How do you use Bonfires to stay warm in large cold areas?

Staying warm in cold biomes like the Mountain biome in Valheim is essential for survival, as freezing temperatures will rapidly drain your health. Bonfires are a key tool for maintaining warmth in large cold areas, but they require careful placement and management to be effective. Unlike Campfires, Bonfires provide a larger area of warmth and can be used outdoors, making them ideal for traversing or working in cold regions.\n\nTo craft a Bonfire, you will need 5 Core Wood, 5 Fine Wood, and 2 Resin. Core Wood is obtained by chopping down Pine Trees in the Black Forest biome, while Fine Wood comes from Birch or Oak Trees. Resin is a common drop from Greydwarfs or can be collected from Beech Trees. Once you have the materials, you can place the Bonfire on the ground in a suitable location. Bonfires require a flat surface and cannot be placed on steep terrain or near other structures.\n\nBonfires emit a large radius of warmth, which can protect you from the freezing effect of cold biomes. However, they have a limited lifespan and will eventually burn out after a few in-game days. To keep a Bonfire active, you must refuel it with Wood or Resin. This makes Bonfires a semi-permanent solution for staying warm in large areas, but they require regular maintenance. For example, if you are mining Silver in the Mountains, you can place a Bonfire near your mining site to stay warm while working.\n\nOne common challenge is managing Bonfires in areas with frequent enemy spawns. Enemies like Wolves or Draugr can attack and destroy your Bonfire, leaving you vulnerable to the cold. To mitigate this, consider building a small protective structure around the Bonfire using Wood or Stone. This will shield it from enemy attacks while still allowing you to access it for warmth. Additionally, you can place multiple Bonfires in a large area to create overlapping warmth zones, ensuring you are always within range of a heat source.\n\nAnother practical use for Bonfires is during exploration. If you are traveling through a cold biome, you can place Bonfires at key points along your route to create safe zones where you can rest and recover. For example, when climbing a Mountain, you can place Bonfires at intervals to ensure you always have a warm spot to retreat to if needed. This strategy is especially useful for new players who may not yet have Frost Resistance Mead or Wolf Armor.\n\nBonfires also have a unique advantage over Campfires in that they can be used to create warmth in open areas without the need for a roof. This makes them ideal for outdoor activities like hunting or gathering resources in cold biomes. However, keep in mind that Bonfires cannot be placed indoors, so they are not a solution for warming up inside structures. For indoor warmth, you will need to rely on Campfires or Hearths.\n\nIn summary, Bonfires are a versatile and powerful tool for staying warm in large cold areas like the Mountains. They require Core Wood, Fine Wood, and Resin to craft, and must be refueled regularly to remain active. By strategically placing Bonfires and protecting them from enemies, you can create safe zones that allow you to explore and work in cold biomes without fear of freezing. For new players, Bonfires are an accessible solution before acquiring advanced cold resistance gear, while experienced Vikings can use them to optimize their resource gathering and exploration efforts.\n\nPractical tips: Always carry extra Wood or Resin to refuel Bonfires, and consider building protective barriers around them in dangerous areas. Use multiple Bonfires to create overlapping warmth zones, and place them at key points along your exploration routes. Finally, remember that Bonfires are best suited for outdoor use, so plan accordingly when venturing into cold biomes.