How do you unlock the forge level 23 upgrade?

Unlocking the forge level 23 upgrade in Valheim is a significant milestone for players looking to craft high-tier gear and weapons. The forge is essential for smelting and crafting advanced items, and upgrading it requires specific materials and steps. To reach forge level 23, you must first understand the mechanics of forge upgrades and gather the necessary resources.\n\nForge upgrades are tied to the placement of specific crafting stations and items near the forge. Each upgrade increases the forge''s level, allowing you to craft more advanced items. To reach level 23, you need to place all available forge upgrades in close proximity to the forge. These upgrades include the forge cooler, forge bellows, anvils, and more. Each item contributes to the forge''s overall level, and combining them is key to reaching the maximum level.\n\nTo begin, you must first craft the forge itself. This requires 6 copper, 4 wood, 4 stone, and 10 coal. Once the forge is built, you can start adding upgrades. The first upgrade is 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.\n\nNext, you need to craft the forge bellows, which requires 5 wood and 5 deer hide. Deer hide is obtained by hunting deer in the Meadows biome. The bellows increase the forge''s level and are essential for reaching higher levels. After the bellows, you can craft the anvils. There are two types of anvils: the small anvil and the large anvil. The small anvil requires 5 wood and 2 bronze, while the large anvil requires 20 iron. Bronze is crafted by combining copper and tin at the forge, and iron is obtained from muddy scrap piles in the Swamp biome.\n\nAnother important upgrade is the grindstone, which requires 25 wood and 1 sharpening stone. Sharpening stones are crafted at the forge using 5 stone and 1 coal. The grindstone is crucial for increasing the forge''s level and is often overlooked by new players. Additionally, you can place the forge tool rack, which requires 15 wood and 10 iron. This upgrade is found in the Swamp biome and is necessary for reaching higher forge levels.\n\nTo reach forge level 23, you must also place the forge adze and forge chopping block. The adze requires 10 wood and 3 bronze, while the chopping block requires 10 wood and 15 iron. These items are crafted at the forge and must be placed nearby to contribute to the forge''s level. Finally, you can add the forge smelter, which requires 20 stone and 5 surtling cores. Surtling cores are found in Burial Chambers in the Black Forest or dropped by Surtlings in the Ashlands biome.\n\nOne common challenge players face is gathering enough iron for the large anvil and tool rack. To overcome this, focus on exploring the Swamp biome thoroughly. Look for crypts, which contain muddy scrap piles that yield iron when processed at the smelter. Bring a pickaxe, plenty of food, and poison resistance mead to survive the Swamp''s hazards. Another tip is to mark crypt locations on your map for efficient resource gathering.\n\nIn summary, unlocking forge level 23 requires careful planning and resource gathering. Start by building the forge and adding upgrades like the cooler, bellows, anvils, grindstone, tool rack, adze, chopping block, and smelter. Each item contributes to the forge''s level, and combining them all will allow you to reach level 23. Focus on exploring the Black Forest and Swamp biomes for essential materials like copper, tin, and iron. With patience and persistence, you can unlock the forge''s full potential and craft the best gear in Valheim.