How do you unlock the workbench adze for advanced upgrades?

Unlocking the workbench adze in Valheim is a crucial step for advancing your crafting capabilities, particularly for upgrading your workbench to its highest levels. The workbench adze is a crafting station upgrade that allows you to build and upgrade the workbench to level 5, enabling you to craft advanced items and gear. To unlock the workbench adze, you must first progress through the game and gather specific resources, which are tied to exploring different biomes and defeating certain enemies.\n\nTo begin, you need to craft a workbench if you haven''t already. The workbench is one of the first crafting stations you''ll build in Valheim, requiring 10 wood. Once you have a workbench, you can start upgrading it by adding improvements like the chopping block, tanning rack, and adze. The adze is the final upgrade for the workbench and requires materials that are only accessible after defeating the second boss, The Elder, in the Black Forest biome.\n\nTo unlock the adze, you must first defeat The Elder, a massive tree-like boss found in the Black Forest. Defeating The Elder grants you the Swamp Key, which allows you to access Sunken Crypts in the Swamp biome. Inside these crypts, you''ll find Scrap Iron, a critical resource for crafting the adze. Scrap Iron is obtained by mining Muddy Scrap Piles inside the crypts using a Bronze Pickaxe or better. Once you have enough Scrap Iron, smelt it in a Smelter to create Iron Bars.\n\nWith Iron Bars in hand, you can now craft the workbench adze. The adze requires 10 Fine Wood and 3 Iron Bars. Fine Wood is obtained by chopping down Birch or Oak trees in the Meadows or Plains biomes using a Bronze Axe or better. Once you have the required materials, interact with your workbench and select the adze from the crafting menu. Place the adze near your workbench to upgrade it to level 5, unlocking advanced crafting recipes and upgrades.\n\nA common challenge players face is locating Sunken Crypts in the Swamp biome. These crypts are often hidden among dense trees and waterlogged terrain, making them difficult to spot. To make this easier, explore the Swamp during the day when visibility is better, and bring a Hoe to level the ground and create paths. Additionally, always carry Poison Resistance Mead to counteract the Swamp''s toxic environment.\n\nAnother challenge is gathering Fine Wood early in the game. If you haven''t yet crafted a Bronze Axe, focus on defeating Eikthyr, the first boss, to unlock the Antler Pickaxe. This will allow you to mine Copper and Tin in the Black Forest, which are needed to craft Bronze tools. Once you have a Bronze Axe, head to the Meadows or Plains to chop down Birch and Oak trees for Fine Wood.\n\nIn summary, unlocking the workbench adze requires defeating The Elder, exploring the Swamp biome for Scrap Iron, and gathering Fine Wood. This upgrade is essential for progressing to advanced crafting and gear upgrades. Always prepare adequately for biome exploration by bringing the right tools, food, and potions. With the adze, your workbench will reach its full potential, allowing you to craft powerful items and dominate the challenges of Valheim.