What’s the most effective way to craft and upgrade the iron mace?

The iron mace is one of the most powerful blunt weapons in Valheim, excelling against enemies weak to blunt damage, such as skeletons and blobs. To craft and upgrade the iron mace effectively, you’ll need to gather specific resources, unlock the necessary crafting station, and follow a step-by-step process. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know, from gathering materials to optimizing your upgrades.\n\nFirst, you’ll need to unlock the Forge, a crafting station required to craft and upgrade the iron mace. To build a Forge, you’ll need 4 stone, 4 coal, 10 wood, and 6 copper. Coal can be obtained by burning wood in a Charcoal Kiln or by mining it in the Black Forest biome. Copper is found in large deposits in the Black Forest, and you’ll need a Bronze Pickaxe to mine it efficiently. Once you have the Forge, you’re ready to start crafting the iron mace.\n\nTo craft the iron mace, you’ll need 20 iron, 4 wood, and 3 leather scraps. Iron is obtained by smelting scrap iron, which is found in Muddy Scrap Piles in the Swamp biome. You’ll need a Wishbone, dropped by Bonemass, to locate these piles easily. Alternatively, you can explore Sunken Crypts in the Swamp, where scrap iron is abundant. Wood is easily gathered from trees, and leather scraps are obtained by hunting boars or deer. Once you have all the materials, craft the iron mace at the Forge.\n\nUpgrading the iron mace requires additional iron and other resources. Each upgrade level increases the weapon’s damage and durability. For the first upgrade, you’ll need 10 iron and 2 wood. The second upgrade requires 15 iron and 3 wood, and the third upgrade needs 20 iron and 4 wood. The fourth and final upgrade requires 25 iron and 5 wood. Make sure to gather enough iron before starting the upgrade process, as it can be time-consuming to farm.\n\nOne common challenge is efficiently gathering iron in the Swamp biome. The Swamp is dangerous, with enemies like Draugr, Leeches, and Blobs posing significant threats. To make the process easier, bring poison resistance mead, which reduces poison damage from Blobs and Leeches. Additionally, equip a shield and armor to handle Draugr attacks. Clearing Sunken Crypts is the most efficient way to gather scrap iron, as each crypt can yield 30-50 scrap iron, depending on its size.\n\nAnother tip is to optimize your inventory space when farming iron. Scrap iron is heavy, so bring a cart or portal materials to transport it back to your base. If you’re far from your base, set up a temporary outpost near the Swamp to smelt iron on-site. This saves time and reduces the risk of losing resources during long trips.\n\nFinally, consider pairing the iron mace with a shield for maximum effectiveness. The iron mace’s high stagger damage works well with a shield, allowing you to stun enemies and follow up with powerful attacks. For example, the Iron Buckler is a great choice, as it provides high block power and is relatively easy to craft.\n\nIn summary, crafting and upgrading the iron mace requires careful planning and resource management. Focus on gathering iron efficiently in the Swamp biome, prepare for dangerous encounters, and optimize your inventory for transporting resources. With these tips, you’ll have a fully upgraded iron mace ready to dominate Valheim’s toughest enemies.