How do you prevent Greydwarfs from destroying your shelter at night?

Preventing Greydwarfs from destroying your shelter at night in Valheim requires a combination of strategic building, defensive measures, and understanding enemy behavior. Greydwarfs are common enemies in the Black Forest biome and are particularly aggressive at night, making them a significant threat to new players. To protect your shelter, you need to focus on creating a secure perimeter, using defensive structures, and leveraging in-game mechanics to deter or eliminate these creatures.\n\nFirst, choose a safe location for your shelter. Avoid building too close to the Black Forest biome, as Greydwarfs spawn frequently in this area. Instead, opt for the Meadows biome, which is safer and has fewer hostile creatures. If you must build near the Black Forest, ensure your shelter is elevated or surrounded by natural barriers like cliffs or water, as Greydwarfs cannot swim or climb steep terrain. This reduces the chances of them reaching your base.\n\nNext, build a sturdy perimeter around your shelter. Use wooden walls, fences, or stakewalls to create a barrier. Stakewalls are particularly effective because they are stronger than regular wooden walls and can withstand more damage. To craft stakewalls, you need 4 wood per section, which is easily obtainable by chopping down trees. Place these walls around your base, leaving enough space inside for your shelter and crafting stations. Ensure there are no gaps in the perimeter, as Greydwarfs can exploit even small openings.\n\nLighting is another crucial factor in deterring Greydwarfs. These creatures are afraid of fire, so placing campfires or torches around your shelter can keep them at bay. Craft campfires using 5 stone and 2 wood, and place them strategically around your perimeter. Torches, made from 1 wood and 1 resin, can also be placed on walls or fences to provide light and scare off enemies. Keep in mind that campfires require fuel, so regularly add wood to keep them burning.\n\nFor added protection, consider building a moat around your shelter. Digging a trench with a pickaxe creates a physical barrier that Greydwarfs cannot cross. To dig a moat, equip a pickaxe and start removing terrain around your base. Make the trench at least two meters deep and wide enough to prevent enemies from jumping over. This method is highly effective but requires time and effort, so plan accordingly.\n\nIf Greydwarfs still manage to breach your defenses, you can use weapons and traps to eliminate them. Craft a bow and arrows to attack from a distance, or use a club or axe for close combat. Traps like spike walls or defensive structures can also help. Spike walls, crafted from 4 wood and 2 core wood, deal damage to enemies that come into contact with them. Place these around your perimeter or near entry points to weaken or kill Greydwarfs before they reach your shelter.\n\nFinally, consider recruiting allies to help defend your base. Tamed wolves or boars can attack Greydwarfs and other enemies, providing an additional layer of protection. To tame animals, drop food like berries or meat near them and wait until they become friendly. Once tamed, they will defend your base automatically.\n\nIn summary, preventing Greydwarfs from destroying your shelter involves careful planning, strategic building, and leveraging in-game mechanics. Choose a safe location, build strong defenses, use lighting to deter enemies, and consider traps or tamed animals for added protection. By following these steps, you can ensure your shelter remains safe and secure, even during the most dangerous nights in Valheim.