How do you build a functional fence around your shelter?

Building a functional fence around your shelter in Valheim is essential for protecting your base from hostile creatures and creating a safe zone for crafting, cooking, and resting. To start, you’ll need to gather the necessary materials and understand the basic mechanics of fence construction. Fences are built using wood, which is one of the most abundant resources in the game. You can gather wood by chopping down trees with a stone axe, which is one of the first tools you craft.\n\nOnce you have enough wood, open your crafting menu by pressing Tab (default key) and navigate to the Hammer tool. Craft the Hammer if you don’t already have one, as it’s required for building structures. Equip the Hammer and right-click to open the building menu. Select the Fence category, which includes options like Wood Fence, Stakewall, and Roundpole Fence. For beginners, the Wood Fence is the easiest to build and requires only 1 wood per section.\n\nTo place a fence, aim at the ground and left-click to set the first piece. Fences snap together, so you can easily create a continuous barrier by placing additional sections next to the first one. Make sure to enclose your entire shelter area, leaving a small gap for a gate if needed. Gates are crafted separately and require 4 wood each. Place the gate by selecting it from the building menu and positioning it between two fence sections.\n\nOne common challenge is uneven terrain, which can make it difficult to place fences. To address this, use the Hoe tool to level the ground around your shelter. This ensures that your fence sections align properly and create a seamless barrier. Additionally, if you’re building in a biome like the Black Forest or Plains, where enemies are more aggressive, consider upgrading to a Stakewall. Stakewalls are sturdier and require 4 wood and 1 core wood per section, providing better protection against stronger foes.\n\nAnother tip is to leave enough space inside your fenced area for future expansions, such as additional buildings, crafting stations, or farming plots. This saves you the hassle of rebuilding your fence later. If you’re playing with friends, coordinate fence placement to ensure everyone has access to the shelter while keeping enemies out.\n\nFinally, remember that fences are not indestructible. Enemies like Greydwarfs and Trolls can damage or destroy them over time. To mitigate this, consider building a moat or trench around your fence for added defense. Alternatively, place workbenches or campfires near your fence to prevent enemy spawns in the immediate area.\n\nIn summary, building a functional fence in Valheim involves gathering wood, crafting a Hammer, and using the building menu to place fence sections and gates. Level the ground with a Hoe for easier placement, and upgrade to Stakewalls in dangerous biomes. Plan for future expansions and reinforce your fence with additional defenses to keep your shelter safe.