How do you unlock the hammer for building structures?

Unlocking the hammer in Valheim is a crucial step for building your first shelter and progressing in the game. The hammer is your primary tool for constructing structures, including walls, roofs, and workbenches. To unlock it, you must first gather the necessary resources and craft a workbench, which is the foundation for most early-game crafting.\n\nTo begin, you need to collect wood, which is obtained by chopping down trees using a stone axe. Trees are abundant in the Meadows biome, the starting area for most players. Once you have at least 10 wood, you can craft a workbench. Open your inventory (press Tab) and navigate to the crafting tab. Select the workbench and place it in a suitable location near your planned building site.\n\nAfter placing the workbench, you will need to craft the hammer. To do this, open the crafting menu again and look for the hammer under the tools section. Crafting the hammer requires 3 wood and 2 stone. Stone can be found scattered on the ground in the Meadows biome or mined from small rocks using a pickaxe. If you don''t have a pickaxe yet, you can craft one using 10 wood and 1 hard antler, which is obtained by defeating the first boss, Eikthyr.\n\nOnce you have the hammer, equip it by selecting it from your inventory. With the hammer equipped, you can open the building menu by right-clicking. This menu allows you to select different building pieces, such as walls, floors, and roofs. Each piece requires specific materials, such as wood or stone, which you must gather beforehand. For example, a basic wooden wall requires 2 wood, while a thatch roof requires 4 wood.\n\nA common challenge for new players is running out of materials while building. To avoid this, always gather more resources than you think you''ll need. For example, if you plan to build a small shelter, collect at least 50 wood and 20 stone. This ensures you have enough materials to complete your structure without interruptions. Additionally, keep your workbench upgraded by crafting a roof and walls around it. This prevents it from being destroyed by rain or enemies.\n\nAnother tip is to plan your shelter''s layout before building. Start with a foundation using wooden floor pieces, then add walls and a roof. Make sure to include a door for easy access and a fire pit for warmth and cooking. If you''re playing with friends, consider building a larger shelter with multiple rooms to accommodate everyone.\n\nIn summary, unlocking the hammer in Valheim involves gathering wood and stone, crafting a workbench, and then crafting the hammer itself. Once you have the hammer, you can start building your first shelter by selecting pieces from the building menu and placing them in your desired location. Always gather extra materials, plan your layout, and protect your workbench to ensure a smooth building experience. With these steps, you''ll be well on your way to creating a sturdy and functional shelter in the world of Valheim.