How do you craft a pickaxe and what materials are required?

Crafting a pickaxe in Valheim is essential for mining resources like stone, copper, and tin, which are critical for progressing through the game. To craft a pickaxe, you will need to gather specific materials and have access to a workbench. The first pickaxe you can craft is the Antler Pickaxe, which requires basic materials found in the early game.\n\nTo craft the Antler Pickaxe, you need 10 Wood and 1 Hard Antler. Wood is easily obtained by chopping down trees in the Meadows biome, the starting area of the game. Hard Antler, on the other hand, is dropped by Eikthyr, the first boss in Valheim. To summon Eikthyr, you need to place 2 Deer Trophies on its altar, which is found in the Meadows biome. Deer Trophies are obtained by hunting deer, which roam the Meadows.\n\nOnce you have the required materials, approach a workbench to craft the Antler Pickaxe. Workbenches can be built using 10 Wood and are essential for crafting most tools and weapons. If you don’t have a workbench yet, gather the necessary Wood and place it in a sheltered area, as workbenches require a roof to function. Open the crafting menu at the workbench, navigate to the Tools section, and select the Antler Pickaxe to craft it.\n\nAfter crafting the Antler Pickaxe, you can start mining basic resources like stone and copper. Stone is found scattered on the ground in most biomes, while copper deposits are located in the Black Forest biome. To mine copper, equip the pickaxe and strike the large, shiny copper nodes. Each strike will yield Copper Ore, which can be smelted into Copper Bars using a Smelter. Smelters require 20 Stone and 5 Surtling Cores, which are found in Burial Chambers in the Black Forest.\n\nAs you progress, you may want to upgrade to stronger pickaxes, such as the Bronze Pickaxe. To craft this, you will need 3 Core Wood and 10 Bronze. Core Wood is obtained by chopping down Pine Trees in the Black Forest, while Bronze is crafted by combining 2 Copper Bars and 1 Tin Bar at a Forge. Tin Ore is found near water sources in the Black Forest and is mined using the Antler Pickaxe or better.\n\nOne common challenge players face is locating Eikthyr’s altar to summon the boss. If you’re having trouble finding it, explore the Meadows biome thoroughly and look for glowing red runestones. Interacting with these runestones will reveal the location of Eikthyr’s altar. Another tip is to mark the altar’s location on your map once you find it, as you may need to return later for additional Hard Antlers.\n\nIn summary, crafting a pickaxe in Valheim is a straightforward process that requires gathering Wood and defeating Eikthyr for Hard Antler. Use the Antler Pickaxe to mine essential resources and upgrade to stronger tools as you progress. Always ensure you have a functional workbench and explore biomes like the Black Forest for advanced materials. With these steps, you’ll be well-equipped to tackle the challenges of Valheim’s world.