How do you unlock and craft the hoe to level terrain for your shelter?

To unlock and craft the hoe in Valheim, you must first progress through the early stages of the game and gather the necessary resources. The hoe is an essential tool for leveling terrain, which is crucial for building a stable and aesthetically pleasing shelter. To begin, you need to defeat Eikthyr, the first boss, to unlock the Antler Pickaxe, which allows you to mine tin and copper in the Black Forest biome. These metals are required to craft bronze, a key material for the hoe.\n\nOnce you have access to bronze, you can craft the hoe at a Forge. To create bronze, you need to smelt copper and tin in a Smelter. Copper can be found in large deposits in the Black Forest, while tin is found along the shores of the same biome. Use your Antler Pickaxe to mine these resources. After gathering enough copper and tin, build a Smelter using 20 Stone and 5 Surtling Cores, which are dropped by Surtlings in the Swamp biome or found in Burial Chambers.\n\nWith the Smelter, smelt the copper and tin into bars. Each bronze bar requires 2 copper and 1 tin. Once you have at least 5 bronze bars, you can craft the hoe. To do this, you need to build a Forge using 4 Stone, 4 Coal, 10 Wood, and 6 Copper. The Forge is essential for crafting advanced tools and weapons. Once the Forge is built, interact with it and select the hoe from the crafting menu. The hoe requires 5 Wood and 2 Bronze to craft.\n\nAfter crafting the hoe, equip it and use it to level terrain. To do this, right-click to open the hoe''s menu and select the ''Level Ground'' option. This allows you to flatten uneven terrain, making it easier to build structures. The hoe is particularly useful for creating flat foundations for your shelter, ensuring stability and preventing structural issues. Additionally, you can use the hoe to raise or lower terrain, which is helpful for creating moats or elevated platforms for defense.\n\nOne common challenge players face is running out of stamina while using the hoe. To mitigate this, always ensure you have rested and have a full stamina bar before starting large terrain modifications. Eating stamina-boosting foods like Raspberries or Cooked Meat can also help. Another tip is to work in small sections, leveling one area at a time to avoid exhausting your stamina too quickly.\n\nIn summary, unlocking and crafting the hoe in Valheim involves defeating Eikthyr, mining copper and tin in the Black Forest, smelting bronze, and building a Forge. The hoe is a versatile tool that allows you to level terrain, making it easier to build a sturdy and visually appealing shelter. By following these steps and managing your stamina effectively, you can create the perfect foundation for your Viking home.