What’s the most efficient way to craft and upgrade the frostner hammer?
The Frostner hammer is one of Valheim''s most powerful weapons, combining frost, spirit, and blunt damage, making it highly effective against a variety of enemies, especially undead and fire-based foes. To craft and upgrade Frostner efficiently, you need to gather specific resources, unlock crafting stations, and follow a step-by-step process. This guide will walk you through the entire process, including biome exploration, resource gathering, and crafting optimization.\n\nFirst, you must unlock the Forge and upgrade it to at least level 3. The Forge is essential for crafting Frostner, as it requires advanced materials like silver, ancient bark, and Ymir flesh. To build a Forge, you need 4 stone, 4 coal, 10 wood, and 6 copper. Upgrading the Forge requires additional materials like bronze, iron, and fine wood, so ensure you have a steady supply of these resources.\n\nNext, you need to gather the materials required to craft Frostner. The recipe includes 10 ancient bark, 30 silver, 5 Ymir flesh, and 5 freeze glands. Ancient bark is obtained by chopping down ancient trees in the Swamp biome. Silver is found in the Mountain biome, but you’ll need a Wishbone (dropped by Bonemass) to locate silver veins. Ymir flesh is purchased from Haldor the merchant in the Black Forest biome for 120 coins each. Freeze glands are dropped by Drakes in the Mountain biome.\n\nTo efficiently gather silver, equip the Wishbone and explore the Mountain biome. The Wishbone will pulse and emit a green glow when you’re near a silver vein. Use a pickaxe to mine the silver, but be cautious of wolves, drakes, and the freezing weather. Bring frost resistance mead or wear wolf armor to survive the cold. For freeze glands, hunt Drakes, which are flying creatures in the Mountains. Use a bow to take them down safely.\n\nOnce you have all the materials, return to your Forge and craft Frostner. The hammer requires a level 3 Forge, so ensure your crafting station is upgraded. Frostner’s unique combination of frost and spirit damage makes it particularly effective against enemies weak to these damage types, such as skeletons, blobs, and fire-based creatures like surtlings.\n\nUpgrading Frostner requires additional silver and ancient bark. Each upgrade level increases its damage and durability. To upgrade, interact with the Forge and select Frostner. The first upgrade requires 5 silver and 5 ancient bark, the second requires 10 silver and 10 ancient bark, and the third requires 15 silver and 15 ancient bark. Prioritize upgrading Frostner to maximize its effectiveness in combat.\n\nA common challenge is locating Haldor the merchant to purchase Ymir flesh. Haldor spawns randomly in the Black Forest biome, so explore thoroughly. Use a map seed or online tools if you’re struggling to find him. Another challenge is surviving the Mountain biome while mining silver. Always bring frost resistance mead, healing potions, and a strong weapon to fend off enemies.\n\nIn summary, crafting and upgrading Frostner requires careful preparation and resource management. Focus on upgrading your Forge, gathering materials from the Swamp and Mountain biomes, and purchasing Ymir flesh from Haldor. Frostner is a versatile weapon that excels in mid-to-late game combat, making it a worthwhile investment for any Viking.