How do you craft a black metal shield, and what materials are needed?

Crafting a Black Metal Shield in Valheim is a significant milestone for players looking to enhance their defensive capabilities. This shield is one of the strongest in the game, offering excellent protection against late-game enemies. To craft it, you’ll need to progress through the game’s tiers, gather rare materials, and unlock the necessary crafting station.\n\nFirst, you must defeat Moder, the fourth boss in Valheim, to obtain Dragon Tears. These tears are required to craft the Artisan Table, which is essential for advanced crafting. The Artisan Table allows you to process Black Metal, a key material for the shield. Without this table, you cannot progress to crafting high-tier items like the Black Metal Shield.\n\nTo gather Black Metal, you’ll need to explore the Plains biome, one of the most dangerous areas in Valheim. Here, you’ll encounter Fulings, small but aggressive goblin-like creatures. Defeating Fulings and Fuling Berserkers will drop Black Metal Scraps, which are the primary resource for crafting Black Metal. Be prepared for tough battles, as Fulings are fast and deal significant damage. Bringing a strong weapon, such as a Frostner or Porcupine, and wearing upgraded armor is highly recommended.\n\nOnce you’ve collected enough Black Metal Scraps, you’ll need to smelt them into Black Metal using a Blast Furnace. The Blast Furnace is unlocked after defeating Moder and requires Artisan Table access. To build a Blast Furnace, you’ll need 20 Fine Wood, 10 Iron, 5 Surtling Cores, and 20 Stone. Place the Blast Furnace near your base and feed it Coal to smelt the Black Metal Scraps into usable Black Metal.\n\nIn addition to Black Metal, crafting the Black Metal Shield requires Fine Wood and Chain. Fine Wood is obtained by chopping down Birch or Oak trees in the Meadows or Plains biomes. Chain is a rarer material that can be found in Sunken Crypts in the Swamp biome or dropped by Wraiths, ghostly enemies that spawn at night in the Swamp. If you’re struggling to find Chains, focus on exploring Sunken Crypts, as they often contain multiple chests with this resource.\n\nWith all materials gathered, head to a level 4 Forge to craft the Black Metal Shield. The Forge must be upgraded using Forge Coolers, Anvils, and other enhancements to reach level 4. Once your Forge is ready, you can craft the shield using 10 Fine Wood, 8 Black Metal, and 5 Chain. The Black Metal Shield provides 90 block power and 10 parry bonus, making it one of the best shields in the game for both blocking and parrying attacks.\n\nA common challenge players face is surviving in the Plains biome while farming Black Metal Scraps. To mitigate this, consider building a small outpost near the Plains with a portal for quick escapes. Bring plenty of healing items like Blood Pudding or Lox Meat Pie, and use a bow to pick off Fulings from a distance before engaging in melee combat. Additionally, avoid fighting at night, as Deathsquitos and Fuling Shamans can make the biome even more dangerous.\n\nIn summary, crafting a Black Metal Shield requires defeating Moder, gathering Black Metal Scraps in the Plains, smelting them in a Blast Furnace, and collecting Fine Wood and Chain. Upgrade your Forge to level 4, and you’ll be ready to craft this powerful shield. With its high block and parry stats, the Black Metal Shield is an excellent choice for players tackling the game’s toughest challenges.\n\nPractical Tip: Always carry a backup shield or weapon when farming in the Plains. If your Black Metal Shield breaks during combat, having a secondary option can save your life. Additionally, consider pairing the shield with a strong melee weapon like the Black Metal Sword or Atgeir for maximum effectiveness in battle.