What is the best way to farm black metal for crafting?

Farming black metal in Valheim is essential for crafting high-tier weapons, armor, and tools. Black metal is a late-game resource primarily obtained from Fuling enemies in the Plains biome. To efficiently farm black metal, you need to prepare adequately, understand the mechanics, and follow a strategic approach.\n\nFirst, ensure you are well-equipped before venturing into the Plains. This biome is dangerous, with powerful enemies like Fulings, Deathsquitos, and Lox. Equip yourself with padded armor or better, a strong shield, and a high-damage weapon like a black metal sword or atgeir. Bring healing meads, stamina meads, and poison resistance meads to survive encounters. A fully upgraded bow and arrows are also recommended for dealing with Deathsquitos from a distance.\n\nTo farm black metal, focus on defeating Fulings, as they drop black metal scraps when killed. Fulings are small goblin-like creatures that roam the Plains in groups. They come in various types, including standard Fulings, Fuling Berserkers, and Fuling Shamans. Each type drops black metal scraps, but Berserkers and Shamans are tougher and require careful handling. Use terrain to your advantage, such as kiting enemies around rocks or trees to avoid being overwhelmed.\n\nOne effective strategy is to locate a Fuling village. These villages are densely populated with Fulings and often contain valuable loot, including black metal scraps. Approach cautiously, as villages are heavily guarded. Use a bow to pick off enemies from a distance or lure them out in smaller groups. Clearing a village can yield a significant amount of black metal scraps, making it a worthwhile endeavor.\n\nAfter collecting black metal scraps, you need to smelt them into black metal bars. This requires a blast furnace, which is unlocked by defeating Moder, the fourth boss, and obtaining dragon tears. Build the blast furnace at your base and fuel it with coal. Place the black metal scraps into the furnace to produce black metal bars, which are used for crafting.\n\nA common challenge is the difficulty of the Plains biome, especially for players new to the area. To mitigate this, consider building a small outpost near the Plains but not directly in it. This allows you to retreat to safety if overwhelmed. Additionally, tame Lox to use as mounts or allies in combat, as they can help fend off Fulings and other threats.\n\nFor experienced players, farming black metal can be optimized by using portals. Set up a portal near a Fuling village or a high-density Fuling area to quickly return to your base for smelting and crafting. This minimizes downtime and maximizes efficiency. Always carry portal materials with you to establish a quick escape route if needed.\n\nIn summary, farming black metal in Valheim requires preparation, strategy, and careful execution. Equip yourself with strong gear, focus on defeating Fulings in the Plains biome, and use a blast furnace to smelt black metal scraps into bars. By leveraging terrain, building outposts, and using portals, you can efficiently gather this valuable resource and craft powerful late-game equipment.\n\nPractical tips: Always carry healing and stamina meads, use a bow to deal with Deathsquitos, and consider taming Lox for additional support. For maximum efficiency, set up portals near Fuling villages and clear them systematically.