What’s the fastest way to unlock the blast furnace for black metal smelting?

Unlocking the blast furnace in Valheim is a critical step for smelting black metal, which is essential for crafting high-tier weapons and armor. The blast furnace requires specific materials and progression through the game''s tech tree. Here’s a detailed, step-by-step guide to unlocking it as quickly as possible.\n\nFirst, you must defeat Moder, the fourth boss in Valheim, located in the Mountain biome. Moder drops Dragon Tears, which are required to craft the Artisan Table. The Artisan Table is a prerequisite for building the blast furnace. To prepare for Moder, gather Frost Resistance Mead or craft Wolf Armor to survive the freezing temperatures of the Mountains. Bring a Draugr Fang bow and plenty of arrows, as Moder is a flying boss and ranged combat is highly effective.\n\nOnce Moder is defeated, you’ll need to gather the materials for the Artisan Table: 10 Wood, 2 Dragon Tears, and 4 Iron. Dragon Tears are obtained from Moder, while Wood and Iron can be collected from the Black Forest and Swamp biomes, respectively. Iron is found in Muddy Scrap Piles within Sunken Crypts in the Swamp. Bring a Bronze Pickaxe or better to mine these piles efficiently.\n\nAfter crafting the Artisan Table, you’ll need to gather materials for the blast furnace itself. The blast furnace requires 20 Fine Wood, 10 Iron, 5 Surtling Cores, and 5 Stone. Fine Wood is obtained by chopping down Birch or Oak trees in the Meadows or Plains biomes. Surtling Cores are commonly found in Burial Chambers in the Black Forest or by defeating Surtlings in the Ashlands biome. Stone is abundant and can be mined from rocks or gathered from the ground.\n\nA common challenge is locating Surtling Cores early in the game. If you’re struggling to find enough, consider exploring multiple Burial Chambers or creating a Surtling Core farm in the Ashlands. Surtlings spawn near fire geysers, and killing them repeatedly can yield a steady supply of cores.\n\nOnce you have all the materials, place the Artisan Table in your base and craft the blast furnace. The blast furnace allows you to smelt black metal scraps, which are dropped by Fulings in the Plains biome. Fulings are aggressive enemies, so ensure you’re well-equipped with upgraded armor and weapons before venturing into the Plains.\n\nTo optimize your speedrun, focus on efficient resource gathering and prioritize defeating Moder as soon as possible. Use portals to minimize travel time between biomes and keep your inventory organized to avoid unnecessary trips. Additionally, consider building a small outpost near the Mountains or Swamp to store materials and reduce backtracking.\n\nIn summary, the fastest way to unlock the blast furnace involves defeating Moder, crafting the Artisan Table, and gathering the necessary materials for the blast furnace. By following these steps and preparing adequately, you can streamline your progression and unlock black metal smelting efficiently.