What’s the quickest way to upgrade your workbench in a speedrun?

Upgrading your workbench quickly in a Valheim speedrun is essential for progressing through the game efficiently. The workbench is the cornerstone of crafting, allowing you to create better tools, weapons, and armor. To upgrade it, you need to build specific crafting stations nearby, such as the chopping block, tanning rack, and adze. Each upgrade requires specific materials, so planning your resource gathering is crucial.\n\nStart by gathering basic resources like wood and stone to build the initial workbench. Place it in a safe location, preferably near your spawn point or a base you plan to expand. Once the workbench is built, you can begin upgrading it. The first upgrade requires a chopping block, which needs 10 wood and 10 flint. Flint can be found along riverbanks or shorelines in the Meadows biome. Prioritize gathering flint early, as it’s a key resource for both tools and upgrades.\n\nThe second upgrade requires a tanning rack, which needs 15 wood, 10 flint, 20 leather scraps, and 5 deer hides. Leather scraps are obtained by killing boars, while deer hides come from hunting deer. Focus on hunting early to stockpile these materials. The tanning rack allows you to craft better armor and tools, making it a critical upgrade for survival in harder biomes.\n\nThe third upgrade requires an adze, which needs 10 wood and 3 bronze. Bronze is crafted at a forge using copper and tin, so you’ll need to venture into the Black Forest biome to mine these ores. Copper nodes are large and require a pickaxe, while tin is found near water sources in the Black Forest. Smelt the ores in a smelter to create bronze bars, then craft the adze to complete the upgrade.\n\nOne common challenge in speedrunning is managing inventory space while gathering resources. To solve this, prioritize building a cart or chest early to store excess materials. This allows you to focus on gathering without frequent trips back to your base. Additionally, always carry a hammer and repair your tools on the go to avoid downtime.\n\nAnother tip is to use portals strategically. Once you unlock portals, place one near resource-rich areas like the Black Forest or Meadows. This allows you to quickly transport materials back to your workbench without wasting time traveling. Portals require fine wood and greydwarf eyes, so gather these materials as soon as possible.\n\nFinally, always plan your route and prioritize tasks. For example, gather flint and hunt deer while exploring the Meadows, then move to the Black Forest for copper and tin. By multitasking and staying organized, you can upgrade your workbench quickly and efficiently. Remember, speedrunning is about optimizing every action, so focus on minimizing downtime and maximizing resource gathering.\n\nIn summary, upgrading your workbench quickly in a Valheim speedrun requires careful planning, efficient resource gathering, and strategic use of crafting stations. Focus on gathering flint, leather scraps, and deer hides early, then venture into the Black Forest for copper and tin. Use portals and storage solutions to save time, and always repair your tools to stay productive. With these strategies, you’ll be able to upgrade your workbench and progress through the game at record speed.