What is the most efficient way to gather core wood in the Black Forest?

Gathering core wood in the Black Forest is a crucial task in Valheim, as it is used for crafting advanced tools, weapons, and structures like the Fine Wood Bow and reinforced buildings. Core wood is obtained by chopping down pine trees, which are tall, thin trees with dark bark found exclusively in the Black Forest biome. To efficiently gather core wood, you will need the right tools, a strategic approach, and an understanding of the game mechanics.\n\nFirst, ensure you have a Bronze Axe or better. Core wood can only be harvested from pine trees, and these trees require at least a Bronze Axe to chop down. If you are new to the game, you will need to progress through the early stages by gathering basic materials like wood and stone, defeating Eikthyr to obtain Hard Antlers, and crafting a pickaxe to mine copper and tin. Smelt these ores in a Smelter to create bronze, then craft a Bronze Axe at a Forge. This is the minimum requirement for gathering core wood.\n\nOnce you have the proper tool, head to the Black Forest biome. Pine trees are abundant here and are easily identifiable by their tall, straight trunks and dark bark. When chopping down a pine tree, aim for the base of the trunk. Each tree will yield 10-15 core wood logs, which can be collected by pressing the interact key (default E). Be cautious of your surroundings, as the Black Forest is home to hostile creatures like Greylings, Greydwarfs, and Trolls. Always be prepared with weapons, armor, and food to defend yourself.\n\nTo maximize efficiency, consider clearing a large area of pine trees in one go. This reduces the time spent traveling between trees and minimizes the risk of being ambushed by enemies. Additionally, pine trees often fall in unpredictable directions, so be mindful of your positioning to avoid being crushed. If a tree falls on another tree, it can cause a chain reaction, knocking down multiple trees at once. This can save time but also increases the risk of injury, so stay alert.\n\nOne common challenge is managing inventory space. Core wood stacks up to 50 per slot, so it is easy to fill your inventory quickly. To address this, consider bringing a Cart or building a temporary storage chest nearby. Carts are particularly useful for transporting large quantities of core wood back to your base. If you are far from your base, you can also set up a small outpost with a workbench and chest to store materials temporarily.\n\nFor experienced players, using a Stagbreaker or other area-of-effect weapons can help clear out Greydwarfs quickly, allowing you to focus on gathering. Additionally, bringing a portal to the Black Forest can save time traveling back and forth. Portals require Fine Wood and Greydwarf Eyes to craft, so plan accordingly. If you are playing with friends, coordinate your efforts to gather core wood more efficiently while keeping each other safe from enemies.\n\nIn summary, the most efficient way to gather core wood in the Black Forest involves using a Bronze Axe or better, clearing large areas of pine trees, managing inventory space with carts or chests, and staying vigilant against enemies. By following these steps and leveraging game mechanics like chain reactions and portals, you can gather core wood quickly and safely, ensuring you have the resources needed for advanced crafting and building in Valheim.