How do I craft a smelter for processing metals?

Crafting a smelter in Valheim is essential for processing raw metals like copper, tin, and iron into usable bars for crafting advanced tools, weapons, and armor. The smelter is a key structure in your progression, allowing you to unlock higher-tier gear and build stronger bases. To craft a smelter, you must first gather the necessary materials and unlock the recipe by obtaining specific resources.\n\nTo unlock the smelter recipe, you need to find and mine Surtling Cores. These are found in Burial Chambers within the Black Forest biome. Burial Chambers are dungeon-like structures with skeletons guarding valuable loot, including Surtling Cores. You’ll need at least 5 Surtling Cores to unlock the smelter recipe. Once you have these, the recipe will become available in your crafting menu.\n\nThe materials required to build a smelter are 20 Stone and 5 Surtling Cores. Stone is abundant and can be gathered by mining large rocks or picking up smaller stones scattered across the landscape. Surtling Cores, as mentioned, are found in Burial Chambers. Once you have the materials, open your crafting menu (press Tab) and select the smelter from the list of available structures.\n\nPlacement is crucial when building a smelter. It requires a flat, open area and cannot be placed too close to other structures or objects. Ensure you have enough space around it for fuel and metal processing. Once placed, the smelter will need fuel to operate. Coal is the primary fuel source, which can be obtained by burning wood in a charcoal kiln or by defeating Surtlings in the Swamp biome.\n\nTo use the smelter, load it with fuel (coal) and the raw metal ore you wish to process. For example, place copper ore in the smelter to produce copper bars. Each bar requires 2 pieces of ore and takes a few minutes to process. The smelter can hold up to 10 pieces of ore and 20 pieces of coal at a time, so plan accordingly to maximize efficiency.\n\nA common challenge for new players is running out of coal. To avoid this, build a charcoal kiln early on. The kiln converts wood into coal, providing a steady supply of fuel for your smelter. Additionally, always carry extra wood when exploring, as it can be used to craft coal on the go if needed.\n\nFor experienced players, optimizing smelter placement near mining sites or resource-rich areas can save time. Consider building multiple smelters to process large quantities of ore simultaneously. This is especially useful when preparing for boss fights or large-scale building projects.\n\nIn summary, crafting a smelter in Valheim requires 20 Stone and 5 Surtling Cores. Unlock the recipe by exploring Burial Chambers in the Black Forest biome, gather the materials, and place the smelter in a suitable location. Use coal as fuel to process ores into bars, and consider building a charcoal kiln for a steady fuel supply. With these steps, you’ll be well-equipped to process metals and advance your Viking journey.