nAfter gathering enough Iron Bars, return to your base and craft the Artisan Table. This requires 10 Wood, 2 Iron Bars, and 4 Fine Wood. Place the Artisan Table near your Forge and other crafting stations to unlock advanced recipes, including the Stone Oven. The Stone Oven itself requires 15 Stone, 4 Iron Bars, and 4 Surtling Cores. Surtling Cores can be found in Burial Chambers in the Black Forest or by defeating Surtlings in the Ashlands biome.\n\nOnce you have crafted the Stone Oven, place it in your base and interact with it to start cooking advanced foods. For example, you can bake Bread using Barley Flour, which is made from Barley grown in the Plains biome. Bread provides a significant boost to health and stamina, making it ideal for long mining sessions. To grow Barley, you must first defeat Moder, the fourth boss, to unlock the ability to cultivate crops in the Plains biome.\n\nA common challenge players face is locating Sunken Crypts in the Swamp biome. These crypts are often hidden behind dense trees and water, so bring a Hoe to level the ground and create paths for easier navigation. Additionally, always carry Poison Resistance Mead to counteract the Swamp''s toxic environment. Another tip is to build a small outpost near the Swamp to store resources and rest, as mining Scrap Iron can be time-consuming.\n\nIn summary, unlocking the Stone Oven involves defeating The Elder, mining Scrap Iron in Sunken Crypts, crafting the Artisan Table, and gathering Surtling Cores. This process requires preparation, exploration, and resource management. Once unlocked, the Stone Oven significantly enhances your food options, making it easier to sustain yourself during mining and other activities. Always prioritize upgrading your gear and preparing for biome-specific challenges to ensure a smooth progression.\n\nPractical tips: Always carry a portal to quickly return to your base, and use a Cart to transport large amounts of Scrap Iron. Build a secure base in the Swamp biome to avoid constant enemy attacks while mining. Finally, stockpile Surtling Cores early, as they are used for multiple advanced crafting stations.