How do you unlock the blast furnace for smelting black metal?

To unlock the Blast Furnace in Valheim, you must first progress through the game''s crafting tiers and defeat specific bosses. The Blast Furnace is essential for smelting Black Metal, a late-game resource used to craft powerful weapons and armor. This process requires exploration, resource gathering, and boss fights, so it’s important to prepare thoroughly.\n\nFirst, you need to defeat Moder, the fourth boss found in the Mountain biome. Moder drops Dragon Tears, a key item required to craft the Artisan Table, which unlocks advanced crafting stations like the Blast Furnace. To summon Moder, you must collect three Dragon Eggs from the Mountain biome and place them on her altar. Dragon Eggs are heavy and require careful planning to transport, so consider using a cart or portal to make the process easier.\n\nOnce you’ve defeated Moder and obtained Dragon Tears, you can craft the Artisan Table. This requires 10 Wood, 2 Dragon Tears, and a Forge. Place the Artisan Table near your Forge to unlock new crafting options, including the Blast Furnace. The Blast Furnace itself requires 20 Fine Wood, 10 Iron, 20 Stone, and 5 Surtling Cores to build. Fine Wood can be obtained from Birch or Oak trees in the Meadows or Plains biomes, while Iron is mined from Muddy Scrap Piles in the Swamp biome.\n\nTo gather Surtling Cores, you’ll need to explore Burial Chambers in the Black Forest or defeat Surtlings in the Ashlands biome. Surtlings are fire-based enemies that drop cores when killed. If you’re struggling to find Surtling Cores, consider farming them in the Swamp biome by locating Surtling spawners near Fire Geysers. These spawners continuously produce Surtlings, making it an efficient way to collect cores.\n\nOnce you’ve built the Blast Furnace, you can smelt Black Metal Scraps into Black Metal. Black Metal Scraps are dropped by Fulings, aggressive enemies found in the Plains biome. Fulings are dangerous, so ensure you have strong armor, weapons, and food buffs before engaging them. The Blast Furnace can also smelt Flametal Ore, a rare resource found in the Ashlands biome, though this is less common in early gameplay.\n\nA common challenge players face is transporting heavy resources like Iron or Dragon Eggs. To solve this, use a Longship for large hauls or set up portals near resource-rich areas. Portals require Fine Wood and Greydwarf Eyes to craft, so stock up on these materials early. Additionally, always bring a pickaxe, weapon, and food when exploring dangerous biomes like the Swamp or Plains.\n\nIn summary, unlocking the Blast Furnace requires defeating Moder, crafting the Artisan Table, and gathering specific resources like Fine Wood, Iron, and Surtling Cores. Focus on upgrading your gear and preparing for boss fights to make the process smoother. Once unlocked, the Blast Furnace will allow you to craft powerful Black Metal gear, giving you a significant advantage in late-game content.