How do you craft and use a blast furnace for black metal?

The blast furnace is a crucial crafting station in Valheim for refining black metal, a high-tier resource used to craft powerful weapons, armor, and tools. To craft and use a blast furnace, you must first progress through the game and unlock its recipe. The blast furnace becomes available after defeating Moder, the fourth boss in the Mountain biome. Once you have the recipe, you can begin gathering the necessary materials and building the furnace.\n\nTo craft a blast furnace, you will need the following materials: 20 fine wood, 10 iron, 20 stone, and 5 surtling cores. Fine wood is obtained by chopping down birch or oak trees in the Meadows or Black Forest biomes. Iron is mined from muddy scrap piles in the Swamp biome and smelted in a smelter. Stone is a common resource found throughout the world, and surtling cores are looted from burial chambers in the Black Forest or dropped by surtlings in the Ashlands biome.\n\nOnce you have gathered the materials, you can build the blast furnace at your base. Place it in a secure location, as it is a large structure and requires ample space. The blast furnace functions similarly to the smelter but is specifically designed to process black metal scrap, which is dropped by fulings in the Plains biome. To use the blast furnace, place black metal scrap and coal into its inventory slots. Each piece of black metal scrap requires 2 coal to refine into black metal bars.\n\nOne common challenge players face is acquiring enough black metal scrap. Fulings, the primary source of black metal scrap, are dangerous enemies found in the Plains biome. To farm black metal scrap efficiently, equip yourself with strong gear, such as silver-tier weapons and armor, and bring healing items like mead. Additionally, consider building a small outpost near a fuling village to minimize travel time and respawn nearby if you die.\n\nAnother challenge is managing coal production. Coal is essential for refining black metal, and you can obtain it by burning wood in a charcoal kiln or mining it from surtling geysers in the Swamp biome. To optimize coal production, build multiple charcoal kilns and keep a steady supply of wood. Alternatively, you can farm surtling cores from surtlings in the Ashlands biome, as they drop both coal and cores when killed.\n\nOnce you have refined black metal bars, you can use them to craft advanced gear at a forge. Black metal weapons, such as the black metal sword and atgeir, are among the strongest in the game. Black metal armor provides excellent protection, making it ideal for tackling the Mistlands biome or other late-game challenges. Always prioritize upgrading your gear to maximize your survivability and combat effectiveness.\n\nIn summary, the blast furnace is a vital tool for progressing in Valheim''s late game. By defeating Moder, gathering the required materials, and refining black metal scrap, you can unlock powerful gear and prepare for the toughest challenges. Focus on efficient resource gathering, combat preparation, and base organization to make the most of your blast furnace and black metal crafting.