What items should I prioritize keeping in my inventory for quick access?

In Valheim, managing your inventory efficiently is crucial for survival and progression. Your inventory space is limited, so prioritizing items for quick access ensures you can respond to threats, gather resources, and craft on the fly. This guide will help you decide what to keep in your inventory based on your current biome, progression stage, and gameplay goals.\n\nFirst, always carry essential tools like your axe, pickaxe, and hammer. These tools are indispensable for gathering wood, mining ore, and building structures. For example, in the Meadows biome, you’ll need your axe to chop down trees for wood and your hammer to build a basic shelter. In the Black Forest, a pickaxe becomes critical for mining copper and tin. Without these tools, you’ll waste time returning to your base to retrieve them.\n\nNext, prioritize weapons and shields for combat readiness. A bow and arrows are essential for ranged combat, especially when dealing with enemies like Draugr or Trolls. A melee weapon, such as a sword or mace, is also vital for close-quarters combat. Shields are equally important for blocking attacks and reducing damage. For example, in the Swamp biome, where enemies like Blobs and Draugr are common, having a shield and poison resistance mead can save your life.\n\nFood is another critical item to keep in your inventory. Consuming food increases your health and stamina, which are essential for combat, exploration, and resource gathering. Early-game foods like cooked meat, berries, and mushrooms are easy to obtain and provide decent stats. As you progress, prioritize higher-tier foods like sausages or serpent stew, which offer significant health and stamina boosts. Always carry at least three types of food to maintain balanced stats.\n\nHealing items, such as health potions or meads, should also be readily accessible. These items can quickly restore your health during combat or after taking damage from environmental hazards like falling or freezing. For example, in the Mountains biome, frost resistance mead is essential to survive the cold, while healing mead can save you from wolf attacks.\n\nTorches or other light sources are invaluable for exploring dark areas like caves or dungeons. In the Black Forest, for instance, carrying a torch helps you navigate Burial Chambers and fend off Skeletons. Additionally, a workbench or portal materials (fine wood, surtling cores, and greydwarf eyes) can be lifesavers when you need to repair gear or teleport back to your base quickly.\n\nFinally, consider carrying a few stacks of basic resources like wood, stone, and resin. These items are versatile and can be used for crafting, building, or repairing structures on the go. For example, if you’re exploring the Plains biome and need to build a quick shelter to avoid Deathsquitos, having wood and stone in your inventory can be a game-changer.\n\nTo optimize your inventory, organize items into categories: tools, weapons, food, healing items, and resources. Use the quick-access bar for items you need frequently, such as your bow, melee weapon, and food. Store less frequently used items in your inventory’s lower slots. Regularly drop off excess resources at your base to free up space for new loot.\n\nIn summary, prioritize tools, weapons, food, healing items, and essential resources in your inventory. Tailor your loadout to the biome you’re exploring and the challenges you expect to face. By keeping these items accessible, you’ll be prepared for any situation Valheim throws at you.