How do I use portals to quickly return to my base after exploring?

Portals are one of the most essential tools in Valheim for fast travel and efficient exploration. They allow you to instantly teleport between two linked portals, saving you time and effort when returning to your base after venturing into dangerous biomes like the Swamp or Mountains. To use portals effectively, you must first unlock the crafting recipe by obtaining Surtling Cores, which are found in Burial Chambers in the Black Forest biome or dropped by Surtlings in the Ashlands.\n\nTo craft a portal, you will need 20 Fine Wood, 10 Greydwarf Eyes, and 2 Surtling Cores. Fine Wood is obtained by chopping down Birch or Oak trees in the Meadows or Black Forest, while Greydwarf Eyes are dropped by Greydwarfs. Once you have the materials, craft a portal at your base and place it in a secure location. Then, craft a second portal to carry with you during exploration. When you find a safe spot in a new area, place the second portal and link it to your base portal by giving both portals the same unique name.\n\nLinking portals is simple but crucial. Interact with the portal at your base and enter a name, such as ''Swamp1'' or ''Mountain2''. Then, interact with the portal you placed in the new area and enter the exact same name. Once linked, you can step through either portal to instantly travel between them. This is especially useful when you are far from home and need to return quickly to repair gear, store resources, or recover from death.\n\nOne common challenge is managing inventory space while exploring. Since you cannot transport metals like Copper, Tin, or Iron through portals, you will need to plan your trips carefully. For example, if you are mining Copper in the Black Forest, you can use a portal to return to your base to drop off non-metal resources like Wood or Stone, then sail back with a Karve or Longship to transport the metals. This strategy minimizes wasted time and ensures you can continue exploring efficiently.\n\nAnother tip is to always carry portal materials with you when venturing into new biomes. Keep 20 Fine Wood, 10 Greydwarf Eyes, and 2 Surtling Cores in your inventory so you can quickly set up a portal if you find valuable resources or encounter a dangerous situation. This is particularly important in biomes like the Plains, where enemies like Fulings and Deathsquitos can overwhelm unprepared players.\n\nFinally, consider building a network of portals at your base to organize your fast travel system. For example, you can have one portal named ''Exploration'' for temporary use during trips and others with specific names like ''Swamp'' or ''Mountain'' for permanent connections. This approach keeps your portal system organized and prevents confusion when traveling between multiple locations.\n\nIn summary, portals are a game-changing tool in Valheim that allow you to explore the world with confidence and efficiency. By crafting and linking portals strategically, you can quickly return to your base, manage your inventory, and overcome the challenges of dangerous biomes. Always carry portal materials, plan your resource transportation, and organize your portal network to make the most of this powerful mechanic.