How do you unlock the forge level 20 upgrade?

Unlocking the forge level 20 upgrade in Valheim is a significant milestone for players looking to craft the best gear and weapons. The forge is essential for smelting metals, crafting advanced tools, and upgrading equipment. To reach forge level 20, you must build and upgrade your forge with specific crafting stations and items. Each upgrade adds a level to your forge, and reaching level 20 requires a combination of crafting stations, resources, and exploration.\n\nTo begin, you need a basic forge, which requires 4 stone, 4 coal, 10 wood, and 6 copper. Once built, you can start adding upgrades. The first step is to craft the forge cooler, which requires 25 fine wood and 10 copper. Fine wood can be obtained by chopping birch or oak trees in the Meadows or Black Forest biomes. Copper is mined from copper deposits in the Black Forest. Place the forge cooler near your forge to increase its level by one.\n\nNext, craft the forge bellows using 5 fine wood, 4 leather scraps, and 4 chain. Leather scraps are obtained by hunting boars or deer, while chains are found in chests in the Swamp biome or dropped by Wraiths. The forge bellows add another level to your forge. After this, build the anvil, which requires 20 iron and 2 wood. Iron is smelted from scrap iron found in Muddy Scrap Piles in the Swamp biome. The anvil increases the forge level by two.\n\nAnother essential upgrade is the forge tool rack, which requires 15 iron and 10 fine wood. This adds another level to your forge. The grindstone is another critical upgrade, requiring 25 wood, 1 sharpening stone, and 5 iron. Sharpening stones are crafted from 5 stone and 1 wood. The grindstone increases the forge level by two. Finally, the forge adze, which requires 10 fine wood and 3 bronze, adds another level. Bronze is crafted by combining copper and tin at the forge.\n\nTo reach forge level 20, you must also craft the forge chimney, which requires 20 stone and 15 iron. This upgrade adds another level. Additionally, the forge iron shelf, requiring 10 iron and 10 wood, increases the forge level by one. The last upgrade is the forge workbench, which requires 10 iron and 15 wood. This final upgrade brings your forge to level 20, unlocking the ability to craft and upgrade the most advanced gear in the game.\n\nCommon challenges include finding enough resources, especially iron and fine wood. To overcome this, explore the Swamp biome thoroughly for Muddy Scrap Piles and clear dungeons for chains. For fine wood, focus on birch and oak trees in the Meadows or Black Forest. Always bring a bronze axe or better to efficiently gather fine wood. Additionally, ensure you have a steady supply of coal by building kilns and burning wood.\n\nIn summary, unlocking forge level 20 requires careful planning, resource gathering, and crafting specific upgrades. Start with the basic forge, then add the cooler, bellows, anvil, tool rack, grindstone, adze, chimney, iron shelf, and workbench. Each upgrade increases the forge level, culminating in level 20. Focus on exploring the Black Forest and Swamp biomes for essential resources, and always prepare adequately for expeditions. With a level 20 forge, you can craft and upgrade the best gear, making your Viking adventures much more manageable.