Which biome should you prioritize for early-game resource gathering in a speedrun?

In Valheim speedrunning, prioritizing the right biome for early-game resource gathering is critical to optimizing your time and progression. The Black Forest biome is the most efficient and strategic choice for early-game resource gathering in a speedrun. This biome offers essential materials like copper, tin, and core wood, which are necessary for crafting bronze tools and weapons, as well as building stronger structures. Additionally, the Black Forest is home to valuable enemies like Greydwarfs and Trolls, which drop resources such as resin, wood, and troll hides, all of which are useful for early-game crafting and upgrades.\n\nTo begin, after spawning in the Meadows biome, your first priority should be gathering basic resources like wood, stone, and food. Craft a crude bow and flint arrows to defend yourself, as the Black Forest is more dangerous than the Meadows. Once you have a basic weapon and some food, head directly to the Black Forest. Look for large pine trees to gather core wood, which is essential for crafting a bronze axe and other advanced tools. Core wood can also be used to build stronger structures, which will help you survive longer in the biome.\n\nOnce in the Black Forest, focus on locating copper and tin deposits. Copper nodes are large, rocky formations that require a pickaxe to mine. Tin, on the other hand, is found near water sources like rivers or the coastline and appears as small, shiny rocks. Both metals are required to craft bronze, which is a game-changer for early-game progression. To smelt bronze, you will need to build a smelter and a charcoal kiln, which require stone and surtling cores. Surtling cores can be found in Burial Chambers, which are scattered throughout the Black Forest. These dungeons also contain valuable loot like amber and ancient bones, which can be sold to the merchant for gold.\n\nOne common challenge in the Black Forest is dealing with Trolls, which are large, powerful enemies that can easily overwhelm unprepared players. To handle Trolls efficiently, use your bow to kite them from a distance. Trolls are slow but deal massive damage, so maintaining distance is key. If you manage to defeat a Troll, you can craft troll hide armor, which provides excellent protection without slowing you down. This armor is ideal for speedrunning, as it allows you to move quickly while still being well-protected.\n\nAnother important resource in the Black Forest is fine wood, which is obtained by cutting down birch trees. Fine wood is required for crafting the finewood bow, one of the best early-game ranged weapons. To cut down birch trees, you will need a bronze axe, so prioritize mining and smelting copper and tin as soon as possible. Fine wood is also used to craft portals, which are essential for fast travel in a speedrun. Building a portal network can save you significant time, especially when traveling between biomes or returning to your base.\n\nIn summary, the Black Forest biome is the best choice for early-game resource gathering in a Valheim speedrun due to its abundance of essential materials like copper, tin, core wood, and fine wood. By focusing on mining, crafting, and defeating enemies like Trolls, you can quickly progress to the mid-game and beyond. Remember to build a smelter and charcoal kiln early, and prioritize crafting bronze tools and weapons to maximize your efficiency. With these strategies, you can streamline your speedrun and achieve your goals faster.