How do you quickly build a portal network for fast travel?

Building a portal network in Valheim is essential for efficient travel across the vast world. Portals allow you to instantly move between two connected points, saving time and resources. To start, you need to unlock the portal recipe by defeating the first boss, Eikthyr, and obtaining Hard Antlers. These are used to craft an Antler Pickaxe, which lets you mine Surtling Cores in Burial Chambers found in the Black Forest biome. Surtling Cores are a key ingredient for crafting portals.\n\nOnce you have at least two Surtling Cores, you can craft a Charcoal Kiln and a Smelter. These structures allow you to process Wood into Coal and Tin/Copper Ore into Metal Bars, respectively. You will need Fine Wood (obtained from Birch or Oak trees) and Greydwarf Eyes (dropped by Greydwarfs) to craft portals. Fine Wood is gathered using a Bronze Axe or better, so prioritize upgrading your tools. Each portal requires 20 Fine Wood, 2 Surtling Cores, and 10 Greydwarf Eyes.\n\nTo set up a portal network, you need to place two portals and assign them the same tag. Tags are case-sensitive and must match exactly for the portals to connect. For example, naming both portals ''Base'' will link them. It’s a good idea to create a naming convention for your portals, such as ''Base1'', ''Meadows'', or ''Swamp'', to avoid confusion. Always carry portal materials (Fine Wood, Surtling Cores, and Greydwarf Eyes) when exploring, so you can quickly set up a return portal if needed.\n\nA common challenge is running out of Surtling Cores early in the game. To address this, focus on exploring multiple Burial Chambers in the Black Forest. These dungeons often contain 2-4 Surtling Cores each. If you’re struggling to find Burial Chambers, look for large stone structures with green torches outside. Another tip is to farm Surtlings in the Ashlands or Swamp biomes, as they drop Surtling Cores when killed. However, this method is riskier and requires better gear.\n\nWhen building your portal network, consider placing portals at key locations such as your main base, resource-rich biomes (e.g., Swamp for Iron, Mountains for Silver), and boss altars. For example, after defeating Eikthyr, you can place a portal near the Elder’s altar to quickly return for the fight. Similarly, a portal in the Swamp biome allows easy access to Crypts for Iron farming. Always secure your portals with walls or fences to prevent enemy interference.\n\nFor speedrunning or efficient gameplay, prioritize building a portal hub at your main base. This hub should have multiple portals labeled for different destinations, such as ''Swamp'', ''Mountain'', or ''Plains''. This setup minimizes the need to carry portal materials and ensures quick access to all areas. Additionally, always carry a Hammer and workbench materials to repair or build portals on the go.\n\nIn summary, building a portal network in Valheim requires careful planning and resource management. Start by gathering Surtling Cores in the Black Forest, craft portals using Fine Wood and Greydwarf Eyes, and assign matching tags to connect them. Explore Burial Chambers for Surtling Cores, secure your portals, and create a portal hub for efficient travel. With these steps, you’ll master fast travel and conquer Valheim’s challenges with ease.