What’s the most efficient tool for mining copper in the Black Forest?

Mining copper in Valheim''s Black Forest is a critical step in progressing through the game, as copper is essential for crafting bronze and upgrading your gear. The most efficient tool for mining copper is the Antler Pickaxe, which is the first pickaxe available to players. However, as you progress, upgrading to the Bronze Pickaxe significantly improves mining efficiency.\n\nTo craft the Antler Pickaxe, you need 10 Wood and 1 Hard Antler, which is obtained by defeating the first boss, Eikthyr. Once crafted, this pickaxe allows you to mine copper nodes found in the Black Forest biome. Copper nodes are large, rocky formations with a greenish tint, often partially buried in the ground. They require multiple hits to break, and each node yields 20-30 copper ore.\n\nWhen mining copper, it''s important to clear the area around the node to ensure you can collect all the ore. Copper nodes often spawn near other resources like tin and stone, so take advantage of this to gather multiple materials in one trip. Additionally, be prepared to face enemies like Greydwarfs and Trolls, which are common in the Black Forest. Bringing a shield, weapon, and food for stamina regeneration will help you survive these encounters.\n\nOnce you''ve gathered enough copper ore, you''ll need to smelt it into copper bars using a Smelter. To build a Smelter, you need 20 Stone and 5 Surtling Cores, which are found in Burial Chambers within the Black Forest. Place the Smelter near your base and fuel it with Coal, which can be obtained by burning Wood in a Charcoal Kiln or by defeating Surtlings in the Swamp biome.\n\nAfter smelting copper, you can craft the Bronze Pickaxe, which is more durable and mines faster than the Antler Pickaxe. To craft the Bronze Pickaxe, you need 4 Core Wood, 10 Bronze, and 3 Leather Scraps. Core Wood is obtained by chopping down Pine Trees in the Black Forest, while Leather Scraps come from Boars. Bronze is created by combining 2 Copper and 1 Tin in a Forge.\n\nA common challenge when mining copper is the time it takes to break down a node. To speed up the process, focus on mining the bottom of the node first. This causes the entire node to collapse, saving you time and effort. Additionally, always bring a Cart or Portal materials to transport large amounts of ore back to your base efficiently.\n\nIn summary, the Antler Pickaxe is the starting tool for mining copper, but upgrading to the Bronze Pickaxe is highly recommended for efficiency. Clear the area around nodes, prepare for combat, and use smelting and crafting to progress. By following these steps, you''ll maximize your copper mining efforts and advance your Viking survival journey in Valheim.