How do I use portals to quickly gather resources from the Plains?

Portals are one of the most powerful tools in Valheim for fast travel and resource gathering, especially in dangerous biomes like the Plains. To use portals effectively for gathering resources, you must first understand the mechanics. Portals require two key components: a Portal structure and a matching Tag. Both portals must share the same Tag to connect, allowing instant travel between them. To craft a Portal, you need 20 Fine Wood, 10 Greydwarf Eyes, and 2 Surtling Cores, which can be found in Burial Chambers or from Surtlings in the Ashlands biome.\n\nTo set up a portal network for resource gathering in the Plains, start by establishing a safe base near the biome. The Plains is home to dangerous enemies like Fulings and Deathsquitos, so ensure your base is fortified with walls and workbenches to prevent spawns. Build a Portal at your main base and assign it a unique Tag, such as ''Plains1''. Then, venture into the Plains and find a resource-rich area, such as a patch of Flax or Barley, or a Tar Pit. Place a second Portal here with the same Tag (''Plains1'') to connect the two.\n\nOnce your portals are linked, you can quickly travel between your base and the Plains to gather resources. For example, Flax and Barley are essential for crafting high-tier gear like Linen Capes and Black Metal weapons. Use the portal to transport these resources back to your base for processing. However, remember that certain items, like metals (e.g., Black Metal Scraps), cannot be transported through portals. For these, you''ll need to use a Longship or cart to manually transport them back to your base.\n\nA common challenge is managing inventory space while gathering resources. To optimize your trips, bring a Cart or use a Karve or Longship to store excess items. Additionally, consider building a small outpost near your Plains portal with chests for temporary storage. This allows you to gather more resources before making the trip back to your main base.\n\nAnother tip is to use multiple portals for different purposes. For example, create a portal specifically for Tar Pits (''Tar1'') and another for Flax fields (''Flax1''). This way, you can quickly switch between resource locations without needing to rename portals constantly. Always carry portal materials (Fine Wood, Greydwarf Eyes, and Surtling Cores) when exploring, so you can set up new portals on the fly.\n\nFinally, ensure your Plains portal is well-protected. Enemies can destroy portals, cutting off your fast travel route. Surround the portal with spikes or walls, and consider placing a Ward nearby to prevent enemy spawns. With these strategies, you can efficiently gather resources from the Plains while minimizing risk and maximizing productivity.