How do you quickly build a raft for early-game exploration?

Building a raft quickly in Valheim is essential for early-game exploration, especially when you need to cross water or reach distant biomes like the Black Forest or Meadows. The raft is the first watercraft you can craft, and it requires minimal resources, making it ideal for speedrunning or early progression. To build a raft, you need to gather specific materials and unlock the crafting recipe by acquiring a Workbench and a Hammer.\n\nFirst, you must gather the necessary resources: 20 Wood, 6 Leather Scraps, and 6 Resin. Wood is the easiest to obtain, as it drops from chopping down trees in the Meadows biome. Leather Scraps come from hunting Boars, which are common in the Meadows. Resin is dropped by Greylings or found in small amounts near abandoned structures. These materials are relatively easy to collect within the first few minutes of gameplay, making the raft an accessible early-game tool.\n\nOnce you have the materials, you need to craft a Workbench. Place the Workbench near your starting area or a temporary base. The Workbench is essential for crafting the Hammer, which is required to build the raft. To craft the Hammer, you need 3 Wood and 2 Stone, both of which are abundant in the Meadows. With the Hammer equipped, open the crafting menu and navigate to the Misc tab to find the raft blueprint.\n\nTo place the raft, you need to be near water. Find a shoreline or a shallow area where you can safely build. Select the raft from the Hammer menu and place it in the water. Once placed, the raft will appear as a small wooden structure. You can then interact with it to board and start sailing. The raft is slow compared to later boats like the Karve or Longship, but it is sufficient for early exploration and crossing small bodies of water.\n\nOne common challenge is managing stamina while sailing. The raft requires you to paddle manually, which consumes stamina. To mitigate this, bring food like Raspberries or Cooked Meat to replenish stamina quickly. Additionally, avoid sailing during storms, as the raft is fragile and can take damage from waves. If you encounter a Serpent, a hostile sea creature, steer clear and head to shore immediately, as the raft has low durability and cannot withstand prolonged attacks.\n\nFor speedrunning, prioritize efficiency in gathering materials. Focus on chopping down trees near your spawn point and hunt Boars as soon as possible. If you struggle to find Resin, explore nearby abandoned structures or kill Greylings, which are passive creatures that drop Resin when defeated. Once you have the raft, use it to explore nearby islands or reach the Black Forest biome, where you can find valuable resources like Copper and Tin.\n\nIn summary, building a raft quickly in Valheim involves gathering Wood, Leather Scraps, and Resin, crafting a Workbench and Hammer, and placing the raft near water. Manage your stamina while sailing and avoid dangerous situations like storms or Serpents. The raft is a simple yet effective tool for early-game exploration, allowing you to expand your reach and progress faster in the game.\n\nPractical tips: Always carry extra Wood and Resin in case your raft takes damage. Use the raft to scout for nearby biomes or resources, but upgrade to a Karve or Longship as soon as possible for better speed and durability. If you are speedrunning, plan your route to minimize backtracking and maximize resource efficiency.