How do I unlock the ability to craft portals in Valheim?

To unlock the ability to craft portals in Valheim, you must first progress through the early stages of the game and gather specific resources. Portals are essential for fast travel, allowing you to connect two distant locations instantly. However, crafting portals requires you to defeat the first boss, Eikthyr, and acquire the necessary materials and crafting station upgrades.\n\nTo begin, you must venture into the Black Forest biome, which is typically found adjacent to the Meadows, your starting area. In the Black Forest, you will find Burial Chambers, which are dungeons filled with skeletons and valuable loot. Inside these chambers, you will discover Surtling Cores, a critical resource for crafting portals. You need at least 10 Surtling Cores to unlock the necessary crafting stations.\n\nOnce you have collected Surtling Cores, return to your base and build a Charcoal Kiln and a Smelter. These structures allow you to process wood into coal and smelt metal ores, respectively. Next, you must craft a Workbench and upgrade it to level 3 using a Chopping Block and a Tanning Rack. This upgraded Workbench is required to build the next essential crafting station: the Forge.\n\nAfter setting up the Forge, you will need to craft a Hammer, which is used to build structures. With the Hammer equipped, open the crafting menu and navigate to the Misc tab. Here, you will find the Portal recipe. To craft a portal, you need 20 Fine Wood, 2 Surtling Cores, and 10 Greydwarf Eyes. Fine Wood is obtained by chopping down Birch or Oak trees in the Meadows or Black Forest, while Greydwarf Eyes are dropped by Greydwarfs, common enemies in the Black Forest.\n\nOnce you have the required materials, place two portals in different locations. To link them, interact with one portal and assign it a unique name using the text input box. Then, interact with the second portal and give it the same name. The portals will connect instantly, allowing you to travel between them. Note that certain items, such as metals, cannot be transported through portals, so plan your resource management accordingly.\n\nA common challenge players face is finding enough Surtling Cores early in the game. If you are struggling to locate Burial Chambers, explore the Black Forest thoroughly and look for stone structures with glowing green torches. These indicate the entrance to a Burial Chamber. Additionally, Surtling Cores can sometimes be found in chests within these dungeons, so be sure to loot everything.\n\nAnother tip is to build a portal network at your main base. This allows you to quickly return home after exploring dangerous areas. For example, if you are mining in the Mountains or Swamp biome, place a portal near your mining site and link it to your base. This strategy saves time and reduces the risk of losing valuable resources if you die.\n\nIn summary, unlocking portals in Valheim requires defeating Eikthyr, exploring the Black Forest for Surtling Cores, and upgrading your crafting stations. Once you have the necessary materials, you can craft and link portals to create a fast travel network. This mechanic is invaluable for efficient exploration and resource management, making it a priority for both new and experienced players.